Happy Birthday!

Scott’s birthday was not yesterday (or the day before) but I think it still qualifies as recent, so I’m going to say a word about it.On Scott’s birthday after we took turns entertaining and soothing Andrew while eating the nice dinner I prepared, wrestled Susanna into bed and refused her dozen requests (for different pajamas, cups of water, and more stuffed animals, etc), bounced, soothed, and nursed Andrew some more and then and finally got him asleep, the two of us collapsed in fatigue on the living room floor, to wake up an hour later and groggily climb into bed.  Luckily, we love our kids to pieces (and they are sweet and wonderful kids) and I had two other birthday celebrations planned for Scott (both of which went along swimmingly).  The important thing to say is that we love him.  I love him.  He is so patient with me, so supporting of me, and he works so hard.  As an added bonus, he’s a handsome son of a gun.  Thanks hun.

Half a year? Already?

The first six months of Andrew’s life have gone by a lot faster than the first six months of Susanna’s.  It’s like the “speed up, double” effect on Windows Movie Maker.  When I was taking these photographs yesterday (on his half birthday) I was struck by how big he looks!  I think it was the sitting poses, because he is just starting to get a handle on sitting (he’s not quite independent yet) and they make him look a lot more grown-up than the laying-on-your-back pose.  I hope he’s not grown up and moving out too soon: we’re enjoying having a happy baby Andrew around.  Here is what Andrew is doing these days:

• Saying “da” and “boo” and a few other things
• blowing spit bubbles and drooling; lots and lots of drool
• Exploring everything with his hands and mouth
• Starting to give baby "suck-on-your-chin” kisses
• Smiling at everyone, especially Susanna
• Following a predictable sleep schedule
• Rolling front to back, almost exclusively on the left side
• Jumping
• Sleeps swaddled tightly, usually with his head and back arched in a very awkward way
• Knocking down towers and playing catch

We went to the doctor yesterday and she (the pediatrician) said that Andrew is 19 lbs and 27 inches, which is about the 75 percentile for both categories.  He was only barely longer than last visit though, so the doctor and I surmised that this or his last measurement was incorrect.  It’s a really fun age, though, and we’re all having a wonderful time with this happy sweet playful guy.

Here are a few more photographs, including a triptych of him rolling over.