My mother looked after my niece, Shannon, while her parents worked many years ago.

She was a beautiful, sweet baby. Now she is a teacher with children of her own.

My brother Charles was around, too.

She always called him "Chars." Charlie is named after a different Charles.

We've been trying to make the distinction between the sweet boy and sweet girl. "Charlie is a sweetie boy. Lucy is a sweetie girl."

Oddly enough, what you hear right now is "Chars is a sweetie pie bird."