Zzzzzzzzz

So, here's Patrick.  He's cute and sweet and pretty sleepy.  Definitely waking up a little more, but still spends most of his time studying the backs of his eyelids. Love that baby.

When he does wake up for more than a meal (which he's obviously not missing many of), he often gets a bath.  So, you know, at least a couple of times a week.  (Yeah, baby Walt got baths every night.  Sue us.)

We took a trip to Murray last weekend, but apparently left our camera in the bag most of the time because the only picture we have worth posting is this one of Uncle Mancil blowing out his birthday centerpiece (no desserts -- including birthday cakes -- are made in the Crouch household as long as the DQ is open).  Happy 85th, Uncle Mancil!

And speaking of the Dairy Queen, Patrick did take his ceremonial first trip, but only Gram took her camera.  She's promised to email pictures soon, so check back for those.

And, finally, for the big announcement of the evening . . . Walt is reading!  (Kind of.)  This evening when we were waiting for Daddy to come home, I suggested that we read some books instead of watching another show.  Because a girl can only listen to so many shows about dinosaurs before she starts to go a little nuts.  Walt thought it would be a better idea if he read a book to Patrick.  I gently reminded him that he didn't know how to read and also that Patrick was still snoozing in his car seat where we'd left him when we came in from school two hours before.  Well, Walt said, I can learn before he wakes up and then I can read him a story.  Instead of informing him that learning to read generally takes longer than the span of an average infant's nap (or even one of Patrick's epic naps), I sent him off to get the set of Curious George phonics books that Gram and DeeDaddy gave him for Christmas last year.  And to my great surprise, the kid really can kind of read.  Still needs quite a bit of help, but he's getting there on sounding words out and already recognizes a bunch of words by sight.

Oh, and finally, I've started Patrick's Birthday Pics album at left.  Yeah, we're already late on the one month picture.  Not starting out well on this whole "treat-the-second-kid-just-like-the-first" thing, are we?