4 Months Old!

Hard to believe it's been 4 months already. He had his check up on Friday and the Dr asked me if it seems like 4 months. In some regards I can't remember life pre-Holden and on the other hand it has flown by. His appt went well. He's 15 lbs, 2 oz (57%-tile) and 25.5 inches (74%-tile). The Dr said he's doing great and that I can start him on solid food whenever I want. What an adventure that will be, especially since I plan on making my own. I think we'll wait a few more weeks for a variety of reasons. He got 3 shots and was his usual little trooper self. I still felt weak just seeing the needles but I'm getting better. Good practice for all the stitches and broken bones which are probably in our future.
Loving the bunny

Eating the bunny

And the paper

Waiting for the Doctor

Watching Bruce Springsteen on YouTube with Daddy

A little concerned about his dinosaur feet

Hittin' the Gym/Bon Voyage to Grammy & Ernie

The ridiculously cold weather continues so we were very happy to get out to the Tiny Tykes class at My Gym this week with Riley and Marlene. We loved it, or I should say I loved it. Holden is probably still trying to figure out where in the world he was and why he was bombarded with songs, movements, and swings neatly packed into 45 minutes of craziness. I was very impressed with the "coaches" and was amazed how they can easily transform the room into so many activities, including a car wash where the babies ride on toy cars through pom-poms and punching bags with bubbles while the hit song "At the Car Wash" played in the background. It was quite a workout for me too which is a good (and much needed) thing. Rob joined us for the Saturday class and was equally impressed so we signed up for a 10 week session of 2 classes per week starting Jan 26. I'll take him during the week and the 3 of us can go on the weekends (or Rob can take him and I'll use the massage membership Rob got me for Christmas!) In addition to having fun at the class, I'm glad to learn some different things I can do with Holden when we're home too. I think he's a little bored with the current circuit of activity mat, bouncy seat, swing, jumperoo, tummy time and repeat.

Today we were treated to a visit and de-lish dinner courtesy of Grammy & Ernie before they head south on Wednesday for a month. They'll be in SC, FL, and on a week long cruise to the Carribean. I've been spending a lot of time trying to figure out how the 3 of us can sneak ourselves into their luggage. We are excited for them but sad for us - we will miss them!! Since Grammy will be gone on Valentine's day Holden got to open his V-day gift a month early. Thanks Grammy & Ernie for the (9month!) sleeper, slippers, and Elmo Loves You video!

Finally, we'd like to congratulate Matt & Emily on the arrival of Jack Mason today!!! We are very excited and can't wait to meet our new little cousin. A link to their blog (baby staffaroni) is on our Friends & Family list. We look forward to seeing pictures and watching him grow.

In the ball pit with Riley and fellow gymster Jack
Taking a break for some thumb time

Working out on the teeter-totter with the Coach

Enjoying a ride in the jumper/swing contraption

And on the real swing

Coach Mike's puppet show

Stylin' earlier in the week

Trying to stay warm

Still trying to stay warm

Celebrating Valentine's day a month early

Loving Elmo Loves You

Modeling Ernie's hat

Um, a little help here.

Blah Winter Days

Lots of time has been spent indoors and we're all going a little stir crazy with these blah, gray days of winter. The only snow we've had is some flurries. If it has to be so cold and gloomy we wish we could at least get a few flakes out of it to make things interesting (especially since I don't have to worry about commuting to work anymore). But there are signs that spring will soon come...the PGA kicked off this weekend (which is a big deal in our house), we saw bathing suits for sale at the mall, and we are contemplating which branch of the tree in our front yard will support a baby swing for Holden. If we can't have nice weather at least we can dream about it.

To fill up some of our time while we wait for spring, we are going to My Gym (no, not my gym - I haven't been to one of those in years), but My Gym for kids tomorrow with friend Riley to check out the Tiny Tykes class. We're also going to a baby program at the library next week and maybe Baby Pictures, which is a baby friendly movie theater. This is all right up my alley...not too much but something to get us out of the house and around other moms/babies. Oh, and a good reason for me to skip wearing sweats for a day or two.

Holden is chugging right along. He's really using his hands alot and has discovered my hair and earrings, both of which are fascinating to him but not so fun for me. He is drooling like crazy and is starting to put things in his mouth. He's sleeping 10 hours straight at night and has a pretty good morning nap routine. The afternoon is still a crap shoot but I am sooooo happy with the night schedule that I don't even care how the rest of the day goes at this point. Less than 2 weeks until he turns 4 months old...how did that happen?

Enjoying what little sun we've had

Yummy bird toy thing

Mall date with Riley

Making a funny face at DaddyPlay time with Grammy

Supporting the Eagles in honor of the Staffaroni's

But letting us all know he still likes the Redskins better

Rolling into 2009, literally

Happy New Year! We said good bye to 2008 with a fun night at home with the Bruners' and some yummy fondue. As I was getting everything ready for dinner Holden was hanging out in the bouncy seat watching me and we were chatting about all the fun things he'll do in 2009, like roll over, crawl, walk (hopefully), eat real food, go to the pool, etc. He seemed to think all that stuff sounded pretty cool so he decided to not waste any time and check one off the list right away. And of course the mommy-cam was there to catch it all. Here is Holden on New Year's Day rolling over for the very first time!

Step 1

Thoroughly enjoying Step 2

Ta-Dah!

And for my next trick...

We have lift off!

I can even hold it long enough for the papparazzi to get a zillion shots

And one more trick...

Playing in the jumperoo while drooling. Grammy thinks teeth are in the very near future.

The jumperoo in all its glory, thanks Santa!

And now for the encore...our accomplished thumbsucker

And of course he's mastered being adorable, not that I'm biased or anything

One more for good measure

Ho Ho Ho!

Holden had a ball on his first Christmas. The festivities began on Christmas Eve with our traditional seafood feast (yum) and a special overnight visit from Grammy and Ernie. We all got up around 9am and started opening presents then pigged out on bubble bread - a perfect morning! In the afternoon we headed over to Uncle David and Aunt Susan's house for Christmas dinner with cousins Annika, Olivia, and Colin plus Susan's family including their 4 cousins. Quiet would not be the word to describe the day but fun definitely would. We had a delicious dinner, even more delicious desserts and a very lively Christmas sing-a-long at the piano courtesy of their talented neighbors. The girls also played a few tunes and we were very impressed with how good they've become. Holden tried to catch a few ZZZs throughout the day but didn't want to be left out of the fun for very long. He was a trooper and enjoyed every minute of it.

Holden would like to thank everyone, including Santa, for the very generous Christmas presents!!

Either a very overdressed Holden, or a very underdressed Daddy delivering Christmas goodies to our neighbors on Christmas Eve (his 3 month/13 week birthday)

Daddy explaining that next year he'll be able to sit at the table, but the bouncey seat on the floor will have to do for now.

Holden sad to realize he's bigger than the crableg. We wanted to match the picture of cousin Lindsey and the ginormous crableg of '04

First gift on Christmas morning

Unwrapping...a new skill

Happy Santa paid a visit

Oooohhh, shiny ribbon

Surrounded by all his loot yet the shiny ribbon is still getting all his attention
Holden, Daddy, and a goofy hat at David & Susan's

Olivia (with Annika and friend Caroline) treating us to a piano recital

The sing-a-long in full swing. 9 kids + 13 adults + a talented piano player = a very fun time! We hope to make it an annual event although we'd have to pass out earplugs to all the neighbors.

Sitting in the bumbo sporting a new outfit (size 6 months!) and cute sneaker socks on the day after Christmas

And the award for cutest baby goes to...HOLDEN!