The 'do

So yeah, there's a story to this, but we'll just let this pretty picture sink in. I'm going to bed, but I promise I'll explain the 'do in less than 24 hours. :) Try to be patient. :)

Henry goes to St. Louis and Branson

A few weeks ago we went to St. Louis for a visit. It was Henry's first airplane ride and he did really well. We flew Southwest where you don't have assigned seating and a guy in his 30s chose to sit next to us. I told him right away that it was Henry's first airplane ride and I really hoped he was good for Henry's sake, our sake and this poor guy's sake. He explained that we didn't have to worry; he had a 7, 3, 2, and 1 year old at home -- all boys! Yikes! The plane ride went without any problems and we landed in St. Louis.

The day we got in Emily came over with the kids and they all got to finally meet Henry. Emily had to fight for some holding time cause Audrey was extremely excited about Henry. You can see in this picture how disappointed she is that she's not holding him. :)

We stayed in St. Louis for one day (this is when we got to see Laura, Justin, and Samantha) and then we drove with my parents to Branson, where they have a condo on Tablerock Lake. My whole family went: my parents, my sisters and their families. It was so nice to spend a week with no distractions, just family time. Henry's cousins couldn't get enough of him and there was lots of arguing over who was going to get to hold him when he was awake and not eating. I got lots of pictures of each of them holding him, which in the years to come will be funny and sweet to look back on, considering they are all little yet, too.

The kids spent a fair amount of time on the boat (swimming, tubing, Liv and Grant got up on skis!, and swinging from a rope swing) and time at the pool. Since Henry was so little (7 weeks at this point) we didn't boat with him or swim in the pool, but in years to come, I'm sure he'll get lots of boat and pool time in! So we would hang back in the condo, play games, nap, and relax, which wasn't so bad considering the 100 degree weather.

It seemed like Henry had a calming effect on everyone! There was lots of pictures of sleeping Henry with a sleeping holder. :)

After 7 days at the lake, we headed back to St. Louis. We drove both ways (a 4 hour drive) with my parents and it couldn't have gone any slicker. We stopped when Henry needed to eat and we would all eat too. Then we'd be back in the car and he'd be sound asleep. Here's hoping I'm this lucky when Henry and I drive to Chicago in a month!

We were in St. Louis for a few days before heading home to Minnesota. We got to see my Grandma Rose, Aunt Sue, Uncle Tom, Sarah, Cash, Miah, Helen, and James. Here's a picture of all my Grandma's great-grandkids. I can't believe they all sat still for this picture!

And here's one of Henry with his only great-grandparent! The other 8 great-grandparents are ever present in thought. But I think Henry loved cuddling with Great-Grandma Rose!

And finally a picture of my sister, Anna, and Henry. I took this on one of our last days in town! I almost forgot again! I guess I just get so caught up in the moment that I forget about capturing the moment. :)

We had such a great time seeing everyone and missed everyone so much that we got Skype all hooked up. Now Daniel's parents, my parents, and my sisters have all seen Henry on Skype and it's been so fun to be able to see them too! Now we just have to get Michael and Kari set up with it. I think Henry's going to love this when he gets a little older and can call grandma and grandpa and Aunts and Uncles and cousins all he wants!

I will post again tomorrow -- Daniel's new hair-do!

Henry's first girlfriend, Samantha

As promised, more updates! I have so much to put on here that I need to do a blog a day for a few weeks. :)

My friends Laura and Justin had their first baby, Samantha, about 2 1/2 weeks before Henry was born. I went to college with Laura and Justin and we have done annual MS150 bike ride together in various states. I was so excited when I found out we were both going to have babies so close in age. I think it will make for years and years of fun getting together (albeit, only a few times a year -- they live in Chicago). I can already see the toddlers in a bike attachment as we pedal 150 miles of some chosen state. :)

They just happened to be in St. Louis when we flew in to visit. So we had to get together to at least have the babies meet. It was so much fun to see them next to one another. Samantha couldn't be cuter and they both were very cooperative with our cameras. Here's some good ones I got of them together and a video, too (I finally figured this one out)! It was so much fun seeing you guys and I can't wait till Sept when we get together again!

Warning -- this is GROSS! (and funny)

Had to quickly share this. I have a thing about sucking boogers out of Henry's nose with the bulb syringe that the hospital sent home with us. I look up his nose to see if I can see anything and then I suck them out. I just feel bad for him because they always look like they're occluding his nares. And he HATES this part of the day. So yesterday I'm sucking his nose out. I think I'm done and trying to soothe him. He sneezes and then this....

I guess he showed me. :) Now we're on guard a bit when he sneezes.

I have so much more to post... St. Louis pictures (we had so much fun with the family and got to see Laura and Justin and their new baby, Sam) and a pretty funny story with great pictures of Daniel's new hair do. More soon! PROMISE. :)