30 weeks pregnant

Looks like I'm cooking another big boy in there...

Smiling for the camera

Gagada's in town! And just since her arrival Toby has started responding as above when asked to "smile!" for a picture.

Just like daddy

After putting in some good work raking & shoveling in the garage, Toby came in for a snack break -- but wanted to keep the safety glasses on to show daddy when he got home from work.

TLC

Eloise gently showed Toby how to apply strawberry chapstick. When she was done he looked up and said: "Tank-u. Nice!"

TEAM Burtis

Andy, Theo, Maria and Eloise -- first photo we've gotten of the four of them since Theo was a tidbit.

Burtis cousies

T.E.A.M. Burtis came to visit Portland in early Feb. We hadn't seen each other since September, so it was a dream to be together. The "cousies" could Not get enough of each other.

26 weeks pregnant

Toby gives his baby brother his "gentle touch." Looks like the next one is going to give Toby a run for his money in the size department.

Toby takes the camera

The first photo Toby has taken of his mama.

Family Boudreau at Xmas

After about 112 attempts, we were finally able to get a holiday shot with all of us smiling. (Thank you, Gagada!) Hard to believe there will be another little guy in next year's holiday picture!

Toby and his baby brother

Here's Toby answering Jack's question, "Where's the baby, Toby?" Even if he doesn't fully comprehend that a baby will soon be arriving to Live with him, he does generally grasp that there is one in his mommy's belly. I'm 22 weeks pregnant here -- shocking how much growing that belly still has ahead.

Christmas Eve

Dawn, Scott and Collin drove down from WA to celebrate Christmas Eve with us, and we all enjoyed watching the boys tear into their new toys.

Moma!

Moma and Toby were peas in a pod during her December visit. To his great fortune, Moma just happens to share his passions: Reading books about trucks, building tunnels and bridges for his toy trucks, playing with trucks at the park, etc. Here he is in a classic "muck" with Moma. ("Muck" is a wholly original word that essentially means "cuddle," tracing its origins to Toby's baby talk requests to "come up.")

Gagada!

Gagada was able to visit for a couple of weeks in December, to Toby's great delight. He was thrilled to show her the ropes of his fancy new train table -- that is, when he Wasn't mucking with her. For weeks after her departure, he would ask for her daily: "Gagada? Peas?"

No photoshop necessary!

First-ever photo with the whole Boudreau/Cheney family physically present! Toby and Collin were stunned by the magnitude of the event, as you can see by their faces.

Surveying the sledding hill

We met up with the whole Boudreau clan in Madison for a wonderful Thanksgiving visit. Toby loved seeing everyone, but as always was especially delighted to have time with his "cousie," Collin. The two of them were enchanted by the snow, which we don't see much of in their Pacific NW homes.

Sander & Toby

Giving a massive smooch to sweet Sander Lien...

Besos from Berman

... and getting a massive smooch from his beloved Sandy.

November in MN

We spent a week at Gagada's house before traveling to Madison for Thanksgiving. Toby spent much of his time doing "yard work" with Gagada's fascinating collection of rakes and shovels. He also got to smooch and be smooched by his MN favorites, as you can see above...

Playing house

I couldn't resist posting this one of Toby and Maia, as well, playing house in the Excellent cardboard mansion that Jack made for Toby. Toby likes to climb inside, shut all the doors and windows tight and hide until you a) knock politely or b) deliver mail through his mail slot. Then his head comes bursting gleefully out, often followed by an invitation to "mon!" (Toby's word for "come on!")

Don Juan

Toby kicked into a massive kissy-face phase in November, in time to smooch Maia Paymar buh-bye before we headed off to the Midwest for Thanksgiving. She seemed quite receptive. Toby is so physically affectionate! Often at the dinner table he'll throw his arms out wide and beckon us toward him, like a little Mob boss, and pronounce it time to HUG.

A new era

So, we finally had to retire the original BabyBoudreau.com -- Toby hit toddler-hood, and we just didn't have the time to maintain the site. And so we welcome you to Baby Boudreau, the next generation! First a brief review of Toby's recent months, kicking off with an overdue shot of his leopard look at Halloween. We never made it out trick-or-treating -- Toby was too early to bed, as always -- but he had lots of fun at a handful of day-time parties.