Mr. Hankes goes to Washington

First of all, we're all feeling better... and we were visited by an actual bear in our backyard!

This past weekend we made our first family road trip - to this great nation's capital. We arrived just after lunchtime on Friday. The weather was perfect for sightseeing and tummy-time in the room.

We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the hotel and hit the streets. Friday afternoon we saw the White House, Vietnam War Memorial, WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and several other sites along the way. Then, a light dinner with some wine in the room and off to dreamland.







On Saturday, we hit the streets early. We Metro'd beneath the river, over to Arlington National Cemetary to see the grave sites of John F. Kennedy and several Supreme Court Justices, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Metro took us back across the river to the Capital Building and Supreme Court neighborhood, where we started our journey back to the hotel.

Our favorite officer of the Court.

Lisa bumped into a few old friends along the way - who put her on the spot for an endorsement.

Looks like the joke was on them both.

On Saturday night we had an early dinner with Meg & Peter, who were kind enough to pry themselves away from packing up their DC apartment in preparation for the return to NYC!

Please note, the previous entry was posted late - might be worth a look unless you're sure you've seen it!

The First Family Cold - Boo!

Well, we all got sick. First, Josh - then, Walter - then, Sonny - then, Lisa. It was an extensive case of the sniffles - no doctor visits required.

Before that, Chris & Jude came out for a visit - and to meet the boy. They were kind enough to bring gifts, which was unnecessary but much appreciated!

Lisa & I managed to squeeze out for a few hours to attend a wedding, mid-illness. On our way out, we celebrated Sonny's emerging third "accessory" nipple in true gangland fashion.

Other than that, we passed the 3 month mark recently! And Sonny seems to be right on schedule, and celebrated by dressing up in his bear outfit and making friends with some of the other bears around here.

Snow Day!

And then there was snow. After a winter of disappointing precipitation, we finally got something worth mention. At least in our neck of the woods, there has been no rain or ice to accompany the fluffy white stuff - and it doesn't appear there will be. We're at about 8" and counting.

So, out we went - with Kofi, Zoe, Walter, Lisa, Sonny, and me. We didn't go far, but got some worthwhile pictures that we felt deserved immediate posting...

Uncle Damion: Lisa, Sonny, the Nuge, & I all hope you're feeling better soon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqFfl0Xz0Hg&feature=related

Finally!

Due to high demand and numerous inquiries, more pics of the bambino... Santino! It's been a hectic few weeks, but Sonny's been great. He's got the sleeping habits of a drunken house frau (sleeps when he wants, awake when he wants - no regard), although he's getting better.

Just some of the highlights:

Valentine's Day - notice the sign language!

The Elusive Smile - so hard to catch on camera!

And now, the snuggling...

A little exposure to Walter.

And Sonny's first meeting with Max!

Happy Two-Month-Birthday!

He's two months old today, and not quite ready for cake, or solid food, or even formula. But, he did get to spend some quality time in his crib with some of the friends who recently moved in.

On Sunday, we watched the Giants teach the Patriots what it means to be from NY / NJ... a lesson they won't soon forget! Sonny wore his best draft outfit - we're hoping for a Heisman winner, full ride.

Otherwise, he's just been lounging around the house under Lisa's excellent supervision and care. They even took a drive over to see Grandma for lunch on Monday!

These have been the happiest two months of all.

7.5 Weeks!

It's been a busy two weeks here in the woods of northern NJ. We've celebrated the birthdays of both grandmothers and had lots of visitors!

Without further ado, here are the pictures!

Sonny's first monkey-suit

Grandparents = babysitters!

Kate & Victor's afternoon visit.

Who's prettier than Mom? No one.

Terry & Richard's visit; chicken wings, crab dip, red wine, and baby-hugs.

Sonny meets the vanilla bear, face to face.

Sweet-Pea.

Korey, Morgan, Mike, William, Dad, Sonny, Drew, Andrew, Kieran, & Alison. Thanks for taking the picture Mom! And thanks to everyone for making the trip.

The Sixth Week

We're into Sonny's sixth week now, and he seems to be enjoying himself so far. He still hasn't quite come around to our way of thinking when it comes to sleeping, but he's pretty great nonetheless. He doesn't usually seem to 'carry on' for no good reason (it's usually gas-, food-, or diaper-related).

The weather was a little nicer this week, so we ventured out of the house to meet the neighbors one day, then hopped in the car with Walter to walk around by the lake on Saturday.

The rest of the time, Sonny could be found sharing his favorite chair with his favorite moose, or laying on the ground with Walter, who never gets tired of assaulting Sonny with his wet nose. That boy smells nice!