As I am no longer able to post pictures on this blog I have decided to create another blog and will continue on from where I have left off on this blog. I anticipate that this will be my last posting on this blog.

My new blog is here: http://mjgodwin2.blogspot.com/

Hope you have no issues geting in to the new blog.

4 month check up

Charlie had his 4 month check up at the FV hospital on Monday 5 May, when he was 4 months and 7 days old. His stats were as follows:

Length: 66cms
Weight: 7.6kgs

We were expecting slightly higher figures than the above judging on Charlies growth performance over his first 3 months, but still weren't at all disappointed with the above figures. I had been a little concerned about how quickly Charlie had been growing before I received the above figures.

Haven't checked the above figures with baby growth charts yet, but as last month his stats were equivalent to a baby that was 4 months and 10 days old and Charlie hasn't reached that age yet we know there are no issues.

Still having issues posting pictures to this blog.

Charlie the scholar

Some more pictures, but I am having issues uploading them.

Charlie's playing

Both pictures above were taken earlier today.

Over the last week or two Hien had told me that, on a number of occasions, Charlie had raised his hands to try and grasp at certain objects, but I had seen no evidence of this up until earlier this week.

Last weekend Charlie was given one of those water resistant material books about puppies. We introduced this to Charlie and it was an instant hit. As soon as Charlie saw this he was raising his hands to touch and grasp hold of it. Hien and I both read from the book and turned over the pages. After only a very short time Charlie was also trying to turn over the pages with us. He has had time with this book every day this week and is enjoying it more and more.

Mid-week I had a couple of days off as they were national holidays. This gave me time to hunt through the huge eclectic pile of toys that Charlie has accumulated over the last few months. Out came the blue mat thing that you can see in the pictures above. Another instant hit with Charlie as within minutes he was kicking the ball and reaching for the objects above his head.

Charlie has had more and more tummy time recently and this week it was very noticeable how much more able he was to raise his head for a long period of time.

Overall a thoroughly rewarding week watching Charlie's progress.

Speaking gobbledygook

All of the above pictures were taken today.

The first two pictures above are of Charlie outside our front door. Most mornings, at about 6:45, I take him out around the block for about 10 minutes and get back just in time to see the BBC News at 7:00 am. He appears to enjoy this and seems to becoming more aware of his surroundings with each trip, especially now he is sitting up more in his pushchair. This time of year it is becoming increasing overcast and this makes our trips easier as when the sun is out it can be quite blinding.

Having difficulty taking a picture of Charlie when he is smiling as just before the camera flashes a red light comes on and this distracts Charlie from his smile.

Charlie's recent progress:

• day by day he is coming out with more and more gobbledygook and this can go on for a few minutes at a time.
• he can control his head better and he is able to sit up more
• he is begining to grasp at colourful objects
• he responds more to sounds and turns his head to them
• he does the things that a 4 month old should be doing

He should be having his 4 month check up on 4 May.

Charlie ventures out today

The 3 picture above were taken today.

Charlie has been ridiculously molly-cuddled since birth and I insisted that he went out of the house today. I believe that today may have been the first time he has been exposed to the elements for more than about 20 seconds. Hien and I placed him in the his pushchair and wheelled him around the block. During this 10 minute jaunt we met more of the neighbours than we have in the 5 months we have been living in our present residence.

Charlie enjoyed the outing very much and from now on will be going out very often.

3 month check up

Charlie went for his 3 month check up after 3 months and 7 days. He had his injection and had a slight temperature for the next day, but is OK now.

His 3 month and 7 day numbers were:

Weight: 7.1 kg's (15.7 pounds)
Height: 64 cm's (25.2 inches)

Looking at various American baby growth charts it appears that as Charlie's birth weight was 3.5 kg's and his birth height was 50 cm's, he would normally (50th percentile), have reached the above weight and height at about 4 months and 10 days old. The charts have many disclaimers about ethnicity, breast feeding verses bottle feeding etc., but regardless of all the disclaimers and small print we summise that Charlie is a healthy baby who is growing well.