8 Months Old!

Dear Henry,
You turned eight months old nine days ago.  Yes, I'm late, but that seems to be the story of our lives these days.  Despite having moved exactly three months ago, we are still struggling to get organized and find a routine.  However, you have been such a trooper and have been rolling with our crazy mornings, when your dad and I are running around trying to get out of the house at a reasonable hour.

Lots of exciting things have happened in the past month. You got your first teeth (two bottom ones that came in at the exact same time), you learned to wave goodbye, and you are fully mobile (not crawling - just rolling).  We can't even turn our backs for a second before you've already rolled into the next room. You roll so quickly that I don't think you are that motivated to learn to crawl.

It seems like we've been throwing lots of big changes your way the past couple of months - the move from Chicago, the move into our new house - and you are about to have another big change: new day care.  You will be starting a full-time day care program on Monday. I hate shaking things up for you again, but I know this new school is better for you, and I have to remind myself that you are very  resilient.

Each month greets us with new and exciting changes in your development.  It is so fun to watch you grow and learn!

Love,
Mommy

Someone would not sit still for his 8 month picture.

The aftermath.

Baby in a bag!

Grandad Bill and Grandma Patty came to visit!

Already a Star Wars fan like dad!

It Takes a Village

We FINALLY live in our new house! It would not have been possible without the help of all of our parents - from watching Henry to pulling weeds to installing drawer liner - every second of help has meant the world to us! We still have some more unpacking and decorating to do, so we will wait to post pics until everything is complete.

In the meantime, and on top of all the moving drama, we've been super busy with life in general.  John rang in his 33rd birthday on July 13th. All celebrations were subdued due to all the time we were spending getting the house ready, so we will have to celebrate again once we are all settled.

A week ago, Henry was baptized at Trinity. Our friend (and Henry's godfather), Jim Manhart, flew in for the occasion. It was so great to spend some much-needed quality time with Jim, and we could not have been more honored to have him here.  It was a great weekend filled with family -- all four sets of our parents were together for the first time since our wedding -- and Steph came in especially for the event.  Henry was so good during the service and barely fussed at all!

After another super busy week as a still unlicensed attorney (will post on that later), we had another very packed weekend. Last Friday we went to my firm dinner at Southern Hills.  People usually dread those sorts of things, but we actually enjoyed ourselves.  You can't beat great food and free booze in a beautiful setting!

On Saturday, Henry went to his second-to-last swimming lesson -- he's getting so good! On Saturday night, my mom babysat while John, Alli, and I went to Wild Brew -- basically a huge beer party. There were tons of interesting beers there, and I even found a few I liked. We spent our Sunday running around as well, starting with brunch with friends visiting from NYC and ending with my niece's 3rd birthday party.

Alli and me in front of a scary eagle at Wild Brew

Henry and me enjoying the 100 degree temps at my niece's bday party

 Needless to say, we are exhausted from all of this, on top of trying to make our house liveable amongst our sea of stuff - we should definitely be on an episode of hoarders.  More on the house (and hopefully some relaxing) to come!

Henry is getting used to our new place!

7 Months

Dear Henry,


Today you turned seven months old.  Each month continues to be a month of "firsts."  This past month you learned to sit up on your own and shake your head 'no' (which we think is totally adorable now but probably won't feel the same about it in a few months), and you are just crazy about swimming.  


You are continuing to adjust to your new environment and have been incredibly resilient, even though we are still not settled in to our new home.  So far you have met every bump in the road with a big slobbery smile, and that's one of the things that I love best about you.  That, and the fact that you are the sweetest, cutest, most adorable little baby out there, but I might be a little biased. 



I know I say this every month, but I can't believe it's been seven months since you made your big debut! Your dad and I agree that these past seven months have been the most humbling, rewarding, and awesome months of our lives, and we are so blessed to have shared them with you.


Love, 
Mommy

Splashing at swimming lessons

So big!

Getting in my post-work squeezes!

Happy Birthday, America!

It was so great to be back in Oklahoma for the 4th and spend the holiday with family.  We went to Grand Lake on the 3rd to celebrate with John's family at his uncle's lake house.  The house has been in John's family for years, and he has such fond memories of spending summer weekends and holidays there as a child, that we are both thrilled that Henry will get to have the same Grand Lake experiences.  Henry met some of his cousins for the first time and was just in love with them - he's such a social little guy! We unfortunately were not able to stay for the fireworks - it gets dark too late for little Henry - but it was so great to spend time with friends and family.

We had a very low-key day for the actual 4th of July.  We lazed around the house for most of the day and headed to my parents' for dinner.  It was kind of a buzz kill that the holiday fell on a Wednesday -- no fun heading back to work today after a random day off in the middle of the week.  But it was nice to have a little respite in the middle of the week, especially with all the hours we've been putting in to getting our new house ready (more on that later).  Hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday!

Family pic on the dock

Mesmerized by his cousins

Sweet little firecracker!

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Tilton!

John and I just got back from a fun weekend in Kansas City celebrating the marriage of our sweet friend Sara (formerly Shepherd) to Nic Tilton. I was honored to be a bridesmaid in the fabulous affair, and it was such a blast to reunite with all my college friends.  It seems like we all only get together for weddings, and those are becoming fewer and farther between.

The weekend was also our first time away from Henry. It was really hard leaving him, and I thought about him the whole time we were gone, but I have to say it was nice to have a night of uninterrupted sleep! It was wonderful to pick him up from my mom's yesterday afternoon and give him a big ol' squeeze! Although, I'm pretty sure he didn't miss us since he spent the weekend being spoiled by his grandmothers.

Below are some pics from the wedding!

The lovely couple!

Me, Kimberly, and Leah!

Christina made it in from Ohio!

Kimberly and me

Us before dinner

6 Month Letter

Dear Henry,

Yesterday you officially turned six months old.  It seems like just the other day that I was writing your five month letter -- how on earth did the last month pass so quickly?  Oh wait, I think it just might have had something to do with us packing up our lives and moving 700 miles (696 to be exact) to Tulsa just three short weeks ago.  To say the move has been disruptive to your schedule is a huge understatement.  However, you seem so happy to have all the love and attention from our family here in Tulsa.  We made this move primarily for you, and you are showing us that it was truly the right thing to do.

I know I've been saying this at every age since you turned three months, but this is really my favorite stage of your life so far (the first three months were just no fun for either of us, and you might as well admit it).  You eat pureed food now, we've been swimming with you, you "fake" laugh and cough, and most recently, you sit up on your own. All these milestones in just a few short weeks! 

I feel like it was just the other day that you were born, but you've been here for half a year already. Not a day goes by that I am not incredibly grateful for you - you are truly a gift, and I still want to pinch myself to make sure you aren't just a dream.  So tonight, when I put you to bed, I squeezed you a little bit harder. Because I love you so much, and because I could.

Love,
Mommy

Henry's First Hoedown

When we announced we were moving back to Tulsa, all our Chicago friends would tease us about all the horses, teepees, and tumbleweeds that we would most likely refamiliarize ourselves with once we moved back. While I assured them that Tulsa was in fact a bustling metropolis, complete with running water and mandatory education, I'm not sure they actually bought it.  And I also vehemently assured them that Henry would not be riding any horses, anytime soon.  That is, until this weekend. 

My cousin threw her precious daughter a Toy Story themed 2nd birthday party this weekend, complete with pony rides.  We went to the party with the full intention of Henry watching the horses from the safety of the Bjorn, but I somehow got suckered into letting him ride a psychedelic pony named Dally. He seemed to get a real kick out of it, or at least was very interested in eating the saddle (ew).  Below are some pics from the adorable party.  Yippee-ki-ay!

At the start of the party. Safely tucked away in the bjorn, sun protective hat on, ready to have an equine-free afternoon.

Dally the psychedelic pony. she also had pink glitter on her tush. Wonder what PETA would think?

Henry and John enjoying the adventure.

The precious birthday girl enjoying her cake.

Nannie and Henry (and Henry's hat).