Boys will be boys

Last night I discovered something about Win. He thinks it's hilarious when I burp. I burped while holding him and he lost it - giggling and giggling. This prompted more burping from me, which in turn prompted more uncontrolled giggling from Win. He got so giggly that he would start laughing when I was breathing in getting ready to burp because he knew what was coming. I think this proves conclusively something about the nature of boys: no one has to teach them that belching is funny. It is hard-wired into their male nature. So anyway, I thought it was so cute I shot this video to share with all of you.

Lessons

Grandpa is giving Win a lesson about whom to root for during college football games. Win and Grandpa had a great time roughhousing during Grandpa and Grandma's short visit. They came to Holland for the day to visit with their favorite grandson. We went to the beach and walked on the pier, played around the house, and enjoyed an absolutely perfect, pre-autumn day.

Happy Birthday

Well, today is Win's 6 month birthday. To celebrate, we decided to make a music video of the little chomper. Enjoy.

Cruisin'

Win is really getting fast at cruising around our apartment. Here's a little video of him getting around. He gets a little distracted by the heating vent in the middle, which is why you can hear Rachel laughing in the background.

In his office

Win likes to spend a few minutes each day in this exer-saucer we like to call his 'office.' He has lots to do there, including talking on the phone, honking a horn, and fiddling with buttons and levers. Most of all he likes to jump and squak, as pictured here.

Win Meets Friends

Melissa, Winfield and I drove across the state to spend the day with our friends Michael and Karen. We meet their 1 month old son, Ethaneal, for the first time. Win thought that the little baby was so cool that he kept trying to eat him.

First Cousins Once Removed

Yesterday Win's Great Aunt Barbara and First Cousin Once Removed Paul came for a quick visit (that is Rachel's aunt and cousin). Paul and Win enjoyed some couch time together. They were in the middle of moving Paul from Holland to his new place in Grand Rapids and took some time to stop by and see the kid.

Daddy

Foot 'n Mouth

Win has developed a taste for shoes lately, particularly Jared's leather sandals. As soon as Win sees Jared's sandals he gets a determined look on his face and makes a beeline across the room to them. He then begins vigorously chewing on them. If Jared's sandals are not available or visible he will usually make his way over to any other sandal or shoe that is. In order to limit this gross habit we have been trying to remember to put our shoes away in the closet where he cannot get to them. Thus begins the age old parental ritual of protecting items from children and children from items.

Amazing Biceps

Win attributes his amazing biceps to his twice daily workout of 100 pushups.

7 Years

Today Jared and I are celebrating our 7 year anniversary. This was a very important day in Win's life because this is when his family began. Jared and I love each other more now than we did then. It has been a short seven years. We are excited that this year we have welcomed Win into our family.

Chomping

Here's a short video of Win chomping. He seems to have decided that the way to eat solid food is to open and close his mouth repeatedly when the spoon hits his tongue. He usually says something like bah bah bah or dah dah dah while doing this. It's pretty fun to watch, cuz it looks like he's pretending to chew.

A Big Week for a Little Man

This has been a eventful week for our little bald friend. It started out on Monday with Win having to go cold turkey no swaddle. We just figured we had to do it at some point, and he had demonstrated the ability on two occasions to roll over onto his stomach while swaddled (not a good thing). So, we yanked it on Monday, and the little chomp had to learn a new skill: sleeping facedown (his choice) without a swaddle. It actually was easier then we expected. Nights were pretty easy from the beginning - with the help of one or two middle of the night rocking sessions, he continued sleeping just fine for 10-11 hours like he had been. Naps were a different story. We endured some moderately lengthy wimpering sessions while he was working it out, but now at the end of the week he's napping great. Below are a couple of shots of him sleeping, and then awake when we came to get him.



In other big news: today we started Win on some solid food. He had a nice lunch of breastmilk and rice cereal, and really did very well. He didn't hardly spit any out and seemed to really enjoy it. Here's a shot of his first meal.

Almost Crawling

Win is pretty much crawling now. He's not exactly smooth, but if he wants something bad enough in any direction within about 6 feet, he'll get there. Here is a little clip of him working his way toward his pea.

He's Timeless

Bathtub Sailing

Here's a shot of Win just after taking a bath. He is wrapped up in a towel that Grandma Henderson's friend Laura made for him.

Winsome

This is the smile that melts my heart about 50 time a day.

Solid Food

Win heard that 5 month old babies can have solid food; so when we took him to the beach on Tuesday night he decided to try some sand. Jared, Win and I had a blast jumping in the waves and playing in the sand. Now that Win has played in Lake Michigan he is officially a Holland baby.

Adventures

Jared and I received a coupon for a free appetizer and free dessert at one of our favorite restaurants. It expired on the last day of July, so we took Win out to eat with us yesterday. He enjoyed watching us eat. Before the meal even came out he grabbed a little bread plate and threw it off the table to its death. We are now officially a couple with a kid in a restaurant.