Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
I got a job(s)...
I should probably post this on my blog but since I rarely post anything on there I wasn't sure if anyone would read it.
As many of you might have known, I have been searching for a part-time counseling job since January. In a million trillion years I never would have thought it would take me almost 6 months to find one, but the searching and waiting are now over and I am such a lucky duck.
Just to recap, I have applied for a little less than 10 jobs. That is not very many and it wasn't because I was being picky, but because there were NO part-time counseling jobs to apply for. I had to start branching out and apply for case manager jobs, which would have stunk because those jobs pay nothing and I wouldn't have been able to count the hours towards my license. I applied for a case mgr. job at LifeWorks (where I interned) and they interviewed me, called me back for a second interview and then called to tell me the entire department had been eliminated BUT I should call Casey Family Foundation b/c they were hiring a part-time temporary (3 months) case mgr. So I did, I got an interview and the other person was chosen due to her Spanish speaking and my apparent lack of energy during the interview (I was in the midst of horrible morning sickness). So after that experience I was done looking for jobs. It made no sense since I was pregnant--I mean, who is going to hire a pregnant woman?
Then my friend Brooke emailed me about a part time job (20 hrs) opening at (unnamed children's counseling agency here in Austin) and I got really excited. I have ALWAYS wanted to work there. It's 5 minutes from my house and my college roommate worked there as a play room attendant and I thought it was so so so cool (her job and the agency). I remember back then thinking how important and interesting it would be to work as a children's therapist. But I never in a million years thought I would be one. And here we are folks, 14 years later and I am a children's therapist.
So I applied, not thinking I would even get an interview. I figured they were probably inundated with resumes and I have only 9 months post graduate counseling experience. But they called me and Justin was home as I was trying to decide what outfit to wear. He panicked on me and told me to call them back and tell them I was pregnant, because NOTHING I put on could hide the fact. I chose a simple dress, not maternity, and normally very flattering to my waist, but I looked...4 months pregnant. But for many women, that's just what they look like, pregnant or not, so I soldiered on and it was a great interview. My only lament was I spoke too much about counseling theory and not enough about my experiences working with children. But whatever...it worked out and they called me yesterday to offer me the position. I told them I was pregnant (after the offer) and it's fine.
On this very same day I was offered this position I was over at (unnamed local non-profit) going over the contract arrangements to become a sub for when their counselors are sick, on vacation, etc. I am going to be facilitating a Postpartum Depression group in August and after that on an as needed basis. It will probably be like 1 evening a month, if that, so I'm not too worried about working too much. I will also be doing contract phone counseling for them when they have clients who need a little more than peer support.
Anyway, I've gone from having no job to now having 2 separate opportunities, all that fall within the part time hours that Henry is at school and/or dad is at home.
SO happy I did not get any other job before. This is by far the best scenario.
As many of you might have known, I have been searching for a part-time counseling job since January. In a million trillion years I never would have thought it would take me almost 6 months to find one, but the searching and waiting are now over and I am such a lucky duck.
Just to recap, I have applied for a little less than 10 jobs. That is not very many and it wasn't because I was being picky, but because there were NO part-time counseling jobs to apply for. I had to start branching out and apply for case manager jobs, which would have stunk because those jobs pay nothing and I wouldn't have been able to count the hours towards my license. I applied for a case mgr. job at LifeWorks (where I interned) and they interviewed me, called me back for a second interview and then called to tell me the entire department had been eliminated BUT I should call Casey Family Foundation b/c they were hiring a part-time temporary (3 months) case mgr. So I did, I got an interview and the other person was chosen due to her Spanish speaking and my apparent lack of energy during the interview (I was in the midst of horrible morning sickness). So after that experience I was done looking for jobs. It made no sense since I was pregnant--I mean, who is going to hire a pregnant woman?
Then my friend Brooke emailed me about a part time job (20 hrs) opening at (unnamed children's counseling agency here in Austin) and I got really excited. I have ALWAYS wanted to work there. It's 5 minutes from my house and my college roommate worked there as a play room attendant and I thought it was so so so cool (her job and the agency). I remember back then thinking how important and interesting it would be to work as a children's therapist. But I never in a million years thought I would be one. And here we are folks, 14 years later and I am a children's therapist.
So I applied, not thinking I would even get an interview. I figured they were probably inundated with resumes and I have only 9 months post graduate counseling experience. But they called me and Justin was home as I was trying to decide what outfit to wear. He panicked on me and told me to call them back and tell them I was pregnant, because NOTHING I put on could hide the fact. I chose a simple dress, not maternity, and normally very flattering to my waist, but I looked...4 months pregnant. But for many women, that's just what they look like, pregnant or not, so I soldiered on and it was a great interview. My only lament was I spoke too much about counseling theory and not enough about my experiences working with children. But whatever...it worked out and they called me yesterday to offer me the position. I told them I was pregnant (after the offer) and it's fine.
On this very same day I was offered this position I was over at (unnamed local non-profit) going over the contract arrangements to become a sub for when their counselors are sick, on vacation, etc. I am going to be facilitating a Postpartum Depression group in August and after that on an as needed basis. It will probably be like 1 evening a month, if that, so I'm not too worried about working too much. I will also be doing contract phone counseling for them when they have clients who need a little more than peer support.
Anyway, I've gone from having no job to now having 2 separate opportunities, all that fall within the part time hours that Henry is at school and/or dad is at home.
SO happy I did not get any other job before. This is by far the best scenario.
I got a job(s)...
I should probably post this on my blog but since I rarely post anything on there I wasn't sure if anyone would read it.
As many of you might have known, I have been searching for a part-time counseling job since January. In a million trillion years I never would have thought it would take me almost 6 months to find one, but the searching and waiting are now over and I am such a lucky duck.
Just to recap, I have applied for a little less than 10 jobs. That is not very many and it wasn't because I was being picky, but because there were NO part-time counseling jobs to apply for. I had to start branching out and apply for case manager jobs, which would have stunk because those jobs pay nothing and I wouldn't have been able to count the hours towards my license. I applied for a case mgr. job at LifeWorks (where I interned) and they interviewed me, called me back for a second interview and then called to tell me the entire department had been eliminated BUT I should call Casey Family Foundation b/c they were hiring a part-time temporary (3 months) case mgr. So I did, I got an interview and the other person was chosen due to her Spanish speaking and my apparent lack of energy during the interview (I was in the midst of horrible morning sickness). So after that experience I was done looking for jobs. It made no sense since I was pregnant--I mean, who is going to hire a pregnant woman?
Then my friend Brooke emailed me about a part time job (20 hrs) opening at (unnamed children's counseling agency here in Austin) and I got really excited. I have ALWAYS wanted to work there. It's 5 minutes from my house and my college roommate worked there as a play room attendant and I thought it was so so so cool (her job and the agency). I remember back then thinking how important and interesting it would be to work as a children's therapist. But I never in a million years thought I would be one. And here we are folks, 14 years later and I am a children's therapist.
So I applied, not thinking I would even get an interview. I figured they were probably inundated with resumes and I have only 9 months post graduate counseling experience. But they called me and Justin was home as I was trying to decide what outfit to wear. He panicked on me and told me to call them back and tell them I was pregnant, because NOTHING I put on could hide the fact. I chose a simple dress, not maternity, and normally very flattering to my waist, but I looked...4 months pregnant. But for many women, that's just what they look like, pregnant or not, so I soldiered on and it was a great interview. My only lament was I spoke too much about counseling theory and not enough about my experiences working with children. But whatever...it worked out and they called me yesterday to offer me the position. I told them I was pregnant (after the offer) and it's fine.
On this very same day I was offered this position I was over at (unnamed local non-profit) going over the contract arrangements to become a sub for when their counselors are sick, on vacation, etc. I am going to be facilitating a Postpartum Depression group in August and after that on an as needed basis. It will probably be like 1 evening a month, if that, so I'm not too worried about working too much. I will also be doing contract phone counseling for them when they have clients who need a little more than peer support.
Anyway, I've gone from having no job to now having 2 separate opportunities, all that fall within the part time hours that Henry is at school and/or dad is at home.
SO happy I did not get any other job before. This is by far the best scenario.
As many of you might have known, I have been searching for a part-time counseling job since January. In a million trillion years I never would have thought it would take me almost 6 months to find one, but the searching and waiting are now over and I am such a lucky duck.
Just to recap, I have applied for a little less than 10 jobs. That is not very many and it wasn't because I was being picky, but because there were NO part-time counseling jobs to apply for. I had to start branching out and apply for case manager jobs, which would have stunk because those jobs pay nothing and I wouldn't have been able to count the hours towards my license. I applied for a case mgr. job at LifeWorks (where I interned) and they interviewed me, called me back for a second interview and then called to tell me the entire department had been eliminated BUT I should call Casey Family Foundation b/c they were hiring a part-time temporary (3 months) case mgr. So I did, I got an interview and the other person was chosen due to her Spanish speaking and my apparent lack of energy during the interview (I was in the midst of horrible morning sickness). So after that experience I was done looking for jobs. It made no sense since I was pregnant--I mean, who is going to hire a pregnant woman?
Then my friend Brooke emailed me about a part time job (20 hrs) opening at (unnamed children's counseling agency here in Austin) and I got really excited. I have ALWAYS wanted to work there. It's 5 minutes from my house and my college roommate worked there as a play room attendant and I thought it was so so so cool (her job and the agency). I remember back then thinking how important and interesting it would be to work as a children's therapist. But I never in a million years thought I would be one. And here we are folks, 14 years later and I am a children's therapist.
So I applied, not thinking I would even get an interview. I figured they were probably inundated with resumes and I have only 9 months post graduate counseling experience. But they called me and Justin was home as I was trying to decide what outfit to wear. He panicked on me and told me to call them back and tell them I was pregnant, because NOTHING I put on could hide the fact. I chose a simple dress, not maternity, and normally very flattering to my waist, but I looked...4 months pregnant. But for many women, that's just what they look like, pregnant or not, so I soldiered on and it was a great interview. My only lament was I spoke too much about counseling theory and not enough about my experiences working with children. But whatever...it worked out and they called me yesterday to offer me the position. I told them I was pregnant (after the offer) and it's fine.
On this very same day I was offered this position I was over at (unnamed local non-profit) going over the contract arrangements to become a sub for when their counselors are sick, on vacation, etc. I am going to be facilitating a Postpartum Depression group in August and after that on an as needed basis. It will probably be like 1 evening a month, if that, so I'm not too worried about working too much. I will also be doing contract phone counseling for them when they have clients who need a little more than peer support.
Anyway, I've gone from having no job to now having 2 separate opportunities, all that fall within the part time hours that Henry is at school and/or dad is at home.
SO happy I did not get any other job before. This is by far the best scenario.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Excuse me...
We had a really nice Father's Day. We started out by going to the Cathedral of Junk (see below) and then over to Torchy's taco's for breakfast. We should have gone there first but live and learn. Next we went to the playground near our house, ran around and came home for lunch and nap. When Henry woke up we went to the store to buy some snacks to contribute to the Father's Day cookout over at HW's house. (HW is the other Henry..his middle name is Wallace so we just refer to him as HW so as not to cause confusion --although not sure why I thought it would be confusing since Henry's favorite train is also named Henry and he does not seem confused). The cookout was super awesome fun and Mae, Leo, Moses, and Milo were there. Lowell had family in town so we missed seeing him. The kids all seemed giddy to see each other.
In other news, Henry is now the only boy in his class at school. It's just for the next 2 weeks but even when the older kids rejoin the class it's still just one other boy. (And why they moved them out for these two weeks still confuses me and I talked to one of the moms of the kids who got moved and she was also annoyed--they didn't even tell us this was going on). I am enough annoyed by this to consider placing him at another school because I am getting tired of the lack of thought that seems to go into decision making around there. Not only is Henry the only boy, he is now the second oldest and most of the girls are these tiny, 20 month old, mostly non verbal, introverted, confused-seeming but sweet little things. They are all adorable and wonderful but not exactly play companions. I'm worried Henry is bored. I could also be over reacting because when I picked him up Monday he was pretending to be a seal with one other girl and they were laughing hysterically. I asked him if he had fun at school and he said yes and then gave me his recap of the day, "Water...unintelligible....shirt...mumble....messy....Sophia crying....Attie...Megan...outside...paint...mumble mumble....snack!).
Diet seems different lately. He's still eating a pretty large amount but he's more picky. He's now been exposed enough to sweet things that he lately seems to prefer those foods. I knew the day would come when I'd have to chop up his broccoli and hide it in the applesauce. Bummer. Since weaning, he has been drinking enormous quantities of milk. Like 4 or 5 glasses a day. He's eating bananas and yogurt now which he used to hate. Sleep is better then any mother could hope for. He's not waking at night at all and he slept till 7:40 today....7:30 yesterday. Although now that I've typed this it will probably stop:-) I'm such a jinxer.
Yesterday Henry said, "Excuse me", when I was in his way.
In other news, Henry is now the only boy in his class at school. It's just for the next 2 weeks but even when the older kids rejoin the class it's still just one other boy. (And why they moved them out for these two weeks still confuses me and I talked to one of the moms of the kids who got moved and she was also annoyed--they didn't even tell us this was going on). I am enough annoyed by this to consider placing him at another school because I am getting tired of the lack of thought that seems to go into decision making around there. Not only is Henry the only boy, he is now the second oldest and most of the girls are these tiny, 20 month old, mostly non verbal, introverted, confused-seeming but sweet little things. They are all adorable and wonderful but not exactly play companions. I'm worried Henry is bored. I could also be over reacting because when I picked him up Monday he was pretending to be a seal with one other girl and they were laughing hysterically. I asked him if he had fun at school and he said yes and then gave me his recap of the day, "Water...unintelligible....shirt...mumble....messy....Sophia crying....Attie...Megan...outside...paint...mumble mumble....snack!).
Diet seems different lately. He's still eating a pretty large amount but he's more picky. He's now been exposed enough to sweet things that he lately seems to prefer those foods. I knew the day would come when I'd have to chop up his broccoli and hide it in the applesauce. Bummer. Since weaning, he has been drinking enormous quantities of milk. Like 4 or 5 glasses a day. He's eating bananas and yogurt now which he used to hate. Sleep is better then any mother could hope for. He's not waking at night at all and he slept till 7:40 today....7:30 yesterday. Although now that I've typed this it will probably stop:-) I'm such a jinxer.
Yesterday Henry said, "Excuse me", when I was in his way.
Excuse me...
We had a really nice Father's Day. We started out by going to the Cathedral of Junk (see below) and then over to Torchy's taco's for breakfast. We should have gone there first but live and learn. Next we went to the playground near our house, ran around and came home for lunch and nap. When Henry woke up we went to the store to buy some snacks to contribute to the Father's Day cookout over at HW's house. (HW is the other Henry..his middle name is Wallace so we just refer to him as HW so as not to cause confusion --although not sure why I thought it would be confusing since Henry's favorite train is also named Henry and he does not seem confused). The cookout was super awesome fun and Mae, Leo, Moses, and Milo were there. Lowell had family in town so we missed seeing him. The kids all seemed giddy to see each other.
In other news, Henry is now the only boy in his class at school. It's just for the next 2 weeks but even when the older kids rejoin the class it's still just one other boy. (And why they moved them out for these two weeks still confuses me and I talked to one of the moms of the kids who got moved and she was also annoyed--they didn't even tell us this was going on). I am enough annoyed by this to consider placing him at another school because I am getting tired of the lack of thought that seems to go into decision making around there. Not only is Henry the only boy, he is now the second oldest and most of the girls are these tiny, 20 month old, mostly non verbal, introverted, confused-seeming but sweet little things. They are all adorable and wonderful but not exactly play companions. I'm worried Henry is bored. I could also be over reacting because when I picked him up Monday he was pretending to be a seal with one other girl and they were laughing hysterically. I asked him if he had fun at school and he said yes and then gave me his recap of the day, "Water...unintelligible....shirt...mumble....messy....Sophia crying....Attie...Megan...outside...paint...mumble mumble....snack!).
Diet seems different lately. He's still eating a pretty large amount but he's more picky. He's now been exposed enough to sweet things that he lately seems to prefer those foods. I knew the day would come when I'd have to chop up his broccoli and hide it in the applesauce. Bummer. Since weaning, he has been drinking enormous quantities of milk. Like 4 or 5 glasses a day. He's eating bananas and yogurt now which he used to hate. Sleep is better then any mother could hope for. He's not waking at night at all and he slept till 7:40 today....7:30 yesterday. Although now that I've typed this it will probably stop:-) I'm such a jinxer.
Yesterday Henry said, "Excuse me", when I was in his way.
In other news, Henry is now the only boy in his class at school. It's just for the next 2 weeks but even when the older kids rejoin the class it's still just one other boy. (And why they moved them out for these two weeks still confuses me and I talked to one of the moms of the kids who got moved and she was also annoyed--they didn't even tell us this was going on). I am enough annoyed by this to consider placing him at another school because I am getting tired of the lack of thought that seems to go into decision making around there. Not only is Henry the only boy, he is now the second oldest and most of the girls are these tiny, 20 month old, mostly non verbal, introverted, confused-seeming but sweet little things. They are all adorable and wonderful but not exactly play companions. I'm worried Henry is bored. I could also be over reacting because when I picked him up Monday he was pretending to be a seal with one other girl and they were laughing hysterically. I asked him if he had fun at school and he said yes and then gave me his recap of the day, "Water...unintelligible....shirt...mumble....messy....Sophia crying....Attie...Megan...outside...paint...mumble mumble....snack!).
Diet seems different lately. He's still eating a pretty large amount but he's more picky. He's now been exposed enough to sweet things that he lately seems to prefer those foods. I knew the day would come when I'd have to chop up his broccoli and hide it in the applesauce. Bummer. Since weaning, he has been drinking enormous quantities of milk. Like 4 or 5 glasses a day. He's eating bananas and yogurt now which he used to hate. Sleep is better then any mother could hope for. He's not waking at night at all and he slept till 7:40 today....7:30 yesterday. Although now that I've typed this it will probably stop:-) I'm such a jinxer.
Yesterday Henry said, "Excuse me", when I was in his way.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Cathedral of Junk
We started off Father's Day here. Unfortunately, our pictures don't in any shape or form capture what this man has done in his back yard. Henry thought it was great.
Of course you get some "silly smile":
I begged him for a regular smile and this was as sincere as he could manage:
Of course you get some "silly smile":
I begged him for a regular smile and this was as sincere as he could manage:
Here's some phone video:
Cathedral of Junk
We started off Father's Day here. Unfortunately, our pictures don't in any shape or form capture what this man has done in his back yard. Henry thought it was great.
Of course you get some "silly smile":
I begged him for a regular smile and this was as sincere as he could manage:
Of course you get some "silly smile":
I begged him for a regular smile and this was as sincere as he could manage:
Here's some phone video:
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Dear Daddy,
You are the best daddy anyone could ever have. You throw me in the air and on the couch and jump on the bed with me and push me on the swing forever and play in the sandbox and throw balls around and you run with me and let me squish bugs and help you in the garden and feed the cats and you wash my hair and bath me and you give good hugs and kisses. I like how you play play-do and get me bars and crackers and juice and oranges and you cook really nice dinners and keep our lawn mowed. You always make the quick runs to the store to get my snacks and you just so obviously love me, which is by far the most important thing you do. You always beat mama to my beside when I wake up in the night. You let mama sleep in and play with me. You come home from work early when I'm sick. You read a lot of books to me and you fold my laundry and play trains with me and I just want to say that I love you very much daddy and mama told me she does too. We would be so lost without you. Thank you for all the billion trillion things you do for us.
Happy Father's Day
Love,
Henry
Happy Father's Day
Love,
Henry
Dear Daddy,
You are the best daddy anyone could ever have. You throw me in the air and on the couch and jump on the bed with me and push me on the swing forever and play in the sandbox and throw balls around and you run with me and let me squish bugs and help you in the garden and feed the cats and you wash my hair and bath me and you give good hugs and kisses. I like how you play play-do and get me bars and crackers and juice and oranges and you cook really nice dinners and keep our lawn mowed. You always make the quick runs to the store to get my snacks and you just so obviously love me, which is by far the most important thing you do. You always beat mama to my beside when I wake up in the night. You let mama sleep in and play with me. You come home from work early when I'm sick. You read a lot of books to me and you fold my laundry and play trains with me and I just want to say that I love you very much daddy and mama told me she does too. We would be so lost without you. Thank you for all the billion trillion things you do for us.
Happy Father's Day
Love,
Henry
Happy Father's Day
Love,
Henry
Thursday, June 18, 2009
25 Months
Henry has been pooping in the potty these last few days, although I shouldn't claim such success b/c he has diarrhea and the frequency is so much that it's not too hard to get lucky. He gets this miserable look on his face and I say, "Do you want to sit on the potty?" and he says yes and then...relief. Poor little guy. Today is day 7. He hasn't gone to nursery school, we didn't go to co-op, we haven't been anywhere but the yard and the house and a few places where there are no children (yesterday we had a lunch date at Thundercloud subs). I'm going slightly crazy and hoping we're at the end of this. The main reason we don't go anywhere is b/c he needs several diaper changes/potty sittings a day and it would be a nightmare to try and go out. He instantly says, "Change" after he goes in his diaper.
To top it off, 2 nights ago he got croup. I don't know how or where since we haven't been anywhere for a week, but somehow he got it. He coughed about every 20 min. in the night and Justin woke up with each cough--I finally went in the other room and turned off the monitor. I got 3 hours of cough-free sleep and then rejoined Justin to share in mutual cough-wake ups. I told Justin to go in the other room for my shift but he's insane and wouldn't. Luckily his coughing only got bad enough once that he needed parental intervention in the night. I assumed last night it would be much of the same but he slept 11 hours without a single cough or wake-up. I think it's because I moved the humidifier across the room so it was next to the crib. When he woke this morning he was coughing but it was no longer that barking-seal cough.
Henry is handing all this pretty well. He's got to be bored being cooped up with just parents to play with all week but he hasn't complained too much. He's definitely more easily upset at things but he is also his same silly self and having fun. You really wouldn't know he was sick. Also, naps have been awesome lately. Two to three hours long! It's heaven and I have been sleeping with him on the futon in his room. We snuggle up and pass out and hours go by before either of us wake. I've got the humidifier blowing on high, the curtains drawn (they are these special sound and light proof genius's) and when we wake up we're both starving and we have a big lunch.
Speaking of food. This week's menu has been sooooo boring because of the diarrhea diet we're on. The first 2 days were just rice, crackers, bread, apple sauce, bananas, corn...blah blah blah. It definitively made things...less messy in the diaper, but did nothing for frequency. So now he can eat most fruit, yogurt (with probiotics in it, meat, etc. But he seems really not interested in vegetables, which is new for us. I'm wondering if the break from veggies and flavor has now made him picky and he's going to want some boring toddler diet of tater tots and grilled cheese. I hope not.
The other major major thing to report is that as of last week, Henry has been weaned from mama's milk. My goal was always 2 years (as per AAFP and WHO recommendation, as well as our pediatrician's b/c of Henry's milk allergy which the doc said he would outgrow by 2--which he did). So I focused on going 2 years and once that came I really didn't feel compelled to stop since it was only 2x's a day. But due to pregnancy and changes in the body that occur, it became quite painful and I couldn't take the torture anymore and had to wean. He hadn't been sick in 5 months, then I weaned and like...within minutes (it feels like) of weaning, he got sick. I would be lying if I didn't say I feel horrible for weaning. The main thing with diarrhea is staying hydrated and you can't really drink cow's milk when you have diarrhea so he drank mostly water and pedialite--no nutrition really in either of those things. Also, the number 1 most comforting thing for him is nursing especially when he's sick....so to not have had that to fall back on--it's been hard...for both of us.
Language development has been fun. Words he says that make him seem so grown up are, "sometimes, probably, tomorrow, hurry up" and he'll say funny things like, "Move mama, you're in my way". He uses "I", as in, "I want that" or "I pet the kitty". He'll say, "I don't like that" and he loves to nod--as in "yes or no" nodding. Yesterday he shrugged his shoulders, as in "I don't know". He calls me mama and Justin daddy but if he wants us he has stuck with shouting, "Mom! or Dad"!
Henry has gotten really good at kicking and loves to kick the soccer ball up and down the yard or the intramural fields. He looks so grown up and in control when he does this. He likes doing somersaults and wresting with daddy. The rough-play has dramatically increased. He used to hate it but now it's a fun thing he does with his daddy. He can even stand to be upside down now.
Reading books is still a major activity and part of our day. He would like to be read to for hours if we had that kind of patience. We do more than enough. Probably at least an hour a day if you add it up...and sometimes more.
Henry is still using a pacifier for naps and bedtime and for car rides. My goal is to have him weaned by Aug 1. I didn't want to take it from him before weaning from milk b/c I thought that would be too much. Now that milk is behind us, we're gonna wait till after our trip to IL next month. Henry doesn't travel well (I mean, he's 2) and that will be some comfort, for all of us.
To top it off, 2 nights ago he got croup. I don't know how or where since we haven't been anywhere for a week, but somehow he got it. He coughed about every 20 min. in the night and Justin woke up with each cough--I finally went in the other room and turned off the monitor. I got 3 hours of cough-free sleep and then rejoined Justin to share in mutual cough-wake ups. I told Justin to go in the other room for my shift but he's insane and wouldn't. Luckily his coughing only got bad enough once that he needed parental intervention in the night. I assumed last night it would be much of the same but he slept 11 hours without a single cough or wake-up. I think it's because I moved the humidifier across the room so it was next to the crib. When he woke this morning he was coughing but it was no longer that barking-seal cough.
Henry is handing all this pretty well. He's got to be bored being cooped up with just parents to play with all week but he hasn't complained too much. He's definitely more easily upset at things but he is also his same silly self and having fun. You really wouldn't know he was sick. Also, naps have been awesome lately. Two to three hours long! It's heaven and I have been sleeping with him on the futon in his room. We snuggle up and pass out and hours go by before either of us wake. I've got the humidifier blowing on high, the curtains drawn (they are these special sound and light proof genius's) and when we wake up we're both starving and we have a big lunch.
Speaking of food. This week's menu has been sooooo boring because of the diarrhea diet we're on. The first 2 days were just rice, crackers, bread, apple sauce, bananas, corn...blah blah blah. It definitively made things...less messy in the diaper, but did nothing for frequency. So now he can eat most fruit, yogurt (with probiotics in it, meat, etc. But he seems really not interested in vegetables, which is new for us. I'm wondering if the break from veggies and flavor has now made him picky and he's going to want some boring toddler diet of tater tots and grilled cheese. I hope not.
The other major major thing to report is that as of last week, Henry has been weaned from mama's milk. My goal was always 2 years (as per AAFP and WHO recommendation, as well as our pediatrician's b/c of Henry's milk allergy which the doc said he would outgrow by 2--which he did). So I focused on going 2 years and once that came I really didn't feel compelled to stop since it was only 2x's a day. But due to pregnancy and changes in the body that occur, it became quite painful and I couldn't take the torture anymore and had to wean. He hadn't been sick in 5 months, then I weaned and like...within minutes (it feels like) of weaning, he got sick. I would be lying if I didn't say I feel horrible for weaning. The main thing with diarrhea is staying hydrated and you can't really drink cow's milk when you have diarrhea so he drank mostly water and pedialite--no nutrition really in either of those things. Also, the number 1 most comforting thing for him is nursing especially when he's sick....so to not have had that to fall back on--it's been hard...for both of us.
Language development has been fun. Words he says that make him seem so grown up are, "sometimes, probably, tomorrow, hurry up" and he'll say funny things like, "Move mama, you're in my way". He uses "I", as in, "I want that" or "I pet the kitty". He'll say, "I don't like that" and he loves to nod--as in "yes or no" nodding. Yesterday he shrugged his shoulders, as in "I don't know". He calls me mama and Justin daddy but if he wants us he has stuck with shouting, "Mom! or Dad"!
Henry has gotten really good at kicking and loves to kick the soccer ball up and down the yard or the intramural fields. He looks so grown up and in control when he does this. He likes doing somersaults and wresting with daddy. The rough-play has dramatically increased. He used to hate it but now it's a fun thing he does with his daddy. He can even stand to be upside down now.
Reading books is still a major activity and part of our day. He would like to be read to for hours if we had that kind of patience. We do more than enough. Probably at least an hour a day if you add it up...and sometimes more.
Henry is still using a pacifier for naps and bedtime and for car rides. My goal is to have him weaned by Aug 1. I didn't want to take it from him before weaning from milk b/c I thought that would be too much. Now that milk is behind us, we're gonna wait till after our trip to IL next month. Henry doesn't travel well (I mean, he's 2) and that will be some comfort, for all of us.
25 Months
Henry has been pooping in the potty these last few days, although I shouldn't claim such success b/c he has diarrhea and the frequency is so much that it's not too hard to get lucky. He gets this miserable look on his face and I say, "Do you want to sit on the potty?" and he says yes and then...relief. Poor little guy. Today is day 7. He hasn't gone to nursery school, we didn't go to co-op, we haven't been anywhere but the yard and the house and a few places where there are no children (yesterday we had a lunch date at Thundercloud subs). I'm going slightly crazy and hoping we're at the end of this. The main reason we don't go anywhere is b/c he needs several diaper changes/potty sittings a day and it would be a nightmare to try and go out. He instantly says, "Change" after he goes in his diaper.
To top it off, 2 nights ago he got croup. I don't know how or where since we haven't been anywhere for a week, but somehow he got it. He coughed about every 20 min. in the night and Justin woke up with each cough--I finally went in the other room and turned off the monitor. I got 3 hours of cough-free sleep and then rejoined Justin to share in mutual cough-wake ups. I told Justin to go in the other room for my shift but he's insane and wouldn't. Luckily his coughing only got bad enough once that he needed parental intervention in the night. I assumed last night it would be much of the same but he slept 11 hours without a single cough or wake-up. I think it's because I moved the humidifier across the room so it was next to the crib. When he woke this morning he was coughing but it was no longer that barking-seal cough.
Henry is handing all this pretty well. He's got to be bored being cooped up with just parents to play with all week but he hasn't complained too much. He's definitely more easily upset at things but he is also his same silly self and having fun. You really wouldn't know he was sick. Also, naps have been awesome lately. Two to three hours long! It's heaven and I have been sleeping with him on the futon in his room. We snuggle up and pass out and hours go by before either of us wake. I've got the humidifier blowing on high, the curtains drawn (they are these special sound and light proof genius's) and when we wake up we're both starving and we have a big lunch.
Speaking of food. This week's menu has been sooooo boring because of the diarrhea diet we're on. The first 2 days were just rice, crackers, bread, apple sauce, bananas, corn...blah blah blah. It definitively made things...less messy in the diaper, but did nothing for frequency. So now he can eat most fruit, yogurt (with probiotics in it, meat, etc. But he seems really not interested in vegetables, which is new for us. I'm wondering if the break from veggies and flavor has now made him picky and he's going to want some boring toddler diet of tater tots and grilled cheese. I hope not.
The other major major thing to report is that as of last week, Henry has been weaned from mama's milk. My goal was always 2 years (as per AAFP and WHO recommendation, as well as our pediatrician's b/c of Henry's milk allergy which the doc said he would outgrow by 2--which he did). So I focused on going 2 years and once that came I really didn't feel compelled to stop since it was only 2x's a day. But due to pregnancy and changes in the body that occur, it became quite painful and I couldn't take the torture anymore and had to wean. He hadn't been sick in 5 months, then I weaned and like...within minutes (it feels like) of weaning, he got sick. I would be lying if I didn't say I feel horrible for weaning. The main thing with diarrhea is staying hydrated and you can't really drink cow's milk when you have diarrhea so he drank mostly water and pedialite--no nutrition really in either of those things. Also, the number 1 most comforting thing for him is nursing especially when he's sick....so to not have had that to fall back on--it's been hard...for both of us.
Language development has been fun. Words he says that make him seem so grown up are, "sometimes, probably, tomorrow, hurry up" and he'll say funny things like, "Move mama, you're in my way". He uses "I", as in, "I want that" or "I pet the kitty". He'll say, "I don't like that" and he loves to nod--as in "yes or no" nodding. Yesterday he shrugged his shoulders, as in "I don't know". He calls me mama and Justin daddy but if he wants us he has stuck with shouting, "Mom! or Dad"!
Henry has gotten really good at kicking and loves to kick the soccer ball up and down the yard or the intramural fields. He looks so grown up and in control when he does this. He likes doing somersaults and wresting with daddy. The rough-play has dramatically increased. He used to hate it but now it's a fun thing he does with his daddy. He can even stand to be upside down now.
Reading books is still a major activity and part of our day. He would like to be read to for hours if we had that kind of patience. We do more than enough. Probably at least an hour a day if you add it up...and sometimes more.
Henry is still using a pacifier for naps and bedtime and for car rides. My goal is to have him weaned by Aug 1. I didn't want to take it from him before weaning from milk b/c I thought that would be too much. Now that milk is behind us, we're gonna wait till after our trip to IL next month. Henry doesn't travel well (I mean, he's 2) and that will be some comfort, for all of us.
To top it off, 2 nights ago he got croup. I don't know how or where since we haven't been anywhere for a week, but somehow he got it. He coughed about every 20 min. in the night and Justin woke up with each cough--I finally went in the other room and turned off the monitor. I got 3 hours of cough-free sleep and then rejoined Justin to share in mutual cough-wake ups. I told Justin to go in the other room for my shift but he's insane and wouldn't. Luckily his coughing only got bad enough once that he needed parental intervention in the night. I assumed last night it would be much of the same but he slept 11 hours without a single cough or wake-up. I think it's because I moved the humidifier across the room so it was next to the crib. When he woke this morning he was coughing but it was no longer that barking-seal cough.
Henry is handing all this pretty well. He's got to be bored being cooped up with just parents to play with all week but he hasn't complained too much. He's definitely more easily upset at things but he is also his same silly self and having fun. You really wouldn't know he was sick. Also, naps have been awesome lately. Two to three hours long! It's heaven and I have been sleeping with him on the futon in his room. We snuggle up and pass out and hours go by before either of us wake. I've got the humidifier blowing on high, the curtains drawn (they are these special sound and light proof genius's) and when we wake up we're both starving and we have a big lunch.
Speaking of food. This week's menu has been sooooo boring because of the diarrhea diet we're on. The first 2 days were just rice, crackers, bread, apple sauce, bananas, corn...blah blah blah. It definitively made things...less messy in the diaper, but did nothing for frequency. So now he can eat most fruit, yogurt (with probiotics in it, meat, etc. But he seems really not interested in vegetables, which is new for us. I'm wondering if the break from veggies and flavor has now made him picky and he's going to want some boring toddler diet of tater tots and grilled cheese. I hope not.
The other major major thing to report is that as of last week, Henry has been weaned from mama's milk. My goal was always 2 years (as per AAFP and WHO recommendation, as well as our pediatrician's b/c of Henry's milk allergy which the doc said he would outgrow by 2--which he did). So I focused on going 2 years and once that came I really didn't feel compelled to stop since it was only 2x's a day. But due to pregnancy and changes in the body that occur, it became quite painful and I couldn't take the torture anymore and had to wean. He hadn't been sick in 5 months, then I weaned and like...within minutes (it feels like) of weaning, he got sick. I would be lying if I didn't say I feel horrible for weaning. The main thing with diarrhea is staying hydrated and you can't really drink cow's milk when you have diarrhea so he drank mostly water and pedialite--no nutrition really in either of those things. Also, the number 1 most comforting thing for him is nursing especially when he's sick....so to not have had that to fall back on--it's been hard...for both of us.
Language development has been fun. Words he says that make him seem so grown up are, "sometimes, probably, tomorrow, hurry up" and he'll say funny things like, "Move mama, you're in my way". He uses "I", as in, "I want that" or "I pet the kitty". He'll say, "I don't like that" and he loves to nod--as in "yes or no" nodding. Yesterday he shrugged his shoulders, as in "I don't know". He calls me mama and Justin daddy but if he wants us he has stuck with shouting, "Mom! or Dad"!
Henry has gotten really good at kicking and loves to kick the soccer ball up and down the yard or the intramural fields. He looks so grown up and in control when he does this. He likes doing somersaults and wresting with daddy. The rough-play has dramatically increased. He used to hate it but now it's a fun thing he does with his daddy. He can even stand to be upside down now.
Reading books is still a major activity and part of our day. He would like to be read to for hours if we had that kind of patience. We do more than enough. Probably at least an hour a day if you add it up...and sometimes more.
Henry is still using a pacifier for naps and bedtime and for car rides. My goal is to have him weaned by Aug 1. I didn't want to take it from him before weaning from milk b/c I thought that would be too much. Now that milk is behind us, we're gonna wait till after our trip to IL next month. Henry doesn't travel well (I mean, he's 2) and that will be some comfort, for all of us.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Henry and the ladies of Co-op...
Can you believe I watch all of these darlings (and one more not shown) for 8 hours a week, all by myself? It's actually fun and getting easier each time.Henry and the ladies of Co-op...
Can you believe I watch all of these darlings (and one more not shown) for 8 hours a week, all by myself? It's actually fun and getting easier each time.
Still playing with Aunt Rachel's food...but a new way to stack...
This was the afternoon Henry decided to paint our front porch using his body.
Still playing with Aunt Rachel's food...but a new way to stack...
This was the afternoon Henry decided to paint our front porch using his body.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Sorry....
we're not very posty lately. We went to Rockwall this past weekend for Henry's cousin Maggy's 1st birthday party and did not take 1 single picture. We got there at 2 Saturday, went to the party, went back to Justin's mom's house, put Henry to bed, hung out with Justin's peeps and then went to bed. We woke the next day, ate breakfast, fed some horses and then headed back to Austin by 10AM.
Also, we didn't know we were going till the night before we left.
I have no other news to report other then Henry is the awesomest and everything is dandy.
Also, we didn't know we were going till the night before we left.
I have no other news to report other then Henry is the awesomest and everything is dandy.
Sorry....
we're not very posty lately. We went to Rockwall this past weekend for Henry's cousin Maggy's 1st birthday party and did not take 1 single picture. We got there at 2 Saturday, went to the party, went back to Justin's mom's house, put Henry to bed, hung out with Justin's peeps and then went to bed. We woke the next day, ate breakfast, fed some horses and then headed back to Austin by 10AM.
Also, we didn't know we were going till the night before we left.
I have no other news to report other then Henry is the awesomest and everything is dandy.
Also, we didn't know we were going till the night before we left.
I have no other news to report other then Henry is the awesomest and everything is dandy.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Scary day...but only in my head....
Today for the first time in Henry's entire life, he fought taking a nap. This was weird because yesterday he took a 3 hour nap, after his dad had to come get him at the co-op because he was crawling all over the floor begging to be put down for nap (at 11:00AM). He would nap at 10AM if I let him--but then he would need to go to bed at like 5:30PM and that's just not happening. He already goes to bed ridiculously early.
So, I put him down at 12 like normal and he just tossed and turned and tossed and turned for an hour, and then after an hour and a half of crying and tossing and turning I called Justin because I was scared and upset. He has NEVER done this. Henry is so predictable that when anything...anything different happens, it freaks me out. I went in his room for the billionth time, I changed his diaper that didn't really need to be changed, I put jammy pants on him and I put Benadryl ointment on a mosquito bite he got on his ear this morning and then after about 5 minutes he was asleep. I don't know if it was the diaper, the pants, the anti-itch cream....I have no idea what did it. But if he hadn't taken his nap, I don't know what I would have done. I might have been crazy enough to take him to the doctor because that's how completely strange it would be for him to skip his nap.
After his nap we all went swimming and then came home for tacos. I gave Henry some of my sparkling water and after a few minutes he began to whimper at the table. He had this weird, uncomfortable look on his face and he would not answer me when I asked what was wrong. He just whimpered and I was about 5 seconds from panicking and then Henry let out two very large burps and smiled.
My entire happiness is 100% dependent on this child's well-being. And this is for the rest of my life. Ugh.....I'm not cut out for this world.
So, I put him down at 12 like normal and he just tossed and turned and tossed and turned for an hour, and then after an hour and a half of crying and tossing and turning I called Justin because I was scared and upset. He has NEVER done this. Henry is so predictable that when anything...anything different happens, it freaks me out. I went in his room for the billionth time, I changed his diaper that didn't really need to be changed, I put jammy pants on him and I put Benadryl ointment on a mosquito bite he got on his ear this morning and then after about 5 minutes he was asleep. I don't know if it was the diaper, the pants, the anti-itch cream....I have no idea what did it. But if he hadn't taken his nap, I don't know what I would have done. I might have been crazy enough to take him to the doctor because that's how completely strange it would be for him to skip his nap.
After his nap we all went swimming and then came home for tacos. I gave Henry some of my sparkling water and after a few minutes he began to whimper at the table. He had this weird, uncomfortable look on his face and he would not answer me when I asked what was wrong. He just whimpered and I was about 5 seconds from panicking and then Henry let out two very large burps and smiled.
My entire happiness is 100% dependent on this child's well-being. And this is for the rest of my life. Ugh.....I'm not cut out for this world.
Scary day...but only in my head....
Today for the first time in Henry's entire life, he fought taking a nap. This was weird because yesterday he took a 3 hour nap, after his dad had to come get him at the co-op because he was crawling all over the floor begging to be put down for nap (at 11:00AM). He would nap at 10AM if I let him--but then he would need to go to bed at like 5:30PM and that's just not happening. He already goes to bed ridiculously early.
So, I put him down at 12 like normal and he just tossed and turned and tossed and turned for an hour, and then after an hour and a half of crying and tossing and turning I called Justin because I was scared and upset. He has NEVER done this. Henry is so predictable that when anything...anything different happens, it freaks me out. I went in his room for the billionth time, I changed his diaper that didn't really need to be changed, I put jammy pants on him and I put Benadryl ointment on a mosquito bite he got on his ear this morning and then after about 5 minutes he was asleep. I don't know if it was the diaper, the pants, the anti-itch cream....I have no idea what did it. But if he hadn't taken his nap, I don't know what I would have done. I might have been crazy enough to take him to the doctor because that's how completely strange it would be for him to skip his nap.
After his nap we all went swimming and then came home for tacos. I gave Henry some of my sparkling water and after a few minutes he began to whimper at the table. He had this weird, uncomfortable look on his face and he would not answer me when I asked what was wrong. He just whimpered and I was about 5 seconds from panicking and then Henry let out two very large burps and smiled.
My entire happiness is 100% dependent on this child's well-being. And this is for the rest of my life. Ugh.....I'm not cut out for this world.
So, I put him down at 12 like normal and he just tossed and turned and tossed and turned for an hour, and then after an hour and a half of crying and tossing and turning I called Justin because I was scared and upset. He has NEVER done this. Henry is so predictable that when anything...anything different happens, it freaks me out. I went in his room for the billionth time, I changed his diaper that didn't really need to be changed, I put jammy pants on him and I put Benadryl ointment on a mosquito bite he got on his ear this morning and then after about 5 minutes he was asleep. I don't know if it was the diaper, the pants, the anti-itch cream....I have no idea what did it. But if he hadn't taken his nap, I don't know what I would have done. I might have been crazy enough to take him to the doctor because that's how completely strange it would be for him to skip his nap.
After his nap we all went swimming and then came home for tacos. I gave Henry some of my sparkling water and after a few minutes he began to whimper at the table. He had this weird, uncomfortable look on his face and he would not answer me when I asked what was wrong. He just whimpered and I was about 5 seconds from panicking and then Henry let out two very large burps and smiled.
My entire happiness is 100% dependent on this child's well-being. And this is for the rest of my life. Ugh.....I'm not cut out for this world.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
What's going on?
I haven't written anything recently so I thought I would write a few things about the little boy as of late. He's still taking it easy on us. He doesn't run off or tantrum much. He eats and sleeps well. He whines but it's easy to handle. Anytime he refuses to do something I say, "Do you need to go to your crib?" and he immediately runs to me to do the thing I want him to do. It's weird b/c I've only put him in the crib a handful of times for like 20 seconds. I think he's like Justin...doesn't want to rock the boat. Doesn't like to be in trouble. Very unlike his mama as a child! The few times I've raised my voice at him it has DEVASTATED him. He just wants everything to be kosher.
This month I am subbing 2 mornings a week for the co-op (this is the Mother's Day Out some friends of mine set up and Henry briefly attended). Their teacher moved to Dallas and I am filling in till their new one begins at the end of the month. It's 4 girls and Henry and they are all about 2, give or take a few months. Of the 5 children only one is presenting typical toddler characteristics....which makes me wonder if the "Terrible 2's" is not a fair label but an example of the exception being what people consider normal--and so that's why you have moms like me scratching their head wondering when the storm is coming. I was with those kids for 4 hours and it was easy peasy, with the exception of the one kiddo (and even she was fine, but she has a completely different personality than the others and needed more redirection/attention).
We played pretend animals...I'd say "Be an elephant!" and they would all make elephant sounds, etc. and we danced, sang songs, ran around and kicked the ball, chased after bubbles, painted, played with the zillions of toys they had, had snack, I changed 8 diapers (2 per child), ran outside some more, had story time and then lunch and cleanup. It was fun. Henry had a blast. He was asleep within 5 minutes of getting home.
Henry is counting a lot now. It's just by rote but sometimes he makes us wonder if he might really understand. If you ask "How many chairs are there?", he will count them by putting his finger on each chair and say, "1, 2, 3, etc." and sometimes he'll stop when there are no more chairs and sometimes he will keep going and recount the chairs but not go back to 1. So I don't think he gets it but they say it's not till like Kindergarten before they understand that concept so it's crazy for me to even think he might. Anyway, just like stacking things, he likes to count things. We went to the Natural History Museum this past weekend and Henry went up a lot of steps. He counted to 20! Once he gets to 14 things can get hairy and he'll juggle the teen numbers, but every so often he nails it. He's also made a ton of progress on the alphabet song. He definitely knows the song but sometimes skips "H I J K" in a mad rush to get to "Now I know my ABC's...". He loves to sing that part. Also, he's begun singing a ton of new songs that I've been singing or playing to him since birth. It's hysterical to watch him playing with blocks or something and then overhear him quietly singing "Take out the papers and the trash...".
(Note: for any grandparents reading this: Henry is not a genius. I think this is pretty normal. But EVEN if it wasn't, it all evens out by age 4-5 --just like with walking. It really means nothing that a kid walks at 9 months--they all eventually learn to walk. Same with counting and ABC's. A developmentally "normal" kid will learn whatever you teach them and I teach Henry these things b/c what the hell else am I doing? ).
In other news Henry has begun, just this past week, calling us "mom" and "dad". Not mommy and daddy, MOM and DAD. Like he's a teenager or something. I think he picked it up from hearing older kids yell "Mom!" when we're at playgrounds or the swimming pool. He refers to us still as mama and dada but if he is in another room and wants me or Justin, he yell's "Mom!" or "Dad!". It's so hard not to laugh.
Hysterical new saying this week, "What's going on?"
Okay, the last thing I want to document. Henry watches Elmo's World from 7:40 to 8:00 (Sesame Street is VERY lame now--so sad to say that---but Elmo's world is worth watching), and Curious George from 8-8:30 and I let him b/c that's how I get ready in the morning, and sometimes, depending on our level of exhaustion, in the evening from 4:30 to 5:00 he gets to watch this PBS cartoon called Cyber Chase, while we make dinner (We eat at 5:00). So the other day dinner was ready and Justin and I were at the table ready to eat and Henry was in the living room watching Cyber Chase and I said, "Henry, dinnertime. Turn off the TV and come to dinner." And about 6-8 seconds later you hear the TV go off and the pitter patter of little feet. He walked in, climbed up the chair, picked up his fork, and began eating. I mean, COME ON!
This month I am subbing 2 mornings a week for the co-op (this is the Mother's Day Out some friends of mine set up and Henry briefly attended). Their teacher moved to Dallas and I am filling in till their new one begins at the end of the month. It's 4 girls and Henry and they are all about 2, give or take a few months. Of the 5 children only one is presenting typical toddler characteristics....which makes me wonder if the "Terrible 2's" is not a fair label but an example of the exception being what people consider normal--and so that's why you have moms like me scratching their head wondering when the storm is coming. I was with those kids for 4 hours and it was easy peasy, with the exception of the one kiddo (and even she was fine, but she has a completely different personality than the others and needed more redirection/attention).
We played pretend animals...I'd say "Be an elephant!" and they would all make elephant sounds, etc. and we danced, sang songs, ran around and kicked the ball, chased after bubbles, painted, played with the zillions of toys they had, had snack, I changed 8 diapers (2 per child), ran outside some more, had story time and then lunch and cleanup. It was fun. Henry had a blast. He was asleep within 5 minutes of getting home.
Henry is counting a lot now. It's just by rote but sometimes he makes us wonder if he might really understand. If you ask "How many chairs are there?", he will count them by putting his finger on each chair and say, "1, 2, 3, etc." and sometimes he'll stop when there are no more chairs and sometimes he will keep going and recount the chairs but not go back to 1. So I don't think he gets it but they say it's not till like Kindergarten before they understand that concept so it's crazy for me to even think he might. Anyway, just like stacking things, he likes to count things. We went to the Natural History Museum this past weekend and Henry went up a lot of steps. He counted to 20! Once he gets to 14 things can get hairy and he'll juggle the teen numbers, but every so often he nails it. He's also made a ton of progress on the alphabet song. He definitely knows the song but sometimes skips "H I J K" in a mad rush to get to "Now I know my ABC's...". He loves to sing that part. Also, he's begun singing a ton of new songs that I've been singing or playing to him since birth. It's hysterical to watch him playing with blocks or something and then overhear him quietly singing "Take out the papers and the trash...".
(Note: for any grandparents reading this: Henry is not a genius. I think this is pretty normal. But EVEN if it wasn't, it all evens out by age 4-5 --just like with walking. It really means nothing that a kid walks at 9 months--they all eventually learn to walk. Same with counting and ABC's. A developmentally "normal" kid will learn whatever you teach them and I teach Henry these things b/c what the hell else am I doing? ).
In other news Henry has begun, just this past week, calling us "mom" and "dad". Not mommy and daddy, MOM and DAD. Like he's a teenager or something. I think he picked it up from hearing older kids yell "Mom!" when we're at playgrounds or the swimming pool. He refers to us still as mama and dada but if he is in another room and wants me or Justin, he yell's "Mom!" or "Dad!". It's so hard not to laugh.
Hysterical new saying this week, "What's going on?"
Okay, the last thing I want to document. Henry watches Elmo's World from 7:40 to 8:00 (Sesame Street is VERY lame now--so sad to say that---but Elmo's world is worth watching), and Curious George from 8-8:30 and I let him b/c that's how I get ready in the morning, and sometimes, depending on our level of exhaustion, in the evening from 4:30 to 5:00 he gets to watch this PBS cartoon called Cyber Chase, while we make dinner (We eat at 5:00). So the other day dinner was ready and Justin and I were at the table ready to eat and Henry was in the living room watching Cyber Chase and I said, "Henry, dinnertime. Turn off the TV and come to dinner." And about 6-8 seconds later you hear the TV go off and the pitter patter of little feet. He walked in, climbed up the chair, picked up his fork, and began eating. I mean, COME ON!
What's going on?
I haven't written anything recently so I thought I would write a few things about the little boy as of late. He's still taking it easy on us. He doesn't run off or tantrum much. He eats and sleeps well. He whines but it's easy to handle. Anytime he refuses to do something I say, "Do you need to go to your crib?" and he immediately runs to me to do the thing I want him to do. It's weird b/c I've only put him in the crib a handful of times for like 20 seconds. I think he's like Justin...doesn't want to rock the boat. Doesn't like to be in trouble. Very unlike his mama as a child! The few times I've raised my voice at him it has DEVASTATED him. He just wants everything to be kosher.
This month I am subbing 2 mornings a week for the co-op (this is the Mother's Day Out some friends of mine set up and Henry briefly attended). Their teacher moved to Dallas and I am filling in till their new one begins at the end of the month. It's 4 girls and Henry and they are all about 2, give or take a few months. Of the 5 children only one is presenting typical toddler characteristics....which makes me wonder if the "Terrible 2's" is not a fair label but an example of the exception being what people consider normal--and so that's why you have moms like me scratching their head wondering when the storm is coming. I was with those kids for 4 hours and it was easy peasy, with the exception of the one kiddo (and even she was fine, but she has a completely different personality than the others and needed more redirection/attention).
We played pretend animals...I'd say "Be an elephant!" and they would all make elephant sounds, etc. and we danced, sang songs, ran around and kicked the ball, chased after bubbles, painted, played with the zillions of toys they had, had snack, I changed 8 diapers (2 per child), ran outside some more, had story time and then lunch and cleanup. It was fun. Henry had a blast. He was asleep within 5 minutes of getting home.
Henry is counting a lot now. It's just by rote but sometimes he makes us wonder if he might really understand. If you ask "How many chairs are there?", he will count them by putting his finger on each chair and say, "1, 2, 3, etc." and sometimes he'll stop when there are no more chairs and sometimes he will keep going and recount the chairs but not go back to 1. So I don't think he gets it but they say it's not till like Kindergarten before they understand that concept so it's crazy for me to even think he might. Anyway, just like stacking things, he likes to count things. We went to the Natural History Museum this past weekend and Henry went up a lot of steps. He counted to 20! Once he gets to 14 things can get hairy and he'll juggle the teen numbers, but every so often he nails it. He's also made a ton of progress on the alphabet song. He definitely knows the song but sometimes skips "H I J K" in a mad rush to get to "Now I know my ABC's...". He loves to sing that part. Also, he's begun singing a ton of new songs that I've been singing or playing to him since birth. It's hysterical to watch him playing with blocks or something and then overhear him quietly singing "Take out the papers and the trash...".
(Note: for any grandparents reading this: Henry is not a genius. I think this is pretty normal. But EVEN if it wasn't, it all evens out by age 4-5 --just like with walking. It really means nothing that a kid walks at 9 months--they all eventually learn to walk. Same with counting and ABC's. A developmentally "normal" kid will learn whatever you teach them and I teach Henry these things b/c what the hell else am I doing? ).
In other news Henry has begun, just this past week, calling us "mom" and "dad". Not mommy and daddy, MOM and DAD. Like he's a teenager or something. I think he picked it up from hearing older kids yell "Mom!" when we're at playgrounds or the swimming pool. He refers to us still as mama and dada but if he is in another room and wants me or Justin, he yell's "Mom!" or "Dad!". It's so hard not to laugh.
Hysterical new saying this week, "What's going on?"
Okay, the last thing I want to document. Henry watches Elmo's World from 7:40 to 8:00 (Sesame Street is VERY lame now--so sad to say that---but Elmo's world is worth watching), and Curious George from 8-8:30 and I let him b/c that's how I get ready in the morning, and sometimes, depending on our level of exhaustion, in the evening from 4:30 to 5:00 he gets to watch this PBS cartoon called Cyber Chase, while we make dinner (We eat at 5:00). So the other day dinner was ready and Justin and I were at the table ready to eat and Henry was in the living room watching Cyber Chase and I said, "Henry, dinnertime. Turn off the TV and come to dinner." And about 6-8 seconds later you hear the TV go off and the pitter patter of little feet. He walked in, climbed up the chair, picked up his fork, and began eating. I mean, COME ON!
This month I am subbing 2 mornings a week for the co-op (this is the Mother's Day Out some friends of mine set up and Henry briefly attended). Their teacher moved to Dallas and I am filling in till their new one begins at the end of the month. It's 4 girls and Henry and they are all about 2, give or take a few months. Of the 5 children only one is presenting typical toddler characteristics....which makes me wonder if the "Terrible 2's" is not a fair label but an example of the exception being what people consider normal--and so that's why you have moms like me scratching their head wondering when the storm is coming. I was with those kids for 4 hours and it was easy peasy, with the exception of the one kiddo (and even she was fine, but she has a completely different personality than the others and needed more redirection/attention).
We played pretend animals...I'd say "Be an elephant!" and they would all make elephant sounds, etc. and we danced, sang songs, ran around and kicked the ball, chased after bubbles, painted, played with the zillions of toys they had, had snack, I changed 8 diapers (2 per child), ran outside some more, had story time and then lunch and cleanup. It was fun. Henry had a blast. He was asleep within 5 minutes of getting home.
Henry is counting a lot now. It's just by rote but sometimes he makes us wonder if he might really understand. If you ask "How many chairs are there?", he will count them by putting his finger on each chair and say, "1, 2, 3, etc." and sometimes he'll stop when there are no more chairs and sometimes he will keep going and recount the chairs but not go back to 1. So I don't think he gets it but they say it's not till like Kindergarten before they understand that concept so it's crazy for me to even think he might. Anyway, just like stacking things, he likes to count things. We went to the Natural History Museum this past weekend and Henry went up a lot of steps. He counted to 20! Once he gets to 14 things can get hairy and he'll juggle the teen numbers, but every so often he nails it. He's also made a ton of progress on the alphabet song. He definitely knows the song but sometimes skips "H I J K" in a mad rush to get to "Now I know my ABC's...". He loves to sing that part. Also, he's begun singing a ton of new songs that I've been singing or playing to him since birth. It's hysterical to watch him playing with blocks or something and then overhear him quietly singing "Take out the papers and the trash...".
(Note: for any grandparents reading this: Henry is not a genius. I think this is pretty normal. But EVEN if it wasn't, it all evens out by age 4-5 --just like with walking. It really means nothing that a kid walks at 9 months--they all eventually learn to walk. Same with counting and ABC's. A developmentally "normal" kid will learn whatever you teach them and I teach Henry these things b/c what the hell else am I doing? ).
In other news Henry has begun, just this past week, calling us "mom" and "dad". Not mommy and daddy, MOM and DAD. Like he's a teenager or something. I think he picked it up from hearing older kids yell "Mom!" when we're at playgrounds or the swimming pool. He refers to us still as mama and dada but if he is in another room and wants me or Justin, he yell's "Mom!" or "Dad!". It's so hard not to laugh.
Hysterical new saying this week, "What's going on?"
Okay, the last thing I want to document. Henry watches Elmo's World from 7:40 to 8:00 (Sesame Street is VERY lame now--so sad to say that---but Elmo's world is worth watching), and Curious George from 8-8:30 and I let him b/c that's how I get ready in the morning, and sometimes, depending on our level of exhaustion, in the evening from 4:30 to 5:00 he gets to watch this PBS cartoon called Cyber Chase, while we make dinner (We eat at 5:00). So the other day dinner was ready and Justin and I were at the table ready to eat and Henry was in the living room watching Cyber Chase and I said, "Henry, dinnertime. Turn off the TV and come to dinner." And about 6-8 seconds later you hear the TV go off and the pitter patter of little feet. He walked in, climbed up the chair, picked up his fork, and began eating. I mean, COME ON!
Monday, June 1, 2009
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