april was

keeping notes

Henry, you are

• almost 19 months old and weighing 27 lbs 10 oz. You are built like a Kiwi rugby player ... and we're really not sure where that came from!
• sick with croup and fevers for the first time this week but you've been a trooper, even with a 4 am ER visit on Wednesday morning. Poor boy. (And Sam says to add 'Poor Dad'!)
• a smartypants. You can now answer the all important question "What's your name?" with a knowing "Hen'y!" and a tapping of your chest. That and holding up your pointer finger when we ask how old you are.
• adding words to your vocab day by day. So far you've mastered Mumma, Dadda, Henry, Walter "a-wa", ball, milk, baby, car, cracker, dirty, owie, apple, booger, book, doctor, happy, up, elbow, owl, hippo, and all done!
• loving being outside! Now that we don't have to layer and bundle you up (it's been +20c this past week around here!) we've had you outside lots and you've been none too pleased with us when it's time to come in. But we are lacking proper shoes and hats so I've really got to get you some before real summer comes.
• still needing a haircut!
• good friends with your brother, laughing hysterically at him/with him and bringing him toys. You also like to slap him on the head sometimes. Or caress his soft, soft hair. To you, I think both actions are one and the same: love.
• starting to be a little defiant, boldly staring me down as I say "no" quite emphatically and repeating whatever behavior I don't want you to do. I may rethink my "newborns are the most difficult stage" theory.
• growing up quite happily and giving us lots of reasons to laugh every day. And huff and sigh and say "Henry, no!" too. But seeing you run and jump around in your stripey pajamas at night makes it all worth it to me. It really does.

Walter, you are

• almost 7 months old and weighing 18 lbs 6 oz. Your body type is exactly like your Dad's so we know exactly where you came from!
• sitting up on your own now!! That's our big news this week and I am loving it! You've rolled over from your tummy to your back in the same direction a few times too this week but otherwise you're just not interested.
• not smiling in this picture (but I love the jammies and mohawk look) but when you smile it is stellar. Big and sparkly. Grandparents, prepare to fall in love this summer.
• waking up at 5:30 am lately and I fear we may be starting a pattern. We really hope it's over with soon.
• most often seen hanging out in one of your two exersaucers these days, jumping your little heart out. You are still an easy, easy baby just to hang out with between sleeps.
• finally sleeping unswaddled. I thought it would be a long, difficult process to get you to sleep with your arms out but thankfully you took to it easily. We had you wear socks on your hands for awhile though as you tend to scratch your ears and cheeks quite badly.
• starting to babble and squeal alot now which is so, so cute. You just seem so quiet compared to your older brother that I'm thrilled when you finally pipe up and tell us what you're really thinking!
• still our baby but we are amazed just how much you're growing up lately.

first time a'swinging

And just look at those first two beautiful teeth!

{And again ... take a peek at Henry just a year ago, when his Cousin Isla came to visit. Really, I didn't plan on the boys wearing the same sweater for the same park photos! }

our second first

Big day for a certain 6 month-er in our house today! Finally ... after gazing longingly and none-so-subtly as we all ate our own food meal after meal ... Walter took spoon to mouth this afternoon and treated himself to some lovely brown rice mush. Ahhh, food. And to think it all begins with mush.
He did well! And like all aspects of his docile, laid back personality he didn't gag or respond too dramatically as Henry did his first time. Yes, it was only just a year ago and we were feeding Henry the same cereal and snapping the same 53 swallow-by-swallow pictures. And yes again, we certainly had just as much fun doing it this time!

Oh Walter, it's amazing how much you've grown up lately, even just this past week! I am loving getting to know you better and better and really truly think you are perfectly perfect. And so, so beautiful.
Well I'm just saying ... look at that smile!

the boys have something to tell you

six months

Happy Half Birthday to you, Walt! We love you so, so much!