Some pictures

Mommas best Persian, "Ghorma Sabzi" yet!

Drool machine

He is starting to laugh

and laugh

and giggle, mostly at Mommy

Holden loves whatever you call this

Wishes he could fit this in his mouth

Holden isn't Irish but he is lucky

Happy St. Paddy's Day! whatever that means. If Facebook is a litmus it means to wear green and get drunk. Just another sunny weekend here in Key West raising the bairn. Holden is currently playing in his "apparatus", the mat with arches of hanging toys. This week Mommy brought him to the library where other moms go with their children to do arts and crafts and socialize. He is so talented this boy, he painted a festive picture of a pot of gold in his sleep, literally he was sleeping (mommy assisted). Now, my wife is a child development major so I know to say things like " Oh, you must have worked very hard on this!" or " I can see you used many colors!". The idea being that after years of telling him he is the best painter we have ever seen; his sixth grade art teacher tells us he has 'failed to develop as an artist.'
He did wake up long enough to observe a little girl with no boundaries who was crying and fussing which led to him crying. I guess he has sympathy....

Was fascinated by this type of bag

Product placement

 He went the furthest up the Keys he has ever been today, mile marker 19, to eat at a Napolitano place and then went for his first walk facing forward in his BOB Iron-man stroller without car seat insert.

Holden also went for a swim today at Daddy's work. The water was chilly but he took it better than the parents. Mommy bought him a great suit (a little small in waist for a healthy boy) and rash guard top for sun protection. He enjoyed the water and fell asleep on the way home trying to "talk" about it.

Every time I try to take a good picture of Holden smiling or doing something besides his "inquisitive face" I fail. He is totally distracted by the large black object Daddy puts up to his eye whenever he is laughing or making a funny face. Below are the misses....

Thanks to Grandma Charlotte, Daddy used ancestry.com to trace Holden's roots back to their respective "old countries", from what I have gathered he does not have any Irish in him. What he does have is French, Dutch, Persian, Native American, and English. That should clear everything up.

Spring Break

"What's up Key West!" This past week Key West was invaded by SGOCKs, Small Groups of College Kids, that apparently have parents with enough money to send them to America's most expensive spring break locale (according to a study I heard about from a friend). Laila and I went for a run with Holden today down A1A beach front avenue (I'm being serious, it's really called that). Me pushing the stroller into 20 mph winds was a warning to those college students who may be considering earlier than planned conceptions...

 So many "almost" moments for Holden this week. He is almost laughing, almost rolling over, almost grabbing his feet, and almost reading. I'm serious; look at the picture below. He holds the book and tries to bring it closer to his mouth. He does seem to like being read to and enjoys the story reading voices used by both parents.

'The Gruffalo' a gift from Grandpa Perry

Last night he slept for eight hours with no apparent reason except maybe growing more that day. Holden continues to sustain himself with breast milk which is regulated by mommy with a steady stream of vegetables, protein and grains and dulce de leche ice cream from Mathessens.

There has been a impulse trip planned for Holden to coincide with Daddy's business travel. We will be attending the French Quarter festival in April. Hope to see some of our readers and this will be his first flight. We will take plenty of pictures.

3 Months

Practicing for the day he will crawl. Tactically.

Hello from windy Key West. All week winds will be 25 mph or higher. Holden doesn't seem to mind, just another day of diaper changes, feedings and blowing spit bubbles. He grunts, squeals, sighs, yells and cries constantly. Today he has a surprisingly relaxed demeanor, so relaxed he inspired me to turn on a Pandora Dub Radio station when I got home. Holden just looks around taking in everything as a baby does, head losing control every now and then, flopping in one direction before he can catch it.  His arms shoot out and then take the longest way possible to his mouth where he slobbers his knuckles, palm and fingers before he secures the coveted thumb. Remember the pacifier? He doesn't. Anytime we offer it to him in the evening for something to do he spits it out because its not attached to his hand. This guy says, "fingers or nothing". He is beginning to understand the concept of "peek-a-boo" and pumps all limbs furiously when a blanket is thrown over his body.  His favorite part is right before the blanket is thrown on because he knows he is about to have something that he will most likely get in his mouth and soak. I think he is using me and the game as an excuse....

Go Tigers!

THIS BOY LOVES TO STAND. Locking his legs out on any surface his face lights up and he revels in the sense of being taller than his infant self. A concerned relative warned us that this may cause him to be "bowlegged" so we limit his standing to 23-15 second iterations a day.
 He has also started to roll his 17lb body to his side by pulling on his hanging toy apparatus. What a guy! It is too easy to love this kid.