Day at the Park

Alstan spent the day at the park in Madison with mom and Aunt Nette on July 5th. Isn't that what summer days are for?

Four Month Measurements

Here are Alstan's measurements at four months:

Head Circumference: 42.5% (80th percentile)
Weight: 14 lb. 6 oz. (50th percentile)
Height: 24.5 inches (40th percentile)

He got longer from the last time, when he was in the bottom 25 percent and his weight is still right in the middle.

Feet!

Alstan has found is feet! He likes to try to get them to his mouth or pull his socks off far enough to eat at his socks.

He turned four months old a couple days ago and he's behind on his first milestone! Most four month olds can roll from their belly to back now, but Alstan isn't really interested in that. He's actually closer to rolling from his back to his belly than the other way around. I could never do front or back flips off the diving board (lots of back flops) even though I really wanted to, so this issue may be hereditary. Tomorrow he has another doctor's appointment so I'll post his new length and weight. He'll also get another set of shots, and I'm debating whether or not I should kick Jessie out of the room before he has them.

Nap Time

Alstan, Mom, and the teddy bear were all taking a nap on the couch, but Mom heard me coming and opened her eyes right before I took the picture.

Cartoon

I'm starting to make my cartoon characters for the next year and decided to make Alstan first. It looks like his hair is thicker in the cartoon, but it's kind of hard to make wispy baby hair. Maybe this is a preview of what he'll look like in a couple of years.

Jump Around

He's not quite ready for Badger football games yet, but he's working on it. For those who aren't sports fans, they play Jump Around between the 3rd and 4th quarters at Badger home games.

We just broke out the jumper today and he's already getting the hang of it. The funny thing is when I was editing this clip he was bouncing with the music.

Concentrating

This is a rare, never before captured image of Alstan and his dad both concentrating at the same time. Jessie and I were playing Rummikub on the Fourth of July (I know, we're party animals) and Alstan was helping me out.

P.S. We beat Mom!

Bath

I always thought Anne Geddes photos were cruel and unusual punishments to babies who couldn't tell their parents how ridiculous they were being yet. This one probably fits into that category (Sorry Alstan).

Laughing

I know there gets to be a lot of pictures of him laughing, but they are my favorite. And know that Jessie has a new camera that takes pictures much faster there will probably be lots more pictures of Alstan smiling. We can actually just take a picture and not have to predict what he'll be doing in two seconds when the camera actually snaps.

Standing

Talking Video

He's been starting to move a couple inches crawling and occasionally roles from his belly to back, but we haven't caught those on video yet. In the meantime, here is more of him talking and making funny faces. He's been getting pretty fired up in some of conversations lately. It's pretty funny.

Swinging

On the way back from Canada, Jessie and Alstan stopped in Sioux Falls to visit his Grandparents and Aunt Amie. Grandma Van took Alstan out for a swing in their backyard.

In less than four months, Alstan has already been to the following states and provinces (I'm sure he'll want to keep track when he gets older).
Wisconsin
Iowa
Illinois
Minnesota
North Dakota
South Dakota
and
Manitoba

What a world traveler!

Wedding

I don't know who the photographer at that wedding was, but you would think she could get better pictures of the most handsome little boy there. These were seriously the best pictures of him from the wedding. I guess, for once, he wasn't the main attraction.

In the picture with Sandy, I'm sure Jessie can see the resemblance between Alstan and I. I'm sure we would have both had that blank stare of boredom/discontent at the wedding if we'd been there together.

Manitoba

More pictures from Canada. Jessie stopped to get pictures when they crossed the border. It's also fitting that she got pictures of him in his car seat as he got plenty of ride time. He's got a little Manitoba pin on in his car seat too and in the last picture he's trying to tell you all about his visit.

Oh Canada!

Alstan's first trip to Canada and he decides to give his seriously handsome pose. Use that look on your modeling audition in 20 years in New York, not Canada!

Mom's pose: Can't blink, gotta drive more, can't blink, keep eyes open wide.