Visiting Great Grandma Garlits

We took a trip to visit Great Grandma Garlits before heading to Florida. It had been a few months since she had last seen Henry and she had been asking for him ever since. For 96 years old, she's a sharp one, wanting nothing more to hold the little guy in her lap and talk about the miracle of children. Henry took a little while to warm up to G-G, mostly because he was weary of the wheel chair. None-the-less, he brought smiles to not only G-G Garlits, but all the other men and woman at the home.

Walking.... almost

Last week Friday, January 22, Henry took his first steps behind he walker. We were shocked - usually we push him around on it like a car. But on a whim, we stood him behind it and off he went!! We were waaayyy excited, as you'll hear in the video. Not sure why we were so caught off guard, since he's been cruising for a couple weeks...I guess it was just the actual sight of him moving across the room using his little legs!

Grandma H started off pushing him

He thought it was so funny!

Doing it all by himself!
Telling Grandma G all about it

Tooth

I've been promising a picture of Henry's one tooth - and I finally got one. It's quite large these days - so big that people usually mistake it for two teeth!

It's all about family

It's been a few weeks since our trip to St. Louis, but now that I'm finally getting a chance to sit down and blog about, it makes me realize how lucky we are to have such an awesome family. And how sad it is that we live so far apart and only see each other once, sometimes twice a year. But nothing changes when we come back other than everyone getting older. We always have such a great time together and are completely exhausted by the end of the trip!



We went in for a long weekend on January 14 to throw Aunt Julie a bridal shower - she's getting married in Nashville in April. Henry and I flew out together and met Grandma Donna there. Henry is great on the plane - as in, he doesn't cry - but he does NOT want to sit still, which is an incredible challenge on the tiny little puddle jumpers they load you on to get to St. Louis. Luckily, a nice young college girl sat next to us and she insisted she didn't mind when Henry pulled her hair, our pinched her arm or tried to rip the book from her hands.



When we weren't getting ready for the shower or attending a shower, we spent a lot of time at cousin Angie's playing with her daughters, cousins Megan and Riley and their dog, Cooper. Angie and Dwight also had all the family over one night for dinner so everyone could see Henry. Although, on that particular night, Henry was super cranky and didn't want to go to anyone, but me. Bring on 9 month stranger anxiety - - we got a bad case of it. Oh, and we're scared of fans - the kind that hang from the ceiling... go figure!?

Everyone has a crazy Uncle Kenny!

Dwight and Henry - Henry is making sure the fan isn't going to get him.

Uncle Dennis

Jake is less than thrilled Henry is sucking on his toy

Henry LOVED Megan and Riley

Cooper and Henry

Henry loved Cooper's dog bed and his Mallard.

Christmas #2 in Pennsylvania

On New Years Day we celebrated Henry's first Christmas with Grandmom and Grandpop Garlits, Uncle Dale and Aunt Beps. We had a great stuffed pork dinner; then got busy with presents, presents, present galore.

Mommy / Son photo session

Having a silly morning in grandpa's office.

Dinner, Drums, and Sunset

On our last night in Florida, we went to dinner at Pop's Sunset Grill - a real hole in the wall, with great food and rum runners and nice view of ICW. Afterwards we headed to Nokomis beach for a sunset celebration. On Wednesday evenings, a crowd of locals and vacationers gather on the beach for a celebration including drums, jugglers, belly dancers, gymnastics, food, wine, babies... you name it, it's there. It was quite the spectacle, topped with a family and a beautiful sunset. I can't think of a better way to end our trip.

Praying before his meal. ;)

Florida Pastime

While in Florida we did all the things we love - sleep, eat, swim, relax, play... who could ask for a better vacation! And judging by the pictures, I think Henry agrees!

Making faces with G-G in the mirror


Laughing at crazy grandpa

This is how grandpa babysits Henry

Henry gets an assortment of finger foods at every meal. Most end up on the floor.

Lunch at G-G's house - we had to improvise for a highchair.

Loungin' with Mr. Snowman

Watching the Wiggles in his great-great grandmother's rocking chair.

Henry wasn't a fan of sleeping in grandpa and grandma's closet. But he loved sleeping in bed with mom. I loved snuggeling with my little man, too.

Playing in the kitchen