A ton of Gemini's means lots of cake and ice cream...

Hank has officially learned that birthdays are a very good thing...they mean cake and ice cream - yum! This is our May/June:
May 24 - Auntie Katie
June 1 - Me
June 9 - Auntie Megan and GG (Great-Grandma Winnie)
June 16 - Papa Tom
June 19 - Tutu (Grandma Connie)
and even though she's a Cancer, it still counts because it's so close...
July 2 - Grandma Rhonda
Not sure if you can see it...but even though Auntie Katie's cake hasn't been cut into yet, Hank already has frosting on his face. Eating the frosting off the candle...he was supposed to be smiling for the camera (like his mom and dad), but instead, he was grabbing that candle! He knew our defenses were down!

Auntie Megan's ice cream cake:

Grandpa's ice cream sundae. Notice how his face has had to contort just to get that big ol' spoon in his mouth...this was the start of a big mess!

I love this video...I'm not sure if you'll be able to hear it, but there are quite a few, "Mmms" and "Yummms" as he's dipping away.

Josie Turns 2!

The day after Christmas, we headed over to Eastern Washington (Endicott) to relax and made it with a sleeping baby most of the way - our quickest time yet (4 hours, instead of 6-7 with various meltdowns...you've probably heard some of the horror stories). While there, we got to celebrate Josie's 2nd birthday with family - cousins everywhere! It's so fun they're all growing up so close in age and that they get to see each other enough to know each other.
Below, cousin Leah entertains the little ones... Hank's cousin Kiefer (my cousin Joe's son) kept trying to feel Hank's eyeballs (squishy!):

This looks like Hank was striking back with a swift kick, but he was really just trying to get wrapping paper off his foot (I swear!).

Okay...so here's what to watch for in the coming posts (and to look for if you look at old posts)...Hank has a little issue with group pictures. He HATES them. He'll be happily playing and then all the sudden, BOOM, he is freaking out, red faced, screaming, and crawling to get away. It doesn't matter who it is...you'll see more when I post pictures from Portland. Ahh, quirky kids! Now anytime someone says, "Let's take a picture with everyone!" my pulse quickens and I know what's coming next...oh, the drama!

In the picture below: Hank (15 months), Maverick (3), Josie (almost 2), Macoy (5), and Kiefer (almost 14 months).

Vanessa and I had fun making this cake for Josie's birthday...love the cut-up cakes!

The Long Beach Hardys singing, "Happy Birthday!"

More presents to open (and stand on!):

Hank was thrilled to have a balloon in each hand - what a good life!

One Year Pictures!

Here are some of the keepers from Hank's one year photo shoot and also, the debut of his new shorter haircut (more on that to come...be ready to see one sad, sad baby). He started by being a little concerned by the new surroundings and was mesmerized by the lights, but he warmed up with a little peek-a-boo, and we were really happy with what we got! Now to find more wall space...
Our little guy in blue...

And one cheeseball family picture...by this time, Hank was pretty much done and I was sweaty from trying all I could to get him to smile and laugh!

Happy 1st Birthday, Hank!

Hank is ONE! Oh my, that year flew by! Here he is with his horse and then at his party (a cowboy theme for our little buckeroo). I'll post some party pictures later (because it was so much fun!), but for now...just the little guy!My homemade cut-up cake! I was so excited to find this design...I grew up with cut-up cakes at every birthday, and it's fun to carry on the tradition!

I love that his first reaction was to put his face in it...why not?!
He had no problem chowing down on it...the little man has come a long way since he first tried cake for his 7 month "birthday" and spit it out immediately!

Almost There!

We're so close to Hank's one year birthday and today I printed out all his pony pictures for his party tomorrow...there's just one more to go, and then it will be complete!

Here's how it started: We got home from the hospital and Tutu surprised us with this pony and a pair of cowboy boots. She asked that we take his picture with it as he grew...what a great idea it was, because it's so fun to look at how he's grown!
Hank at three days old!
So we missed out on his 1, 2, and 3 months pictures...total bummer! So we jump to...

Four months:

Five months:

Six months:

Seven months:

Eight months:

Nine months:

Ten months:

Eleven months:

...and one more to go!

11 Months Old...all dressed up and nowhere to go!

It all started back before Hank was even born...Tutu surprised us with a three piece tuxedo for our future little boy. It was hilarious looking and we couldn't wait to put it on him! Jump forward 11 months! It was August 28th and I always like to take his "birthday" picture in something he hasn't worn before. As I dug in the closet...there it was! I started to get scared that it wouldn't fit, but low and behold, it did...let the torture begin!

11 months old, and so very dapper!

Being a music teacher, I had to get him dressed in his finest by the piano, as if he was giving us his first concert. I imagine that one day, we'll be reflecting back (sitting in the mansion he bought us) about how he was putting on performances in tuxedos way back at 11 months, a la Tiger Woods and his golf clubs. Hahaha - we can dream! No pressure, Hank :) If nothing else, it cracked us up the whole day thinking about it.

His first repetoire...

Enjoy his first piano performance...