SNOW!

This weekend we had the biggest snow of Henry's short life...and his mom's long one!

Unfortunately we've both been under the weather, so we weren't able to really get out and enjoy it, but we did manage to snap a few pictures.

5 Months Old!

Dear Henry,

Today you are five months old!

You are changing at warp speed these days--just today we were thinking back to Christmas and realizing how much you have changed even since then. Every day is something new.

Here are a few of the things we want to remember about you at this stage:

• You are trying so very hard to roll from your back to your belly. It frustrates you, but you keep trying, and any day now you'll do it!
• A couple of times you've been able to sit for a few seconds unassisted.
• You have FINALLY started napping in your crib. Sometimes it's for 30 mins, sometimes an hour, but whatever it is we'll take it! This is a monumental achievement for you and we worked very hard to get here.
• Instead of nursing or being rocked to sleep, we now put you down to bed awake and you go to sleep on your own.
• You now have your very own "chair" at the table. You love your highchair and being able to join mom and dad for mealtime.
• You recently got sick for the first time. :( We took you to the doctor and you were diagnosed with RSV. Although you were very sick you were such a little trooper and maintained your good nature. We are glad that's over!
• You had your first--and second!--snowstorms. The second one was a good one, but, unfortunately, you were still not fully recovered from being sick so you didn't get to check out the snow in person.
• Your new favorite thing to do is to touch our faces...sometimes not so gently.
• Sophie is still your favorite toy...you love to chew her legs and nose.
• You are getting more active by the day. You've really learned to love your toys and you love to play interactively with us, but you also love to play independently and can do so for 15-20 mins.

It's so hard to believe that soon you will have been with us for six months. Our lives have changed so much since you arrived and just when we think we've all settled into a new routine, you go and change on us! But we're learning to adjust quickly and to be flexible. We're also learning to enjoy the simple things in life. You may be little, but you're teaching us a lot.

We can't wait to see what the next month brings!

All our love,

Mom & Dad

4 Months Old!

Dear Henry,

I'm a little late with this entry, but you're getting older and a little more demanding of my time!

It's so incredibly hard to believe that you've been with us for four months already. I feel like this first year is flying by, and although I'm always excited for the next milestone, I sometimes wish we could freeze time and keep you just as you are right now. You are so adorable and your little personality is really shining. We love you so much and cherish every single hour with you (even in the middle of the night!).

Here are some things we want to remember about you at this age:

• Your head and neck control is now very, very good. You sit in your Bumbo a lot and love it.
• You sit very well assisted, but aren't ready to sit on your own yet.
• You put full weight on your legs now and love to "stand" with our help.
• You still occasionally roll from your belly to back, but not consistently. You haven't yet rolled from your back to your belly.
• You giggle a lot...and you think your Dad is very silly.
• You sleep very well at night. You eat your last meal around 7pm and are usually asleep by 7:30pm...you usually wake up once overnight to eat and then sleep until 6:30-7am. You still nurse to sleep and go down in your crib asleep.
• On the other hand, you do NOT nap well. You won't nap in your crib at all--only on Mom 0r Dad or in the bouncy seat. We're working on it.
• You ran your first fever after getting your 4-month shots. :(
• You spent your first night away from home on Dec 18 when we stayed with Granny Diane at her house to celebrate Christmas. You did very well and slept just like you do at home.
• You took your first road trip when we went to visit Granny Margaret in Florida for Christmas. You did very well until the last hour, when you decided you'd had enough of that car seat. Understandable.

It's been a very eventful month...you are getting so much more active and doing so many new things all at once. We can't wait to see what next month brings!

All our love,

Mom & Dad

Luke 18:16

On Sunday, November 29, Henry was given the sacrament of baptism and welcomed into the Kingdom of God and the United Methodist Church.

I was raised in the Southern Baptist Church, which does not practice infant baptism...so when I was exploring the possibility of joining the UMC, this is one of the things about which I was most interested. I was intrigued by the idea of infant baptism, but I wanted to be certain that I was in agreement, doctrinally, with the concept before I agreed it was the right thing for me and my family. Without going into any theological detail, my research assured me that infant baptism, as the Methodists practice it, is something I could absolutely embrace. It is a wonderful celebration of God's prevenient grace, and I was so excited for Henry--and for Barry and me--to go through this process.

We were especially thankful to have many of our friends and family join us for baptism day. It was one of the most special days of my life...one of those days that I am certain will still be etched in my memory when I am old and gray.

For those of you who weren't able to be there, please know that we were thinking of you and praying that you will be a blessing in Henry's spiritual life as he grows in faith.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18:16

Many, many thanks to the amazing Kate Crafton, who has captured so many special memories for our family, including those you see here. If you like her photography, please check out more of her work here.

3 Months Old!

Dear Henry,

You are three months old (+ one week...Mom is a tad behind)!

It seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital, and now we are starting to pack away clothes you've outgrown!

Here are some of things we want to remember about you at this age:

• You are sleeping through the night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the technical definition, anyway. Ever since we unswaddled you and moved you into your crib (from the bassinet) you have been sleeping so much better. Most nights you go down to bed at about 9:30pm--some nights you sleep through until 6:30am, but mostly you get up sometime between 1:30am and 4:30am to eat, then sleep until about 7:30am.
  
• The latest, most exciting development is that you've given us your first belly laugh!! It happened for the first time while Granny Margaret was playing with you while she was here visiting for Thanksgiving. What a cutie you are when you laugh!
  
• You have also started to play with toys. You love your Winkle the most right now, because it's easy for you to grab onto, and you can get it into your mouth. You've also discovered the toys that hang down from your activity mat--you especially love the whale and you get frustrated when you can't get it into your mouth. Which brings us to the next point...
  
• You put EVERYTHING into your mouth. All of a sudden, you love to chew! We thought this meant that teeth might not be far behind, but both of your Grannies tell us it could be a while.
  
• You have started to notice Miss Lucy and you watch her a lot.
  
• Your love for television has grown...you could probably be entertained by it for hours if we let you.
  
• You have started to pull Mom's hair.
  
• You are holding your head up so steadily now and you can sit upright assisted very well. You like to sit next to Dad on the couch and watch TV.

You are growing and changing at an amazing rate these days...we love all the new changes, and although we're sad to see you "growing up," it's very exciting for us to watch you learn new things and develop.

We can't wait to see what the next month brings!

All our love,
Mom & Dad

In God's House

In the six years that Barry and I have been together, our church has become a very special place to us.

Four years ago this weekend, we were married there.

Today, we took our son there for the first time.

The next big milestone we will celebrate at this church will be Henry's baptism, which is planned for Nov 29, my 37th birthday. We are looking forward to dedicating his life to God and are especially looking forward to sharing the day with our friends and family.

**Wedding photos copyright (the fabulous) Mary Claire Crow.**

Our Little Sweet Pea is 2 Months Old!

Dear Henry,

You are two months old! Where has the time gone? Your personality is really showing now and you are so much fun!

Here are some of the things your Dad and I want to remember about you at two months of age:

• 
  
  You are sleeping better at night, but not consistently. Some nights you give us up to five hours of uninterrupted sleep! Some nights you don't. :(


• 
  
  These days you still nap mostly while one of us is holding you and sometimes in your swing or bouncy seat. The carseat is no longer a favorite place.


• 
  
  You are not only smiling at us, but also laughing and "talking." Your excited baby screeches make us laugh, especially when we get them in the middle of the night while your diaper is being changed. I'm not sure what is so funny about that, but you find it highly amusing. Maybe you're laughing at the fact that you're making us get up in the middle of the night to clean up your poo.


• 
  
  Your crib is still one of your favorite places to hang out.


• 
  
  You still hate tummy time, but we have to do it a little each day. You are pushing up on your hands now and can roll from your belly to your back on your own, which really impressed Dr. Rauth when you did it right on her exam table!


• 
  
  You are tracking sounds very well and can follow the sound of our voices when we're in the room with you.


• 
  
  You now love your swing, which was not a favorite at all until about 2 wks ago.


• 
  
  We are starting to get out a bit more, and one of your first "public appearances" was a visit to Dad's office for the annual HealthScream Halloween party. You were a huge hit!


• 
  
  We celebrated your first Halloween, and I think it was a bit much for you. Too much noise and commotion when you are used to a pretty quiet house at night. Next year you'll be ready for it!

We have a lot of exciting milestones coming up for your as the holidays approach. We are so grateful to have you as part of our family for them this year and can't wait to see what the next couple of months bring!

All our love,
Mom & Dad