Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...

...and, that's exactly what Foster has been doing over the past few months (as it turns out, Dory is a lot smarter than we give her credit for...).  Swimming. Crawling. Walking. RUNNING. While he had a late start in the crawling and walking departments, he's more than made up for it (and added to it) in enthusiasm. We were lucky enough to get his first steps on video:

And, since then, he's taken the entire house (and dog) by storm.  He's added professional pool floating to his list of favorite activities, and is looking forward to next summer's swimming season.

He's also found a new list of favorite things to do that we're not arguing with one little bit. At the top of the list, you can find wiping down the wood floors with baby wipes, polishing windows, and helping his dad sweep out the garage.

While he's not cleaning, floating, and charging around the house, he's keeping a busy morning schedule every day while he shares his time between the two Genesis nurseries. He works hard, so he has to even things out by playing hard...and apparently not following directions, because I'm pretty sure the reason he's smiling is because someone was telling him NOT to stand in his chair...

(Side note : I realize that I was counter-acting the discipline that the wonderful Felicia was trying to instill on him by laughing and taking a picture.)

Other than that, our days have become pretty routine - we do, however, fit in a little time to enjoy the great weather we've been lucky enough to have for so long, have a lot of fun with dad, and to channel our inner Jack Jack at any given time.

Year One: Mission Accomplished (and, the best belated present ever)

As much as I tried to ignore it, Foster went ahead and turned ONE last week and kicked off the ultimate birthday weekend (a party with every branch of the family that he could possibly fit in).

With THREE chances to dive in to the birthday cake, the results were as follows:

Attempt One: "Not a chance."

Attempt Two (with his cousin, Henry -- born 4 days apart): "Nah...you go ahead, Hank."

Attempt Three: "I thought I told you guys already....Leave. Me. Alone."

Instead, he opted to spend a lot of time in Hoot's pool, and spend some quality time with his cousins.

Lots of new responsibilities with the new age bracket:

New role as a risk-taker added to the resume.

What's this in the fine print?! SHOTS?

"I guess as I get older, I should probably take my health a little more seriously..."

The VERY best part of the week included a trip to have his head re-measured, and resulted in some surprise news:

NO MORE HELMET!

This certainly makes this risk-taking stuff a little more stressful....

Summertime!

After a long, long, winter at the Steinbrink house (and more bouts with the stomach flu than this germaphobe cares to talk about. Like seriously -- a record number), warmer weather finally hit, making Foster a VERY happy boy.  He's taking advantage of every opportunity to be outdoors:


Quality time bonding with his dog:
(She's just thrilled.)

Helping his dad put things together the right way:

(Upside down directions are a necessity.)

Becoming a pro at watching for dad to come home from work:

Giving SPF 50 a run for its' money:

(He is not burnt in the below picture, C.P.S., no worries - just a bad flash)

(but check out that helmet tan-line)

The ever-important "spying on the neighbors" task:

And the highly coveted role of "Garden Supervisor:"

We're still waiting on the green light to get this helmet off -- but until then, hopefully these tiny holes that the specialist drilled in the back help him out in the 95 degree trips outside that he keeps insisting on.

Does this helmet make my head look big?

A few weeks ago, Foster added a new accessory to his daily attire - his light blue cranial helmet (to match his eyes, of course). Somehow, he manages to wear the thing 23 hours a day, and sleeps in it all night (minus the 2 a.m. parties he throws occasionally). The helmet is the last step in healing his torticollis and flat spot on the side of his head.

Stare all you want, grocery shoppers of Dillon's...you can't deny that he makes this thing look good.

(He also has started moving all over his crib, covering every square inch of his mattress at least four times a night. I'm convinced we'll find him downstairs on the couch at some point.)

It also comes in handy now that the weather is nicer...this kid is obsessed with the outdoors. The helmet has protected him from the lunges he makes at the windows in order to get outside (unless he's just trying to escape...).

It's been a while...

We've been busy around here, which hasn't left a lot of time for blog updates.  Foster had his first Christmas, and loved every second of it.

He had a Christmas party at daycare:

Learned the importance of matching Christmas pajamas:

Started sitting up, and made us realize he's not going to be a 'baby' for too much longer (which I am not at all ok with):

(P.S. The pillow isn't helping him that much.  I'm just paranoid.)

Dominating Arts and Crafts at daycare:

And, over the past month-and-a-half, he's managed to pass the 6 month mark, and is rapidly approaching 7 months old.  How did this happen?  I'm open to any suggestions of slowing this whole thing down a little.  Please contact me ASAP.