Michael plays with Uncle Ryan.

Garren and Lindsay get some parenting practice.

Yay, Christmas!

Michael the paper boy.

Definitely aware that he is cute.

Eyeing the gift from Garren and Lindsay.

It's a giant plastic corndog!

Oh -- it's a baseball bat!

Michael seems to be hugging Mommy ...

... but it's really just a ploy ...

... to grab her hair.

A playful boy at Christmastime.

Ripping into the presents.

Standing tall.

Michael shows us his new book.

Spinning the letter wheel.

Michael bites into a nice juicy ball.

With Pa and the truck that he carved ...

... for Michael for Christmas.

Uncle Ryan let Mommy ...

... play with his nice portrait lens ...

... for some close-ups of Michael.

Having a staring contest with Ryan.

Being squinty-cute.

Michael stands up for Pappy.

Playing as dinner is prepared.

Michael tells Mommy a secret.

With his first set of proofs.

The shiny, crinkly paper is fascinating.

Michael plays with his cars and trucks.

He can tip his gym over backwards.

Michael and his socksicle.

He's good at taking toys out ...

... and putting them back in the box.

Mommy's sleeve ...

... is simply irresistible.

Yay, Mommy's sleeve!

Michael's first ...

... gift-opening ...

... experience is ...

... alternatingly ...

... confusing ...

... and ...

... fascinating.

It's a winner!

With Daddy at the Hogye Christmas.

With Mommy at the Hogye Christmas.

Michael finds the Star of Wonder.

With silly Granddad.

Laci Bácsi has a strange fuzzy lip.

Michael finds his own silver spoon.

Michael's gifts piled under our Christmas tree.

Opening the gifts we had to rush out with the night before.

We love the presents!

Thank you very much to ...

... Grammy, Granddad, ...

... Uncle Steve, Aunt Ester, ...

.. Irén Néni, Laci Bácsi, ...

... Nathan, and Grace!

Michael loves to read his new book.

Two thumbs: the best gift of all.

Michael can sit and play for a long time now.

He has also learned to reach the stereo by leaning back.

Flavored socks would be a great Christmas present.

Mesmerized by the Four Horsies of the Apocalypse.

Intently studying his block.

Dinner (a pillow) and a show (horsies).

Michael is eight months old.

Michael tries to steal Andrew's sock, too.

Andrew looks askance as Michael hams it up.

Goofy moments and serious ones ...

... follow in close succession.

Michael's latest facial expression.

A reflection of our house, seen from the front window.

Playing on the couch.

Michael is happy to have teeth!

Sitting alone for a few seconds.

Our little narcissist.

Michael can finally reach the mobile ...

... that has tempted him for so long.

His eyes are still kind of grey-blue.

The Pack & Play is now in its third incarnation.

Professor Michael prepares to pontificate.

Mommy introduces Michael ...

... to his very first snowfall.

Michael is blasé about sitting.

The Abominable Russian Snow Monkey.

There's a funny boy in the mirror.