I get yelled at on Facebook whenever I apologize for posting a new video of my two-year-old son, Charlie. On the one hand, I still marvel at the ease with which the Digital Age allows us to instantly share images of our loved ones for all to see—it’s such a great way to connect with family and friends who are interested and, in Charlie’s case, with the supportive folks, some of them total strangers, who’ve been following his story ever since he was born at 24 weeks weighing only 1 lb. 4 oz. He truly is a miracle baby and his progress is seen by many as a tremendously hopeful sign for their own children who may be dealing with similarly grave heath issues.
On the other hand, whenever I write Charlie-centered posts, part of me still can’t shake the notion that they are akin to the endless slide shows we were all forced to watch of our relatives’ Bermuda vacations back in the Dark Ages before computers changed our lives and the world became a much smaller place. I know it’s a silly comparison, especially since unlike those forced viewings in darkened living rooms, no one has to click on these videos or look at these photos if they don’t want to see them. So I hereby vow that I will no longer apologize for sharing these items. And I can’t deny that, because of Charlie’s precarious early months, there are people who are very interested in following his developmental progress.
The past month has been full of changes. Charlie still works with physical therapists three times a week and despite the delays caused by his Grade III and IV brain bleeds (intraventricular hemorrhages), his walking has finally taken off. Verbally, he is just exploding, repeating every word he hears (oy, we really have to watch our mouths now!) and seemingly memorizing every book in his collection. I only wish I had half the memory that Charlie has. I’ve been singing to Charlie ever since he was born, often without even thinking about it just when we’re walking around. It’s only lately that I’ve realized that he knows the words to almost all of the songs in my eclectic repertoire. Sometimes he seems to commit them to memory after hearing them only one or two times.
One song that I sing a lot as we’re bopping around town is Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” The American folksinger’s 99th birthday would have been last week and it happened to be on that day that Charlie started singing along with the iconic lyrics. He’s heard a lot of Woody Guthrie in his lifetime. I often sang Guthrie tunes in the NICU and Charlie’s Uncle Jeff wrote the music for and recorded (with Billy Bragg) two albums of previously unheard lyrics by Woody Guthrie in collaboration with his daughter Nora. If someone commanded me to choose only one musical artist in history to represent the American zeitgeist, it would have to be Guthrie, wouldn't it? I’m glad Charlie is already a big fan.
Later on Guthrie’s birthday, I grabbed my camera and recorded Charlie singing his song while taking a bath:
The following two videos were already posted on Facebook but my non-social-networked relatives begged me to repost them. Here’s Charlie and my daughter Leah reading one of Charlie’s favorite books, “B Is For Bulldozer” by June Sobel. I have to say Charlie’s obsession with trucks and construction has helped me learn a bunch of new vocabulary words, I can now identify almost every kind of truck that I see in the streets! I was delighted to get a comment on YouTube from the book’s author and happy that a bunch of people reposted the video on their own sites, including progressive education activist and expert Susan Ohanian who included it on her “Good News” page extolling the importance of surrounding children with reading opportunities.
Charlie is also a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel. He does a killer “Scarborough Fair” that I haven’t recorded but here he is singing, for the first time, “Mrs. Robinson.” He knows it much better now—I no longer have to add the “-son” to “Robinson” and he sings a lot more of the lyrics. Koo-koo-ka-choo:
Do we have another future recording artist in the family? Oh, and seeing these three videos on one page, I just want to note that Charlie does wear clothes most of the time, it’s funny that these videos were all recorded shirtless! Oh well, maybe that will be his thing? The Naked Toddler Folksinger?
After all the heartache and worry, it is such a joy to see your beautiful boy reading and singing, and hear that he is walking.
I'm so happy for ALL of you and I'm glad you shared all of your story with us.
Posted by: V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios | July 19, 2011 at 02:25 PM
I've had a hard day but this just made me very very very happy.
Love,
One of those strangers who loves Charlie
Posted by: Jane | July 19, 2011 at 03:01 PM
Oh my goodness. I so enjoyed this. What a beautiful child! Tears in my eyes - joy, joy and more joy!
Posted by: tamarika | July 19, 2011 at 03:46 PM
Thank you for putting so much goodness together in one place. Makes me smile.
Posted by: Laurie | July 19, 2011 at 04:57 PM
Seeing Charlie sing Mrs. Robinson made me forget the IRS wanted $18,009 from me. It was a mistake! He is too cute!
Posted by: Marilyn Molnar | July 19, 2011 at 05:25 PM
Love these videos! Post MORE and MORE! and MORE!
Posted by: Peggy Shecket | July 19, 2011 at 05:35 PM
He's gorgeous. Haven't been reading many blogs lately, but SO enjoyed watching/listening to Charlie. Leah's also lovely and loving, as usual. My 5YO son joined me on the couch when he heard Charlie's sweet voice. "Cute baby!" he said. My older boys remember praying for him -- your entire family. Thank you for sharing! Keep singing!
Posted by: Chrisy | July 19, 2011 at 06:20 PM
They should reissue Mermaid Avenue (which I love), and put that first one on there. :)
Posted by: Rurality | July 19, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Oy, oy, oy!!! I'll say it again: oy!!! I'm plotzing!!!
Posted by: Julie R. | July 19, 2011 at 08:41 PM
(In a good way!)
Posted by: Julie R. | July 19, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Like daughter, like mother, I'm plotzing too. The singing, the reading, the walking! OY.
Posted by: Cynthia Reich | July 19, 2011 at 09:27 PM
What sheer joy . . . my cartoon heart is popping out of my chest.
PLEEEZ record his "Scarborough Fair" . . .
Posted by: amba | July 19, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Need. Help. Can't. Stop. Watching.
Posted by: your sister | July 19, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Charlie is so cute!
Posted by: ann (ellen's sister) | July 20, 2011 at 05:06 AM
Thanks for sharing those Danny! Charlie is adorable -- those videos completely reversed my mood on this busy hot Wednesday morning.
Posted by: Jeff | July 20, 2011 at 06:01 AM
could he be any cuter???
Posted by: debbie freedberg | July 20, 2011 at 09:43 AM
I have to agree with my learned colleague and sister. Can't stop watching. Although it might be easier if I could stop thinking of who I could make smile by sending it to them.
Posted by: Your big brother, Bruce | July 20, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Thank you so much for sharing these videos! He is such a joy! I am one of those complete strangers who happened on your blog (via your post about Amy Carter-we are the same age and when I was a kid I thought it would be so cool to live in the White House). I so look forward to your posts, especially the ones about Charlie and have just been thrilled to see Charlie's progress. Give that boy an extra hug today!
Posted by: Anne | July 20, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Thanks so much for these new videos of Charlie..Goodness knows, I've tried to find you on Facebook but couldn't so I'm glad you posted here.
He's so adorable, he can read & sing to me any
day...Maybe he'll collaborate with his big cousin on songs!
Posted by: Judy | July 20, 2011 at 01:10 PM
Yet another plotz-worthy post. Made my day!
Posted by: Sheila Linderman | July 20, 2011 at 01:52 PM
Your son takes my breath away.
Posted by: quinn cummings | July 20, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Wow. I'm verklempt. And this from a Connecticut Yankee, Episcopalian, aetheist, male living in Montana!
I've followed your travails for some time and couldn't be happier for you, Charlie and the missus.
What a little schmarty! Oy.
Posted by: Steve Warren | July 20, 2011 at 06:32 PM
No apologies needed.........more Charlie please!
Posted by: pat | July 21, 2011 at 07:45 AM
What a doll baby!
Posted by: Shannon | July 21, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Charlie 4-EVAH!!!
Posted by: Erin M | July 21, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Much too cute. Yes, I'm just one of those strangers, but Charlie just puts me away. Somewhere, Woody is smiling.
Posted by: DebbieW | July 21, 2011 at 05:22 PM
I just shared these w/ chuck, and he got teary- eyed! OY charlie is clearly doing so amazingly well, he is a miracle baby for sure! Can you say adorable, charming, sweetness, darling????? I am totally and completely kvelling! xoxoxo susie
Posted by: susie specter | July 21, 2011 at 05:29 PM
My kids saw me watching and then they required viewing time, and then they wanted me to track down all other videos of Charlie... you've just added two more smitten strangers to Charlie's fan list. It really does a body good to see him growing in so many ways!
Posted by: KWild | July 22, 2011 at 06:43 AM
Danny, you're killin' me, here !
The older I get, the more sentimental I am.
Just watching and listening to Charlie, brought a tear to my eye.
I followed his early days, as if it were a real life soap opera, where you get caught up in the characters and pull for them to be happy and healthy.
So glad to see that Charlie's doing so well.
Thanks,
Gordon
Posted by: Gordon | July 23, 2011 at 12:38 PM
best post ever!
Posted by: k | July 24, 2011 at 09:55 PM
Precious, precious boy. I love how comfortable and happy he is cuddling with his sister. You have a lovely voice, Danny.
I love this child.
From another stranger, but not really, because I'm Pam's sister.
Posted by: Nancy Postrel Collins | July 28, 2011 at 10:33 PM