Second (calendar-accurate) Thanksgiving + Adam's december

big catch-up Adam post that was overdue - though this was technically supposed to be a December post i felt the need to throw in some pictures from our second Thanksgiving, the one with our local Sobczak family on the actual Thanksgiving weekend.

The month of December saw Adam learning to sit up on his own, increasing his core powerhouse strength. Somewhere along the way he also picked up the curious habit of turning his head left and right, as if vigorously denying accusations of having placed mashed sweet potato in his hair. Further work on his fine motor skills continued unabated with him finally (though somewhat on accident) eating his first finger food - puff cereal - on his own. Most of the time the puff cereal would just be clasped tightly in clenched fist, to be eventually discarded on the floor to the circling dogs' delight.

Another big milestone - first tooth! One little guy poking through on the middle bottom, enough to keep him in a constant state of drooling and biting on things but not so much as to dampen his baby joie de vivre.

During December our good friends Dave and Mel visited with their almost 2 year old (and cute as a button) daughter Olivia. In between marathon sessions of Pro Evolution Soccer, Dave and I managed to take the families down to Galveston's Moody Gardens pavilion to wheel the kids through their Festival of Lights on a chilly Houston evening. Despite the audio / light diorama Nativity scene that greeted us with an oddly-written recollection about "how badly King Herod wanted the baby Jesus killed", a good time was had by all.

but enough talk - please enjoy the pictures and videos!

The Houston Thanksgiving

Traditional Thanksgiving meal: mushed up cereal and vegetables
Cousin April and Adam hanging out
White Grandpa and White Aunt # 2 enjoy a laugh at Adam's Zoolander impression
The Gathered Family (White Aunt #1 Karyn and cousin Emily not pictured)



December: Hangin' Around With The McGuires

Relentlessly on the attack

The baby who stands is rewarded with the ultimate prize: tapping on the toy box lid to make sounds.

Dad, please suspend me in mid-air upside down, I think it's hilarious.
Certainly son, up you go.
It's been official from day one: bath time is fun time.

Pbbbtt - I can make smacking noises and other such sounds.

The Official Sobczak Holiday Greeting Card Pose (or more likely one of the many potential choices)
Hitchin' a ride on Patrick the Giant Stuffed Toy Dog
A blissful round of Airplane.
Adam and Olivia, kickin it' footy-pajama style.
Mel and Olivia show Adam some love.
Olivia and Adam hanging out at the ol' toy box.

Adam points out the coolest parts of the jungle gym - Olivia remains skeptical.

Moody Gardens - Festival of Lights

The McGuires hanging out, stylishly i might add, in the winter cold.
Nothing says Christmas like a neon zebra.

What'choo talkin 'bout Dad?

Adam wears a wool monkey cap better than anyone.

Elves - they're everywhere.
Christmas Time is Here

This report just in - I want some food, now!

Sleepy-Time Eats

My First Accounting Desk.
On second thought, forget accounting - Adam just wants to bang on the drum all day.
Groovy drumwork man

Wrapping paper - eighty years (more or less, i dunno) of still being the best gift for little kids.
Mommy showing the Christmas love.
Cousin (and budding daredevil) Audrey delights in angled shifts in verticality.
All great kung-fu masters begin their journey by punching bubbles.
Adam begins his controlled descent.

Aquarium Time - the birthday party of one of his local friends Austin.

Mom and son pose in front of the calm blue.
A school of fish crowd their way into the shot.
Hey how ya doing?
Lights and sounds and standing and stuff.

Your orderly method of DVD shelf organization is stifling me - I crave chaos.
Happy New Year everybody