Debby's due in the next couple weeks. I've got 13 more.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Brown and green...
Ever since Henry's eyes changed from that cloudy newborn blue color, I've been uncertain about what to call Henry's eye color. Since Justin's eyes are green and mine are blue, I just assumed his eyes would be one or the other, but they're not. They're brown and green. I think they look like green olives on the outside and then there's this distinct circle of brown around the pupil. When I've asked people what color his eyes are, they always say hazel (including the eye doctor) and for whatever reason I just don't think that's it either. Hazel, to me, has brown and some yellow, or a much lighter green. Right? According to Wikipedia though, his eyes are hazel.
Brown and green...
Ever since Henry's eyes changed from that cloudy newborn blue color, I've been uncertain about what to call Henry's eye color. Since Justin's eyes are green and mine are blue, I just assumed his eyes would be one or the other, but they're not. They're brown and green. I think they look like green olives on the outside and then there's this distinct circle of brown around the pupil. When I've asked people what color his eyes are, they always say hazel (including the eye doctor) and for whatever reason I just don't think that's it either. Hazel, to me, has brown and some yellow, or a much lighter green. Right? According to Wikipedia though, his eyes are hazel.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Another Henry...
I just found out that Minnie Driver's baby is named Henry.
Rachel Weisz named her baby Henry.
Seal and Heidi Klum named their baby Henry.
Julia Roberts named her baby Henry.
I'm sure there are more. It's so strange. I've never even met a person named Henry and now it's such a popular boy name. It's like some name-fairy whispers into the ears of pregnant women at night and when we wake up we shout, "Henry", now there's a good name! And I'm sure all those women are like me and never thought Henry would be their child's name. Had I been told in high school that one day I would have a son and his name would be Henry, I would never have believed it. Why would I choose the name Henry over something way cooler, like Dane?
Same with our daughter. I assure you as a child I never scribbled the name Eleanor in my diary. But again, the name fairy. Because I have no epiphany to share, no story to tell of how we decided on her name. It just...is.
Rachel Weisz named her baby Henry.
Seal and Heidi Klum named their baby Henry.
Julia Roberts named her baby Henry.
I'm sure there are more. It's so strange. I've never even met a person named Henry and now it's such a popular boy name. It's like some name-fairy whispers into the ears of pregnant women at night and when we wake up we shout, "Henry", now there's a good name! And I'm sure all those women are like me and never thought Henry would be their child's name. Had I been told in high school that one day I would have a son and his name would be Henry, I would never have believed it. Why would I choose the name Henry over something way cooler, like Dane?
Same with our daughter. I assure you as a child I never scribbled the name Eleanor in my diary. But again, the name fairy. Because I have no epiphany to share, no story to tell of how we decided on her name. It just...is.
Another Henry...
I just found out that Minnie Driver's baby is named Henry.
Rachel Weisz named her baby Henry.
Seal and Heidi Klum named their baby Henry.
Julia Roberts named her baby Henry.
I'm sure there are more. It's so strange. I've never even met a person named Henry and now it's such a popular boy name. It's like some name-fairy whispers into the ears of pregnant women at night and when we wake up we shout, "Henry", now there's a good name! And I'm sure all those women are like me and never thought Henry would be their child's name. Had I been told in high school that one day I would have a son and his name would be Henry, I would never have believed it. Why would I choose the name Henry over something way cooler, like Dane?
Same with our daughter. I assure you as a child I never scribbled the name Eleanor in my diary. But again, the name fairy. Because I have no epiphany to share, no story to tell of how we decided on her name. It just...is.
Rachel Weisz named her baby Henry.
Seal and Heidi Klum named their baby Henry.
Julia Roberts named her baby Henry.
I'm sure there are more. It's so strange. I've never even met a person named Henry and now it's such a popular boy name. It's like some name-fairy whispers into the ears of pregnant women at night and when we wake up we shout, "Henry", now there's a good name! And I'm sure all those women are like me and never thought Henry would be their child's name. Had I been told in high school that one day I would have a son and his name would be Henry, I would never have believed it. Why would I choose the name Henry over something way cooler, like Dane?
Same with our daughter. I assure you as a child I never scribbled the name Eleanor in my diary. But again, the name fairy. Because I have no epiphany to share, no story to tell of how we decided on her name. It just...is.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Taken before kids...
I call this picture "Mental health problems". Did you all know Justin is the crazy cat lady? Did you know there's now 4 more cats?
Taken before kids...
I call this picture "Mental health problems". Did you all know Justin is the crazy cat lady? Did you know there's now 4 more cats?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Legs...
This is a picture of her legs stretched out. See her femurs?
In this picture you can see the tip of her nose touching her kneecaps.
Legs...
This is a picture of her legs stretched out. See her femurs?
In this picture you can see the tip of her nose touching her kneecaps.
We saw Eleanor yesterday...
She had her legs completely stretched out. How on earth could she possibly have room for that? Well, she was laying on her back, with her bottom up in the air and her legs stretched over the top of her body. Her knees were touching the tip of her nose. Comfy! Justin will probably scan the ultrasound picture later to post on here.
Henry really liked seeing his baby sister. He used his new doctor kit on me to check the baby when we got home. He put the stethoscope right on my belly to listen to her heartbeat.
Henry really liked seeing his baby sister. He used his new doctor kit on me to check the baby when we got home. He put the stethoscope right on my belly to listen to her heartbeat.
We saw Eleanor yesterday...
She had her legs completely stretched out. How on earth could she possibly have room for that? Well, she was laying on her back, with her bottom up in the air and her legs stretched over the top of her body. Her knees were touching the tip of her nose. Comfy! Justin will probably scan the ultrasound picture later to post on here.
Henry really liked seeing his baby sister. He used his new doctor kit on me to check the baby when we got home. He put the stethoscope right on my belly to listen to her heartbeat.
Henry really liked seeing his baby sister. He used his new doctor kit on me to check the baby when we got home. He put the stethoscope right on my belly to listen to her heartbeat.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Talking...Feeling
Just some commentary here about Henry's language and emotional development. He is now able to communicate in past/present/future tense.
For example: I don't want to take a bath. I'm taking a bath. I took a bath.
He can identify ownership of things: This is my bread. That is your bread. We both have bread. (This is what he said to me at the table this morning when we were eating challah rolls).
Henry also has surprising answers to questions like "Are your ready for me to change your diaper?: "Um...not quite. In a minute."
Henry still continues to be very conscientious of not hurting anyone, including his toys. We were playing animals a little while ago and he picked up his box of Star Wars guys (Justin's, actually) and the storm trooper attacked the horse. I was handling the horse and making all sorts of agonizing cries and Henry stopped immediately and using the storm trooper he said to the horse, "Sorry, horsey. Sorry. You okay? Let's cuddle." and then the storm trooper kissed the horse and petted it with it's little plastic hand.
And just to make Justin laugh this morning I will post a little inside joke. Henry's sitting next to me watching Elmo's world and Elmo's playing the drums. "No Elmo. Stop it."
For example: I don't want to take a bath. I'm taking a bath. I took a bath.
He can identify ownership of things: This is my bread. That is your bread. We both have bread. (This is what he said to me at the table this morning when we were eating challah rolls).
Henry also has surprising answers to questions like "Are your ready for me to change your diaper?: "Um...not quite. In a minute."
Henry still continues to be very conscientious of not hurting anyone, including his toys. We were playing animals a little while ago and he picked up his box of Star Wars guys (Justin's, actually) and the storm trooper attacked the horse. I was handling the horse and making all sorts of agonizing cries and Henry stopped immediately and using the storm trooper he said to the horse, "Sorry, horsey. Sorry. You okay? Let's cuddle." and then the storm trooper kissed the horse and petted it with it's little plastic hand.
And just to make Justin laugh this morning I will post a little inside joke. Henry's sitting next to me watching Elmo's world and Elmo's playing the drums. "No Elmo. Stop it."
Talking...Feeling
Just some commentary here about Henry's language and emotional development. He is now able to communicate in past/present/future tense.
For example: I don't want to take a bath. I'm taking a bath. I took a bath.
He can identify ownership of things: This is my bread. That is your bread. We both have bread. (This is what he said to me at the table this morning when we were eating challah rolls).
Henry also has surprising answers to questions like "Are your ready for me to change your diaper?: "Um...not quite. In a minute."
Henry still continues to be very conscientious of not hurting anyone, including his toys. We were playing animals a little while ago and he picked up his box of Star Wars guys (Justin's, actually) and the storm trooper attacked the horse. I was handling the horse and making all sorts of agonizing cries and Henry stopped immediately and using the storm trooper he said to the horse, "Sorry, horsey. Sorry. You okay? Let's cuddle." and then the storm trooper kissed the horse and petted it with it's little plastic hand.
And just to make Justin laugh this morning I will post a little inside joke. Henry's sitting next to me watching Elmo's world and Elmo's playing the drums. "No Elmo. Stop it."
For example: I don't want to take a bath. I'm taking a bath. I took a bath.
He can identify ownership of things: This is my bread. That is your bread. We both have bread. (This is what he said to me at the table this morning when we were eating challah rolls).
Henry also has surprising answers to questions like "Are your ready for me to change your diaper?: "Um...not quite. In a minute."
Henry still continues to be very conscientious of not hurting anyone, including his toys. We were playing animals a little while ago and he picked up his box of Star Wars guys (Justin's, actually) and the storm trooper attacked the horse. I was handling the horse and making all sorts of agonizing cries and Henry stopped immediately and using the storm trooper he said to the horse, "Sorry, horsey. Sorry. You okay? Let's cuddle." and then the storm trooper kissed the horse and petted it with it's little plastic hand.
And just to make Justin laugh this morning I will post a little inside joke. Henry's sitting next to me watching Elmo's world and Elmo's playing the drums. "No Elmo. Stop it."
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Circus...
If Justin feels like it he can go on here and post about all his ambivalence regarding whether we should or shouldn't go to the circus. But I will just write about how fun it was for Henry.
I say for Henry, because for mama, it was a very different story on account of this body of mine. First, we got there at 2:30 so that we'd have time to "meet the elephants" and then walk around on the floor and see the pre-show. It was 105 yesterday and it really wasn't that far of a walk (about 10 blocks) , but any walking for me in this heat feels pretty awful. It was like, yeah yeah, elephants, let's get inside...now.
The pre-show was a big hit. Henry saw clowns, people walking on stilts, acrobats, jugglers, a lady spinning from the ceiling by her hair, etc. There were colorfully uniformed men everywhere yelling circus-y things like, "Lemonade! Popcorn! Peanuts! Coooooooooton Candy!". I kind of got a little verklemt watching Henry react to all the sights and sounds. He was so wide eyed---he'd never seen anything like all those smells and colors and costumes and excitement.
(Henry and daddy are to the right. Justin has on an orange shirt and Henry in red.)
When we sat down he was on his dad's lap and squealing at the clown acting silly--falling down, hitting himself in the face. And then the show started and this parade of white horses and a chain of elephants and clowns on motorcycles and singing and dancing and dogs doing tricks and everywhere you looked on the floor there was something exciting happening. Henry had his fists in the air, bouncing them up and down to the music. He clapped, he laughed, he pointed, and I sneezed. The whole time. I sneezed for over 2 hours straight. I had to get up 3 times to get more napkins. I soaked through 15 napkins in all. My head felt like it was going to explode. I've had 5 very memorable allergy attacks in my life, the 5 that stand out as being the worst I've ever experienced. #1 when I was was 15 years old, in Austria at a horse show in an arena and I had to get up and leave and take the subway back to the hotel by myself. #2 When I was 16 on a school camping trip and went horseback riding with my friends. My face was almost unrecognizable afterwords. #3 The first time I ever spent the night at my in-laws (they have horses). #4 Horseback riding in Mexico. #5 The circus...yesterday...where they had lots and lots of horses.
I wanted to leave so badly and Justin felt very sorry for me but Henry was beside himself with glee. He was without a doubt in my mind having more fun than he's ever had in his 27 months. How could we possibly leave? At intermission we suggested leaving and he got very upset. I got up, got us some ice cream and popcorn and then resigned myself to another hour. Henry had been talking abut tigers since the minute we told him we were going to the circus, so when the tigers came out, it was a big moment. It was really something to see and when they were leaving the center floor Henry turned to us and said, "Let's go home". YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! Let's do that, son!
We were there 3 hours. I have no idea how he did it. He was just so fascinated by all those amazing feats that time for him did not exist, I guess. I'm so sad I could not enjoy it with him, but I do not regret going. It was wonderful to see him so happy.
I say for Henry, because for mama, it was a very different story on account of this body of mine. First, we got there at 2:30 so that we'd have time to "meet the elephants" and then walk around on the floor and see the pre-show. It was 105 yesterday and it really wasn't that far of a walk (about 10 blocks) , but any walking for me in this heat feels pretty awful. It was like, yeah yeah, elephants, let's get inside...now.
The pre-show was a big hit. Henry saw clowns, people walking on stilts, acrobats, jugglers, a lady spinning from the ceiling by her hair, etc. There were colorfully uniformed men everywhere yelling circus-y things like, "Lemonade! Popcorn! Peanuts! Coooooooooton Candy!". I kind of got a little verklemt watching Henry react to all the sights and sounds. He was so wide eyed---he'd never seen anything like all those smells and colors and costumes and excitement.
(Henry and daddy are to the right. Justin has on an orange shirt and Henry in red.)
When we sat down he was on his dad's lap and squealing at the clown acting silly--falling down, hitting himself in the face. And then the show started and this parade of white horses and a chain of elephants and clowns on motorcycles and singing and dancing and dogs doing tricks and everywhere you looked on the floor there was something exciting happening. Henry had his fists in the air, bouncing them up and down to the music. He clapped, he laughed, he pointed, and I sneezed. The whole time. I sneezed for over 2 hours straight. I had to get up 3 times to get more napkins. I soaked through 15 napkins in all. My head felt like it was going to explode. I've had 5 very memorable allergy attacks in my life, the 5 that stand out as being the worst I've ever experienced. #1 when I was was 15 years old, in Austria at a horse show in an arena and I had to get up and leave and take the subway back to the hotel by myself. #2 When I was 16 on a school camping trip and went horseback riding with my friends. My face was almost unrecognizable afterwords. #3 The first time I ever spent the night at my in-laws (they have horses). #4 Horseback riding in Mexico. #5 The circus...yesterday...where they had lots and lots of horses.
I wanted to leave so badly and Justin felt very sorry for me but Henry was beside himself with glee. He was without a doubt in my mind having more fun than he's ever had in his 27 months. How could we possibly leave? At intermission we suggested leaving and he got very upset. I got up, got us some ice cream and popcorn and then resigned myself to another hour. Henry had been talking abut tigers since the minute we told him we were going to the circus, so when the tigers came out, it was a big moment. It was really something to see and when they were leaving the center floor Henry turned to us and said, "Let's go home". YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! Let's do that, son!
We were there 3 hours. I have no idea how he did it. He was just so fascinated by all those amazing feats that time for him did not exist, I guess. I'm so sad I could not enjoy it with him, but I do not regret going. It was wonderful to see him so happy.
The Circus...
If Justin feels like it he can go on here and post about all his ambivalence regarding whether we should or shouldn't go to the circus. But I will just write about how fun it was for Henry.
I say for Henry, because for mama, it was a very different story on account of this body of mine. First, we got there at 2:30 so that we'd have time to "meet the elephants" and then walk around on the floor and see the pre-show. It was 105 yesterday and it really wasn't that far of a walk (about 10 blocks) , but any walking for me in this heat feels pretty awful. It was like, yeah yeah, elephants, let's get inside...now.
The pre-show was a big hit. Henry saw clowns, people walking on stilts, acrobats, jugglers, a lady spinning from the ceiling by her hair, etc. There were colorfully uniformed men everywhere yelling circus-y things like, "Lemonade! Popcorn! Peanuts! Coooooooooton Candy!". I kind of got a little verklemt watching Henry react to all the sights and sounds. He was so wide eyed---he'd never seen anything like all those smells and colors and costumes and excitement.
(Henry and daddy are to the right. Justin has on an orange shirt and Henry in red.)
When we sat down he was on his dad's lap and squealing at the clown acting silly--falling down, hitting himself in the face. And then the show started and this parade of white horses and a chain of elephants and clowns on motorcycles and singing and dancing and dogs doing tricks and everywhere you looked on the floor there was something exciting happening. Henry had his fists in the air, bouncing them up and down to the music. He clapped, he laughed, he pointed, and I sneezed. The whole time. I sneezed for over 2 hours straight. I had to get up 3 times to get more napkins. I soaked through 15 napkins in all. My head felt like it was going to explode. I've had 5 very memorable allergy attacks in my life, the 5 that stand out as being the worst I've ever experienced. #1 when I was was 15 years old, in Austria at a horse show in an arena and I had to get up and leave and take the subway back to the hotel by myself. #2 When I was 16 on a school camping trip and went horseback riding with my friends. My face was almost unrecognizable afterwords. #3 The first time I ever spent the night at my in-laws (they have horses). #4 Horseback riding in Mexico. #5 The circus...yesterday...where they had lots and lots of horses.
I wanted to leave so badly and Justin felt very sorry for me but Henry was beside himself with glee. He was without a doubt in my mind having more fun than he's ever had in his 27 months. How could we possibly leave? At intermission we suggested leaving and he got very upset. I got up, got us some ice cream and popcorn and then resigned myself to another hour. Henry had been talking abut tigers since the minute we told him we were going to the circus, so when the tigers came out, it was a big moment. It was really something to see and when they were leaving the center floor Henry turned to us and said, "Let's go home". YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! Let's do that, son!
We were there 3 hours. I have no idea how he did it. He was just so fascinated by all those amazing feats that time for him did not exist, I guess. I'm so sad I could not enjoy it with him, but I do not regret going. It was wonderful to see him so happy.
I say for Henry, because for mama, it was a very different story on account of this body of mine. First, we got there at 2:30 so that we'd have time to "meet the elephants" and then walk around on the floor and see the pre-show. It was 105 yesterday and it really wasn't that far of a walk (about 10 blocks) , but any walking for me in this heat feels pretty awful. It was like, yeah yeah, elephants, let's get inside...now.
The pre-show was a big hit. Henry saw clowns, people walking on stilts, acrobats, jugglers, a lady spinning from the ceiling by her hair, etc. There were colorfully uniformed men everywhere yelling circus-y things like, "Lemonade! Popcorn! Peanuts! Coooooooooton Candy!". I kind of got a little verklemt watching Henry react to all the sights and sounds. He was so wide eyed---he'd never seen anything like all those smells and colors and costumes and excitement.
(Henry and daddy are to the right. Justin has on an orange shirt and Henry in red.)
When we sat down he was on his dad's lap and squealing at the clown acting silly--falling down, hitting himself in the face. And then the show started and this parade of white horses and a chain of elephants and clowns on motorcycles and singing and dancing and dogs doing tricks and everywhere you looked on the floor there was something exciting happening. Henry had his fists in the air, bouncing them up and down to the music. He clapped, he laughed, he pointed, and I sneezed. The whole time. I sneezed for over 2 hours straight. I had to get up 3 times to get more napkins. I soaked through 15 napkins in all. My head felt like it was going to explode. I've had 5 very memorable allergy attacks in my life, the 5 that stand out as being the worst I've ever experienced. #1 when I was was 15 years old, in Austria at a horse show in an arena and I had to get up and leave and take the subway back to the hotel by myself. #2 When I was 16 on a school camping trip and went horseback riding with my friends. My face was almost unrecognizable afterwords. #3 The first time I ever spent the night at my in-laws (they have horses). #4 Horseback riding in Mexico. #5 The circus...yesterday...where they had lots and lots of horses.
I wanted to leave so badly and Justin felt very sorry for me but Henry was beside himself with glee. He was without a doubt in my mind having more fun than he's ever had in his 27 months. How could we possibly leave? At intermission we suggested leaving and he got very upset. I got up, got us some ice cream and popcorn and then resigned myself to another hour. Henry had been talking abut tigers since the minute we told him we were going to the circus, so when the tigers came out, it was a big moment. It was really something to see and when they were leaving the center floor Henry turned to us and said, "Let's go home". YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! Let's do that, son!
We were there 3 hours. I have no idea how he did it. He was just so fascinated by all those amazing feats that time for him did not exist, I guess. I'm so sad I could not enjoy it with him, but I do not regret going. It was wonderful to see him so happy.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
A Tuesday...
Today Henry and I went to the library to get new books. I usually check out 5 or 6 at a time and then we read them each, at least 2 or 3X's a day for several weeks before turning them back in. I am rarely sad to see them go so this is an exciting outing for both of us. On our way out Henry decided he wanted to sit on the bench outside and watch the delivery driver load books into the van in front of us. It was all very fascinating and then I started feeling some heavy duty kicking from Eleanor. I tried to shift around to get comfortable but she was really stretching her legs. I told Henry and he put his hand on my belly and about 2 seconds later she delivered a kick right into his hand. He immediately squealed with excitement, "Baby sister kicked me!". It was a moment.
We then went over to HEB and bought stuff to make cookies. Came home, had lunch with dad, jumped off the couch into some pillows a few thousand times and then we both went down for our nap. When we woke up around 2:00 we made the peanut butter cookies. Henry was very helpful, as always. He sat in my lap (what's left of it) on the rug, in front of the oven, so we could watch the cookies expand. Then we ate, drank some milk and went outside to endure day 60 of triple digit temperatures. We first painted the driveway, then a piece of wood, then the wagon. The we went for a ride in the wagon around the block. Then we watered the tree, the first time in my life I have ever done such a thing. It's probably a 50 year old tree but since it's only rained a few times this summer we have reason to worry. (As a side note, it has rained in Dallas and they are on average 8-10 degrees cooler than we are. Austin is really getting it bad this summer). Henry got soaking wet, daddy came home, we played monster trucks, made dinner, ate dinner, I left to go run a postpartum support group that no one shows up to (it's not my group, I'm just subbing so I don't take it personally) and then I came home and kissed the sweet little boy goodnight.
One comment about Henry's personality. He is not temperamental or very emotional and seems to take most things in stride, but damn is he bossy. He is constantly directing us--where to stand, what to do, how to do it. I don't usually mind but by this afternoon I felt like "Hey, wait a minute." I was sweeping the driveway and he wanted me to stop and sit down and paint and he was all, "Stop it mama, stop it. No sir!" Yes, he has started saying, "No sir!" to Kitty when he jumps on the table, and it makes us laugh like crazy but when I start getting it, hmmm...not so funny. Then later he was watering the garden and basically making mud puddles and not getting anywhere near the plants so I took the hose back from him and he said, "I want my dad" in this most pathetic way. He might as well have had a pouty lip. Justin says he does this when he gets his hair washed. He says, "I want my mom" in this horrible awful heart breaking way.
I was wondering lately where Henry gets all this bossiness from and sayings like "Stop it!" when we ourselves do not speak to him this way. And then it occurred to me. KITTY. Our conscientious parenting does not extend to the cat. He frequently is called a jerk (b/c he is one) and Kitty does not get his feelings identified, nor is his behavior positively reinforced, or redirected. He just gets ignored (by me), or "Damn it Kitty. Get off the table!" by all of us. But, you can not blame us. He still wakes Justin up at least 2 times a night to be fed--he's worse than a baby.
We're going to try out MyGym tomorrow. Hopefully it will be less bizarre than Gymboree.
We then went over to HEB and bought stuff to make cookies. Came home, had lunch with dad, jumped off the couch into some pillows a few thousand times and then we both went down for our nap. When we woke up around 2:00 we made the peanut butter cookies. Henry was very helpful, as always. He sat in my lap (what's left of it) on the rug, in front of the oven, so we could watch the cookies expand. Then we ate, drank some milk and went outside to endure day 60 of triple digit temperatures. We first painted the driveway, then a piece of wood, then the wagon. The we went for a ride in the wagon around the block. Then we watered the tree, the first time in my life I have ever done such a thing. It's probably a 50 year old tree but since it's only rained a few times this summer we have reason to worry. (As a side note, it has rained in Dallas and they are on average 8-10 degrees cooler than we are. Austin is really getting it bad this summer). Henry got soaking wet, daddy came home, we played monster trucks, made dinner, ate dinner, I left to go run a postpartum support group that no one shows up to (it's not my group, I'm just subbing so I don't take it personally) and then I came home and kissed the sweet little boy goodnight.
One comment about Henry's personality. He is not temperamental or very emotional and seems to take most things in stride, but damn is he bossy. He is constantly directing us--where to stand, what to do, how to do it. I don't usually mind but by this afternoon I felt like "Hey, wait a minute." I was sweeping the driveway and he wanted me to stop and sit down and paint and he was all, "Stop it mama, stop it. No sir!" Yes, he has started saying, "No sir!" to Kitty when he jumps on the table, and it makes us laugh like crazy but when I start getting it, hmmm...not so funny. Then later he was watering the garden and basically making mud puddles and not getting anywhere near the plants so I took the hose back from him and he said, "I want my dad" in this most pathetic way. He might as well have had a pouty lip. Justin says he does this when he gets his hair washed. He says, "I want my mom" in this horrible awful heart breaking way.
I was wondering lately where Henry gets all this bossiness from and sayings like "Stop it!" when we ourselves do not speak to him this way. And then it occurred to me. KITTY. Our conscientious parenting does not extend to the cat. He frequently is called a jerk (b/c he is one) and Kitty does not get his feelings identified, nor is his behavior positively reinforced, or redirected. He just gets ignored (by me), or "Damn it Kitty. Get off the table!" by all of us. But, you can not blame us. He still wakes Justin up at least 2 times a night to be fed--he's worse than a baby.
We're going to try out MyGym tomorrow. Hopefully it will be less bizarre than Gymboree.
A Tuesday...
Today Henry and I went to the library to get new books. I usually check out 5 or 6 at a time and then we read them each, at least 2 or 3X's a day for several weeks before turning them back in. I am rarely sad to see them go so this is an exciting outing for both of us. On our way out Henry decided he wanted to sit on the bench outside and watch the delivery driver load books into the van in front of us. It was all very fascinating and then I started feeling some heavy duty kicking from Eleanor. I tried to shift around to get comfortable but she was really stretching her legs. I told Henry and he put his hand on my belly and about 2 seconds later she delivered a kick right into his hand. He immediately squealed with excitement, "Baby sister kicked me!". It was a moment.
We then went over to HEB and bought stuff to make cookies. Came home, had lunch with dad, jumped off the couch into some pillows a few thousand times and then we both went down for our nap. When we woke up around 2:00 we made the peanut butter cookies. Henry was very helpful, as always. He sat in my lap (what's left of it) on the rug, in front of the oven, so we could watch the cookies expand. Then we ate, drank some milk and went outside to endure day 60 of triple digit temperatures. We first painted the driveway, then a piece of wood, then the wagon. The we went for a ride in the wagon around the block. Then we watered the tree, the first time in my life I have ever done such a thing. It's probably a 50 year old tree but since it's only rained a few times this summer we have reason to worry. (As a side note, it has rained in Dallas and they are on average 8-10 degrees cooler than we are. Austin is really getting it bad this summer). Henry got soaking wet, daddy came home, we played monster trucks, made dinner, ate dinner, I left to go run a postpartum support group that no one shows up to (it's not my group, I'm just subbing so I don't take it personally) and then I came home and kissed the sweet little boy goodnight.
One comment about Henry's personality. He is not temperamental or very emotional and seems to take most things in stride, but damn is he bossy. He is constantly directing us--where to stand, what to do, how to do it. I don't usually mind but by this afternoon I felt like "Hey, wait a minute." I was sweeping the driveway and he wanted me to stop and sit down and paint and he was all, "Stop it mama, stop it. No sir!" Yes, he has started saying, "No sir!" to Kitty when he jumps on the table, and it makes us laugh like crazy but when I start getting it, hmmm...not so funny. Then later he was watering the garden and basically making mud puddles and not getting anywhere near the plants so I took the hose back from him and he said, "I want my dad" in this most pathetic way. He might as well have had a pouty lip. Justin says he does this when he gets his hair washed. He says, "I want my mom" in this horrible awful heart breaking way.
I was wondering lately where Henry gets all this bossiness from and sayings like "Stop it!" when we ourselves do not speak to him this way. And then it occurred to me. KITTY. Our conscientious parenting does not extend to the cat. He frequently is called a jerk (b/c he is one) and Kitty does not get his feelings identified, nor is his behavior positively reinforced, or redirected. He just gets ignored (by me), or "Damn it Kitty. Get off the table!" by all of us. But, you can not blame us. He still wakes Justin up at least 2 times a night to be fed--he's worse than a baby.
We're going to try out MyGym tomorrow. Hopefully it will be less bizarre than Gymboree.
We then went over to HEB and bought stuff to make cookies. Came home, had lunch with dad, jumped off the couch into some pillows a few thousand times and then we both went down for our nap. When we woke up around 2:00 we made the peanut butter cookies. Henry was very helpful, as always. He sat in my lap (what's left of it) on the rug, in front of the oven, so we could watch the cookies expand. Then we ate, drank some milk and went outside to endure day 60 of triple digit temperatures. We first painted the driveway, then a piece of wood, then the wagon. The we went for a ride in the wagon around the block. Then we watered the tree, the first time in my life I have ever done such a thing. It's probably a 50 year old tree but since it's only rained a few times this summer we have reason to worry. (As a side note, it has rained in Dallas and they are on average 8-10 degrees cooler than we are. Austin is really getting it bad this summer). Henry got soaking wet, daddy came home, we played monster trucks, made dinner, ate dinner, I left to go run a postpartum support group that no one shows up to (it's not my group, I'm just subbing so I don't take it personally) and then I came home and kissed the sweet little boy goodnight.
One comment about Henry's personality. He is not temperamental or very emotional and seems to take most things in stride, but damn is he bossy. He is constantly directing us--where to stand, what to do, how to do it. I don't usually mind but by this afternoon I felt like "Hey, wait a minute." I was sweeping the driveway and he wanted me to stop and sit down and paint and he was all, "Stop it mama, stop it. No sir!" Yes, he has started saying, "No sir!" to Kitty when he jumps on the table, and it makes us laugh like crazy but when I start getting it, hmmm...not so funny. Then later he was watering the garden and basically making mud puddles and not getting anywhere near the plants so I took the hose back from him and he said, "I want my dad" in this most pathetic way. He might as well have had a pouty lip. Justin says he does this when he gets his hair washed. He says, "I want my mom" in this horrible awful heart breaking way.
I was wondering lately where Henry gets all this bossiness from and sayings like "Stop it!" when we ourselves do not speak to him this way. And then it occurred to me. KITTY. Our conscientious parenting does not extend to the cat. He frequently is called a jerk (b/c he is one) and Kitty does not get his feelings identified, nor is his behavior positively reinforced, or redirected. He just gets ignored (by me), or "Damn it Kitty. Get off the table!" by all of us. But, you can not blame us. He still wakes Justin up at least 2 times a night to be fed--he's worse than a baby.
We're going to try out MyGym tomorrow. Hopefully it will be less bizarre than Gymboree.
Friday, August 14, 2009
27 Months...
Time sure does fly. I am also 24 weeks pregnant today...not that that time has flown in this heat.
Henry has not been in school since Monday and last night it actually occurred to me that he is sick of me. He told me he missed Emiliano, his friend at school. Okay, so he is probably not quite sick of me, but he definitely misses being around other kids. So the story is that this past weekend some kids at Henry's school (not in his class) came down with H1N1 flu. We found out via email on Monday (so there were no kids at school on Monday who had it) but still, it scared us enough to pull him out. It's now Friday and there are no new cases and if he had contracted it last Friday, we'd know by now, and if he'd contracted it Monday, we'd know by now, so he definately does not have it. Now we will just make sure over the weekend that there are no new cases and then he can go back to school Monday (or maybe we'll wait till Wednesday just to be extra extra sure).
I have been staying with Henry all day T/Th (as is usual) and then MWF till 11:30 and then Justin takes over till I get home from work around 6:15. Luckily the State is generous with sick leave and Justin works with very understanding people.
So, besides our flu scare, everything else is great. Henry was on a 2-week eating spree that has appeared to end, as of yesterday. He only wanted to eat a tortilla for lunch yesterday. This morning he barely ate 3 bites of oatmeal which normally he finishes completely, along with milk and fruit. I suspect this will last a week as usual and then he'll be eating like a hyena again.
Sleep is still the same, 11-12 at night and 1 hr 40 min to 2 hrs for nap. Although yesterday I screwed up and kept him out too long and he fell asleep in the car on the way home from Zilker Park which always means a short nap. I don't understand why that always happens but I think it's because he wakes up from a sleep cycle and sees he's been moved from the car to his bed and that confuses him so much that he just wakes up instead of rolling over and going back to bed, like he normally would do. And so he was grumpy and easily irritated the whole rest of the day, which was not awesome. My friend Nina came over with her daughter who is exactly 1 year younger than Henry and he was not the best company.
Talking is fun. This morning he looked out the window and said, "I wonder where the possum is?" (We have a newborn possum under our house ---ech!). Then we played restaurant and the play food was all over the floor and he said, "Look at this mess!". We get a lot of requests to "Watch me, mommy", "See this mama?" and then he will do some death defying thing like roll on the floor and make an "ahhh" sound.
He really likes doing chores. He has his own spray bottle and we have a very clean front door. He puts the utensils away, he feeds the cats, and sometimes he gets jobs like transferring water from one pot to another pot, using a ladle, while daddy makes dinner.
Favorite books right now are the Frog and Toad series.
The most exciting event in the life of young Henry is garbage day. The workers honk now when they get to our house so that we can run outside and watch them. They wave, Henry waves and jumps and screams like he's seeing the Beatles and then I hear about it the rest of the day how they waved at him.
Henry has not been in school since Monday and last night it actually occurred to me that he is sick of me. He told me he missed Emiliano, his friend at school. Okay, so he is probably not quite sick of me, but he definitely misses being around other kids. So the story is that this past weekend some kids at Henry's school (not in his class) came down with H1N1 flu. We found out via email on Monday (so there were no kids at school on Monday who had it) but still, it scared us enough to pull him out. It's now Friday and there are no new cases and if he had contracted it last Friday, we'd know by now, and if he'd contracted it Monday, we'd know by now, so he definately does not have it. Now we will just make sure over the weekend that there are no new cases and then he can go back to school Monday (or maybe we'll wait till Wednesday just to be extra extra sure).
I have been staying with Henry all day T/Th (as is usual) and then MWF till 11:30 and then Justin takes over till I get home from work around 6:15. Luckily the State is generous with sick leave and Justin works with very understanding people.
So, besides our flu scare, everything else is great. Henry was on a 2-week eating spree that has appeared to end, as of yesterday. He only wanted to eat a tortilla for lunch yesterday. This morning he barely ate 3 bites of oatmeal which normally he finishes completely, along with milk and fruit. I suspect this will last a week as usual and then he'll be eating like a hyena again.
Sleep is still the same, 11-12 at night and 1 hr 40 min to 2 hrs for nap. Although yesterday I screwed up and kept him out too long and he fell asleep in the car on the way home from Zilker Park which always means a short nap. I don't understand why that always happens but I think it's because he wakes up from a sleep cycle and sees he's been moved from the car to his bed and that confuses him so much that he just wakes up instead of rolling over and going back to bed, like he normally would do. And so he was grumpy and easily irritated the whole rest of the day, which was not awesome. My friend Nina came over with her daughter who is exactly 1 year younger than Henry and he was not the best company.
Talking is fun. This morning he looked out the window and said, "I wonder where the possum is?" (We have a newborn possum under our house ---ech!). Then we played restaurant and the play food was all over the floor and he said, "Look at this mess!". We get a lot of requests to "Watch me, mommy", "See this mama?" and then he will do some death defying thing like roll on the floor and make an "ahhh" sound.
He really likes doing chores. He has his own spray bottle and we have a very clean front door. He puts the utensils away, he feeds the cats, and sometimes he gets jobs like transferring water from one pot to another pot, using a ladle, while daddy makes dinner.
Favorite books right now are the Frog and Toad series.
The most exciting event in the life of young Henry is garbage day. The workers honk now when they get to our house so that we can run outside and watch them. They wave, Henry waves and jumps and screams like he's seeing the Beatles and then I hear about it the rest of the day how they waved at him.
27 Months...
Time sure does fly. I am also 24 weeks pregnant today...not that that time has flown in this heat.
Henry has not been in school since Monday and last night it actually occurred to me that he is sick of me. He told me he missed Emiliano, his friend at school. Okay, so he is probably not quite sick of me, but he definitely misses being around other kids. So the story is that this past weekend some kids at Henry's school (not in his class) came down with H1N1 flu. We found out via email on Monday (so there were no kids at school on Monday who had it) but still, it scared us enough to pull him out. It's now Friday and there are no new cases and if he had contracted it last Friday, we'd know by now, and if he'd contracted it Monday, we'd know by now, so he definately does not have it. Now we will just make sure over the weekend that there are no new cases and then he can go back to school Monday (or maybe we'll wait till Wednesday just to be extra extra sure).
I have been staying with Henry all day T/Th (as is usual) and then MWF till 11:30 and then Justin takes over till I get home from work around 6:15. Luckily the State is generous with sick leave and Justin works with very understanding people.
So, besides our flu scare, everything else is great. Henry was on a 2-week eating spree that has appeared to end, as of yesterday. He only wanted to eat a tortilla for lunch yesterday. This morning he barely ate 3 bites of oatmeal which normally he finishes completely, along with milk and fruit. I suspect this will last a week as usual and then he'll be eating like a hyena again.
Sleep is still the same, 11-12 at night and 1 hr 40 min to 2 hrs for nap. Although yesterday I screwed up and kept him out too long and he fell asleep in the car on the way home from Zilker Park which always means a short nap. I don't understand why that always happens but I think it's because he wakes up from a sleep cycle and sees he's been moved from the car to his bed and that confuses him so much that he just wakes up instead of rolling over and going back to bed, like he normally would do. And so he was grumpy and easily irritated the whole rest of the day, which was not awesome. My friend Nina came over with her daughter who is exactly 1 year younger than Henry and he was not the best company.
Talking is fun. This morning he looked out the window and said, "I wonder where the possum is?" (We have a newborn possum under our house ---ech!). Then we played restaurant and the play food was all over the floor and he said, "Look at this mess!". We get a lot of requests to "Watch me, mommy", "See this mama?" and then he will do some death defying thing like roll on the floor and make an "ahhh" sound.
He really likes doing chores. He has his own spray bottle and we have a very clean front door. He puts the utensils away, he feeds the cats, and sometimes he gets jobs like transferring water from one pot to another pot, using a ladle, while daddy makes dinner.
Favorite books right now are the Frog and Toad series.
The most exciting event in the life of young Henry is garbage day. The workers honk now when they get to our house so that we can run outside and watch them. They wave, Henry waves and jumps and screams like he's seeing the Beatles and then I hear about it the rest of the day how they waved at him.
Henry has not been in school since Monday and last night it actually occurred to me that he is sick of me. He told me he missed Emiliano, his friend at school. Okay, so he is probably not quite sick of me, but he definitely misses being around other kids. So the story is that this past weekend some kids at Henry's school (not in his class) came down with H1N1 flu. We found out via email on Monday (so there were no kids at school on Monday who had it) but still, it scared us enough to pull him out. It's now Friday and there are no new cases and if he had contracted it last Friday, we'd know by now, and if he'd contracted it Monday, we'd know by now, so he definately does not have it. Now we will just make sure over the weekend that there are no new cases and then he can go back to school Monday (or maybe we'll wait till Wednesday just to be extra extra sure).
I have been staying with Henry all day T/Th (as is usual) and then MWF till 11:30 and then Justin takes over till I get home from work around 6:15. Luckily the State is generous with sick leave and Justin works with very understanding people.
So, besides our flu scare, everything else is great. Henry was on a 2-week eating spree that has appeared to end, as of yesterday. He only wanted to eat a tortilla for lunch yesterday. This morning he barely ate 3 bites of oatmeal which normally he finishes completely, along with milk and fruit. I suspect this will last a week as usual and then he'll be eating like a hyena again.
Sleep is still the same, 11-12 at night and 1 hr 40 min to 2 hrs for nap. Although yesterday I screwed up and kept him out too long and he fell asleep in the car on the way home from Zilker Park which always means a short nap. I don't understand why that always happens but I think it's because he wakes up from a sleep cycle and sees he's been moved from the car to his bed and that confuses him so much that he just wakes up instead of rolling over and going back to bed, like he normally would do. And so he was grumpy and easily irritated the whole rest of the day, which was not awesome. My friend Nina came over with her daughter who is exactly 1 year younger than Henry and he was not the best company.
Talking is fun. This morning he looked out the window and said, "I wonder where the possum is?" (We have a newborn possum under our house ---ech!). Then we played restaurant and the play food was all over the floor and he said, "Look at this mess!". We get a lot of requests to "Watch me, mommy", "See this mama?" and then he will do some death defying thing like roll on the floor and make an "ahhh" sound.
He really likes doing chores. He has his own spray bottle and we have a very clean front door. He puts the utensils away, he feeds the cats, and sometimes he gets jobs like transferring water from one pot to another pot, using a ladle, while daddy makes dinner.
Favorite books right now are the Frog and Toad series.
The most exciting event in the life of young Henry is garbage day. The workers honk now when they get to our house so that we can run outside and watch them. They wave, Henry waves and jumps and screams like he's seeing the Beatles and then I hear about it the rest of the day how they waved at him.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Went to Zilker Park this morning...
They clean the pool on Thursday mornings. The chairs in the background were packed about 2 min before I took this picture. I have no idea why, but Lee Leffingwell (our mayor) was talking. Henry clapped at all the right parts.
"I having fun on the train! Chugga Chugga choo-choo!"
"I so tired mommy."Went to Zilker Park this morning...
They clean the pool on Thursday mornings. The chairs in the background were packed about 2 min before I took this picture. I have no idea why, but Lee Leffingwell (our mayor) was talking. Henry clapped at all the right parts.
"I having fun on the train! Chugga Chugga choo-choo!"
"I so tired mommy."Just some pictures.....
He hates coloring with crayons. Only wants to use pens or markers. And he uses his right hand to write but left hand to swing a bat.
Always stealing our shoes. Check out the ramp in the background that daddy built.
It's just cute.Just some pictures.....
He hates coloring with crayons. Only wants to use pens or markers. And he uses his right hand to write but left hand to swing a bat.
Always stealing our shoes. Check out the ramp in the background that daddy built.
It's just cute.Saturday, August 8, 2009
Illinois Contd.
I figure while Justin is outside mowing the straw and Henry is watching the Biscuit Brothers, I might as well put up the remaining pictures of our trip to Illinois.
Henry and Gracie. He still asks about her.
The Children's Museum in Normal.
The playground where grandpa played when he was a boy.
I think Paxton IL is the Hydrangea capital of the world. Henry called these broccoli.
Henry and Gracie. He still asks about her.
The Children's Museum in Normal.
The playground where grandpa played when he was a boy.
I think Paxton IL is the Hydrangea capital of the world. Henry called these broccoli.
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