Music has to be rooted deep in the brain. (Oh, look. It is!) From the time Emma and Henry were old enough to move under their own control they've been wiggling along with the beat of whatever Marla and I happen to be listening to.
(Check out what I've been playing in iTunes here. Pardon the grotesque Quake 2 crotch-grabber. It's an old inside joke at work.)
Emma, of course, took this to the next level once she was able to speak and sing and then again when she started memorizing entire songs.
Henry is now getting in on the act. He loves to boogey down whenever he catches a beat and claps along (though a bit out of time) when the urge strikes. He's also playing "backup singer" for Emma lately, with off-key "Oooohs!" and "Ahhhhhh-ahh-ahhhhhhs!"
We may just have the next Partidge Family on our hands if we keep this up!
@ 9:26 PM by TNorthcutt | Comments (0)
Two memory cards full, and one more on the way! It's finally time for Momma to write that promised blurb before my pictures are lost in the organization unit that Todd has configured for our "network".
To be sure, my pictures are not the best, but mediocre as they may be, they do truly catch the everyday occurrences of our two little ones. (Well, I guess 4 isn't that little any more, especially when you are the genius that Emma is, but she is still our little lady! And Henry our little man! Have I ever mentioned that I am the luckiest Mom in the universe... well at least, MY universe!)
I will be the first to admit that there are MANY moments of utter frustration. Emma and I butt heads continually and Henry is very talented at being a sparkling whiner (usually it's for me to hold him though, so it's actually complementary), but when they are cute, it is almost too much for me to handle.
For instance, Henry loves to wake Emma up from a nap. He climbs on top of her, to Emma's disgust, but then he crawls on up to her head, lays down beside her, wraps his arm around her neck and gives her a great big hug. It's one of the best moments of the day.
Or, after a frustrating afternoon, I actually read the paper bags that Emma has been writing on and discover that she has written "Emma and Mom" on all of them. That brought tears to my eyes! Cute shots include the following:
- Henry playing the kazoo while wearing fairy wings!
- Henry using the screwdriver like a pro!
- Henry and Emma eating cookies together on the "old" couch! The new one finally arrived!
- The DEN enjoys his biscuit!
- Emma and Henry looking cute in their St. Patrick Day's shirts and Emma wearing her Purim crown that she made all by herself!
- Henry and Emma having a picnic (in Emma's room).
- Henry playing at the library!
- Emma and her first ever bubble-bath!
- Henry climbing the ladder at Hop-On-Adventures. Emma loved that big slide!
- Henry at his MY GYM class (we go while Emma is at preschool).
- Henry in his car seat after enjoying a tasty chocolate chip cookie!
- Emma's second visit to the dentist! She did an awesome job! Notice the looks to the ceiling (Henry and the fish) where there were TV's to watch!
- Henry and Emma enjoying the tubs at "The Great Indoors". Oh... and the toilets too. SSSSSSSS!
@ 10:25 PM by TNorthcutt | Comments (1)
It's a double shot of Northcutt children tonight! A wild Friday night for us!
First up is a yet-another-trip-to-the-playground. More swinging and lollygagging at the Arroyo Vista Elementary School. Emma is, at last, doing a great job of "pumping" on the swings. Once she gets started she can barely be stopped!
Henry, too, is making his way around the playground quite well know that he's more mobile. Marla chastized me the other day for sending him down the slide by himself.
"Daddy! We would never have done that with Emma! I would never have done that with Henry!"
Ah, the plight of the second born - and a boy to boot! He's destined for a hard-knock existence compared to his young, delicate sister.
Next up is a trip to Disneyland with friends Spiff and Katie. We were looking forward to a slow visit to the park, anticipating that in late February no one would be there.
And we were right! No one was there except for the 50 million cheerleaders who were competing across the street in some sort of national championship event.
Despite the crowds we had a grand old time. Henry-boy rode a few rides (a first!) and Emma could be a big girl and ride with someone other than Mommy or Daddy. Even the combined force of four adults, though, couldn't convince Emma to try a new ride, so that had to wait for a later visit...
@ 8:48 PM by TNorthcutt | Comments (3)
Henry's been walking for a little over a month now.
The first weekend was just a few, furtive steps and he was very frustrated. After a few days he was having a blast, toddling a few feet before collapsing. Now, a month later, we're struggling to keep up with him.
He dashes here. He darts there. The boy can't be stopped!
The video (click to play!) shows Henry struggling to reach the video camera across the room. Try, try again. And again... and again... he finally makes it and is quite pleased with himself - as was I!
@ 8:08 PM by TNorthcutt | Comments (4)
We've had some great fun at the playground these past few weeks. Now that Henry is more mobile he's able to climb all over the playground equipment and have a grand old time.
Just like his sister, Henry enjoys swinging. Mommy and Daddy are prone to "swing coma" so unfortunately he doesn't get to swing for long. He also loves eating the bark that serves as the ground cover. The good times never end!
Also in this photo set are some cute shots of Emma feeding Henry pudding. I think he enjoyed being fed by Emma as much as he enjoyed the delicious dessert.
I'm so happy that the two of them get along. Henry lights up every time Emma enters the room and she loves to hug and kiss on him. Hopefully it'll last...
@ 8:56 PM by TNorthcutt | Comments (4)
