A few months beyond his first year...

Here are some random moments over the past few months. Life is full of wonder and surprise at the Devines these days. Charlie loves to go for walks, find things flying in the sky, swim in the pool, play with the train set and kid's kitchen at the drop-in centre, ride cars and bounce on trampolines at the community centre, go on play dates,  hang out at the library, visit the farm (5 minutes from our house!), devour books and still nap twice a day. 

He has 16 teeth and eats from his dad's plate after picking though mine and clearing his.

Charlie met Santa. He didn't cry, but he sure did some hardcore staring. Not sure he believes just yet. 

Our monthly photo. This would be #13. 

If you followed the blog this time last year, Charlie was 4 weeks old and fit entirely inside his stocking. See waaaaay below for the comparison shot.

Day dreaming about cows, crackers and crows. All of which he encounters in some form on any given day.

This one breaks my heart. Charlie literally looking up to his dad as they drill and build together. Sigh.

This is the general mood on the way to the Community Centre, where we head several times a week.

Don't worry Charlie, one day your daddy will let you drive away on your own... in a real car.

And on that day, your mother will cry.

This little man doesn't need to stop and ask for directions.

"Neigh" says the horse. (We are working on sounds other than the moo of a cow and the trumpet of an elephant. They said that there would be phases, but come on!)

It's all about the fibre. Taking it out of the box, crushing it on the floor, eating some of it and then moving on to rearranging cans of cat food and biting raw potatoes. And I feed the kid, I swear.

See?  And if you guessed spaghetti followed by kiwis and berries. You win. A kiss.

After having hand-fed his girlfriend Lilia some apple slices. He is very pleased with himself. Lilia is now skeptical it appears. Pretty bold I'd say. 

Our little angel at 13 months.

Daddy takes the Devines to Montreal!!!

Charlie is growing up so fast. And we're having so much fun... why can't time just stop for a bit!? So right now we are staying in Montreal for 6 weeks while Sean shoots a movie. We are so grateful to be here seeing lots of friends and family and enjoying the crisp autumn days (as we plan to leave right before things start to freeze over.)  Since being in Montreal, Charlie now has a molar, feeds himself and loves to imitate us.

He continues to sleep really well and waves bye-bye at everything.

Here are the Devine boys dressed in their kurtas celebrating Diwali in style. (Sean is the incredible coordinator of the entire Vancouver festival!)

Charlie exploring the insides of his new blue tube.

Patiently awaiting the return of his love...

Cousin Danny and Charlie Devine

"Foof. This tissue I destroy! Foof"

Taking in the sites of Le Plateau from our loft window.

This is Charlie with his cousins on his first Halloween. He did no monkeying around at all. Not even a bit.

Daddy disappointed with the lack of potato chips Charlie was getting.

 He is so delicious even without the BANANA attached to his costume.

His new babylegs.

He looks like a little boy. And he's not even ONE. Slow down, pleeeeeeease!

Visiting his daddy on the movie set.

Spending the weekend in a small village in the Quebec Eastern Townships. Stunning.

This is moments before the pony went to lick Charlie's hand and I screamed (thinking he was going to bite him) and thus traumatizing my son and instilling in him a lifelong fear of the Equus species. Bad mommy.

I can't imagine having more love than I do for these two guys...

Here he is visiting his Pepe Dubreuil in the leaves.

Summer Video

Beware, this incredibly cute video montage of Charlie's first summer runs 8 minutes.

Again, mainly for friends and family who haven't seen him in months if ever!

Enjoy!

First Family Foray in the Forest

Well the Devines packed up the house and headed out to Golden Ears for some camping. We only wish we had reserved a longer stay. Was it ever a hit! Charlie loved eating outside in the fresh air and he was very impressed with his new red nylon bedroom. He especially liked talking to trees and ferns and of course splashing in the water. He came this close to eating dirt and was spared any bug bites (courtesy of a few well places swipes by his mommy).

Some summer lovin' on the beach...

Before things got too relaxing, Charlie tried to help out with pumping up our air mattress.

Playing among the ferns with Mommy...

...and singing songs with Daddy!

Papa bear putting the final touches on the master bedroom.

Charlie overseeing the construction of our new home.

Looks like Charlie had such a good sleep that night that he wanted back in for more.

This was Charlie going down for a nap. It was so sweet to hear him talk to himself from the outside. Our tent was talking. Then laughing. Then snoring. And then a few little sleeping baby farts.

Sean bought this tent last year, before there were three of us, in anticipation of there being five of us. There is even a vestibule!