Stripes and Stripes

It's been a while since we've posted a photo of Alden and Sara, which is really not appropriate as Sara is practically a part of the family at this point. She dutifully arrives every morning, rain or shine (and bus or no bus) and cheerfully greets us as we rush around the house wondering aloud where we have placed our wallets, cellphones, sunglasses, and minds. Alden adores her, as do we. Today, after she brought Alden in for a visit at my office, answered some NPR trivia with him while he had a bottle, and played guitar for him while he "sang along," Sara snapped a few shots of them in their respective stripes. We thought they both looked pretty cute.

Punk Alden!

assisted stand

For the video, watch here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01hxfeWfAZc

No Longer Spitting Up, Now Sitting Up!

Alden and Thomas had a playdate last week, and the developmental changes were quite apparent -- neither kid is continually spitting up any more (thank goodness -- see the posting from December 30, 2009 for a reminder of that phase), and the two boys are beginning to share toys, grab each other's feet, laugh together, and stare at each other with wonder. It's quite a treat to hang out with them... Thanks for this photo, Nick!

hand/eye coordination

No theme to these pictures other than some inquisitive eyes. As a general update, Alden is doing great -- lots of sitting up, and everything short of crawling (squirming, shimmying, flailing). He still has no teeth, and is eating absolutely everything we offer him, and a fair amount of stuff we don't offer him.

As my mom pointed out, he is very hand-oriented. Lots of time spent staring at his hands as he flexes and spins his wrist, pinches and pulls. The other day, out for breakfast, he locked in on my hands watching them flex at the wrist, and became out of breath with excitement, as he then turned to his wrists to make them do the same thing. Small movement for mankind, giant leap for Alden.

We are still enjoying having Grandma Lois around. She has perfected his favorite animal sounds, other than the sheep which sounds haunted. Even still, Alden lights up around her . ..

overalls

from a garage sale . . .

Grandma Lois Arrives!

...and seems to have brought the good weather with her!

Happy Mother's Day

To an amazing mom. Love, carl and alden

midwest trip - the video

Below is a video from our trip to Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Springfield. Note to those into action films, this is not one; mostly some good people watching, and a glimpse into my childhood home and family in Springfield. Do look for the gratuitous bites of sweet potato being offered by Grandpa; his first meal of non-breastmilk/rice cereal.

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA1V9wLVFVk

Weekday Mornings

Alden is really very accommodating of our busy morning schedules -- while we rush around, showering, preparing bottles for the day, getting dressed, and packing our lunches, he mostly just sits and entertains himself in our bedroom, occasionally looking at us as though we are a little bit ridiculous.