Tuesday, January 12, 2010

henry at four months

Henry's four-month checkup was today, and here are his stats:

13 pounds, 15 ounces
25 1/4 inches long

He's a very healthy and happy baby, hitting all of his milestones. He proved that today by rolling over for the very first time -- while he was at the doctor's office. Mike took him to his appointment, and he's napping now, so it's a feat I have yet to see, but I can't wait.

His next checkup isn't for two months, but by then we can look forward to him rolling over regularly, possibly getting a tooth, and definitely putting everything he can get his little hands on into his mouth. We broke the news to Liam today that all small toys (especially the sea of Legos that seems to flow through our house) need to be kept upstairs so Henry doesn't choke on them. I've been looking forward to Henry becoming more mobile but simultaneously dreading it for that very reason. We didn't have toys with small pieces -- period -- when Liam and Max were little, but now I don't see a way to keep them out (they just seem to creep in all by themselves sometimes). So it'll be an adventure. We'll keep you posted.

See also: one month, two months, three months.




Thursday, January 07, 2010

the best milestone


Today I was talking to my friend Natalie about how Henry is trying so hard and is thisclose to rolling over, but hadn't really laughed yet and isn't reaching for things. I had just gotten an e-newsletter from a formula company, and I was joking that the implication was that clearly, my child WOULD be doing these things ... if only I would feed him more of their delicious and nutritionally superior formula. But my little slobber bomber (yes, Liam likes to call him that whenever he slobbers on something, which is pretty much anytime he's awake) has his own ideas about his development, and not two hours after my conversation with Natalie, Henry started laughing. Real belly laughs over some silly thing I was saying to him. His first real laugh! And then he laughed so hard that he gave himself the hiccups, and spent the next few minutes looking confused. It may be a few more days (or maybe not!) before he shows off this newfound skill to anyone else, but I can tell you that I'm pretty sure I won't forget this first!

even superheroes need their sleep

...but clearly, these two need just five more minutes before bedtime.





yes i am


Wednesday, January 06, 2010

stealing christmas

...or at least, stealing Christmas pictures. These are some pictures taken by my cousin Amelia that I totally snatched from my family's blog. I especially like the ones of Liam with my dad, both because my dad is so camera-shy and because she managed to capture one of their favorite games to play together, in which my dad picks Liam up by the ears. (Max likes this game too, though he's more partial to "walking" on my dad's shoes at this stage.) Thanks, Amelia!





Sunday, January 03, 2010

nighttime sledding


We started 2010 off right with a trip out to my parents' house for a nighttime sledding party. My dad and his many minions set up the course on our regular sled hill. They strung outdoor Christmas lights along the path, and a guide rope to help people get back up the hill. They used old tires to make bumpers for the trees (after an unfortunate incident last year in which Max's face met a tree on the way down), set up floodlights at the bottom of the hill, and even made a warming area with the hog roaster (which doubled as a grill for burgers and dogs). Meanwhile, my mom kept base at home with hot chili and sandwiches for hungry sledders.


Max took one run with Bethany, but they wiped out. After that he declared that he was done sledding and demanded to be taken back to the house to warm up. Luckily, there were all sorts of four-wheel-drive vehicles available, because there was no way we would get our minivan through the corn fields to the sledding hill (though it would have been fun to try)! Liam, meanwhile, LOVED sledding. He went up and down, up and down, going faster and farther on each run than most of the other sledders. He attributed it to his borrowed blue sled, and refused to trade sleds with anyone for the duration. He stayed out there for at least an hour and a half (and it was COLD out there!) without a break, then suddenly, at the end of a run, he announced that he was finished, too. So we hitched a ride back to the house to join Mike, Max, and Henry and eat some warm food. Shortly after, J got off his ambulance shift and stopped in at the house to play with the boys before he went out to the hill. A bunch of cousins were there, too, so the boys got to play legos and make up fun games with them until way past bedtime.



The party was a huge success, with tons of people and no injuries that I know of (though at least one phone and one camera -- neither one ours -- were casualties). There's already talk of making it an annual event, and I hope we do. It was a really nice twist to have the sledding party at night!