Foof.

He has spent a lot of time at this window during the Blizzard of 2011.

There have been birds at the feeder, which make for lots of pointing and tweeting!

In this photo, he was trying to open the door.  He would have been really surprised to have a foot of snow fall in on him!

Shower!

Daniel has loved showers for over six months.  He doesn't get the chance to take many, but he loves to tell us about the shower head and use big gestures to demonstrate what he is thinking.  Here are some photos I took of him while he was pretending to shower.  I put him in there so I could tidy up the bathroom and keep him out of the way... but he stayed in long after I was done!

Note: He still calls the shower a "Sha!!!!".  He does recognize that its also a bath tub, but he points to the lower faucet and says bath like  "bab" or "bah" or "bat".

Reading Time!

As a life long book lover, I think its so important for Daniel to have book time each day. I know that he is mostly interested in touching the pages and feeling the way his hands move as he turns the page, but I also think that exposure to vocabulary and illustrations is important.

I want him to recognize that books and pictures communicate in ways that are similar to the ways we communicate with our conversations. I want him to recognize basic print concepts so that he will never remember a time in his life before books.

It is one of my greatest wishes that he will become a fabulous author or illustrator. What a dream!

Same Shape Heads...

D.Patrick, April 1982

D.Henry,  November 2009

Mom and Baby In Their Second Weeks of Life

Bethany Lynn Douglas's 2 week photo                                                Daniel Henry Haid's 10 day old photo

Double Take!

Daniel Patrick, early summer 1982  

     Daniel Henry, early Fall 2009

Embarressing Photo Shoot...

When Daniel was still quite newborn, an potentially embarressing thing occured.

His kind grandmother had an idea.  She thought it would be a very good idea.

Because our newborn was so cute, perhaps we could put a little fluff tulle around him and enjoy his cuteness even more. 

Perhaps he would look even sweeter.

Sadly, his very limitted newborn masculinity was compromised.

And we won't post the cutest most embarresting photos other photos we took... they can be blackmail for later in life!  But, as a hint, there is a large amount of very pink, very new skin showing!

Our Sweet Pea

One of Daniel's Halloween costumes, this bunting was absolutely precious on him! He got quiet cosy in the warm flannel and napped most of the night.

Playing at Nanna and Grandpa Douglas's House... Swing!

Although it looks as if Daniel is serious in these photos, it is actually him having a wonderful experience in the swing.  This is a small swing, intended to be a travel swing, but it has been a much more useful swing than the full size version we have at our house. 

Daniel has gotten enjoyment from this swing from 4 weeks old until the present, 13 weeks.  He has been able to look up at the lights that blink as music plays and notice the fish details that are on the swing.  All of the swing's feature are within ten inches from Daniel's face. 

The swing we bought for him at our house is a rainforest themed swing.  It is a full size swing that rocks and swings in two different directions.  It also has music, but does not have lights.  It has a moving mobile that can be put about the seat.  Daniel had no interest in that swing until he was 6 weeks old.  At that point, he became aware of the jungle animal prints on the swing. He would stare at a blue cartoon elephant for quite some time!  At about 9 weeks, he became interested in the mobile.  I think his vision imporved to the point he could see that far and his neck muscles would allow him to look upward.  He seems to enjoy the swinging motion, but I cannot tell if he enjoys it more than just sitting on his bouncer chair or laying on the floor.

Big Boy

He's growing.
He's growing into his fashionable jeans and tennis shoes.
He's growing in posture into his Bumbo chair.
He's growing in love in our hearts, too.

Playtime at Grandparents' House - 7 weeks

Daniel is able to see objects further away now, as well as appreciate motion and sound in his toys.

My mom bought this little activity gym for him, and while he is still too small to touch and pull the dangling toys, he enjoys it when someone else makes them move.

The pictures with his mouth open are of a time when he is laughing and cooing at the objects.

Five Weeks Old!

Dear Baby,

You've been with us now for over a month. You've tried our patience in the last few weeks with your sudden bursts of cries (well, yells!) and we think that its because you haven't been getting enough rest.

This is the first full week that we have implemented a routine of consistent feedings of 35 minutes, activity time, and naps. Its helping you out a lot! I've discovered that you prefer more active wiggling time in the mornings, and you'd rather have a relaxing activity time of listening to music, having a diaper change, and sitting in your bouncy chair in the later hours of the day.

Wednesday was the BEST day yet for you and I. You had peaceful sleep and silly play times. I think you are starting to give social smiles, but they aren't on cue. You do make some happy faces and happy sounds often when we play with you.

Your red hair seems to be falling out, especially on the top of your noggin. Unfortunately, it sort of looks like you have a mullet since you have longer hair on the nape of your neck. When it is humid or you take a bath, that hair curls up. Its so cute! I wonder what the next crop of hair will look like. Your Douglas family really hopes you stay red.

You also seem to enjoy having some time by yourself to explore your surroundings and your toys. Sometimes I walk away from you while you are in your crib and hear you singing to your stuffed caterpillar toy. You also like to bat at an orange giraffe that hangs on your bouncy chair. You stare at that thing for quite some time!

This week you had your first baby sitting experience. You stayed with our neighbors, Abbie and David and their pets while your parents went to dinner. We had a nice date (with some steak!) and you played so well with Abbie and David. They told us that you danced and sang along with Abbie when she played the piano, and that you gulped down your bottle. You were even kind enough to spare them a diaper change! I think with such a good report card, we'll be able to find baby sitters for you all the time.

Ultrasound Pictures - Photo Blitz

For the last month, Baby H's ultrasound pictures have not shown too much difference from week to week. And since they are weekly, I've gotten behind at scanning and sharing them. He is still very cute, and the ultra sound technicians always comment on his sweet, sleeping face. Usually they must wake him up using a fetal acoustic stimulator, which causes him to twitch and take his hands away from his face.

June 17, 2009 - 35 weeks.

Foot as large as his dad's pinky.
June 24, 2009 - 36 weeks

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Cheeks are getting chubby as he puts on brown fat.

Sleeping with his hand squashed against his face.

July 8, 2009

37 weeks.

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