Max's Political Commentary

Two recent unsolicited comments from Max:

1.) "John McCain is a good man. Not president."
2.) In reference to conservative pundit Bill Kristol on Fox News Sunday -- "What that guy talking about?"

That fruit smoothie tastes gooooood!!!

Here's Max looking a little like a 40-year-old man with a mustache. Scott and I were entertained. We hope you will be, too.

Anyone for Baseball?

Is this not the cutest outfit ever?! Thanks to Nana and Papa who sent it for Max's birthday. I'm not sure why Max is striking such weird poses in these photos. Perhaps he can't decide if he wants to be a baseball player or a ballet dancer. That top pose is a pretty decent fourth position! What do you think, Scott? (heh, heh, heh!)

Happy 6-Month Birthday, Henry!

Henry smiles and shows off those three teeth on the bottom

Henry turned six months old today and as a special present, he got to go to the pediatrician for a check-up and shots! The report was good. Henry chatted up a storm, sat on the exam table, displayed his three new teeth, stood up and grabbed the doctor's hair, and generally did all of his best tricks. His percentiles have gone down a bit, a very common occurence at this age when babies are more active but haven't really started eating solids yet. He was 16lbs, 6ounces (40% percentile) and 27 1/8 inches (75th percentile). Max, Henry, and Mama were all the lucky recipients of flu shots. Many loyal readers may recall the total debacle the last time I took both boys to the doctor. This visit was MUCH smoother. Max didn't even cry when he got his shot. He was too transfixed by the cartoon bandaid.

On a completely unrelated note, I'd like to share two cute stories from the past few days:

1.) Last night I made dinner for both boys. Tuna casserole for Max and banana for Henry. I put the boys at the table and left Max's dinner there while I went back in the kitchen for Henry's bowl. When I returned, I saw that Henry had leaned way over, grabbed Max's fork and lifted a bite of tuna casserole into his mouth. Granted, this is an impressive feat of physical coordination for a six-month-old, but I'm guessing that tuna casserole is not one of the approved "first foods" for a baby!

2.) Yesterday we took a trip to the zoo. Before we left the house, I was talking it up to Max and telling him that he could see any animal that he wanted. Then, I asked him what he would like to see most. His response, -- "A dragon." Yup. That one stumped me.

Henry's First Food

Henry had his first food today, just a few days shy of his six-month birthday. Although he was eager to grab the spoon and help it to his mouth (he wants EVERYTHING in his mouth these days), he didn't seem to be too thrilled with the taste of the rice cereal. In a few days we can try something more tasty like banana. It's hard to believe that Henry is old enough to eat solid food. My little baby is growing up!

River Farm

Thanks to Susannah for these adorable photographs from our trip to River Farm -- a gorgeous property owned by the American Horticultural Society. The kids enjoyed checking out the children's garden and having a picnic lunch.

Max and Amelia peek out of the little house.

Henry and Isaac enjoy tummy time.

Pre-crawling Henry in the baby gorilla pose.

Good friends share a hug in the dirt pile.

Henry Works on Crawling

Our Little Houdini

Well, we knew this day would come. We were just hoping it would come a little later.

Max has learned how to climb out of his crib.

He has no doubt had the physical ability to do this for months without realizing that it was an option for him. The kid climbs all over everything at the park and is quite the daredevil on ladders of all sorts. I'm frankly surprised that it took him this long to pop himself over the side of the crib!

The impetus today was a bit of unfortunate planning on our part. We drove into the city to watch football with some friends at their house. The plan was to put both boys down for their naps as soon as we got there. Henry went right to sleep in his pack-and-play, but Max, who is obviously much more aware of his surroundings was excited to see all of the people and an unfamiliar house. A few seconds after I put him in his pack-and-play, he was at the foot of stairs looking for action. Over the course of the next hour, Scott and I put him back in the crib OVER FIFTY TIMES thinking we'd eventually wear him down. Well, I'm sure you can see where this is headed. Max got the last laugh. He eventually popped out of the crib, locked the door to the bedroom so we couldn't even get in, and then proceeded to spill a glass of water that he found on the bedside table all over himself and the floor. At this point he unlocked and opened the door and cried for a new shirt.

I gave up.

Max came downstairs, watched some football, threw toys around, ate too many cookies, and knocked most of the food off of the coffee table and onto the floor. He is a holy terror when he is tired and hasn't napped.

When we put him down to bed tonight, he exercised his new escapist skills on a full-size crib. Over the course of 15 minutes, he got out of bed 12 times and Scott silently put him back in and closed the door. Eventually he went to sleep.

I can't wait for nap time tomorrow.

Attack of the Snot Monsters

Is there anything worse than sick kids? Not only is it incredibly painful as a mother to watch your children suffer with some nasty virus, but it is also so physically and emotionally difficult to care for them. Is that terrible to say? The truth is that some of my hardest moments as a parent have been when Max or I or Max and I were sick. Many will remember the great pneumonia episode of '07. Taking care of Max while I had pneumonia and a 103 degree fever was definitely a parenting low. Then there was the endless stomach bug Max had many months back -- diapers oozing everywhere, constantly changing outfits and sheets. Bleck!!!

The current viral onslaught in the G. household doesn't measure up to some of these earlier benchmark episodes, but it is trying nonetheless. Tuesday night Max woke up with a hacking cough at 3:30am and essentially didn't go back to sleep after that. Scott and I both sat in a steam-filled bathroom with him at 4am and I got up with him shortly thereafter to watch early morning cartoons (VERY early morning cartoons). Max spent all day yesterday lying on the couch and crying for me to wipe his nose -- "Max so stuffy, Mama, wipe Max's nose!". If Max would only learn to BLOW his nose, things might be somewhat improved, but for some reason he obstinately refuses to give this technique a try. In any case, he slept well last night and seems marginally better today. Of course Henry's nose is starting to run, so that should add some excitement to the mix.

Cute Boys

I was making weird noises to get Henry to look at me. This explains his shocked expression. Deer-in-the-headlights look aside, I think these boys are pretty damn cute. Not that I'm biased, of course.

Holy Hanna!

Nothing caps off a great week of vacationing at the beach like driving home for seven hours in the midst of a raging tropical storm! Scott definitely wins the medal of valor for getting us all home safely through 40 mile per hour winds and torrential rain. At one point, a little birdie told us that I95 was closed north of Richmond because of downed power lines across all four lanes (thanks, Rhona!). We couldn't get any hard information on when the road was opening again and what the backup looked like, so we decided to skirt around the area. The detour took us on tiny little roads in the middle of farm country east of Richmond. It would have been more enjoyable if it weren't pouring rain and Henry wasn't screaming, but it was still beautiful country. I particularly enjoyed the sign I spotted for "Poultry Crossing." It gives whole new meaning to the age-old question--"Why did the chicken cross the road?" To escape the hurricane, perhaps.

Traumatic return trip aside, the week down in Corolla, North Carolina was really great. I have tons of pictures and will post more of them when I can. It was great to spend time with the H-G family, and there are too many entertaining stories to share. Here's a brief sample:

Max and Amelia enjoyed collecting "pine noodles" (pine needles) on the deck and eating "popsigoats" (popsicles) every evening after dinner.

Amelia taught Max to ask for "something else!" whenever he didn't like the toy he was given or the food on his plate. Thanks, a lot, Amelia!

Max displayed an uncanny resemblance to his father in learning to take great glee in needling Amelia. He would pick up her sippy cup and watch her with a devilish grin on his face until she noticed the offense and went hysterical.

Max and Amelia enjoyed taking a bath together in one of the GIANT bathtubs in the house. Yes, there were photographs taken and yes, Susannah and I are planning to use them as blackmail material when the kids are teenagers.

All of the kids enjoyed swimming in the "hot pool" (hot tub) at the house. For some reason, however, Max was terrified of the jets.

Henry and Isaac enjoyed throwing their sleep schedules to the wind and waking up any old time they felt like it both day and night. Who needs a schedule, really? Certainly not the mothers of these two boys...

All in all it was a lovely week as far as family vacations go. All of you childless people reading this blog should note, however, that you will never again be able to quietly read your book on the beach. Instead, you'll hold your crying infant while you toddler shovels sand on you and demands "something else" for snack apart from the melted granola bar that you've brought for him. Meanwhile, you will have carted more gear than a Mt. Everest sherpa and you will barely have time to set it down in the sand before some crisis or another (a missing sippy cup, perhaps? a sudden inexplicable fear of waves?) forces you to haul it all back to the beach house where you can spend the next hour rinsing sand off of the children.

Sigh...

But they look so damn cute in their bathing suits and sunglasses and it is so much fun to watch their amazement as they jump over waves at the edge of the ocean ("Another wave! Another wave!").

Maybe next time I need to bring a nanny.

:-)