He Loves a Parade

We went to the Shriner's Parade in downtown Belleville on Friday evening. Our friends, Amy, Carlos, and Jerard and their family invited us again this year (last year was our first time when the boys were just two months old! You can check the old post here). Henry really seemed to enjoy it this time around, at least he didn't fall asleep. Being handed a blue glowstick got things off to a good start:) When he got a little nervous, he just held his trusty cloth diaper a bit tighter. I think his Great Papa Bill would have been proud that Henry waved at everyone. We were out way past his bedtime, but he just snuggled with us and kept watching.

Butterfly House

We went to the Butterfly House on Memorial Day with my cousin, Lori, and her fiance, Chance (my soon-to-be cousin-in-law?). After a little mix up about where the Butterfly House was actually located, we had a very nice time. In case anyone is curious, they have a lot of other "bugs" on display at the Butterfly House, including a disgusting amount of roaches! Also, when you go in to see the butterflies it is very hot and humid. I was expecting hot, but, boy, do you sweat! I realize now I didn't take nearly enough pictures (like one with Lori and Chance!), but that happens to me pretty frequently.

Here is Henry on the very cool nearby playground before Lori and Chance arrived (see above on the mix up). Not shown, me getting hissed at by a mother goose on the way over. Chad thought it was very "city girl" of me not to know that's the least of what could happen if you cross a goose with babies.


Henry was completely mesmerized by the butterflies. There were so many! I can't believe none showed up in this picture. Not shown, me, because I thought I looked bad in the family photo (I'm starting to sound like my mother).

Here's a huge moth! Not shown, all the cool chrysalis on display. We were hoping a butterfly would emerge while we watched!

Henry on the butterfly bench. Not shown, the butterfly that landed on Hank.

Henry with antennae! Not shown, the butterfly he pinched! Oops! I believe it flew away unharmed.

The Park!

I think this was Henry's first trip to the park where he actually got to play! We have a great park less than a mile from our house. I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of time there.

Chef Henry

Some of Henry's favorite things to carry around right now are a play spatula and frying pan that Nonni brought from her house. We find it quite amusing.

His Very Own Chair

Henry's Nonni was kind enough to purchase a chair for him just like she had done for his older cousins. I was excited about the chair, but I didn't expect it to be a big thrill for Henry. A chair seemed practical, somewhere he could sit as he got older to watch movies or look at books. Boy, was I wrong! This thing is like a jungle gym! In and out, up and down! Sit and wiggle, sit and stand, sit and look proud, sit and read! Put toys on, take toys off! Climb in at every angle and fall out of it a few times with a smile on your face! He loves it! Have a look for yourself...

(P.S. I think we've officially personalized too much stuff for him, but I can't seem to resist!)

Mother's Day and More Pics

Here's a picture of Henry and me on Mother's Day, the project he made for me at Nanny Coryn's, Henry doing a little shopping, and Cousin Eva taking care of him last weekend on her 7th birthday.