Arlo by the Fireside

Arlo under the Ottoman

Mobility Update

Well, it seems that our little guy has figured out how to crawl. Crude though his style may be, he can decide on a destination and arrive there a few moments later. He lifts his torso off the floor with his hands and arms, then scooches forward using his knees and feet. He has been getting around for about a week, but now there is the intent to move to a certain place. The level of difficulty for the babysitter (that's me) has increased. He likes to go after power cords and any type of electronics. I have a hunch he will be chasing cats out from under the Christmas tree in no time.

beginning crawler (in front of the tree)

Pushup Practice

Mobility Update

No, he's not really crawling yet, but he sure can get himself around. Reverse crawling is more like it. He pushes himself backwards when he is up on his arms. It seems to frustrate him that he gets farther from his goal and ends up scooting under the ottoman. He has scooted himself, backwards, to another room even. Rolling and scooting, he is really starting cover some territory.

Arlo Plays With Grandpa Waara

Thanksgiving Visit

We had a great Thanksgiving visit from Whitney's parents. Our friend Mike joined us for a turkey feast with all the fixins' - the pecan pie, cranberry sauce, and gravy were big hits in the spread. After some rest and relaxation following the meal, we all got busy with projects. On Friday we put up our Christmas tree. We did some baby-proofing for Arlo in the 3rd floor play-room, as well as electrical and HVAC improvements to the house. Whitney's mom created several handsome hats (and a stocking that’s still being knit) for Arlo. My favorite hat is modeled in the photos below.

Arlo is 6 months old!!

Return from Ohio

We visited Ohio last weekend. Arlo got to see his grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. Though he liked all of the visiting, I think the schedule took something out of him. He was a little cranky in the evenings and just a little off speed. I think he may have picked up his first cold, which fortunately wasn't severe.

Now that we are back, he is settling back into his routine. Play time seems to be expanding everyday. He likes to sit and play with things. When lying on his belly, he is trying to put his butt in the air. He will even get to all fours. Although not crawling, he is continuing to wiggle around on the floor and get to toys over there, or put himself in a better position to see mommy.

November Trip to Ohio

Arlo Plays with Grandpa Augusta

Arlo's Grandpa Augusta

Arlo Touches Grass

Arlo Plays With His Truck

Arlo's First Election

Arlo went with us to the poles this morning. It was cool, so we bundled as we walked the three blocks to the elementary school where we vote. There were a few candidates still passing out literature outside. "You've got a young little voter there," they said. Inside, the line was long and the heat was on too high to stand around and wait. We had over bundled. So, Arlo and I walked home. Whitney stayed and voted. Several hours later, we walked back over to the school. The election officials said "What a young voter you have." We waited just a few minutes to put our card into the machine, hit a few buttons, and cast our ballot. The pole workers made sure Arlo got his "I Voted" sticker, but he was most interested in the high ceilings of the gymnasium. I'd glad he was able to participate in the first presidential election of his lifetime.

Arlo Developments

Arlo is starting to become a grown-up baby. On the latest video you can see he is starting to sit up by himself, though he still topples. He is eating some solid food, making a new set of sounds and gaining accuracy with his hands. He has found the cats too. He follows them with his eyes around the house. He trys to pet them, but he can only grab their fur and skin. Charlotte gives him a funny look and goes away. On the floor, he can flip front to back, and almost back to front. He is not crawling, but he is moving around, learning to face different directions. We are startig to baby-proof the house, because he already goes straight to mouth with things, and it won't be too long before he starts to move around in search of new objects.

Arlo Sits

Arlo Plays in the Highchair

Arlo Squeaks

Arlo eats in his highchair

He's been waking up about every two hours hungry - so we started him on his first food (carrots) last Sunday. Here's a movie of mealtime we took tonight.

Arlo in his Jumparoo

columbus day in northern michigan

columbus day in michigan, continued

fall arrives

bare buns before a bath
old-fashioned
who's got your toes?
bradley baby lineup
with daddy and the boys

Little hiker

Here are a few pics from the trail where we hike so often in Greenbelt Park - before (May 8 and memorial day weekend) and after (on the last few hikes in August and September.) We are pretty sure he's going to be an outdoorsman since he's been there from the start... As we are out hiking these days we often get nice comments on our "little hiker."

I tried to get arlo to pose for a nice portrait. well, it may require another few sessions to get it right, but here's some of the practice shots, nonetheless.

did we mention that he's started to really figure out the concept of grabbing things? first it was with his toes, then hands. toes are still the preferred tools.

Arlo Enjoyed His First Football Game!

We are eternally lucky to have such a well natured, sweet and fun little guy. Today he attended his first football game: the season opener "DC Mayor's Cup" match up between Georgetown and Howard University. It was played on Howard's field, so we got to enjoy their marching band (with some really fun, rocking tunes and lots of dancing - and the dances carry on into the crowds) and a more exciting environment than what is the norm with Georgetown games. It was downright noisy - even on the Georgetown side. There were bugles being blown into the PA system, screaming and stomping fans, sweaty hot weather, the works. And through it all, Arlo was a champ. He even slept through part of it! And to top it off, Georgetown won.

Arlo is in a very "talkative" stage these days - often in the morning he will coo and chatter away from his swing, responding to our prompts. He's delighted when we repeat what he's just said. A favorite is a drawn out "whhooooooo." He gets very excited when Sam is playing guitar or banjo and he'll sing along with a vengence. It's amazing how animated he gets with music.

He loves to stand up - with just a little assistance at balancing, he will stand up and grin ear to ear. He's also into gripping with his toes and does lots of kicking and leg lifts.

Sleeping goes pretty well - he'll go to bed with us around 9 or 10 and - except for a little snack - sleep solidly til 6 or 7. He's even gotten to where he doesn't potty in the night. Of course, he makes up for it during the day!

At 3 months, Arlo seems like he's grown up so much. He's got a whole new head of fuzzy pale hair growing in, plus a tuft of the brown hair he was born with hanging on at the nape of his neck. Eyes are still a bright blue, and he's gotta be over 13 pounds at this point, though we haven't had him in to be weighed in several weeks.

We are truly lucky to have the opportunity for one of us to be here with him all the time, and to have such a healthy, happy boy. Most of the time it seems easy, and we have him to thank for that!

Photo Update - more on Sam's flickr, too

Great Uncle Bill, Grandma W and Arlo

Family ogling

Blury shot of Arlo demonstrating his standing skills

Bear hug

Arlo and Grandpa W on the tractor

Exciting Developments

Hi all - It has been a very busy past few weeks, as I've returned to work. Sam is on Daddy duty now, and we're slowly adjusting to our schedule and all the requirements (lots and lots of milk!) So - with the acknowledgement that it is time to post more pictures and write more about all the other developments - I wanted to note for all of you a quick, fun developmenal milestone that Arlo achieved this morning: He flipped himself over from belly to back for the first time (and second and he's working on a third right now, rather noisily.) The exertion seems to require a good deal of screaming and grunting, but the reward is a smile once he's on his back. Yay, Arlo!

More soon....

Arlo Adventures in Michigan

swingin' coo-chi-coo
Alyssa with Arlo
out for walk on the property
in flight

Up North

We've traveled up to northern Michigan. Here is Arlo's great-grandma Virginia Haeger on the day they met. She was really proud to show the little guy around at the senior apartments where she lives.

Arlo is sacked out with his grandpa Waara

Arlo and his cousin Joshua seem to share some common features (especially that Waara nose)

Big smiles

Chai checks him out