First banana

Here's Mattias trying out banana for the first time - he was able to hold onto the fruit and get it into his mouth without a problem, but he is still figuring out how to swallow and how to then reach down and pick up smaller bits that have fallen on the tray. I gave him the bottom third of the banana and cut off about a half-inch of the skin from around the top. That way he can grip the skin and gnaw the soft part on the top.

the bib is just as yummy

6 months old for Mattias!

A smattering of photos of our happy guy, "Mr Solid," as Jim began calling him this week. Six months - wow! That is a milestone. And he hit it very appropriately by sitting up on his own almost to the day, and by sleeping through the night without waking to nurse. It is wonderful to be able to put him on the floor now amidst a pile of toys and watch him enjoy himself. We are so thankful that he is healthy and strong and content.

Some of his favorites right now are (this is for you, Asher):

• Watching Timo throw things or make funny noises
• Playing "roll the ball" with Timo, pushing the ball back and forth between them
• Bathtime! This guy is a maniac of muscle and movement in the bath. Just ask Jaja; it really is unique. And wet!
• Drooling (but no teeth coming through yet)
• Snuggles and kisses on his neck and cheeks. He also likes to grab our necks and lean in for snuggles.

Yes, I think the Hawkins Ears have been passed on to the next generation, again.

Saturday morning scene (toys strewn thanks to Timo)

Another morning-time scene with Timo's "emergency" pile-up of cars

Mattias seems quite eager to understand about eating (he always gets fussy at dinnertime unless he is sitting in our laps and holding onto something), although he is still early in the developmental process of grabbing/putting to mouth/chewing/swallowing. He's got "putting to mouth" down pat, but then he chews on the bite - or gags - and out it comes again. And once it comes out ... picking it up again is a challenge. So far he has tried steamed broccoli, cucumber, banana and watermelon.

And, really, the bib is so much more fun to chew on!!

"Daddy home now!"

"Know what, Mommy, know what? Daddy home now!" 

It's hard to fully express in words how overjoyed Timo was to have Daddy back (2 big overseas trips in 6 weeks was a lot to manage). There was A LOT of snuggling and wrestling and ball-playing that happened in those first couple of days. Timo got to stay up past his normal bedtime and come with me to pick up Daddy at the airport. When we got in the car, Timo started talking away to Daddy about his new soccer net and his Frisbee, and how the two of them could now go play in the backyard together.

oh, look, a family photo! Thanks, Mom!

 
It got a little crazy around our house for a couple of days once Jim returned - the next day Uncle Bill and Aunt Jayne stopped by (for a 2 nights, 1 day visit). They had been doing a long road trip around the western United States and were heading back up north to get back across the Canadian border, and then head directly west home to Vancouver Island. It had been way too many years since we had seen them, so it was wonderful to have some time together in our home. Also, Mom/Jaja was still with us for part of that time so she got to see her brother and sister in-law too. Timo immediately took to Uncle Bill and Aunt Jayne; "Uncle Bill, where are you?" he would call. And every day for a week after their visit, Timo asked, "Uncle Bill Aunt Jayne come back 'nother visit now?"
 

Timo had a great time exploring their pick-up camper.

Uncle Bill & Aunt Jayne's itinerary got thrown for a loop when they arrived in Colorado to SNOW!! We had been having lovely weather in the 60s/70s the whole time Mom was here, but suddenly one night the temps dropped and we got snow. The mountain passes received over a foot of snow and many of the roads were closed, so they had to re-think their travel plans and spend extra time watching the weather channel and studying the maps. Phew. I guess that's how it goes in Colorado in April; you never know what might happen.

a little snowman that Aunt Jayne helped Timo to build

Thank you for coming!!

As we waved good-bye and their truck turned the corner out of our neighborhood, Timo turned to me and said, "Timo love go Canada now." Yes, my boy, me too! Part of my heart will always live there, and maybe yours too once you get there!

Another week with Jaja

Week two with Jaja was wonderful! 

One afternoon we walked to/from Colorado College campus, about a mile each way through our neighborhood. Timo LOVES the "bell chapel" and wanted to show it to Jaja. For supper we tried out a new Hawaiian taco shop - what a treat! It shares space with one of the campus buildings so it was easy to include it on our walk.

Jaja is saying, "Shhh..." as they entered

On Saturday (last week) we went to our first yard sale of the season, and scored the summer's BEST purchase: two small soccer nets!!! Both Timo and I were ecstatic (and I could hardly believe that we were able to find such nice goals, just the right size for Timo, on our very first yard sale outing) and set it up in the backyard right away.

We had lovely spring weather while Mom was here and our tree out front - a Japanese cherry, we think - blossomed with beautiful, fragrant blooms.

One morning we took a picnic lunch to Memorial Park. It's always nice to look out over the small lake there and up to Pike's Peak in the distance. It was very windy but still fun (especially since there was a dump truck and a skid steer loader in the parking lot). I think this will be one of our favored parks for the upcoming summer.

Drool-meister. And the giraffe hat barely fits anymore!

Timo experimenting with a sand funnel

Jim got home late Wednesday night, and Mom left on Friday afternoon (but we forgot to take anymore photos in the intervening time!) and it was nice to have that brief overlap. Jaja, thank you for coming! We are looking forward to our Hawkins family reunion this July!

Jaja is here!

"Know what, Mommy? Daddy 'nother big trip. Jaja here visit. Jaja, Mommy, Timo, baby 'tee-tas."

This has been a common refrain (is that redundant?) from Timo over the last week. It's never easy to say good-bye to Daddy and send him off to faraway lands (this time for 2 weeks to Tanzania, Ethiopia and Germany) - even though we DO love to daily study the big map book and look where Daddy is - but happily on this trip we are able to have Jaja with us!! 

Easter Sunday was warm, sunny and windy. In the afternoon we went to a nearby neighborhood park. Welcome to Colorado, Jaja, and don't forget your sunglasses! In fact this is Mom's fifth visit (including when she accompanied us on the road trip when we first moved here), so she knows what to expect now. On the other days of her visit so far we have been pretty low-key so far, playing in the backyard, taking walks in the neighborhood, cooking up a variety of dishes, and me being able to run errands during naptime. Wow, that's a treat.

Jaja seems to be quite impressed with her hunky, active, smiley grandson. This evening she was helping him sit and play with a ball, and suddenly he was sitting on his own for a few seconds at a time! And drooling all down his chest! And then swinging woa lurching whoops backwards, and being caught in Jaja's arms.

A quiet moment with Jaja, looking at photos of cousins.

We still have another whole week together - hurrah! Still need to make a trip to the Dutch Bakery... and the Pioneers museum... and Garden of the Gods.