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.

wish I was old enough for cereal...

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

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!

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!

sock monkey!

Henry got his very own sock monkey from Yami! And just like his brothers before him, it was love at first sight...

meanwhile...

...Henry mostly just observes, taking everything in and looking adorable.

artists in residence

Tuesday was Klaudia's day to entertain two little boys who were suffering from cabin fever. In preparation, I hauled up their easels and a tarp, and when they woke up from their naps to find not only easels, but Klaudia, they were ecstatic. Max started painting right away, going first for a rainbow, and later for some more abstract pieces. He was quite prolific, creating about 10 masterworks in the short afternoon. Liam, meanwhile, stuck to variations on a theme: space. I'll let him explain it to you below.

snow crabs

Liam and Max are both on a two-week winter break, and having them home has been ... challenging, at least so far. We've spent the week running errands, doing our Wii fitness, coloring, painting, playing with play-doh, and generally trying to stay busy. But sometimes, even that isn't enough. Luckily, Loni came over the other night and took Grumpy Gus and Crabby Patty outside to run off some energy in the snow.

birthday horoscope roundup

It's the one day of the year that I actually check my horoscope. Here's what this year has in store.

Horoscope.com says:
Expand your horizons on your birthday by doing something different and exciting. When you make this leap of faith on your birthday, another path will open up to you and lead you toward the new direction you have been looking for. Your old pattern has gotten boring and you weren't sure how to change it, but your birthday can bring that opportunity. By breaking your established pattern on this special day, you open the door to a mountain of possibility. Take advantage of this moment and be daring in both business and pleasure. The reaction you will receive should be instantaneous, and it will cause a chain of events that will change your life. When March arrives, you should have transformed from a lamb to a lion.


Astrology.com weighs in:
Happy birthday! In the next year, strange and unusual circumstances will lead first to a little confusion, and then once you learn how to surf those waves, to pure delight! The first half of 2010 will bring renewed energy with your social contacts, and will see new life flow into your love life -- old relationships will be invigorated, and new opportunities will arise with little or no effort on your part. The real drama, though, is going to be in your career and financial life. January through March will bring changes to your work routine and workload. At first this may not seem like much of a blessing, but it can be leveraged into better circumstances, via either a raise or a promotion. Next November and December will actually see an increase in your money supply (strange during the holidays!), with a possible new and improved job -- if you're keeping your eyes open for it!

I can already tell you that msnbc.com's prediction is unlikely to come true:
Other people are sure to be envious of your superior public speaking talents, so enjoy the attention while you have it. Saying exactly what you mean diplomatically comes quite naturally to you, which means you should be able to keep the number of misunderstandings around you to a minimum. This is the perfect time to give a speech to a packed auditorium, recite a poem at a coffee shop or sing a spontaneous song to the love of your life in the middle of a crowded park.

Finally, tarot.com:
You make it clear to everybody that you care about them. Although you can't be at their sides all the time, you carry your friendships with you in spirit, everywhere and always.
Although your big plans could run into a wall now, with intention and focus, you can turn an annoying setback into real progress. You would be wise to pay attention to all the current possibilities instead of imagining what might go wrong. Then, when it comes time to make your decision, at least you'll have a whole spectrum of choices from which to pick your new direction.

we three kings

the most wonderful time of the year

Early last week, I got a text from my mom with these magical words: "Are the boys free on Saturday night?" How could I have forgotten?? Saturday night was THE night, the one that only comes around once a year: The boys go to a Christmas party with my parents at my dad's (and brother's!) fire station, and Mike and I get to go out to eat. Alone! Seriously, people, it's like a Christmas miracle every year!


Liam and Max were on pretty rocky ground behavior-wise before we left the house for the party. And by "pretty rocky," I mean that on the way to my parents' house, I told them that if they didn't choose to be good for the entire night, they would go nowhere but school and home for the rest of the year, and they wouldn't be able to watch movies in the people mover for the rest of the year, either (that's the one that really gets them). Luckily for them, they decided to be little angels and play nicely with all the other kids at the party. As a reward (right, like they wouldn't have gotten them anyway!), they got gifts from Santa. Liam got Connect 4, Max got an ambulance, and Henry scored some cool stacking blocks for when he finally learns how to grab things. And all three of them were fine sitting on Santa's lap, which was a first.


As for the grown-ups, we headed to Valpo to Kelsey's Steak House, where we enjoyed a leisurely dinner (complete with appetizer!) and a lot of conversation. Amazingly, most of it wasn't even about the kids! I guess we DO still have things to talk about after all this time...


But lo, the miracles continue! My sister Avalon was kind enough to agree to watch the boys this coming Saturday night so we can go out for my birthday. That's two unprecedented weeks in a row with dinner out (at least the kind that doesn't come in a bag or a box). Now, Mike just has to find a good place and make a reservation.

christmas pictures and outtakes

We got a super post-Thanksgiving deal on our Christmas cards this year, but apparently, the catch was that we were only allowed a stingy 50 or so characters. So I had to cut the caption that would have made the photo make (more) sense. It was supposed to be something like, "We hope you find something wonderful in your stocking this year." Because Henry's in a stocking. Which he really enjoyed.