What's in a name?

Arno is an unusual name in the USA but common in Central Europe. It is a short form of the old Germanic name Arnold. There have been a number of famous Arnos, including the powerful 8th Century bishop of Salzburg who helped to establish the Church in southern Germany and was a great scholar and patron of learning. In the 20th Century, there was also the prominent German author, Arno Schmidt, and the controversial sculptor Arno Breker. Arno Penzias won the Nobel prize for physics.

We liked this name for another reason: the Arno is the principal river of Tuscany and flows through the great medieval and Renaissance cities of Florence and Pisa. Just a year before Arno's birth, we spent time along that river and adore the history, art, and wine of that region of Italy.
Here are two photos of the Arno in Pisa and one in Florence.

Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Ed

Grandma Barbara is making her 4th visit to see Arno and Grandpa Ed is making his 2nd visit. Arno is very excited to see his grandparents tonight.

Bath time

Arno at almost 2 months

Arno is getting bigger every day and his behavior is becoming more complex. Now he knows how to smile and has become much more expressive. He is getting stronger too. Arno remains an 'active baby', quite alert, quite noisy and difficult to put to rest. But he is ever more charming too.

At home with friends

First Halloween!

Arno enjoyed his first Halloween. He got dressed up as a ghost and as a pea-pod, visited UW Sociology Department and went trick-or-treating with Mom, Alexes, Alana, Jody and Sophie. Grandma Barbara bought him his outfit during her last visit. Arno even dropped in on Dad.