Birthday BBQ

Last night we had a birthday BBQ for Henry and it was so much fun! We felt so lucky to have so many friends and family come to celebrate this special day with us. We are a pretty lucky family to have so many wonderful people in our lives. Auntie Anna and Uncle Andy drove all the way from Portland just for the afternoon to celebrate with us. It was super fun watching all five of the babies play in the giant playpen we set up. They all helped Henry try out his awesome new toys! Emily and I made Henry special dog cupcakes for his dog themed party. They were fun to make and it was even more fun to watch Henry dig into one. He didn't go crazy but he loved the sugar and managed to get a little messy! He especially loved when everyone sang Happy Birthday. He just stared at everyone with a smile and loved the attention...maybe he is coming out of his shy shell. I did have to remind myself a couple times that this was my child's first birthday. It just seems so unreal to me. I feel like our life didn't really start until a year ago when Henry was born. I just can't and don't want to ever imagine life without him...I guess that is what being a parent is all about. Here are some pictures of the big event.

Mountain Climber

Henry has been a climbing machine lately. He has mastered both couches and to our surprise he learned how to get up onto our bed. He knows how to get down too but the occasional fall off still happens. As his first year comes to a close I am amazed how much he has changed! He is so full of life! He loves to explore, crash things around and make crazy sounds. He is a definite boy...so rough and tumble. We are lucky though because he also has such a sensitive side and he loves snuggles and giggles.

Look Ma No Feet!

I think it is fitting that Henry's middle name is William because he is becoming more and more like his Dad everyday. As Henry approaches his first birthday we have been watching him pull up to a stand and cruise around furniture. We have been awaiting his first steps and we kind of got them. Just like his Dad did when he was little Henry walks on his knees instead of his feet. Bill did this until he was almost 2 years old! This video shows the "Birkholz walk"


Henry's Nana and Auntie Sharon (a.k.a Thelma and Louise) came for a 2 day visit and we were so sad to see them go. We had so much fun! They watched Henry and his girl Halle yesterday while Emily and I went out for fun day of shopping and an official grown up lunch. It was such a great day. Later in the day I went to the store with Sharon and Nana stayed at home with Henry. When we returned home Henry and Nana were "hot tubbing" which consisted of Henry playing in the kitchen sink while Nana cheered him on...it was ridiculously cute.

Comfy Climber

As Henry gets bigger and older we have decided to make his crib more like a bed. First we removed the crib bumpers and then we added a pillow. He loves it and often times when we check on him he has his little head nestled on the pillow looking so comfy. Today when I went to check on him he was turned upside down. I guess it may take awhile for him to understand the real purpose of the pillow!

Also Henry has started to climb on everything...a true little boy. He has figured out how to climb up on our playroom couch. The video also shows how truly go with the flow our dogs have become. They let Henry get away with anything! Getting down is another story. He is starting to figure out how to slide down on his tummy but as you will see in the video it is going to take awhile. This video was from last week and now he gets up without any effort...amazing how quickly they improve! He just keeps amazing us and making life more and more fun!

In the coming months we are going to be so busy. Bill and I are going to a wedding in Sun Valley, ID and Henry is staying here and spending time with his Auntie Tink and Uncle David. Next we are off to Auntie Anna's wedding in Portland where Henry will make his ring bearer debut! After that we are headed to Santa Barbara as a family to celebrate our Friend Kate's wedding! Right in the middle of all of this is Henry's first birthday. Titi and Papa are coming for the party! We are going to attempt to make dog cupcakes...I will let you know how they turn out. Lots of fun to be had over the next couple months!

Splish Splash

*new pictures on picture sight...click link on right*
We had a swimming filled weekend! Yesterday we went to Rattlesnake Lake with the Hubert's and lounged under a big shady tree and swam in the lake. The weather has been really nice in the mid 80's which made for a great day! This morning Henry had his first swimming class. He had so much fun playing and singing songs in the pool with his new friends and Daddy. I sat on the sidelines like any proud mom taking hundreds of pictures! Henry just loves the water and was smiling the whole time. He even loves getting dunked under the water. He is becoming a little boy and no loger a little baby. He is just such a great kid...full of adventure and smiles. We have had such a wonderful and fast summer. So many new adventures and a lot of outside time has been great for all of us. I feel like this will be a hard winter because we have gotten so accustomed to being out all day. I think we need to invest in a rain cover for the stroller and nice rain jackets for Bill and I so we can continue our fun rain or shine!

Car Seats and Air Conditioning

We have had record high temperatures here in Seattle! Yesterday it was 100 degrees and we have no air conditioning!!! We northwesters can handle 9 months of rain but give us lots of heat and we crumble! During the day we have been hitting up the mall and other random stores in order to stay cool. We have been spending our evenings at the Microsoft Mixer, which is an air conditioned sort of mall for employees. None of the shops or restaurants are open but we have been bringing our own dinners and eating them in the empty restaurants which has been strangely fun! We all commented that we felt like we had been locked in the mall after hours like in those cheesy movies! It is pretty funny because it is all families and their kids just keeping cool. Here is a video of some of our fun...fake fireworks!

Henry has been pulling up to a stand and cruising around the coffee table for the past couple weeks. He as yet to show any interest in walking which is fine with Bill and I! Bill didn't walk until he was 18 months but he did walk on his knees! We have noticed Henry doing the same thing...pretty funny!

Another big thing that happened is that Henry got his big boy car seat and is now facing forward in the car! He loves the new view and looks pretty darn cute! Here is a video of the first ride in the new seat! Oh it is a floral car seat because it was half price tht way. They were trying to get rid of the floral pattern from their line so they were selling them for half the price!!! I really have become a bargain shopper...it will help him get in touch with his feminine side!

I Love Older Women

Well my girlfriend turned one yesterday and we celebrated with a party at the park. We had so much fun. We played in the water fountain and crawled all around the grass. I even helped Halle open some of her presents! What a fun day! My parents jus can't believe how much I have grown!!!! I have gotten one ore tooth and am working on a coupe more. My parents sure will be glad when teething is over.

I also went swimming for the first time last week with my dad. I was so brave and even let him dunk me under the water! I love the water!