Henry's Western Themed Birthday Soiree

Henry had his birthday party last Saturday. Grandpa Fred embraced the western themed party, arriving in complete old west regalia. Here he is showing Henry the finer points of his new red wagon with off road tires and optional flag holder. Despite his deep admiration for his new wagon, Henry was not happy at this particular moment.

Henry checks out his horse cake, made with love from Mama... He didn't want to eat it at all -- he smeared the cake all over himself and Mama... Check out his little cowboy boots on the table.

More photos and what not from Henry's first birthday later...

Happy Birthday!

Henry is one year old today. My little family has been through a very grueling week or so, mentally and physically. Last Sunday Henry's Great Grammy Pauline passed away peacefully. Very sad.

We had to move last Saturday (100+ degrees) and Sunday (raining). And not just the little stuff. We saved the big stuff for last. Folks, I own a full size Q-Bert arcade game that really should have stayed in that basement for eternity. Don't get me started on ping pong tables. Lots of swearing at inanimate objects. My body still hurts a little bit. Big thanks to brother Sam for the moving assistance and to Irene for watching the Hankster while we packed up and for replenishing my electrolytes and what not with Gatorade.

On a troubling side note, my wife and I went to apply for Minnesota citizenship and discovered we have to retake our drivers license exam to be legit. What is with this state and it's three-two beer and crazy laws. I already miss my adopted home of Wisconsin, the fine state that entrusts it's citizenry with fireworks and the option to buy liquor on Sundays. Three-two beer is just a nasty rumour in Wisconsin. We lived about 25 miles from the Cheese Curd Capital of the World. Now, we got nothin'. Bupkiss -- and a 75 mile trek to the Cheese Curd Capital of the World.

Henry got his first hair cut recently. It is reflected in the above photo (the picture was taken this morning approximately four minutes before his exact birth moment one year ago). We have his hair in a baggie and now we lost the baggie. The search for hair baggie continues...

He's got teeth popping through all over the joint and he loves to throw things and now he drinks organic whole milk mixed with his formula.

That is all for now.

Henry James: Captain of Industry, Friend to All

Henry got to hang out with his buddy Luke the other day. This picture is funny. Henry looks distant and a bit lethargic as Luke mugs for the camera...

Henry is now an agricultural dynamo. Below, he practices the finer points of animal husbandry and crop management with his newly acquired Fisher Price Farmin' Starter Kit (thanks Irene & Chris).

Henry James Dumbfounds Scientists & Laypersons Alike With Elegance & Overall Cuteness

Researchers recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that I have the cutest baby in the friggin' universe -- HANDS DOWN!

Do you have any Grey Poupon?

Henry woke up this morning at 6:30 with about a gallon of poop in his diapers, on his legs, all over the crib, all over the changing table, all over his dad. Not exactly the best way to "jumpstart" the morning. I think it was the first diaper change that actually required two people. It was like a Dijon Spicy Mustard factory began production in his diaper.

This weekend was kinda harsh, also. Henry has one of his upper teeth poking through. His lower ones were no problem compared to this. He was seriously upset and inconsolable at times. Not good. But I had a brilliant idea that could potentially make me a millionaire:
If they let cancer and AIDS patients smoke marijuana can't we make baby orajel stuff with actual cocaine in it for serious infant teething situations? I'm just thinking out loud here.

Mama claims Henry stood up on his own yesterday.

His diet is expanding. Lots of grown up foods and stuff. This morning he had some wheat bread with hummus on it... He also had these things the other day that came in a jar and I think they are some type of miscellaneous meat product and they looked like pickled human fingers. Kinda weird.

He is getting closer to saying some real words. He says "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII" for Ike (our dog). And we can make him say "Uh-oh"....

I have been unable to find the time to do any amazing photo shoots with Henry in fabulous attire. So, for your viewing pleasure I submit the following photo of this guy:

I think he was Intramural Dungeons & Dragons champion at UW-Stout in 1998. His name is Wendall, if I remember correctly.

PERT PLUS FOR LIFE

Oh boy. There are simply not enough hours in the day. Luckily, my wife has turned me on to this amazing new product that has revolutionized my life. It is a shampoo and conditioner in one. So now that extra 45 seconds to three minutes that I used to waste on conditioning my hair with a separate component can be more efficiently utilized, or it can just be my time to relax -- "me time", if you will.

Yep, we have been busy. The closing on our house is rapidly approaching, so we are boxing up and moving out. I am just about done getting bids on everything for the new house so I can go to the bank and dazzle them with my boyish charm, blueprints and sworn construction statement.

To top it off, Henry's 1st birthday is four days after we close on the house. Things are going to get a little dicey. We won't let that steal lil' Henry's thunder. We have a wild, wild west themed party planned at Grammy Judy's Ranch. Here is the photo for the invitations that I came up with.

Henry has been doing fabulous. He is becoming more of a character by the minute. Momma started taking him to a reading club at the local library on Wednesdays. They have stories read to them by professional librarians and puppet shows -- apparently Henry is coo-coo for puppet shows. Momma said he really lit up and it brought tears to her eyes to see him having such a hoot. Aterwards, they got to play around in a refrigerator box fashioned into a barn. Hee haw.