lately...

he loves lying on his stomach. clearly.  and i don't blame him...its the best!

 

another visit from mimi and great grandma phyllis! 

and henry finally met the wedick's!

 

 good friends hold your baby and read book after book to your spirited toddler.

daddy went to the a's game with charlie one night so the sisters came to our rescue!  three cheers for the tantes!  (as finn calls them)

we ate one of our childhood favorites...or wait, maybe it was just my childhood favorite - ha!

 

  blt's.  a classic.

i was going to say that sisters just make motherhood better, but really, they just make everything better.

 

slumber parties mean sunday snuggling.

 

bathtime!

i love this picture.  he just looks so happy.

 

finn grabbed his sandwhich from the counter one day and told me he was going to "eat out by the garden". 

 

ok, buddy!

 

homeboy has been getting a little bored at home, so we have been experimenting with activites...

 

these weren't the hit i imagined they'd be.  but i had fun!  and what cute wrapping paper this will make.

however, he loves the memory game!  i was beyond surprised and excited to see that he grasped the concept...i have been eagerly awaiting for the time to come when we could play games together!  and it will just get better...guess who, checkers, cards, hungry hippo, yahtzee, rumikub, gin... i could go on and on...

one month

it breaks my heart to say it, but its true...one month! like everyone says, it feels like forever and just like yesterday that we brought you home. 

 

you are a dream baby.  so far.   and this little space on your diaper changer is your ABSOLUTE FAVORITE place in the world.  i thought it would be on daddy's shoulder or on my chest but no, you could lay here and look at that giraffe print for hours.  sometimes i lay you there when you are tired of being held...you get comfy, focus on the picture and then you smile!!  it is the sweetest thing. 

 

throughout the day, you eat.  you sleep.  you coo.  and you are a bit gassy so you fuss a bit, but nothing that isn't solved with some tummy time, more nursing or cuddles in daddy's big arms. 

 

you like the car.  you like the stroller.  you like the bath.  you looooove to be swaddled.  you don't like wind or broccoli.  don't worry - i don't either. 

 

your horrible hematoma disappeared at three weeks - which was such a relief to your daddy and me.  but especially daddy.  it worried him so.  we expected it to be around for months, so it was the best day when we woke up one morning and poof!  it was gone! 

 

you still have baby acne - a trait that you got from your mama - sorry baby.  and i think you also got my crazy baby eyes too.  i will have to show you one of my baby pictures.  yikes!

 

everywhere we go people stop to look and comment on your hair!  it is really something'!  people always ask me if i had heartburn, which i find so funny. i didn't have too much - way less than with finn.  people also call you a "rockstar".  and i agree with that one, you are most certainly our little rockstar. 

 

everything could change tomorrow, but so far, you have made this two-kid business so easy on us.  your big brother is another story.  ha!  but bless his heart, he loves you dearly.  and he tells you so at least once a day.  he also loves to help bring you diapers, pacifiers and burp cloths.  such a helper.

 

we will never be the same after loving you, henry david. 

 

you are just perfect. 

henry's first trip to casa de awesome

after three weeks of being mostly homebound, it was pretty exciting to load up the car and head to casa to awesome!  henry's first time!  i kept having flashbacks to finn's first visit.

finn is so into gardening this year - especially the strawberries from oma and papa's garden.  in fact, he thinks that every strawberry he sees is grown there!

 

cauliflower!

 

most of our time at casa de awesome is spent trying to keep finn out of trouble.  the energy and excitement level is through the roof! so after the garden, papa treats him to a ride on the trike. as you can see, its always a hit.

doll babies.  all three.

 

 more trike rides.

its never quite the same without ryan, bless his heart, he was off working late.  so i was quite happy to have the company of these helping hands for the night. 

while henry enjoyed an early supper on the porch, the others took finn to feed the steers.  always an adventure.

just two cool cats chillin' with a couple of cold ones.

next, there were tractor rides AND lawn mower rides.  it doesn't get much better in finn's world.

 

and then just good, ole' fashioned chasing.  finn's stride has really developed in the last few weeks.  of course, right after i bring home a new baby.  yikes!

beauty.  everywhere.

after a dinner of chicken, mama's mac and cheese, salad, and corn (epic), oh - and a margarita (!), we hiked up the hill.  and finn rode his bike.

he learned the fun of riding downhill on the way back down!  of course, one of the times i forgot his helmet.  packing for two kids is no joke.

 

thanks to papa for running beside him and catching him.  that man is one spring chicken, i tell you.

a heavenly night.  as they all are.

 

our new normal

is there anything better than a lazy sunday morning family snuggle?

i shouldn't be surprised, but ryan just completely melts over this baby...it kills me everytime.  like in the heart fluttering, goosebump kind of way.

****

 

henry met kelly!

 

and grandma pat!

and great grandpa!

and tante hannah!  and the jacobs!

 

these pictures do so much to me.

****

 

one particularly sleepy day, we attempted a little photo shoot...

****

we had a little gathering to show off our new boy. 

 

the conversations these two have crack us up.  when we can understand what they are talking about, that is.

henry fell in love with tracey.  as all babies do.  she has a magical sway.  it's probably in the hips.

and sara mary!

 

and charlie too!

 

 

three weeks of brotherhood for these two.  i have big dreams and high hopes for their friendship.

one is crazy.  and one is so content.  i will let you guess who is who. 

oh finn. 

 

he saw me taking pictures of henry on the quilt and asked me to take his picture.  of course, i obliged and he gave me this face.

 

it hurt a bit seeing this expression because i know he is trying so hard, but is also feeling overwhelmed with this new normal of ours.  and man, it's just plain hard being almost three.  it's a wicked combination.  i know it will get easier and in the meantime, i hope deep down he knows that he will always be my first...and that it's something special.  after all, it was  he who made me a mother.

 

i love him so.

 

 and his baby brother too.