Time Flies

Where has the month gone? I can't believe it will be February in just a few days.

Henry is 6 months old today! Hard to believe he is so big already! He goes to the doctor tomorrow, but last week he weighed about 17 pounds (40th percentile).
He has just started eating "solid" food and he loves it! Applesauce was a question mark the first couple of times but now he gobbles it up. Sweet Potatoes were a hit from day 1.
He can roll over both ways.
He prefers to sit at all opportunities, preferably while someone is talking to him.
He will lock his legs and hips so that you can't sit him down when he wants to stand.
Henry has started "talking". He will gladly carry on a conversation with anyone who will sit next to him. He also "sings" in the car when others are singing to the radio.
The older kids still LOVE him. They fight over who gets to "keep Henry happy". They are really enjoying that he is more interactive these days.
We've been working on teaching him to crawl. Cooper will crawl around to show him an example and Grace will hold his belly off the floor to see if that will help. So far Henry is showing no signs of crawling.
He can move where he wants to by rolling and spinning around using his feet and arms.

A year ago at this time we were terrified how a new baby was going to upset our lives. Our fears were justified in a way, Henry has definitely knocked our previous routines for a loop. But he is a sweetheart and now I can't imagine our family without him. I can see that he is adjusting to our family and we are adjusting to him. I can already imagine when this very needy, demanding newborn stage is going to be over and our lives will be somewhat back to normal.

Worn Out

Yesterday the kids and I had a "stay at home day" due to the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday. We started off slow but when we got going there was no stopping. First we (I) cleaned out the fridge, did some laundry and organized the pantry. Then we headed to the Dollar store to get supplies for Grace's "Student of the Week" presentation. Next was down to Windsor to drop Emma off at Halle's house. Lunch was a treat for the little kids with a visit to "ChickenDonald's" and playing in the kids' area. I don't think I've taken them there since before Cooper was born! Grace and Cooper had a blast and played so nicely together. We went in since Henry was hungry, but once we got there he was too distracted by all the kids running around to eat. I guess everyone had the same idea for a holiday Monday.
After lunch I took Grace, Cooper and Henry to the grocery store. Surprisingly it went very well. Grace and Cooper were pretty helpful getting stuff off the shelves, and our morning adventure clipping coupons netted over $35 in savings!
Once we got home we put away groceries and played outside. Then Cooper took a bath since he was filthy! After the bath it was evident that Henry needed a nap. As I was putting Henry to bed the little kids were watching Scooby Doo in the family room. Cooper was curled up in a towel eating a yogurt. When I emerged from the bedroom I discovered Cooper sleeping in the chair with the yogurt and spoon still in his hand. I guess three days home with Mommy was just too much for him.

We ended up waking him at after 7pm so that he could have some dinner and get dressed before going back to bed.

Henry

In the past couple of weeks, Henry has discovered his toes. Every time I change him he has to stuff his toes in his mouth. Each time I say to myself that I should take a picture. This morning I was ready. I got the camera and pulled off his clothes. I laid him on the bed and waited. And waited. And waited. It soon became apparent that he was more interested in looking at the camera than playing with his toes.

Cool Dad

My uncle Ranndy is a treasure trove of old pictures. Today I got an email which contained this picture of my dad. I'm not sure if I was even born when this picture was taken. Being a farmer, he and my grandfather learned how to make do with what they had. I've heard that although this home-made sulphur spray rig isn't pretty, it served a need for many years.

My first thought when I saw this picture in my email was that my dad looks cool! I remember being a little girl and thinking that he was the coolest guy and loving spending time with him. Even when it was "at the ranch" while he was working. I always thought that he could fix or make anything. I wondered how he knew what he was doing, but I never doubted that he could do it. I think this spray rig is evidence to that.

(For the record, I still think my dad is the coolest guy, and I still think he can make or fix anything.)

Splish, Splash

Henry has learned to love baths! When he sees me dragging out his bathtub his face lights up. As soon as I place him in the water he starts kicking his legs and "miling" as Cooper would say. Now that he can sit up unassisted he loves to sit in the tub and kick and splash with his hands. Henry doesn't even seem to mind when his face gets wet.

Thanks Grampa for taking these pictures for me.

Sweet Potatos for my Sweet Little Man

Henry is now five months old! Where does the time go?
He can roll over, both ways. Although he does not get very many opportunities since I hold him most of the time.
He can sit unassisted if someone sets him up. He can stay up for several minutes before toppling over.
He lights up when he sees his sees his siblings.
He loves to watch tv, especially football!
Henry is starting to be more sociable with others and even took a nap in Grammie's arms on Christmas.

He tried rice cereal on New Year's but was not impressed.
Last night we tried Sweet Potatoes and it got a much better reception.


Grace enjoyed taking pictures of him.


Mommy enjoyed kissing him.


And a couple of Cooper & Gracie. I'm not sure why we don't have any of Emma Jo.

How Henry Helps with the Laundry

Having a family of six means that I spend a lot of my time doing laundry. Since Henry is attached to me most of the time, it means that he often "helps" me. This is how that help usually looks.




I couldn't ask for a cuter helper.