Video - Piano Playing

Video - piano playing
Originally uploaded by Henry William

He's getting good at crawling up to precarious situations like this. Pretty cute though.

My smart baby

The last few weeks if anyone asks me how Henry is doing, I always tell this story.....

Henry's signs have really taken off and so has his intelligence. He looks out in the world for things to recognize. While driving, he spotted the same balloons twice while driving. So much is going on in that head that we just don't know.

Last week or so we went to Target. While we were walking in the aisle Henry said "Baa" and made a bird sign. We kept walking, but I looked back, and at the end of an aisle was a ceramic cookie jar that looked like a bird's head. It's so impressive! Not only does he understand that bird starts with B and that he can do the correct sign; he can also understand the many identities that bird means. These include a picture of a bird, an actual flying bird and even a ceramic cookie jar. That seems like a huge intellectual leap to me, and I couldn't be prouder.

With his growing smartness as well as the fact that his head is over the 97th percentile, the world of geniuses better move over.

-L

He likes to sign

Last weekend was the Super Bowl. We went to the Stilleys for the party. I'll admit I went for the food and not for the game, but it was still worth it. Initially Henry was shy, but he warmed up quite quickly. As soon has he went downstairs (where the party was), he saw a cast iron dog and immediately signed dog. Later he saw Stone, a big horn sheep who graciously donated his head to sit above the fireplace. He again signed "dog." I thought it was close enough.

During half time there was a 3-D commercial and we all had the special glasses. Henry was playing with them and gave them to someone. He then signed "more," which to him means " do something that I want you to do." It was funny because at the same time Aaron and I said " he wants you to put them on." We both know Henry so well. Most people would have just thought we wasn't doing anything special, just putting his hands together. But, we know better. It's fun to be able to ready Henry so well.

Henry's signing has been taking off. His new additions are: dog, cat, bird, car, up, down, baby, please and thank you. Aaron and I have really enjoyed sign language. Besides letting Henry communicate earlier with us and decreasing his frustration, it's just been fun. I hope we can continue this even past his baby stage.

Also, the next day after the super bowl party, Henry was at the Stilley household and wanted to go back downstairs. I don't think he realized the party was over. He got to go down, and instead of being disappointed that there was no one there, he just waved to the couch. How cute!

Good Night. -L

My big boy

Tonight I rocked Henry to sleep. I don't think I ever have done this before. When he was younger he wanted to bounce, now I guess he likes to rock. When I sat down in the rocker and started rocking him he just looked up at me and smiled. It was nice.

That 10 minutes was all I had today.
Someday it'll be different.

-L

Walking!

Walking!
Originally uploaded by Henry William

Little dude finally felt comfortable enough to take the plunge and truly walk around today! We've felt like he's had the strength and balance for a long time now, and took his first step quite a while ago, so we've been waiting. The Solyntjeses encouraged him to walk quite a bit while we were up there, and he was taking quite a few steps. Now today (back home) he's walking around like a pro. Pretty exciting!

P.S.

We now have high-resolution digital files of every one of his 13-month pictures, so if there are any you would like to have, just let us know!

1 Year Pictures

(Actually 13 months when they were taken, but 1 year sounds better.)

http://www.henrys.photoherald.com

Password: ducky