33 Weeks

happy first Christmas from Mohs!  this week, Mohs made an epic journey via plane, train and automobile, traveling from one adoring relative to the next, spreading his unblinking hypnotic are-they-blue-or-are-they-brown stare and death grip (and sometimes pouty face) across 2500 miles.

he, of course, got a haul from Santa, his grannies and his aunties.

Mohs' haul is now mostly in the control of Panzer.  Mohs is pretty tolerant of sharing though, and just keeps his eye on the prize.  as soon as P drops it, Mohs pounces.  (a trick perhaps learned from P himself.)

32 Weeks

this week, Mohs met the big man himself -- Santa.

 he fearlessly collected his bell, gnawed on a stale cookie, and went about his business.

he knows he was a good, sweet baby this year.  he loves santa.

31 Weeks

Mohs is on the move, and shameless about it.  he'll crawl right off the sofa if you turn your back.  and spends a LOT of time, undeterred, trying to pull himself up and out of things -- carseat, high chair, shopping cart, etc.  gotta keep an eye on that guy.

this week, he enjoyed flipping through the paper (before eating it).

and donned his flannel and tool belt to get a little work done.

gonna give P a run for his money in the cutest-baby-ever contest...

7 Months

naked Mohs @ 7 months

naked Panzer @ 7 months

30 Weeks

i've asked Mohs before if he's going to be famous for being able to write in multiple languages with both hands and both feet.  as he gets older, i continue to believe this is a valid question.  he's so strong and coordinated!  when i try to change his diaper, he'll pinch onto my arm with both feet and i can barely break free.  this is what happens when you birth a child whose older brother is named Panzer ... he turns into a 7 month old lumberjack :)

he's a joy even with his toughness ... and there are foolproof ways to make him smile.  put daddy in his face.  squeak his monkey toy.  sing yo-gabba-gabba's jumpy jump jump jump jump jump.  or have panzer make contact...

29 Weeks

Mohs has mastered the army crawl, and even more exciting this week, has learned to launch -- he will pull his little legs up underneath of him and push off like a frog to get closer to what he wants.  perhaps babies named after scientists automatically model themselves after spacecraft. he even does it in the bathtub because he's trying to get to the drain (yuck, why are kids obsessed with that nasty hole from which things never return?)

here i caught him just before he and the killer whale he was riding dove over the side.  he's so brave.  i love this photo because it shows his little nose and eyelashes are so perfect.


Mohs is also old enough that silence is no longer golden, but suspicious.  i caught him silently gnoshing on this three-day-old apple that P left on his exersaucer.  his little huddled posture and fervent glances gave away that he knew he had struck gold and was biding his time...

aaaaaaand just when i knew he couldn't get any cuter, he started sticking his little tongue out when he's playing.

28 Weeks

this week, Mohs celebrated his first thanksgiving.  in style, thanks to Granny Todd.

(the hat is hilarious.  but it is epic on someone so cute and round.)

Mohs celebrated with his California cousins and rode a horse through the fields ... 

camped out like a pilgrim ...

and washed down his sweet potatoes and turkey stuffing with a cold one.

27 Weeks

Mohs is turning up the volume.  he doesn't cry, but he grunts loudly and incessantly if he sees something he wants -- a balloon, food you are eating (but definitely not food you are trying to feed him), etc.

he also has the girth to back up the smack talk ... at his 6 month check-up, Mohs weighed in at 19.5 pounds!

he is definitely motivated to move ... and moving!

6 Months

Moha @ 6 months -- with Daddy's nice oval head.

Panzer @ 6 months -- with Mommy's big fat round head.

26 Weeks

Mohs is getting a hint of movement.  of course he's rolled off the bed before (and landed facing the complete opposite direction than where i set him down so not sure the logistics of how that went down ...) but he is now making lateral movements.

he doesn't pick his tummy off the ground, but does alternate knees.  and his motivation increase exponentially when there is something fun in front of him.

EEK!  on the one hand, i am scared for myself.  on the other, i am scared for Panzer.

of course everything goes straight in his mouth -- working down his single tooth!  here's Mohs at work in his overalls with his flathead screwdriver:

<3

25 Weeks

Mohs celebrated his first Halloween this week.... which was full of skulls and bones (ironic on my little fatty...)

and pumpkins!

i dressed him as a banana -- to complement Panzer's gorilla.  he tolerated the holiday and silly costume, and pooped out halfway through the one block of trick-or-treating.  which made him look more banana-like and less like a flailing monkey trapped in a yellow bag.

Day 174

Mohs got his first tooth today!  it's the bottom center left, and he seems to be completely OK with it.

24 Weeks

right now, we're waiting for Mohs to pop a tooth.  he's not a slobbery mess like P was, so maybe he won't be following the same schedule.

in the meantime. we dug out the bouncer, which Mohs looooves.

he jumps up and down on one foot, which makes him look like he's dancing a jig.  Daddy thinks he needs a little leprechaun hat for his bouncing jaunts.

Mohs also seems to enjoy a shoulder ride -- he giggles but holds on tight with his arms, legs, fists and mouth.    takes Mommy a bit of work with the comb to recover.

and of course, gnoshing on whatever toy of Panzer's he can manage to get out of his clutches for five seconds!

yum, wheels.

23 Weeks

this week Mohs went to the Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico.  he was very excited (along with Mommy!)

actually, Mohs loved spending most of the weekend in a little pouch, checking out the balloons, lights, carnival foods, and zoo animals.  and the rest of it wrapped up in his monkey hoodie and under Granny Todd's Harley sweatshirt.  he is very discerning.


and of course ... tagging along with whatever Panzer wanted to do ...

a la hijacking an unattended cardboard-recycling-gator.  Mohs is the perfect little sidekick.

Mohs also loved seeing Granny Todd again -- and must be at least three times bigger than the last time she saw him in July.  he's getting so long i had to pack up all his footie pjs for the next size up ... and the ones without built-in feet hit him about mid-calf.  still a cutie :)

22 Weeks

this was a week of adventures.  Mohs graduated into his doo-dah.

(of course, poor second child, he has to fight his big brother for it.  he remains a good sharer.)  he is super strong and can stand very well with support -- and already gets his butt waaaay off the ground.

and if that weren't excitement enough ... we went for our first family bike ride this week.  i note this was done the exact moment that Mohs' head grew big enough to fit into the smallest helmet manufactured.

i like this picture because it reflects what I think Aaron's face should look like, even though he was totally cool taking both kids on the big dummy.

and Mohs looks verrry unsure.  he lasted to the park only ... then he and i relaxed under a tree while daddy and Panzer rode back for the car to come pick us up.

5 Months

happy hat babies!

Panzer @ 5 months -- ready for spring training!

Mohs @ 5 months -- ready for football season!

21 Weeks

i am proud to report that Mohs is getting the hang of food.  apparently, peas were the key to getting him to open his mouth.

Mohs enjoyed his first choo-choo ride at the pumpkin patch.

and he is also getting hair!  it's tough to see in photos, but he's filling in on the top of his head -- good-bye tailfeather!  no hint that it will be curly ... yet.  although, clearly my little monkey will not need curls to be a heartbreaker.

20 Weeks

this week, Mohs took his first plane ride ... to the dirty south to visit Auntie Karrie, Uncle James, and Big Poppa Tom.  he is following in Panzer's footsteps, in making friends wherever he goes.  this is easy for Mohs, who is perfectly content giggling and cooing at anyone who will make eye contact.

Mohs is acting like he might be getting some teeth soon.  unfortunate for his temperament, fortunate for his future pizza-eating ability.  he had a fever for a few days, but came out of it to show everyone what a smiley little dude he is.  here he is keeping Uncle James' lap warm.

and enjoying a day at the zoo (most of which time he spent trying to get his mouth on my coffee!)

and helping Auntie Karrie roll biscuits.

19 Weeks

at 19 weeks, Mohs has added a new reason to cry -- previously, he only cried when he was hungry, or on the 5th or 6th time Panzer bopped him on the head.  now he also cries when you try to shove solid foods in his mouth.  not into it.  he does do better with P's supervision.

I cannot believe how LOUD Mohs is.  he is not a wallflower second child like his momma was ... although he's happy to sit to the side and wiggle, he grunts and groans and squeals and squeaks for hours at a time, non-stop, and sometimes so loud I make him and Daddy leave the room so I can calm P down and get him to bed.

apparently, everything is awesome when you're Mohs --

can't get enough of this crooked smile!