Halloween 2018

It may be the heat of summer talking, but I am thinking fondly of the coming Autumn. I love Fall. As I'm going through the backlog of photos (particularly that year of life where I was only really barely surviving, those pregnancy hormones really doing a number on me) I noticed that I never put up Halloween 2018. The kids really rose to the DIY expectation and made their own holiday pretty fabulous. I love seeing their alter egos come out in their costume choices and creations. Without further ado, here is an early/late Halloween photo reel.

Davy as creeper (did I get that right, son? Some sort of important Minecraft character . . . )

Eliza as ghost.

Eddy as Monopoly Man.

Henry's First Year in a Nutshell

Henry Duke--a delight since the day he was born. I had a hard time being pregnant the fourth time around. I was apprehensive, more so even than before my first. I didn't remember how strong the force of love is when that baby is first in my arms. In that moment, Henry overwhelmed me with love and relief. His first year was filled with the adoration of his parents and older siblings. Although I can't even pretend to have kept track of milestones or statistics of growth for him, he grew up anyway. He came with the most remarkable, fast and furious determination to grow up as quickly as possible. He's been reaching beyond his current stage from the beginning. His personality is so much fun and watching it come through more and more in his first (and now second!) year has made me glow with pride. Not that I have much to brag about--it's all him. But he just is a sweet, smart, super kid. His smile will make more than a few hearts happier, that I know.

First Month

Second Month

Third Month

Fourth Month

Fifth Month

Sixth Month

Seventh Month

Eighth Month

Tenth Month

Eleventh Month

Twelfth Month

One Year

Davy's 11 Year Portraits

When I think back on Davy's 11 (now almost 12) years, I just gape in awe. He's grown immensely into someone who is really fun to spend time with. He goes at life the hard way--always has. I see that as a strength and a struggle, both. He needs to understand something before he jumps in. Once he does understand, however, look out! He's going to bring it to its full potential. I love his Lego creations so much, especially his houses. He just has an eye and appreciation for tidiness and order and space. His sense of humor is developing and it's so fun to watch what he finds and makes funny.

Henry at 1 Year (Katy's Blanket)

 

All those good intentions to document Henry's babyhood? Still there. Only he's growing so fast and as the fourth there is so much life happening around him that it's certainly not going to be soon or in an orderly fashion. But every little bit helps. So here is Henry at just over a year with the blanket aunt Katy knitted for him during that first year of his life. I remember going with Katy to the yarn shop when I was pregnant with him (and thought he was a girl, but we're not going to talk about how wrong I am at guessing my babies) to find this softest yarn. He was old enough in these pictures to play peek-a-boo with it and there's nothing cuter. Look at his little teeth coming in! Hard earned, that's for sure. I can tell that he was working on even more, with those flushed cheeks and drooly chin. Yet he smiles. Henry's been a delight and a trooper since day one.