Long overdue update

So sorry for the lack of updates. It's been a busy month! We went to Pennsylvania over a three-day weekend for our friends' wedding (congrats Stat and Jodi!) and to squeeze in a visit with Grammie and Papa, and Uncle Mike and Nate (thanks for making the trip!). We also had a string of doctor's appointments for Malachi.

So the first appointment was mostly good. Our 12 month check up (at 13 1/2 months because we're a little "off schedule" from having our 9 month check up at 10 months) revealed that he is a whopping 32 inches long and 24 pounds! He certainly has grown! He's 95th percentile for head circumference, 90th percentile for height, and 60th percentile for weight. The nurse was so surprised by the big jump she had me verify that the date of his last check up was correct. He's really stretching out. It's hard to tell in the pics because he has the cutest round face, but his torso and legs seem to be visibly lengthening every week! See...

So the not so good part...he had another ear infection. Number four, each time in both ears. The result? Antibiotics and a good ENT. He had tubes put in this Tuesday. He is such a trooper. Except for sleeping a little longer during his naps and at night this week, you wouldn't even know he had anything done. He did hold his ears a little while he slept (poor thing), but he didn't show signs of discomfort otherwise.

He's a moving, giggle machine lately. EVERYTHING makes him laugh (including when we say NO!-ugh!), and he is cruising along furniture, walls, people, anything he can get his hands on), which is fun to watch. He's showing some interest in sippy-cups and self-feeding. It's exciting, but a little sad, too...why do babies have to grow up so quickly?!?

On to the good stuff [Does anyone read what I write, or do you all just skip to the pics? I'm on to you! :)]...

Playing at Papa and Grammie's with Cousin Nate.

Grammie, Papa, Uncle Mike, and Nate wore him OUT! He slept for almost three hours.

Malachi's hair is getting quite long. Do you dig his 'fro? I just love it!!! His curls are so soft.

So sad, but the Snuggli is nearing retirement. It has a weight limit of 26 pounds, but my back thinks it's 24! Kevin and I will certainly miss the closeness with Malachi the Snuggli provided us, but the stroller will bring new adventures. For example, Malachi can get really close to the ducks and geese at the lake.

Malachi was born on April 19, 2007...Patriot's Day! Appropriately so, Great Nana and Great Pa made sure he had a three-cornered hat. Now I don't think it was meant to be worn with a Red Sox bib (hard to see in the pic, but also from Great Nana and Great Pa), but cute nonetheless. ;)

First Baseball Game

We took Malachi to see the UNC vs. UNC-Wilmington NCAA tournament championship. He didn't watch much of the game unless there was a lot of cheering or the crack of the bat was really loud. Nonetheless, he had a great time playing on the picnic blanket (we had lawn tickets).






On the way to the game, I was able to capture how Malachi reacts to wind. The windows in the car were down so the sound is really bad (you might want to mute your volume), but his actions definitely make it a worthwhile watch. He does this ANY time he feels wind on his face. He just loves to be outside.








Having some fun on the blanket...He is pulling up on everything and everyone these days, so Kevin and I were jungle gyms at the game tonight.

UNC won! It was neat to see all their family congratulate them and visit with them before they were bussed back to campus.

All that playing is hard work. Malachi fell asleep at 7:30-an hour before bed time! As you can see, he was properly decked out in UNC gear.

Cultivating Pittsburgh Pride

Game three of the Stanley Cup finals. Go Penguins! You can't tell from the picture, but Malachi is chanting-Crosby, Crosby, Crosby! :)

Swimming

We took Malachi swimming at our local pool yesterday and today. Malachi sends a big thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for the pool passes!

He really loves the water and plays long and hard. Enjoy the videos and pics!

New tricks

Pittsburgh Pirate in training? Kevin said Malachi is getting a head start on his palm ball (whatever that is!).

I'm pretty sure there's a little boy under all those peas and carrots. Mop on Aisle 1, please!

Just recently, Malachi has been more confident with his walking toys. I think he started being more interested in them after G.G. showed him how to do it on Mother's Day. Thanks, Grandma! :)

A visit with G.G.

For Mother's Day, we went to visit my grandmother, Malachi's G.G. It was the first opportunity for most of my Dad's side of the family to meet Malachi. He had lots of fun with everyone and really enjoyed watching my cousin's son Ethan who will be two and a big brother soon!

Malachi also got to see his Grammie and Papa (my Mom and Dad). When he spotted them, he immediately lit up. He definitely remembered them.

Kevin was so sweet to drive us to Grandma's and back in the same day. Eight hours of driving with several stops for diaper changes is probably not exactly the way he imagined spending his last day of break, but he didn't complain and enjoyed visiting with the family (before and after a run, of course). Malachi did great in the car, and we enjoyed listening to CDs on my new CD player-a wonderful Mother's Day gift from my hubby! My car radio hasn't been working, and with the long commute to and from work, I was going a little nutso-bananas.

Malachi is crawling all over the place and starting to pull up on everything (including the wee-babes at daycare, but let's not go there-yikes!). His new thing to making a break for the front door when it's open. I think we're in for an interesting summer!

Crawling!

Malachi is finally crawling forward!

We had a nice afternoon at the park yesterday afternoon (before Malachi started yet another ear infection). We rode on a train and the carousel, swung on the swings, and played on some other playground equipment. Of course, given our "little" man, we had two bottles and a little napper thrown in the mix.

First bottle

First nap

Train

Carousel Another bottleSwinging (We've done this a few times now, and he hasn't been so sure of it in the past, but as you can see, I think he's catching on that this is fun.)

Bouncing

And, of course, I had to end with another great picture of my boys. Malachi is clapping in this picture. He claps at EVERYTHING now. It's too cute. If we do something funny, he claps. We are eating up the attention!