Six month update

It's been a very busy 4 months! We've been actively trying to sell our home so we can eventually have a home in the burbs; it's not happening as quickly as we would like. Not terribly unexpected given the market conditions and the huge inventory in Chicago! There are a lot of very similar homes for sale nearby, several of which are in foreclosure, which does not make for easy selling conditions!

Aside from that, keeping the house picked up with a wiggly 6 month old and a very active 3 1/2 year old has its challenges! Thankfully we have plenty of outdoor space and places to visit to keep us out of the house when need be!

Little Will isn't so little these days! He's topping the charts at around 20 lbs! Heafty to say the least! He loves his food, any food, but especially watermellon! The kid can eat an adult size piece of watermelon in one single sitting! Granted right now he's just sucking out the juice, but boy does he love it! I'm still nursing him, but I'm not sure for how much longer... I think he confuses the nipple for gum sometimes and bites often (OUCH!).

Will got his 1st tooth the day he turned 5 months old, the second bottom tooth showed up a week later. He started sitting up just shy of turning 6 months old and by now (6 mos + a couple weeks) sits up unassisted very well. He's generally a very happy baby, just don't take away a favorite toy or let mommy or Henry go out of his sight and he's good to go!

We're happy the weather has gotten warmer, but must admit that we're ready for summer! We haven't had a day in the 80's yet and pools are open! Something is wrong with that!

So that's it for now... enjoy the pictures!

Two Months!

I can't believe it! Will is Two Months Old!!! He's a cutie pie... makes tons of cooing noises these days, something I don't remember Henry doing at all! He has a lot of "ooooohs and ahhhhh's", I love it! He gets super excited when he plays with this floor mat that has little animals hanging from it and his whole body wiggles as he makes noises :) Henry is still an awesome big brother - he's great at throwing out diapers, popping the pacifier back in Will's mouth if it falls out and giving great big brother hugs! I'd say all was perfect except Will still wakes up every 2-3 hours to eat during the night and has his nighttime crankiness consistently when I'm trying to put Henry to bed (by myself because Chris is working late nights these days...). That will soon end too!

In all... Will is doing awesome, gaining weight like a champ (he's just shy of 14 lbs!) and growing like a weed!

Winter fun... and 7 week picture of Will!

I can't believe Will is 7 weeks old! This picture was taken today in his Bumbo chair which helps him sit up by himself. He actually liked it! I think the combination of his double chin, back fat and Skinger cheeks help hold up his head! I should also point out that the outfit he is wearing is a 3-6 month outfit! Yikes!!! Henry started wearing 3-6 month old clothes around 1 month of age... Will's not far behind him!

We're making the most of winter and our "city" yard... note the "sledding hill" Chris and Henry are playing on!

Boys are men

I wish someone could explain how some boys are just born men. My boy Henry is a little man in so many ways but I though I would share just a few:

• When I ask him a question, he does not answer me unless I ask several times.
• When I talk to him, he is able to maintain focus on whatever it is he is doing but somehow listen (and I know he's listening because when I ask him what I was talking about at another time, he always remembers).
• When I ask him to pick up his toys, he says "Henry's don't pick up messes, mommies pick up messes"
• Best of all, when he poops on the potty he asks me for his magazines (aka Bruder truck catalogue).

Like I said, somehow boys already are men in their own right!

Five Weeks Old!

This picture was taken at Grandma Nancy's house last weekend - Sophie & Will

Picture taken today at Garfield Park Conservatory (the "waterfall place")

Will at 5 weeks old! The Skinger cheeks are filling out!

Will vs. Henry

Henry & Aunt Kim at 4 weeks old

Will at 4 weeks

Henry

Will


So, do YOU think they look alike?

Where does the time go?!?

Will will be 4 weeks old tomorrow... boy does time fly! He's been great; I'm still waiting for the tables to turn and for him to be a crabby baby like Henry was! He eats great, which is evident by the double chin and chubby legs and arms. He naps wonderfully, which is evident by the fact that Henry is not "jealous" because I have time to play with him! He sleeps pretty well at night, which is evident by the fact that I am not crabby!

We had a nice Christmas, although we seem to be trading sicknesses... I had a stomach bug Christmas eve, Will seems to have gotten some of that because he had a day or so of diarrhea and now Henry is sick with a flu-like thing. The joys of Winter!

Santa was very good to us this year... we acquired a new video camera, vacuum, Spiderman accessories, race cars, Thomas toys and a few toddler toys... all in all it was a great holiday! We are however ready to start down the path of normalcy since we've lived anything but since I was first admitted into the hospital back in September! Henry should be starting preschool (I say should because he's still wait listed) and Chris starts his 80 hour a week busy season just after the new year...

I'll include some pictures, we took a lot over the holidays!