The scariest cow and elephant you will ever meet! (Week 11)

Brother and sister

Young love

This week was a big one for our boy. On Tuesday, Laura and Henry went up to St. Joseph to Ashley Albers' house so that Henry and Kyra could have one final date before Ashely went back to work. As you can see from the picture, Henry is finally starting to catch up a little bit in size with Kyra. He's at least taller than her, which 97% of all women will tell you is a big deal!

Phoebe, Griffin, and Henry

Then on Wednesday, Laura took both kids (that means Bella) out to Lawrence to hang out with our friend Kristen Seager and her kids. Bella kicked it with Max, their dog. Kristen made lunch, Phoebe couldn't get enough of Henry, and the dogs did a lot of tail sniffing. I'm pretty sure a hot lunch topic was how awful each husband's fantasy football team is this year!

Thursday was our 4th wedding anniversary. A little fun fact is that our first date was on the same day, October 28th, as our wedding date. So, it was really our 9th anniversary. It is amazing how every year only gets better! Every day I think about how lucky I have been to find Laura, and how thankful I am for our wonderful little boy. Thanks to Aunt Jen for watching Henry while we went out for dinner!!! I think one of the great things about having family babysit for you is that you can pay them in free ice cream and they are totally cool with that!

Of course, the big event of the week was Halloween! As you can see, Henry was a cow and Bella was an elephant. There are no words to describe the dejection on a dog's face when you put an elephant trunk and ears on them. Seriously, she almost wouldn't move. :) Once it was taken off of her later in the night, she immediately went back to running around normally. Henry seemed to really like his costume, other than the cow head cap. That cap for some reason really bothered him, and he kept getting it quarter-cocked like he was in some gang!

Dolan, Henry, and Lilly

On Saturday, we went to the Lorei's for their annual Halloween party. As always, it was a complete success! Henry did really well, and wasn't too terribly fussy. Then, on Sunday, we went across the street to the Knoblauch's. Their boy, Dolan, was a dinosaur. Their friends Kelli and Steve came over with their newborn girl Lilly, who was a pumpkin. We all sat on their porch and handed out candy to the kids that came through the neighborhood. A funny quirk about the trick or treaters in our neighborhood is that 15% of them don't have costumes, 5% don't have Halloween bags, and 2% are actually the parents of the kids they are bringing around. Seriously, one of the "trick or treaters" I gave candy to was a dad who had a plastic newspaper bag for me to put candy in (his daughter did appropriately have a costume and pumpkin pail). 

Henry, do you see any way for me to get out of this costume?

The streak continues..... (Week 10)

Henry and P.O. (a.k.a. Mary)

Henry's luck continued this week with Mizzou's upset win over Oklahoma! MU is now 7-0 when Henry has been watching (sleeping). He has kept up the same routine each week - he has worn the same onesy (thanks Jan!) slept at least 75% of the game. Also, the aforementioned outfit has yet to make it through the game (again, we love us some Oxyclean!)

On Thursday, Laura took our little man to Deanna Rose, which is part pumpkin patch, part working farm. She met up with her friends Kara and Ashley, and their kids who are little older. While the other kids played with the animals, Henry slept.

Saturday was our first time having a non-family member babysit for us. While we went to a wedding for one of our friends, April and Dave Sifford watched Henry during the reception. As stated last week, their first child is due in mid-April. So this was a good trial run for them. When April reported that Henry didn't even cry once, we had to be certain to make sure she knew that this was not the norm :)

Both Laura's parents and Reggie's mom were in town over the weekend. The Andersons went to the wedding with us, and Reggie's mom and Aunt Allison watched him during the ceremony. So, needless to say, Henry got plenty of love over the weekend!

Henry stat - Though we didn't take Henry in to the Dr. to get measured, Reggie did pull out the yardstick over the weekend. Henry is now at 24 inches! He also has started to like to stand up (with our help of course). He will stick out his legs and hold his own weight for the most part for 10-15 seconds at a time. While he is 'standing' he will also give you a huge smile, as if to say, "hey, look what I can do!!!"

The Anderson family

Pop the Champagne, but none for that girl!



Congrats April and Dave!!!!!



The big news of Week 9 was the announcement by our friends April and Dave that they were expecting a baby in April! Laura and I had been suspicious for a little while. Everytime April was around, for some reason she kept putting Henry under her shirt. Weird, I know. Henry was particularly excited about this, knowing that he will have yet another little friend that will be in the same grade as him. Knowing April and Dave, we are pretty sure that child is already riding a bike in the womb! Ironman 2030, watch out!!!!!

On Sunday, we took Henry to his (and Reggie's) first pumpkin patch. It was a great day to be outside! Unfortunately for cheap-o Reggie, he didn't realize that we could have gotten into the pumpkin patch and taken pics/bought our pumpkin without paying the price of admission. Henry obviously is too little to enjoy all the rides, animals, jump houses, and general country bumpkin-y stuff that they had there. But, man, was that Frito Pie good!!!





We're 2 feet tall!



"Hey, guess what....I just stained your couch"

 Laura's friend Rebecca, and her new baby Lawson, came over during the week for a visit. Lawson is about a week and half younger than Henry, but about a pound and a half heavier (i.e. normal)!  They all had a great lunch and long walk together, and the boys took turns dirtying up their outfits :) As you can see above, they also traded secrets on how to best keep parents up at night.

Henry made a run for the Guiness Book of Records for "Most outfits "blown through" in a day" on Thursday. Laura must be putting some extra fiber in his bottle or something, because he has established his own bar at 5 outfits. I'll say it again, don't worry Billy Mays, the Bogarts will keep OxyClean in business even though you're gone!

Week 9 fun fact - Number of times Henry has peed in Laura's face - 3; number of times Reggie has been peed on - 0. Come on Laura, get that new diaper on there quicker!!!!!!!!!

What a difference a year makes - Week 8

Jenni and Melissa

A few days ago, Laura brought up how much our lives had changed in literally one year. A year ago this week, we were basking in the sun of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, drinking beers and margaritas, and praying that this wouldn't be the taxi ride in which Laura would throw up on me (her issues with motion sickness & alcohol do not mix well)! :) Fast forward 12 months, and Laura is on a restrictive drinking allowance (due to nursing), and we get enjoyment from just staring at a kid's face, and laughing at how much he passes gas. Funny how life turns so quickly.

Check out those sweet band-aids! I know you're jealous....

Henry's big happening for the week was just on Tuesday, when he had his two-month checkup. As part of that, he had to get his first round of shots. We were afraid that would cause him to be very fussy/angry for the rest of the day, but in reality he cried for maybe 10 seconds and that was it. I am assuming it is due to those infamously strong Bogart genes!

Laura's parents were back in for a visit for a couple of days. They brought with them some canvas' to complete his nursery. Henry was happy to see them! They braved the night and decided to stay with us. Luckily for them, he was really good one of the two nights :)

Henry and August

The Howes with a fussy Henry!

Henry was able to meet two more of his to-be friends that will be in his room at his daycare in January. On Friday,  Phil and Lindsay Howes came over for a couple of hours and brought Noah (born in April). Then on Monday, one of Laura's co-workers, Sarah, came over and brought her son August (born in June). We now personally know four of the infants that will be in Room 5 with Henry, so that certainly gives us some piece of mind. Also, according to Sarah, the "teacher" in the class is probably the best one that the facility has, just don't mind that she has no teeth (seriously)! 

Henry's ability to smile is gaining everyday, which means the next month should get even more fun. He continues to "blow out" his outfits about once/day on average. Unfortunately for Dave Sifford, he had to witness that fisrthand during the MU/Colorado game. (Side note - MU is unbeaten since Henry was born. Someone call Pinkel about an early scholarship!).

The Siffords with Henry watching the game - 5-0 baby!

Henry's official stats as of his Tuesday checkup - 10lbs 3oz, 23 inches long. That puts him at the 25th percentile for weight and 50th percentile for length. He still has three girlfriends. He almost broke it off with Sara Condreay, but reconsidered :)

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!)