Henry Weeks 20-24sm.m4v

Christmas Stroll

Our annual Christmas stroll was last night. It had been pretty cold all day, about 11 degrees for the high, but the event was very well attended. We walked from the house with Henry in the backpack wearing enough clothes that the elements wouldn't dare intrude. We dined on fry bread, pizza, cookies, hot chocolate and cider.
Henry loved it. Being up at eye level with everyone else and so much to see, he was in heaven. The only person who could get him to snap out of his data gathering trance was Madigan, a little girl down the street who jumped up and down wearing a Koala hat. Henry giggled in between contorting his cold cheeks in new sensations.

first bite of food

Here's the first attempt at giving Henry rice cereal. Holly mixed it with formula, but it looked pretty sick. I guess I won't have to give him a lemon wedge for awhile to have a laugh.

second bite of food

Click on the image for a larger video...

A few minutes after our first attempt at rice cereal we tried again and Henry was surprisingly into it. I think he really liked having something that was supposed to be in his mouth for a change.

White Friday

After a pretty miserable week of below zero temps and snow a warming trend is finally here. We awoke to a beautiful sunny day with an inch of fresh powder over everything. Today was the day for Henry to get his first day of skiing in!
We got to use our backpack for the first time and it worked very well. I wore Henry around the house for awhile to try it out and he loved it.
Here Henry is all ready to go:

Due to the amount of snow on the ground, we can actually ski from our front door over to the high school's athletic fields, they make a nice place to ski if the snow is new...

Henry Weeks 17-19

Winter arrived yesterday

We had our first snowfall yesterday. Henry was in his jumparoo and kept turning to look out the window. He was watching it snow! This morning we woke up to a very wintry looking scene. It was very heavy wet snow, and it was cold... obviously. Joe wasn't around, but I wanted to be sure I had a picture of Henry in the snow. Don't judge, it's the best I could do without actually laying him down in it.

The dog days of Fall

If you live in Bozeman this fall has been very warm. Some love it, it has extended the summer and for Holly and I and given us some semblance of a summer when we spent the actual summer in a infant induced stupor.
We've been lucky and getting out when we can with Henry. He loves to go for walks and really seems engaged with nature around him. He loves to say 'woo woo' at the trees as we walk by.
Henry is very sad to see fall turn to winter, though he really doesn't know why yet. Holly has a date with our neighbor to take him out on a ski-converted chariot when the snow starts flying.

Weeks 14-16

Henry's First Dance Video_sm.m4v

We have quickly realized that Henry LOVES to dance! His favorite kinds of music are rap/hip hop, pop, and early 2000's club/house music. He has a special place in his heart for Michael Jackson too. Here is Henry showing off his sweet moves and fancy footwork set to the track of one of his favorite songs.

1st Halloween

Today was the downtown trick-or-treating event for the kiddies. Henry was a very cute, not very scary skeleton and I was his crazy nanny. I was going for a Janosz from Ghostbusters 2 look (when he is possessed and takes Oscar in the night), but not so sure I achieved it. Oh well. We hit up the event early as to avoid the total chaos that ensues on a 60 degree Halloween event. Not much candy was collected, but we still had fun and heard lots of, "oh what a CUTE skeleton!"

It's fall.

Well, it's almost November and we sure have lucked out this fall. We might get our first snow in town tonight, or tomorrow. For the most part it's been in the 60s and 70s for the last month! Here are some fall shots from a hike today.

Fall photo shoot

New season + new camera + nice day = Henry fashion shots

We've had atypically nice weather and decided to try and see how the new Nikon does. Henry didn't like having the evening sun in his eyes, so we had to shade him if we wanted to see his blue eyes.
Oh, and Henry is now big (and stable) enough for the Jumperoo! He still hasn't figured it totally out, but it certainly beats being in the smaller bouncy seat.

Sesame Street is Crack

Like all good parents, we've got our kid started young. Holly decided to see what would happen if he saw muppets, and it was like he was hypnotized. If he gets really fussy, this takes care of it in an instant.

He only needs about 5 minutes of Big Bird to go completely docile.

Henry Weeks 11 12

Double click on the photo to get a bigger version of the video in YouTube.

some pics...

No posts for awhile, we've been busy, but here are a few from the last week.
Here we are hiking south cottonwood creek this weekend.


Here's Henry getting a story read to him, he's not sure about the concept of story time, but seems to like the colors in the books.

Here's Henry pondering the Universe... are we but specs of dust and time?
Tummy time is yielding a stronger head, and the composure of a sloth, just try and make him blink... I bet you blink first.

It's been a long weekend and Holly and I will be hitting the sack, (not even 8pm yet).

Henry's first train ride

Today we took Henry on his first train ride... well Joe did. I took video. I did get to take a ride and they rode a second time. This "railroad" was hand built, train cars, track and all by a local man who passed away a few years ago. His wife is continuing to keep his dream alive, by having an operational railroad that gives free rides to kids (and adults too). It's located on a piece of property adjacent to the old rail station in Bozeman.
Joe was so stoked he offered to volunteer any time they needed help. It sounds like they may operate it again on Halloween. Henry didn't seem to get what all the fuss was about.

Henry Weeks 7-8

First Ascent

Holly and I took Henry for his first hike today. He's not big enough to use our purpose built backpack, and both of us were looking for a more challenging hike than a fireroad, so no stroller.... The best solution was to throw him in the Baby Bjorn. After a small protest, he passed out and we got a pretty good hike in. I thought it was going great and that the Bjorn was much more comfortable than I had expected... until I took it off. Man, that is some back pain. very un ergonomic. In any case, we'll do this a bit until he is strong enough to hold his head up and we can take our real backpack. Looking forward to it.

Mama's parents and a weigh in

Here are some pictures of my parents with Henry. My mom brought the rattle I had when I was a kid, he LOVED it! You can guess what is happening in the top photo. Only one thing would make a grandma make that face when she's holding her grandbaby ;)

Henry had his 2 month check up yesterday. He weighed in at 13 lbs 4 oz and is 24 inches tall. He got his first round of shots and held a stern look for the entire rest of the day. People were smiling a cooing at him on the way out and he just stared them down with a set jaw and pierced lips. He was not amused!

Two months already!

Henry will be two months old tomorrow! I put him in this little turtle neck yesterday and thought it was about the cutest thing I had ever seen. He looked so grown up! He still loves the play palace, spending much of his awake time talking a swatting at his "friends". He is starting to interact with us more giggling and smiling all the time. I think he actually has developed a squawk that means "MOM!" He tends to do it when he's done sleeping and is ready for me to come get him out of his crib. We got a new piece of gear yesterday... now that fall is upon us...expect to see it posted soon.

The Bear Club

Henry got a neat canvas vest with the 'Bear Club' emblem on it. I realized that although I was not a member of the club, I had nearly the same outfit in my closet. Here we are in matching kit.

Henry weeks 7 8

Issue #4 of the critically acclaimed series:

First Road Trip

Joe here,

On Thursday I got word that I needed to be in Jackson Hole for a project interview Friday. Holly and I decided this little trip would be a perfect experiment to see how road worthy Henry was. Verdict.. He is very good company on a road trip! It was a great day, not only did I get the project, but Henry slept the entire car ride down and we only had to stop to feed him once. Here we are in Jackson with some bronze Elk. We then had some terrific Thai food and called it an early day.
This morning we got up at 5 and hung around the hotel for a bit and were among the first in line at 'The Bunnery' at 7. Next up was Teton National Park. We hit some of the paved trails that were stroller friendly around Jenny Lake, but there wasn't much. Henry was out cold for most of the ride and didn't like being taken from his car seat.
So, we kept on driving into Yellowstone and stopped at Old Faithful for a photo op. Somehow even though it was crowded in the park, we seemed to always be going up stream from the traffic. The drive was very pleasant and we made it back to Bozeman at 2pm. A quick trip though the park, but we kept talking about how much fun it will be to bring him back when he is old enough to participate!

Henry weeks 5-6

I'd rather stand

Our "little" boy is 6 weeks old today! I am fully aware that I have the shortest torso known to man, but I think Henry's height has something to do with it too.



There are moments during the day with Henry that I think he is channeling Stewie from Family Guy. Here is one of those moments.


I went to put him into the bouncy seat and he planted his feet at the base and locked his knees. He then flashed me the expression you see in the photo. I started laughing and by the time I ran back with the camera the strength in his legs was slowly giving out, so he not as upright as he was at first. I feel like he thinks the car seat is demoralizing.

He still loves swatting at the blue elephant in the play palace, and he regularly talks to the airplanes flying over his crib (airplane mobile), he just started noticing the bird mobile above his changing table (it's several feet above the table) he smiles and stares at it while we change him. Another favorite of Henry's is pop music. I hold him out and dance while he pumps his arm. I am not kidding, sometimes I feel like it matches the beat perfectly! Joe tried to get a video of him doing it, but as is usually goes... by the time you grab the camera, the moment has passed.

Concert-Henry.mov

Maybe Outdoor festivals aren't Henry's thing...

Another busy day! We took Henry to another outdoor concert today. This time instead of swing music we had some really neat French/Romanian/Gypsy music. The only thing that aroused his suspicion was the applause between songs. In any case, he's a trooper and I think we can lug him just about anywhere at this point.
After the concert we got slammed by a thunderstorm and took refuge in a coffee shop for a while. We took the long way home and ended up dry in the end. Henry really liked the ride in the stroller with me running full bore into a gale force headwind to get him inside before the rain hit.
Rather than be upset he had the kind of look an adrenaline junkie would have, as if to ask for another ride....

Get around round round we get around...

Sweet Pea is an annual festival that runs for three days at the beginning of August. This whole week has been action packed with activities. On Wednesday we took Henry down for his first 'bite of Bozeman' where our Main Street was blocked off with bands and tons of great food. Unfortunately, we hit the frybread stand just as they ran out of batter. Thursday was Music on Main, but we couldn't go because we had TWO 70th birthday parties to attend. The first was at the Story Mansion and the second was in a hotel, both were fun. Friday we hit the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert (swing band) on the Sweet Pea main stage with thousands of other bozemanites. We got out of there just as the rain started at about 9:30.

This morning was the Sweet Pea parade and kids fun run. An event like this really hits home how Bozeman really is the breeding ground. There were literally thousands of kids running. I scouted the competition for Henry to compete against in the coming years. After the run we took in the parade. Here's a pic of Henry enjoying his first parade.

Play Palace-small.mov

Henry yells for the first time-small.mov

Henry learns to talk...sort of.

Henry after a bath 2

Henry After a Bath!

A busy week...

Henry is a pretty portable baby (as most are), though he does have his days! Since last week we have taken him to two parties in the Baby Bjorn and he has taken it all in stride. We have been slowly introducing him to friends, even at 4 weeks old (today) he still has a lot of folks to meet!

He's also been getting out on regular stroller walks nearly every day. In case you are wondering why we are walking in the street, the corner ramps are under construction and were blocked off.

Henry in the mountains

Family picnic day! We took Henry up to Hyalite Reservoir for his first real outing today. He slept most of the time, but was awake long enough to give the place an unapproving gaze.

Here's 'Henry in the forest'Hyalite Creek with Dad, who forgot the stroller? Doh.

Mom at the reservoir, Henry wanted back in the car seat.
Dad with Henry, before the pacifier fell on the ground and upset the little guy.
Conclusion? Picnics are great, and so are the mountains.

Magnum or Blue Steel?

Zoolander is one of my favorite movies. I think it will be one of Henry's too... Why? because he is already practicing his pose.

Here's Ben Stiller:

Here are Henry's best shots:

What do you think, is he showing us Blue Steel or Magnum?

Parenting award for the day goes to...

Joe!

Henry has been a little adverse to sleeping on his own. Today was a big day, Henry got his first bath and I don't think he disliked it as much as it took him out of his familiar routine of sleeping, eating, getting changed and trying to figure out the blurry images surrounding him. After his bath he ate then was seriously ready for a nap. On the changing table he let us know that he had had it! Joe immediately went into action! He put a new diaper on in record time, grabbed the swaddle and popped in a pacifier and carefully place a rolled receiving blanket to touch the top of his head (he won't fall asleep without something touching his head). Henry didn't even know what happened before his eyes rolled back and he conked out. Joe put him down in the co-sleeper and Viola! Success! A multi-hour nap alone... leaving mom and dad to BBQ dinner and eat together. Such a treat. I have eaten alone several times this week already, so it was nice!

Generations

1977...2010... Some things never change.

I've waited way too long for this...

So, those of you with some internet culture under your belt may know what I'm doing here. Now, I'm talking real internet culture... you've seen all the silly videos, photos and other nonsense the net has to offer, but the following stands out:

http://www.myinterestingfiles.com/2008/02/when-dad-is-a-graphic-designer.html

Ever since I saw that years ago I've been waiting to do something similar. Tonight with Henry on my chest I snapped the perfect photo and rather than re create the wheel, I just used Photoshop to edit Henry in.
Here's the original from the net:
Here's Henry's take on the theme. While he doesn't meet the true blood lust of the army baby above, he certainly does come out on top for a wincing open mouth battle cry. We should have named him Duke after all!