Pony Party

Can you believe Lilah's 4th birthday party had pony rides!?!  It was my FIRST time on a horse...EVER!!!  I have to admit, it was a little scary trying to hold onto Henry and balance while the horse was moving.  I was afraid the horse was going to take off and start galloping...haha.  Perhaps riding lessons in the future??? Or the next jockey in the Kentucky Derby???

Baby Boys

Henry, Jackson & Benjamin

7 Months

Dear Henry,

Seven months... and counting.  Not too much has changed in the last month.  You're now eating three solid meals a day.  We've added fruits and yogurt into the mix and you LOVE them.  I was playing with your feeding schedule for a few weeks trying to figure out the best way.  Here's a general routine of your day...

6:30 Wake Up
7:00 6 oz bottle
8:00 Oatmeal & fruit
9:00 Morning nap (1 1/2 hours)
11:00 6 oz bottle
12:00 Fruit/veggie, or yogurt
1:00 Afternoon Nap (1 1/2 hours)
3:00 6 oz bottle
5:30 Veggies
8:00 Bath & 7 oz bottle (tank you up before a full night of sleep)
8:30 Bed

Your personality is emerging more and more every day.  For the most part, you're our happy little guy.  You talk, screech and grunt ALL DAY LONG!!!  You say "MAMA" AND "BABA" over and over.  You really like playing with your little toys, such as your stacking cups and blocks, because you're getting better with your hands and like holding onto things.  You've become quite the snuggle bunny,  which I love, especially when I'm feeding you your last bottle before bed. You are obsessed with soft things...rubbing your bunny, doggie and blankie comforts you and gets you to sleep.  All three are with you in your crib for naptime and bedtime.  It's so sweet to see you surrounded by them.  You still wake up so happy; you gurgle and coo while you wait for daddy or me to come get you out of your crib.  When we walk in, you look up at us and give us a huge grin.  It's neat that you "know" things now...putting you in your seat = food, sound of microwave beep = food is ready, unbuckling carseat = arms out/lean forward, shirt over head = arms through arm holes, seeing lovies = sleepytime, etc.  You aren't crawling yet, and you don't seem terribly interested in it since you can roll, pivot and scoot/army crawl your way around. I'm ok with it too....I want you to stay my little baby as long as possible.

We love you like crazy!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

P.S.
It is getting difficult to do your monthly photo shoots...you wont stay still for more than a second.  If  we don't snap the camera in time you end up like this....

My First Father's Day

Here I am putting together my new lawn hose caddy... and I thought I'd get a break from yard work on Father's Day!

Henry enjoying a beautiful day.

 His first time EVER in a big pool... and LOVING IT!!!

 Happy Father's Day!

Thanks for helping me open my present, buddy!

Ed here:  It was only my first one, but this was the best Father's Day ever.  Henry kept it down in the morning so I could "sleep in" until 7am, he and Amanda got me great presents (a mug with his picture on it, a couple of tools I needed - every guy needs a good pair of vice grips - and a new lawn hose caddy you can see me assembling above) and we had some quality family time in the morning.

That afternoon, we went over to the Watson's house to celebrate with Amanda's family and for the first time ever, Henry went for a swim in the big pool!  I'm afraid we have a pool rat on our hands now; after some initial uneasiness (the water WAS a little cold) he was having the time of his life.  We practiced his floating, took him for fast spins around the pool in his float and even dunked him in and out of the water pretty fast... which really got him giggling.  We had a delicious dinner, opened a few more gifts and eventually called it a night.

All in all, it was the PERFECT Father's Day... thanks Amanda and Henry, I love you!

Thank You

Thank you Aunt Christine and Aunt Molly for watching me the few times that you did while Mommy was at work.  I had such fun days with you!  Love you lots!!!

Memorial Day Photo Dump

6 Month Stats

6 month well visit

Height: 27 1/2 inches (85th percentile)
Weight: 18 lbs 11 oz (75th percentile) 
Head Circ: 45.7 cm (93rd percentile

Henry survived his last round of vaccines for time being.      

6 Months

Dear Henry,

Happy 6 months!!!  You turned six months on May 22, but I'm just now getting around to writing this monthly update because it's been a busy couple of weeks, and I've just been too tired.  I say it every month, but it really is crazy how quickly time passes.  It's so hard to believe that you're six months old already...half a year you've been with us.  It's been the best six months of our lives, though!

At least once a week, Daddy and I look through hundreds of pictures of you on our iPhone while laying in bed at night.  It amazes me how much you've changed in such a short period of time.  It also amazes me that even though you've changed, so much of you has stayed the same.  There's your blue eyes, blonde peach fuzz, double chin, and chubby cheeks.

You are getting to be so much fun and are getting so big.  You can  now officially sit up all on your own!  You're a little wobbly at times, which makes mommy nervous, but I put your Boppy behind you in case there's a tumble.  Rolling all over the place is your means of traveling.  You have a "runway" in the living room (made from stretching out an old comforter) that you roll back and forth on...one end to the other.  You like to wedge yourself under the couch and chairs, and if we step out of the room for one minute you can make your way into the dinning room where you can be found under the table.  You are my little outside man.  You love playing and swinging on the front porch.  You just stare at the cars and people going down the street.  Going on walks is also a daily occurrence...usually one during the day and another after dinner with mommy and daddy.  Playing on a blanket in the backyard or swimming in your pool make you the happiest.  Your weekly outing is grocery shopping at Wegmans and running other errands.

You started eating veggies-we started with sweet potatoes, avocados, carrots, peas, squash and green beans.  You've liked all of them so far, but sweet potatoes are by far your FAVORITE!  It's so cute feeding you and watching you eat.  You get a veggie beard all over your face...hehe.

You're still sleeping well; two naps a day and usually sleeping through the night.  A few times a week you've been waking up, but with a few pats and your pacifier you fall right back to sleep.

Those darn teethers are the WORST...nothing has popped out yet, but they have turned you into crabby pants on some days.  The most trying days are when "Hank" comes out.  Speaking of nicknames, you have a few others now at six months.  Mommy and Daddy like to call you Hankie, Buddy, Little Man, Winston, Big Bank Hank, H-Man, My Dude, and Bear.  

These first six months have flown by which makes me sad and nervous for how fast the next six will go.  All I know for sure is that I'm so lucky and excited to watch you grow.  I love to look at you and think about all the wondrous things you have ahead of you.  So many firsts are coming your way, it's going to be so exciting for all of us.

You're the best thing that's ever happened to us!  We love you more and more each day!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy