6 Months

*don't ya just wanna squeeze those chubby little arms and legs!? Cuz I do.

Harvey at six months:

• weight: 22 lbs!!!
• has discovered his hands. He will gaze at them opening and closing in slow motion like they are the most fascinating things in this world. I love watching him take it in.
• has also discovered his feet. Every time I put him on the changing table, he curls his chubby little body in half and grabs his toes. Sometimes, if he's lucky, he can get them into his mouth. It should probably gross me out or something, but I love it so so much.
• has developed some super sensitive skin. Baby eczema, bacterial infection/rash, dermatological fabric allergies, constant diaper rash, blah blah blah. not fun.
• still the most laid back baby ever. If all my kids are this easy, I might have 5 or 6 of them.
• My favorite thing about Harvey at 6 months: his baby babbling. He's constantly talking and it kills me. I could listen to him all day. It's usually a single sound over and over: Ba ba ba..., ma ma ma..., da da da...., fffffff, screaming or the "motor boat." I remember why I wanted Wendy to stay that way forever now.

It has happened... again. Ryan got an iPhone... again. Last time he got one I have to admit, I hated it. I hated talking to myself all the time and his delayed, "...Huh? Did you say something?" I hated the glow that ruined my perfectly pitch black room at night. I hated the extra $30 a month on our already overpriced cellphone bill. I hated how he couldn't function if it wasn't working or was lost for 5 seconds. I hated this unnecessary object that took all of my husband's attention. Seriously. We have a desk top and a laptop, why would you NEED to have the internet in your pocket 24/7? Honestly, I had visions of throwing it out the car window.

But this time around, for some reason, I don't mind so much. Maybe it's that he's not as obsessed. Maybe it's that I love watching Wendy laugh over and over again at the "Talking Tom" app. Maybe it's because I have reaped the benefit of having the internet in Ryan's pocket on more than one occasion. Maybe it's because I secretly covet instagram. Okay, I admit I was wrong. Maybe I might kinda want one some day.

Our Very Hungry Halloween!

For Harvey's 1st Halloween, I knew I wanted him to be The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It's one of my favorite children's books and so appropriate for my happy, chubby, HUNGRY little boy. (Have I mentioned that my father-in-law calls him "Starvey Harvey"?). I found some great ideas here and here, bought some yarn and sent it to my amazingly talented grandma. She whipped this little number up for Harvey and mailed it back to me within a week. And since this may just be the last year Wendy lets me sway her into a costume of my choosing, we made it a family affaire. She was the butterfly, Ryan & I were pears and strawberries.

*i LOVE how she's kissing his hand...

* ...and i LOVE how he's grabbing her tutu.

*this face reminds me of another little baby I knew, back in October of 2008

Wendy was a trooper, going for the whole butterfly thing. We found a pet caterpillar over the summer and watched it morph from bug, to cocoon, into a very ugly moth. She also helped me make her antenna, so those were the selling points. We did have SEVEN opportunities to dress up this year (1.Charlie's spooky dinner, 2. Yo Gabba Halloween Wrap Party, 3.Sloan's 4th BDay costume party, 4. My parents "trunk-or-treat," 5. Wendy's pre-school Halloween parade/party, 6. Our "trunk-or-treat," AND 7. the REAL Halloween trick-or-treating) ...so there were a couple times she decided to be something (or should I say, "someprincess,") else. I have a feeling I won't be so lucky with the family themed costumes next year. Or maybe I can just hope Wendy doesn't want to be a princess and we can base our costumes around her instead.

*Yo Gabba Season 4 Wrap Party

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

May yours be safe and full of Reeses snuck out of your child's stash once they're asleep :)

5 Months!

Harvey at 5 months:

• weight: 2o lbs 14oz - 97th percentile
• length: 28 in - 96th percentile
• head: 17.7 in - 88th percentile
• in the grab-whatever-i-can-reach-and-put-it-in-my-mouth phase. especially loves to try to eat: his fists, fingers, blankies, and my hair
• simply ADORES his sister, even after all the abuse. his face lights up when she talks to him in her silly baby talk voice. she can get him cracking up so easily by jumping on the couch or making fart noises (yes, i admitted it) (i know boys are boys, but isn't he a little too young to think that's funny?)
• has rolled over once, from his tummy to his back on his left side
• My favorite past time with 5 month old Harvey: right before i lay him down to sleep, i sit in the rocking chair and sing (or try to sing) "You Are My Sunshine" to him. He always stops squirming, lets the pacifier drop out of his mouth, opens his eyes and smiles a wide open smile at me the whole time i sing. When I'm done his mouth searches for the pacifier, his eyes close and he's out.

*i gotta give a shout out to my little helper. notice how he's smiling big in every picture but not quite at the camera? yeah, that was all her.

Dear Pinterest,

I was introduced to you 2 weeks ago and I wish I had never met you. I love you too much and this relationship isn't healthy. I NEED to go to bed early. I have a newborn that needs me. But you keep me up too late at night and leave me with a hangover in the morning. It's not you, it's me. Maybe one day, when I have a smartphone, you will fit more conveniently into my life. But for now, I think we should just be friends. Sorry to do this to you so abruptly, but I'm suffocating. I think we need some limits on this relationship. Don't worry, this isn't goodbye, it's more like let's cool things off for a while and slow down. Thank you for being so understanding and giving me the space I need right now.

Your Friend,

Heather

Williams Family Beach House 2011

*family photoshoot by my talented sister, Nessa!

*"OUR" lifeguard tower, #17

*The grandkids: Harvey, Wendy, Ruby, Landon, Charlie

Almost every summer of Ryan's life, he has spent a week with his family at the same beach house. So, for the past 9 years (the length of our dating & married life) I've got to benefit from this family tradition as well. Every summer at the beach house has been wonderful, and this summer was no exception. Some highlights:

• having the help of my MIL, SIL, aunt-in-laws, teenage girl cousin-in-laws... I was actually able to have some time to myself and do things like take showers and make dinner without worrying about the kids!
• sitting out on the beach all day. Wendy played in the sand with her cousins and Harvey professionally kicked it in our hand-me-down baby tent (thanks aunt Ruth- that thing is awesome!)
• games at night! (This is always my favorite part. We put the kids to bed, cover the table with treats and play games til we can't keep our eyes open anymore. Love it.)
• family bike rides along the boardwalk and to the ice cream shop
• the time I accidentally locked us out. We didn't mind being stuck on the beach. The land lord came within an hour or two to unlock the door. Apparently during that time, all the other beach front rentals were broken into and all the vacationers' electronics were stolen. Good thing I'm so scatter brained!
• finding out that my sister-in-law is pregnant! Everyone thought they were done. I'm SO excited that Harvey won't be the odd man out, trailing behind all the older cousins. Can't wait to meet my new niece/nephew!

4 months

Harvey at 4 Months:

• weight: 19 lbs. 10 oz
• has been wearing size 6-12 month clothes since he was about 3 1/2 months old
• cooing all the time. loves to have long "conversations" with me after he eats and it's my FAVORITE time with him. he gazes up into my eyes like i'm the most wonderful thing on earth and just sighs over and over again. i melt.
• loves to gnaw on his fists & fingers
• easiest way to get him to laugh: stand him up and bounce him on my lap and say "Har-Vee-Jay!" as he bounces (Wendy likes to "help me" do this and changes the words to "CHUB-EE-JAY!" Harvey's laughs turn into nervous smiles, but he still loves it).
• loves the mirror... will smile big and coo to himself then gets embarassed and burrows his face into my shoulder, he totally flirts with himself
• SO laid back. I feel like it's because I neglect him (compared to Wendy who NEVER got put down as a newborn, he spends some time in his swing & bouncy chair so I can take care of both of them). It's like he's learned not to expect much. But then again, I really think it could be his personality.

*thanks to my talented sister nessa for taking these adorable photos