Six months old is SO fun!
Here are three videos of some of this week's highlights.

Video One is of Lance in his Jumperoo circa 1980 something...Yep! They still make these things! But ours is a hand-over from Lance's buddy Cruz. For some reason it didn't work out on their doorways, so we scored!

Video Two is of the latest efforts toward crawling. Rocking! pretty adorable

and Video Three is of Lance's new crib discovery... how to move his bumper down so that he can peek out. This is how I found him when he woke up from his nap yesterday and he thought it was so hilarious!! Listen closely and you can hear his giggles.

Hope you like them!

Catching Up

March has been a big month for the fam. On the 10th, we celebrated Lance's half birthday. Six whole months old! It was a special day for all of us because we got to spend it with Papa, Grandma Kathie, and Uncle Danny. Lance got to meet and spend a whole week with his grandparents and had several action packed days with his daddy's big brother. Lance got his middle name from this special uncle, so we already knew they would be two peas in a pod...
We busted out the real camera and Danny caught some amazing shots.
Here are some of the highlights:
Enjoying a beautiful day at the beach:

three generations of Harmeling menLoving his morning garden tour with Papa:

And Lance's six month birthday celebration:

Being able to share our love for Lance with family is one of the most amazing parts of parenthood. We wish it could be a daily or even weekly joy, but unfortunately travel makes that impossible. That's why trips are SO special and appreciated. Thanks for making the trip, Dan, Kathie and Danny. It means so much!

Peek-a-Boo

Yep, it's true.
I think all kids do like peek-a-boo! Lance does, anyway.

He loves it, actually. He has started covering up his own face with whatever blankie, towel, or piece of clothing is nearby, to initiate the game. He's even found the curtains above his changing table and likes to play with those as well. You know how it goes: cover and hide, pull it away... and Peek-A-Boo!! smiles, laughs and wiggles to follow. It's adorable and tons of fun for me too. I guess I never got it until now...

Diapers

sooooooooo,
we did it.
we made the switch.
Lance is now wearing cloth diapers. Fuzzi Bunz, to be precise. Many thanks to inspiring friends and Geana at our local baby store, Moonsprout.
We are on day two, and so far, so good. The diapers are super cozy and very absorbent, thanks to the glories of microfiber!
It goes like this: pee diapers go in the pail in Lance's room. Poop diapers go to the bathroom where we spray the goods into the toilet with a nifty sprayer that attaches on the side. Then they go into their own pail. At the end of the day, both pails go to the laundry where we do a rinse cycle, then a wash cycle, then dry! The pails get washed out too and ready to go for tomorrow. Not too bad, really.
The diapers are super cute and give Lance a HUGE bubble butt. We're adjusting to the new look on our little featherweight. He seems to like them so far and we're keeping fingers crossed for no rashes!

uncovered diaper butt...poofy!

getting up on his knees, new butt and all!
St. Patrick's Day Style
Loving Mo

On the Move

Mama Mary called yesterday to say how much she misses Lance, which made me realize it might be time for another video!

So... Lance is mobile. Not quite a crawl, but he can chase his little car around one scoot at a time. He still doesn't understand that he can go places, but that's fine with me!

I Heart NY

It was a hot day on Monday, and Lance had a chance to wear his new onesie handed down from one of his older buddies. Because some of you out there live in NY (and one will be moving there soon), and many of you might even love New York, I thought this would be a worthy post!
Lance is getting very good at rolling around and is trying his hardest to crawl. Definitely can't quite figure it out yet, but it is super fun to watch him try.
Here are some pics of Lance rolling around on the bed and loving NY...

Hair

Lance is rocking quite a do these days... Wait, who am I kidding? He's been rocking quite a do since birth, but the last month has seen even more crazy growth (and loss)! The top is getting totally unruly and the back and sides are completely rubbed out except for a little duck tail. If we decide to truly go with the local Hilo style, we might just grow out that little duck tail to a you know what- a rat tail!!! Heaven forbid!
Here are some shots of the evolution thus far:

lots of hair for a newborn, but looking pretty tame!

One month old and the top is starting "its thing"
two months old and the side thinning begins
still two months and the top is getting better!
continued thinning at three months
the culprit for the lack of strands on the back and sides... getting cozy and rubbing right and left
several people around town have been asking if we intentionally cut our (then) four month old a mohawk
the top just keeps getting longer!
the morning after daddy does the post-bath, pre-bed styling
the aforementioned duck tail with a rogue top strand
full splendor on his five month birthday

Thoughts? Suggestions? Jokes? We'll take them all! We love our boy to the max- amazing head of hair and all!