July 17, 2006
thumbs up
When we were in Florida, my mom asked Charlie when he was going to stop sucking his thumb. “When I’m four, Nana,” he told her. “That’s pretty soon!” she said.
“Right,” he said, and went on his way.
A couple of weeks ago, we were talking about Charlie’s birthday and about how he would be four! and wasn’t that fun! And he said, “I don’t want to have a birthday. I don’t want to be four.” After a little prodding, we determined that while he DID want presents and a party, he did NOT want to stop sucking his thumb.
It’s hard to be Charlie; he wants to be a big boy, but he also wants to be the baby. And I want him to be both of those as well.
Charlie can do so many things on his own. He can answer the phone and squeeze his own toothpaste and get his own snacks. He can tell long complicated stories about Peter Pan and pirates. He can name a surprising number of dinosaurs. He gives the best kisses–”Let me smooch you, Mama” he says, wrapping his arms around my neck. This week he has been fascinated by stories of When You Were In Mommy’s Tummy. “What was I doing?” he asks. “Was I sucking my thumb?” Yes, I tell him, you were. “And I was giggling!” he says. “I want to get BACK in your tummy!” And he laughs and laughs.
Charlie wants to do everything Henry does. This spring, he asked when it would be his turn to go to speech therapy; the other day, he asked when he would go to Henry’s school. He parrots the way we talk to Henry, saying “Henry, this is MY story and I am asking you to LISTEN to me and RESPECT what I’m saying.” Lately he has been waking up at the ass crack of dawn, wanting to know if Henry is up yet. “Can I go GET him?” he begs. “I want to play with HENRY.” When Henry finally makes his way to the family room, Charlie greets him with a loud, cheery “GOOD MORNING, HENRY!” every single day.
Charlie has never met a food he doesn’t like; he will beg for fruit and vegetables. “Can we have broccoli tonight, Mama?” he will ask. He loves hot salsa and salt and vinegar potato chips and Poppycock. He can be bought with chocolate milk and Hershy kisses.
Charlie is my baby, and today he is four years old. He had a great time at his pirate pizza party (where the kids were well behaved and we never even got to the craft!) and today he ran and played with friends at a four-hour playdate. He told our favorite Starbucks barista that it was his birthday! and that he’s FOUR! and then he did a little happy dance for her. He has also announced, repeatedly, “I’m FOUR but I’m still sucking my THUMB!”
Happy birthday, Charlie Frog. I love you.
Posted by Susan @ 4:00 pm • Uncategorized
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July 17th, 2006 at 4:23 pm, Tara Says:
What a beautiful boy- and they always seem to take on that angelic look when they are sleeping. Many happy returns to you Charlie!!
July 17th, 2006 at 5:15 pm, Sheryl Says:
Happy Birthday big 4 year-old boy!
July 17th, 2006 at 5:20 pm, Mary P. Says:
“I’m FOUR but I’m still sucking my THUMB!”
Ha! Sweet AND smart.
Happy Birthday, Charlie!
July 17th, 2006 at 6:02 pm, chichimama Says:
Happy Birthday! It my my eyes well up, just a bit. I love four so far. Well, most of the time ;-0.
July 17th, 2006 at 6:23 pm, Nancy Says:
Happy Birthday to Charlie! He sounds like quite the charmer.
And you can tell him my Mimi still sucks her thumb, too, but she’s a whole 4 and a HALF.
July 17th, 2006 at 6:30 pm, Jenorama Says:
Happy Birthday, Charlie!
You guys are the coolest family. I wish there were a TV show I could watch about you, but I am happy to tune in here for the words and the pictures.
July 17th, 2006 at 7:05 pm, Candace Says:
I want a four-year-old again!!
Happy Birthday, Charlie-man!
July 17th, 2006 at 7:37 pm, ieatcrayonz Says:
Happy birthday, handsome. I hope the party went as you planned.
July 17th, 2006 at 7:49 pm, Kristen Says:
Happy birthday to Charlie. He and Quinn would get along swimmingly, what with their shared (but apparently comfortable) internal conflict over whether they should be the baby or the big boy. (Quinn is three and still uses a pacifier to sleep.. ouch.)
July 17th, 2006 at 9:21 pm, melynda Says:
Happy Birthday to Charlie!
July 17th, 2006 at 9:35 pm, Laura Says:
Happy Birthday to Charlie! Today was S’s 9th birthday, and there was far less pirates and much more bling at our house.
As for thumb sucking, I have a whole story I will e-mail you about that. He looks absolutely adorable in that picture. Sometimes I find G still sleeping like that, even at 11. And I treasure the ultrasound picture of her sucking her thumb.
July 17th, 2006 at 9:40 pm, adria Says:
Happy Birthday Charlie! 4 is great!!
July 17th, 2006 at 11:15 pm, sarcastic journalist Says:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!
I’m 26 and I still scratch my butt. It’s all good.
July 17th, 2006 at 11:15 pm, brooke Says:
Happy Birthday to Charlie! I am a new commenter, but a reader all the time! I also have a 4 year old (Oliver) thumb-sucker. He told me when he was 4 he would stop. But that was 3 months ago!
July 17th, 2006 at 11:40 pm, Granny Says:
Happy Birthday, Charlie!!
July 18th, 2006 at 8:10 am, Mir Says:
Happy day-after-birthday, Charlie!!
Letting the baby grow up is hard. I keep asking Monkey to STOP GROWING and he (rudely) refuses to comply.
July 18th, 2006 at 8:12 am, standing still for once Says:
You are the luckiest Mommy in the world. He is a treasure and will remind you each day of his life (and no, when he goes off to study paleontology he will not suck his thumb) what a terrific Mommy you are. Happy birthday, Mommy! Aren’t you glad that you’re not recovering from birth today?
July 18th, 2006 at 9:40 am, MJ Says:
Happy birthday, Charlie. He looks adorable in that photo. (And growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!)
July 18th, 2006 at 10:12 am, Melissa Says:
Happy (very late) birthday, Charlie! (I just wanted to extend the birthday excitement through to today.)
I hope Charlie’s mom and dad had a chance to toast Charlie’s good health and their own good parenting.
And I second the idea of a TV show– you’ll get right on that for us, won’t you?
July 18th, 2006 at 11:50 am, nina Says:
omygosh, that is so insanely cute. I cannot take all the cuteness that is contained in that one post. omygosh.
Happy birthday to baby/big boy Charlie.
July 18th, 2006 at 12:07 pm, Velma Says:
Happy Birthday, Charlie! I’m glad the birthday party went well, and I totally get the big boy/baby conundrum. There are so many moments that I think, “I really don’t want to be a grown-up.” Unfortunately, my comfort mechanisms are a little more high-caloric than thumbsucking.
July 18th, 2006 at 2:24 pm, The Daring One Says:
He is so sweet. I am constantly fighting with the thoughts of being anxious for the kids to grow up and mourning the loss of their babiness.
July 18th, 2006 at 2:45 pm, angel Says:
happy, happy birthday for yesterday charlie!
July 18th, 2006 at 3:47 pm, Misfit Hausfrau Says:
Sweet Boy! Happy Birthday!