Sniffles & Bulbs - Week 7

Grandpa Rick and Grandma Rosie

Week 7 brought a return visit of Henry's grandparents from Carl Junction. They were very excited to see him, and see how much he had changed since they last saw him in August. They were even more happy to experience a relatively cry-free night out of Henry since they were sleeping in the next room. Of course, I don't know that any amount of wailing would overcome the snoring coming out of 'ol Grandpa!

We tried to hit up a pumpkin patch, but the whole family came down with colds during the week that we couldn't kick before the weekend. Henry has certainly become 'one with the bulb' since we have to suction his nose multiple times/day. It just kills you as his parent to hear him cough/sneeze, and then cry about it, knowing that he feels bad but there isn't much you can do to help him. By the end of the weekend, he was feeling pretty good, though.

Colds Suck

Henry has started becoming much more aware of his surroundings, and has started to purposefully play/hit with some of the toys that hang over his bouncy seat and carseat. This has become our first video that was shot with our video camera. From the vaccuum of being his parent, it is really cool to see and makes you happy, however when I step back and think about the fact that we are getting enjoyment watching him swing his arms at a plush shape, I start to think that we have lost some 'coolness.' :) Also, he is smiling a decent amount nowadays, which is amazing to see for the first time. He continues to grow up rather than out. We still have to put him in newborn clothes/diapers b/c the kid just refuses to plump out!

Hopefully the readers aren't getting tired of that carseat for a background :)

The finer things in life (Week 6)



Kyra tried to get fresh with with Henry, so I had to take him away! We are trying at an early age to teach him to play hard to get.

 

Week 6 was a big one for our little guy. We all went down to the Plaza Art Fair on Friday night on Saturday. On Friday, our friends Ashley and Scott Albers came down from St. Joe with their daughter Kyra to take in the festivities. It was essentially Henry and Kyra's third date. Kyra is two days younger than Henry, but about a pound ahead of him. Our boy needs to get to eating! Friday night we just ate dinner and had a few beers while we talked and listened to the bands. It was a great night, with perfect weather! As you can see from the above picture, it was a "pump and dump" kind of night for Laura and Ashley!

Eileen Knoblauch (pre-rain). Paul would have been in this picture, but he was playing air guitar to the Starship hits being played on stage. So, I had to stand in.

On Saturday afternoon, we went back down to the art fair with our friends and neighbors, the Knoblauch's, with their 6 month old boy Dolan. Though it wasn't supposed to rain until around 5pm, it started at about 2:30pm (George Waldenberger is a fraud :) ), so we spent about an hour of our time just hanging out in Eddie Bauer. We probably should have selected a store that we actually shop at! Anyways, it was a great time, and we eventually did get to see most of the art exibits before it started to rain yet again. See the pics for Henry's critiques of selected pieces.



Henry's take: "I like this art. It is sophiticated, and yet carefree all at the same time. The artists aesthetic is to be admired."





Henry's take: "What is this? I've seen better art in my dirty diapers! And why is it carrying a garden gnome?"

On Saturday morning, we all took Bella to Brookside for the annual "Strut Your Mutt." Bella made a lot of new friends, or at least sniffed a lot of tail. It was a great morning to get out and walk! Henry is not pictured, but he slept through the whole thing.

On Sunday, the Seagers came over with their kids for dinner and to meet Henry (see Week 6 pic above). Their little girl Phoebe was very excited to see Henry and Bella, who she chased around the house/yard all afternoon. It was fun to watch their 1yr. old Griffin, and think that this is how Henry will be this time next year. I'm sure Bella is thinking the same thing. During dinner, she just set up camp under Griffin's chair to get whatever table scraps fell to the floor!

We also received the link to the pictures taken for Henry's newborn shoot. If you would like to check them out, the link is:

http://www.blainefisherphotographyproofs.com/lightbox/index.php?category=gallery/Bogart%20Family



Henry's stats as of 9/27 - 9lbs, 4ounces, 21.5inches long, three girlfriends.

Watching the Chiefs go 3-0!!!





"8 mile"



Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh My (I don't have a change of clothes!) - Week 5

Aunt Jen



Week 5 was relatively quiet for our little guy. Early in the week, Laura took him for his first visit to the zoo with her friends Kara and Ashley and their kids. Obviously Henry couldn't really enjoy any of animals, but he did enjoy being outdoors for an extended time period. It was also great to watch Ashley's son and Kara's girls interact with the animals, and know that we will be there in another year or so! The funny part of the trip was when Laura was posing with Henry in front of an elephant, Henry decided that that would be a great time to "blow out" the backend of his outfit. Laura changed him quickly, only to notice she didn't have a change of clothes for him. So, little Henry had to turn the zoo into his own nude beach!

Note: I won't go into it, but the "blow out" is quickly becoming one of Henry's favorite things to do. It has become a semi-regular occurrence :) Luckily, after the zoo incident, Laura always has a change of clothes in the diaper bag.

In addition to all the paparazzi attention Henry has been getting, he also had his newborn photo shoot on Thursday. Henry was absolutely awesome during 95% of the shoot, including actually having his eyes open for a lot of it. Hopefully in the next week or so we will be able to share some of the pics on the blog. The lowlight of the day was probably when we were trying to calm him down (hates to be naked) and he proceeded to make the photographer's blanket his own toilet! Apparently, at least for little boys, it is very common for them to #1 on his blanket. However, he has never had a newborn "deuce" on it :) That's our boy!

Also this week he attended Kara's 30th birthday party. It was nice because we could just enjoy ourselves while everyone else took turns holding him. Also, he attended his first post-utero baby shower for one of Laura's friends. For confidentiality purposes, we will call her T-Rex :) Throughout the week, he continues to improve with "tummy time," to where he is really good about raising his head on his own. Also, it would seem like he may be a quick one to roll over based upon all the squirming he does!


What a ladies man! Anne (holding Henry) tried to babysnatch, but security was able to catch her in time.



That is about it for week 6; next week will bring art reviews from the Plaza Art Fair courtesy of Mr. Henry Bogart (he's a very classy baby, you know!)

A Party, a trip, and a whole lot of McDonald's

Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Craig

Henry's fourth week took him on two trips and two parties. First, Laura took him to north KC to meet up with our friend Ashley and her new baby Kyra (born 2 days after Henry). This was followed by a trip to St. Louis to visit Grandma and Grandpa Anderson and attend a wedding for one of Laura's sorority sisters. He did great in the car, though we certainly had a full share of road stops at various McDonald's throughout mid-Missouri to change diapers and/or nurse. Everytime Reggie would change him on the backseat, he would keep thinking to himself, "please don't relieve yourself in the car!" :) The wedding reception was our first time officially leaving Henry for an extended time. Kathy said he didn't cry the whole 5hrs. that we were gone (we think that might be just wishful "grandma speak" since we have never experienced that :) ). Also, while in STL, Grandma Kathy threw an amazing open house for all our St. Louis friends and family to be able to meet him.

I sure hope those ladies are calling a cab to get those babies home :)

What Happens at Grandma's Stays at Grandma's

On Friday night, we all went to celebrate our friend Mary's 30th birthday! We were a little concerned about the noise level (Mary's party was the bomb!), but Henry loved it! Though being passed around the party all night, he just slept the whole time. I shouldn't say he was passed around all night. The "Henry Hog," a.k.a. Jenni Payne, was in attendance, so she had him for 70% of the time. Also, Henry was able to get phone numbers from 4 random women. We figure it must be because he is already gaining more and more of his dad's good looks!

Overall, Henry is starting to be more and more alert during the day, and sleeping better at night. He is 8lbs, 5oz as of Tuesday, which is just below the target set by the pediatrician. He is an absolutely wonderful baby! Now if he would just lose that old man back hair.............

Three weeks, one kid, lots of poo

Grandma Janith

Three weeks have now passed, and Henry continues to teach us new things everyday. For instance, I didn't know that it was possible in the span of 15 minutes to dirty your diaper so bad that it ruins your diaper, your outfit, and your blanket! It was really gross, yet somewhat impressive all at the same time. He continues to develop a sense of wanting to be held all the time, otherwise he will wail on you. Laura is becoming very adept at doing her various everyday tasks one handed (mowing the lawn, sweeping the chimney, changing the oil in the cars - you know, "woman work"). Sleeping is going really well we think, with him continuing to give us 3-5hr. chunks at a time during the night.

This week brought a return visit from his Grandma, who understandably couldn't get enough of him! Also, we celebrated Bella's 4th birthday, with Macy and Abner in attendance. Henry also got a present from the Siffords in the form of his very own Oh Henry candybar! Finally, Henry has taken to listening to ridiculous songs that Reggie makes up in order to get him to stop crying. For those who may have had the "privilege" to hear Reggie sing in the past, you might have thought that would be the other way around :) The two top songs on Henry's playlist are "Little Tree Frog" and "Fussy Little Baby." They are sure to be classics!

Week 4 is big for our little boy. It is his first long car ride to STL and a family photo session.

Is it raining, or is it just me (and other Week 2 happenings)

Well, another week has gone by. It is amazing to think that Henry has been around for 2 weeks already. It is funny how he appears to change everyday. We are continually trying to determine who he looks like more. I am not sure where he is getting all his back hair, but we are hoping that all falls out eventually. Perhaps he is getting that from Bella :). This week brought Henry's first bath. It didn't go too well, but I would imagine that was about 85% due to his parents having no clue what they were doing! We had our first family dinner outing on Friday, even though it was only to Governor Stumpy's. Henry did great, and just slept the whole time. Also, near the end of the week, he finally started to take to sleeping in his bassinet, as opposed to a bouncy seat. Over the weekend, he was sleeping blocks of 4-5hrs. each night (THANK YOU HENRY!). He has apparently gained a 1/2 inch, but lost an ounce of weight, during the week (Now at 21" long and 7lbs, 13oz).

Unfortunately for Laura, the week started off with her having to learn the hard way the lesson of why you have to have your new diaper ready when you take the old one off. Henry decided that day to "make it rain," and I don't mean dollar bills. He tried for an encore with Reggie later that day, but he was ready for him!

We never knew that a baby could produce so much trash until this week. It is pretty amazing how long the diaper genie bag is that gets thrown away each week. Seriously, it is like I am holding an anaconda! The funniest is how he is getting good at dirtying his diaper within 2 minutes of changing him. I never realized how many times in a row a baby can poop!

We continue to have numerous visits from our great family and friends. You all have been extremely generous, and we can't thank you enough!!!

Week One

Sister Bella

Henry is a week old today and it's hard to imagine life without him.  It obviously was a week of firsts for everyone. For Henry, it was his first car ride, first introduction to his new older sister Bella, and his first walk of many to the Roasterrie in his stroller. For Reggie, it brought his first ever diaper change. For Laura, it was her first guilt-free drink in over 9 months! And overall, this was a week about getting to know one another. Henry struggled with nursing up until Day 6 when magically he got it! We think the lactation specialist at St. Luke's must have had some sort of special voodoo spell she cast, because after our appt. with her on Monday, all of a sudden he got it pretty much all the time. 

The meeting of Henry and Bella went great! Bella occasionally will just walk up to Henry, sniff, and lick once, and then walk away. When he cries in the middle of the night, Bella will just look at one of us as if to say, "Are you freaking serious, it's 3:30am!!!"

The week also brought with it a number of meetings - Grandparents, aunts, and many good friends. One thing is very evident already this early on - Henry is going to be a very loved little boy! Thank you to all our great friends and family for all the support throughout the whole pregnancy and birth!!!