An entire month of firsts....

Your 11th month was certainly one big milestone!
Not only did you crawl for the first time but this month also marked your first:

• bath without the baby tub inside the regular bathtub
• cheerios
• finger foods and refusal to eat any more of the food Mama has been making for you because it doesn't look like what is on your brothers' plates! (even though it is....just a little more mushy) :) Our favorite is when you take your little snowman finger and point at their plates and utter an emphatic "uh" - translation - "give me whatever they are having!". Your Mama now spends more time chopping food into the tiniest of pieces than I did steaming and pureeing them!
• A second tooth but every one feels like the first for Mama :(
• Ride on the big boy car that you have been eyeing since you were old enough to sit in the playroom with Mama
• Sippy cup. You still love your baba but you like drinking from a cup that looks just like brother's....sigh.....my baby is growing up so fast!

FIRST CRAWL

My sweet little baby has started to crawl! I am so proud of him and yet I want so badly to freeze him so he won't get any bigger!!
It was my good fortune that he waited this long to finally venture out on his own...Mama has had so much time hugging, loving, and carrying my little beefcake! :)
But what joy there is in seeing his eyes light up and hearing his giggles as he realizes he can follow his brothers (albeit slowly...but he can do it!). And we have so loved watching him investigate what he sees as unbelievable new discoveries...like the cabinet with the puzzles inside. He's passed by this cabinet every day of his life but now he can get there himself, open the door, and see the wonders inside! :)
We are so proud of you my big boy!

Pure chunky deliciousness....

I don't know anyone else who can drive a car and look this delicious!

I don't think he realizes how delicious those thighs are hanging out of his shorts :)

Another Caterpillar Print

In keeping with tradition, Jonathan made his "caterpillar" print today!
Mama loves baby handprints and footprints but she doesn't stop there. Ever since Benjamin was a little baby, Mama wanted to capture a little baby butt print :)....and so we did! And today we added a third caterpillar to Mama's treasure box!
Big brothers were as excited as Mama and Papa to see Jonathan make his print.....

 Jonathan was not quite sure what was going on :)

Now Jonathan will add his caterpillar to Mama's other two little favorite caterpillars :)
(and someday these will resurface when you bring your girlfriends home :)).

His completed masterpiece :) Your little bottom forever saved in color :)

The perfect little handyman

Today we said goodbye to the highest crib level and moved Jonathan's mattress to a lower setting. After Mama came in to find him sitting up and smiling at her, she knew it was time.
He was the perfect little helper with Papa....he LOVES Papa's tools and using his own special hammer! :)

These may seem like just any old pictures but they are actually replicas of two other pictures that have captured this moment and milestone for each of my beauties in time. This time, it is with our sweet baby Jonathan and there are four Leonardo men lined up.....the first set of pictures showed two Leonardo boys, then three, and now four. Sigh....Mama is so darn happy! I don't think I can love a group of human beings more than I do these boys!!!
My heart is so full of joy when I see these moments repeating themselves as our family has grown so complete!

First 4th of July

Happy first Fourth of July to our little firecracker!

Decked out in red, white, and blue.....you were delicious as ever!
And Mama appreciates how much you enjoyed all of the decorations :)

What a crew!

BEST 4TH PICTURE EVER!

Cruisin through the Fulton Chain

Pontoon cruisin is just your style!

 Captain Bob and his crew were VERY happy!

He was in a trance with the sound of the waves and the motor!

Open mouth, insert foot, Mama. All those years you scoffed at pontoon boats and in reality they are AWESOME rides! It was SO fantastic to boat to Old Forge this way!!

Now we just need to remind Jonathan that he can't chew on the bumpers! :)

MAN MAKE FIRE

Mimi and I just laughed at how you jumped right in to being a part of the crew - grillin with the  boys and loving every minute of it! :)

You will quickly learn to love Ga's version of grilled hot dogs too....good job Bob! :)