Another play day

I've made mention, and previous posts, about Kathy's friends Beverly and Ellie, who she met in childbirth, infant care and breastfeeding classes offered by Arlington Memorial Hospital. Ellie and Beverly ended up having both their babies just before Kathy on June 15th and 16th. They've all kept in touch, calling or emailing, sharing each other's joys and frustrations with their little ones ever since. Today they got together at our house, where again it wasn't just a chance for the moms to get together, but a chance for the babies to interact with one another - and, out of our own curiosity, see how each kid has developed in relation to the others. Kole is obviously the string bean of the group. Beverly's girl Sarah was put in Kole's 'Jumperoo' thing, and her feet were 2 inches short of the ground. They had to put a phone book beneath her for her feet to push against something. Kole only has about an inch on Noah, the little one of Ellie. Kathy says both her friends were surprised at how Kole laughs. Both thier kids will smile and make loud coo sounds and shreiks. But, Kole will occassionally guffaw like an old man - a big, husky, prolonged chortle with big gasps for air. He's done that for quite a while, in fact.
It's not a matter of comparing Kole with other babies in the sense of - is he more advanced, bigger, better, more refined ... it's not like that. It's not vanity for our kid. I guess deep down it's a sense of ... are we helping him develop at a normal rate to his peers? Are we good parents? If he's behind on basic motor skills, is that a reflection on us and what we've done? I guess it seems more paranoid than anything, but we keep being told that it's normal. But, it is kind of cool to know that he's been laughing heartily way before most kids - a good early trait to brag about.
At any rate - here's some pics of today.
I'll also post a pic of Kole in his new big-boy seat. He now eats in a booster seat we have at our dining room table.
PHOTOS: On the left is Beverly with Sarah, then Kathy with Kole, and on the right is Ellie, the cheeky Brit, with Noah. Then the three little ones together. Then Kathy and Kole at the same dining room table I grew up with.