Here we come Grand US of A

 We're heading to the US in just a few hours!  We still have to pack, although I'll admit we've made piles of most of what we'll bring. It's too short of a trip but at least we'll be able to see our parents and some siblings in the week and a half we'll be State-side.  We're so excited!!Life has been chugging along this last week and a half or so.  Henry has quite a few more tricks up his sleeves now.  On Saturday he started clapping which, for some reason, was that golden milestone I was on the edge of my seat to see him hit. He gets such a thrill out clapping; quite a few times I find him sitting there giggling at his hands slapping together.  He's also figured out the thrill of opening and closing things.  On that note, he's become so much more independent.  Now he's content playing by himself throwing and retrieving balls, putting balls inside bottles and closing them up and then feeling so proud when he can get the ball back out of the bottle, running in circles bouncing off the U shaped couch we have, and always trying to catch us off guard so he can sneak into the kitchen and flip over Guinness's water bowl.

With his growing independence comes more fun at the playground.  Now that Scott taught him how to go down the slide hands out head first, Henry will charge right up the playground to the slide, squat down, put his hands out and go. The other day he didn't care (or didn't take the time to assess with all the fun he was having) that someone had made a sand box out of the bottom of the slide.  He still charged face first and as you can see, enjoyed the discovery.

One of the family's in the playgroup that I sometimes go to is moving back to Australia.  This weekend we had a party for her at a coffee shop another family in the group just opened (after 2 years of working towards this goal) that roasts their own beans and serves pastries made by the mom who is a trained pastry chef!  We were sad to say bye to Kym, Jamie, Stella, and baby Toby.   Here's a fun fact, about two months ago Henry lost his status as the youngest baby in the group when a few of the moms returned with babies. There are now 6 baby boys under the age of 4 months!

 On a final note, Henry and Guinness have become the best of friends.  Henry has decided that he is really helpful when he puts Guinness's bone or toy in Guinness's mouth.  I don't think Henry has grasped yet that it might not be so nice to take those things out of Guinness's mouth in order to enjoy giving them back.  Luckily Guinness is chill and let's Henry do as he pleases.  Note to self: don't let Henry assume other dogs are as complacent as the G.