The Beach Boys

We spent last week enjoying the beautiful Gulf Shore with Nanna, Pa, Uncle Chris, Aunt Stacie, and Bebe George. Henry had a great time in the water and even built up enough courage to venture to deeper waters with Daddy. He also built his first sandcastle all by himself (his favorite new phrase is "Henry do it!"). John enjoyed the water too (his first swim!), but we weren't surprised.

Pa built an amazing train table for Henry, and it managed to keep all the boys entertained during some rainy afternoons. John and George enjoyed drooling on those trains and wrasslin' around a bit.

Henry enjoyed the cuisine at the beach. We went to a seafood dive bar where Henry once again snacked on pickled okra and lemons (rind and all!). Henry also enjoyed his very first doughnut on our trip. Nanna and Pa made sure he enjoyed his second, third, and perhaps fourth, too.

We attempted some family photos on the beach one evening. Some were actually cute; others were cute because they were such a mess. In one photo, not a single person was looking at the camera. In another, the only person looking at the camera was the smallest one. Good boy, John.

On our last night at the beach, Nanna and I took Henry for some rides and treats. Henry rode airplanes with Nanna, soaring high in the sky. Then I tried to take him on the carousel and failed miserably. (The first attempt did not go so well either.) He didn't have any problem riding the choo-choo train with me, however. He chose the red car because it looked liked "James" (from Thomas the Train). We ended the night with ice cream cones; Henry requested "brown i-scheme." That sweet boy made quite a mess. He looked like Don Juan Henry with his chocolate goatee.

Thanks to Nanna and Pa for the wonderful beach trip!

John is 4 months old!

Likes: Rolling over the minute I'm on my back, grabbing toys and sticking them in my mouth, talking (I'm so chatty now that I'll stop eating to talk), sleeping swaddle-free, sitting up in the Bumbo chair, tummy time, any attention from Henry (I stop fussing if he's nearby), and going for walks in the Baby Bjorn.

Dislikes: Sitting at red lights, napping in my car seat (Mama is refusing to give up on this one), and having my diaper changed before I eat breakfast (wasting precious minutes that I could be eating).

Growth: I weigh 16 lbs., 10 oz., and I am 26 inches long.  This puts me in the 90th percentile for weight and the 85th percentile for height.  Henry got it right the other day when he said, "Bebe John, Chunky Monkey!"

Workin' on our Fitness

Once John hit the three month age requirement, we could get back in the gym. I was thrilled! Having an hour each day to myself is all the motivation I need to get on that treadmill. Henry loves going to the gym because it has all sorts of fun toys that we don't have at home. And John is happy just about anywhere.

The best part about the gym has to be the membership cards. If I ever need a laugh, I just pull these bad boys out. Henry's was taken at 18 months, and Gus says it looks like his mugshot. John's picture just makes me smile. Could he be any happier?!

Our little Tax Lawyer

John had his first experience in the Bumbo chair last weekend. He seemed to like it just fine, although he did not want to play with any toys. Instead, a book on Federal Income Taxation was more his style (clearly his punk-rocker hair does not match his taste in reading). Daddy is thrilled to have someone to discuss the tax code with over dinner.

Happy Berfday 'Merica!

Henry was excited and patriotic this Fourth of July. "Fi-ah-works! Wight up da sky! Stay up wate! Happy Berfday 'Merica!" John was, too, donning the red, white, and blue.

Friends invited us to an Independence Day celebration at their country club. Dinner was excellent. Henry ate his first (and second and third) helping(s) of corn on the cob. When dinner was done the boys ran and played and danced and bounced over and through fairways and hills and fans and castles. All that can get tiring. So Henry took a cotton candy break.  His sweet treat was as big as his head, so I was happy to see him share with Daddy.

Once the sun set, we sat down to enjoy the main event. Sweet John slept sweetly, even through the pops and booms of the fireworks. Henry was in awe, and the sight of his happiness and wonder filled my heart.

Botanical Buddies

Last week we enjoyed a playdate at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with our friends, Lauren, Colin, and Will. Henry and Colin spent most of their time frolicking in the fountains. And all that frolicking made Henry very thirsty. Later that afternoon, the baby boys enjoyed their strollers while the big boys enjoyed the slide. Then lunch. Then cookies. Then four hour naps. Lauren and I plan on becoming regulars at the Botantical Gardens.