Everyday Blessings

Full moon fail.

2010-03-01T14:10:00.003-06:00

Umm... Stella, maybe you didn't get the memo. Last night was a full moon, and as previously discussed, now that we've officially reached full term, you have been cordially invited to your birthday party. Yet, you were a no-show; imagine my disappointment. I was totally ready nuzzle your sweet little head, kiss your perfect little nose, and count your ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes. I could still do those things today... today is good, too. No? How about tomorrow?

******** ******** ******** ******** ********

Okay, okay... so I know I haven't really earned any right to be this impatient or perturbed about Stella's impending arrival. I am just 37wks and 2 days still, and lots of women go as far as 42wks. I don't think my doctor would let me go that long, but just for reference's sake, that's how premature my anxiety really is.

Still, knowing that, I can't help but feel seriously, overly anxious, impatient, and perturbed that I'm still pregnant. I don't know if it's because my mommy instinct is telling me she'll be early, thus I'm sitting around expecting it to be today... or if it's because I'm so stinking uncomfortable that I don't know how much longer I can really go. I talked to a couple of moms this weekend who confirmed what I have experienced so far: second (and subsequent) pregnancies just get harder and harder on your body. I worked a full time, high-stress job during Henry's pregnancy, and I wasn't this run-down, sore, and uncomfortable all day every day in those last weeks.

I think I'm so expectant of her coming sooner, rather than later, that I've really built myself up and find it highly disappointing every morning I wake up still pregnant. In the grand scheme of things, I can find solace in knowing that most likely it will all be over no more than three weeks from now. Yet, I'm still borderline obsessing at this point about every change in my symptoms, and every cramp or contraction. The days between doctor appointments drag on, and then when an appointment finally comes, I go in hoping against hope that some progress will be evident. Tomorrow is my next appointment, and I'm not sure whether I'm looking forward to it or dreading it. I'm certain that I will be bummed if nothing has changed from last week, considering how many nights of uncomfortable contractions I've endured. Yes, childbirth is supposed to be painful... so I'm not simply complaining about it hurting. I'm just griping about how slowly things seem to be moving, and how inconceivable it is that this discomfort and pain isn't fruitful.

I went grocery shopping on Saturday and I actually wished my water would break as I waddled my way up and down the aisles. I'd sacrifice my dignity, at this point, to get things started. I'm beyond ready to meet my little girl, and am a little bit desperate for some relief.

1 cm closer!

2010-02-23T15:42:00.004-06:00

Had an OB appointment this morning and I have to say I went in feeling rather optimistic for some news that things were happening. If what I'm experiencing physically is any indication, and if you throw in my intuitive belief that Stella isn't planning to wait until her due date, I just knew there would be some sign of progression. I tried to prepare myself for zero progress at the same time, just so I wouldn't be obviously disappointed when she told me Stella was renewing her lease.

The report is that my blood pressure is excellent, my physical miseries are normal for second and subsequent pregnancies, and it doesn't look like her arrival is super imminent. I'm dilated to somewhere between a fingertip and 1cm with no notable effacement. On the one hand, it's a real bummer. On the other hand, I know 36wks is still really too soon, and no matter how miserable I am, I don't want her to come until she's really done baking. 37wks is when most of the medical community agrees a baby is full term, so if we can make it just one more week, then I'll be drawing up the eviction notice to vacate the premises effective immediately.

With such good blood pressure, it's looking an awful lot like I'm not going to be induced. We're still going to consider her size at the sonogram scheduled for next Friday, but even today she measured at more like one week ahead instead of two - maybe because she isn't so big after all. This all leads to the realization and excitement that this labor and delivery might be a lot different than my last. With Henry, the induction was planned, and since my body wasn't really ready, it was a long, hard labor. It appears Stella's arrival is a secret known only to God right now. The day, the time, how it feels to actually go into labor on my own, and the anticipation of waiting for it... all makes for some real excitement. I'm actually kind of looking forward to it, I think. Labor won't be fun, but I think, now that I've been there and done that, I'm at least more prepared for it. I can better appreciate what a miracle it really is, and that at the end of something difficult, there is a true gift from God to hold in my arms. What a blessing.

My next appointment will be Tuesday. Anything could happen between now and then, so stand by!

2-year molars and 2 week wait...

2010-02-17T09:00:00.003-06:00

I'm just going to jump in here as if I've not been MIA for four months... :)

Two weeks ago, my sweet little boy morphed into a tyrannical, moody little monster. He isn't sleeping well and his attitude just stinks. He gets so easily frustrated, and is super whiny-fussy about everything. It's been trying on my patience and has caused me to seriously reflect on my parenting and what I may have been doing wrong. I've seen other toddlers act this way, and I admit that I looked down my nose at those parents, thinking MY children would never behave that way. So, I've stood here dumbfounded at this sudden turn of events, wondering at which fork in the road I went astray.

In the midst of all that reflecting, I also applied some good old-fashioned problem solving. I had to do this a lot when Henry was an infant, unable to communicate when or why he wasn't sleeping or eating well. I noted that at around the same time his behavior changed, he developed a round of diarrhea and diaper rash. I noticed occasional rubbing or pulling at his ears, but with no fever. I noticed more frequent chewing on toys, fingers, or his shirt. Then it hit me - these are all his classic teething indicators. He's had all of his first year teeth for a handful of months now, so this could only mean he's cutting those dreaded 2-year molars. O' Happy Day.

I feel absolutely rotten for him. While he is acting rather rotten, I know it is because he isn't tolerating this misery very well. And, we're two weeks into this... with the possibility that we're not even close to the end. The cutting of these particular teeth can take days, weeks, or months, for some kids. He is still my darling, lovin' little boy, but he's hurting and just plain uncomfortable. I hate this. So, we'll keep up the ibuprofen as needed, and I'm offering him cold stuff to chew, like teething rings, a chilled wet washcloth, and crushed ice. And, we'll wait it out.

Meawhile, I am thrilled to update about our second baby. We're nearing the end - I'm almost 36 weeks pregnant now, and yes, I'm counting the days. Not long after my last blog entry, we learned that we are expecting a little girl. We've named her Stella Claire, and we are SO excited to meet her and have her in our arms. The pregnancy has really been uneventful - for which we are so thankful. I've been more uncomfortable this time than I remember being with Henry, but all the circumstances are different now. My blood pressure has been more manageable with this pregnancy - good news for all.

At my appointment last week, Dr. McMillion informed me that Stella was measuring 10-14 days ahead. Of course there is no exact science to that - she is basing it simply off of fundal height. However, it gives us reason to investigate. So, we scheduled an ultrasound for about two weeks from now at almost 38wks. We'll see just how big she is then, and though the doctor didn't say so explicitly, I think it was implied that we'll talk at that time about options, if we find she is in fact large. If she continues growing at this proportion, she'll be better than 8lbs at the sonogram, and could potentially be 9-10lbs by 40wks. Let's sing another chorus of O'Happy Day! I really hadn't been looking forward to another induction, but I'm also not too interested in birthing a sack of potatoes. So we wait for two more weeks and see where we stand. My instinct is telling me Stella isn't waiting for 40wks anyway. I think she's planning an early arrival, which is really alright by me.

Now, if I keep up some posting, I owe lots of pictures. Maybe I can make that happen.

No Way

2009-10-08T15:55:00.004-05:00

Well, after watching Henry's peers whisper, shout, shake, and squeal the word "no" at their parents, sometimes in jest and often in defiance, my day has come.

Henry has finally discovered the word "no."

As of today, I don't think he really knows how to use it. If I ask him a yes or no question, he doesn't respond verbally, either in negative or affirmative (though if he understands the context of what I'm asking, he does respond to that with appropriate action.) If I give a command, he hasn't thrown down that gauntlet. But, now, when I tell him "no, no, Henry" he likes to repeat me. Of course as he says it, he's still doing what I told him not to 99% of the time, but he's experimenting with the word. When we sing "This Little Light of Mine" and we get to the verse "Hide it under a bushel - NO!" he likes to say the "no," often with fervor.

I know it is only a short time before I'm arguing with my toddler. Lord, give me patience and good humor.

Wordless Wednesday: Fun With a Plastic Box

2009-10-07T08:52:00.005-05:00

(Be sure you click to enlarge this one.)

Let's have a Wordy Wednesday instead!

2009-09-30T16:48:00.003-05:00

At 15 months, Henry's vocabulary has almost doubled already in the past two months. And as I said in my last post about the words Henry is saying, there are TONS of words in his receptive vocabulary (those words that he understands when he hears them but isn't verbalizing.) I'm such a proud mama!

Here are the additional words I'm adding to the list now at 15 months. There are likely some I'm forgetting, but this list covers most of them.

Words Henry says regularly or when prompted:

paw-paw
tractor
bubble
"nana" (banana)
grandpa
"mop" (mama help - when he needs help)
"wa-wa" (water/agua)
"raffe" (giraffe)
knock-knock
outside
kitty
woof (dog sound)
chicken
eat
please
boom
bath
mouth
mouse
house
grass
"pass" (pacifier)
Henry
Bible
moon
"mmmmm" (whale sound" - pitching intonation)

Words Henry has said at least once but won't necessarily say when prompted:

lion
baby
tree
flower
block
green
red

Words Henry can sign:

please
eat
drink
chicken
thank you

Wordless Wednesday - Rise and Shine

2009-09-23T10:44:00.003-05:00

Henry is Fifteen Months

2009-09-21T18:57:00.005-05:00

You wanna come and read with me?

Stacking is my specialty.

Aren't you going to applaud?

Yeah, I know I'm that cute.

Henry turned 15mo old yesterday. It nearly came and went without our even realizing it. He amazes us every day. His sweet personality is more evident all the time, and he is just so bright. He picks up on things so quickly now, and has a slew of tricks to show off. He loves to gives hugs and kisses. He can easily entertain himself, but is also beginning to blossom socially. He and Amelia have play dates weekly, and Mandy and I have really noticed how they're actually interacting with one another instead of just parallel-playing. A couple of weeks ago, Henry followed Amelia around trying to talk her into playing with him. Last week, the kids were in rare form, running around the kitchen, hollering, and scattering toys everywhere. You can't buy this kind of entertainment!

We went today for his check-up and another round of vaccinations. He weighs 27lbs 4oz and is 32.5inches. I had her double-check his length because that was only 1/2in. gain from three months ago. I was just sure he had grown more than that, especially because I know he's had at least one good growth spurt since then. Maybe the measurement was wrong last time. Anyway, he is in the 75th percentile for weight and length, and is holding steady at better than 95th for head circumference. The kid is well-endowed in noggin. Dr. Miller said he is perfect in every way, and at or beyond all milestones and development for his age. She thinks he's going to be very intelligent and advanced, but she is particularly fond of Henry, so she can't help but say nice things about him. Of course, she might be right. ;)

If I could only share one new cute thing Henry is doing today, it would be his impersonation of Jimmy Johnson. Scratching your head? He was the long-time head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. How, might you ask, is a fifteen-month-old baby imitating an NFL football coach? Well, when Zac and I attended a recent game, we bought Henry a souvenir mini-football. When you drop or catch the ball, it plays one of three recorded soundbites. One is the old fight song from way back in the day. The other two are of Jimmy Johnson's most memorable quotes: "Touchdown, Cowboys!" and "How 'bout them Cowboys?!"

So, now Henry is trying to say, "How 'bout them Cowboys?!" It is SO cute!! *swoon*

Baby Update

2009-09-17T14:42:00.004-05:00

We had an appointment last Tuesday and as they say, no news is good news. The first appointment is typically exciting and informative (ultrasound, comprehensive physical and blood work, etc.) but the next two or three appointments can be, well, uneventful. We were in and out in under 30 minutes, and that includes waiting room time, and taking time to ask Dr. M several questions.

I had not expected to be, but I was vaccinated for the regular flu at this visit. Immunity takes about two weeks post inoculation, so within another few days I hope to be better prepared to face the flu season which is already rearing its ugly head here in Texas. Zac reported that prescriptions for tamiflu are already coming through the pharmacy - a sign that the flu bug is biting. I also plan to get the swine flu vax once it becomes available later in October. Pregnant women are in a special risk category for this illness, and I don't want to risk picking it up, thus endangering myself or my family.

Otherwise, the appointment consisted of the usual: tinkling in a cup, getting on the scale, checking my blood pressure, and answering basic questions by the doctor about how I'm feeling. The highlight: finding baby's heartbeat on doppler. The heart rate was 155bpm and I have to say it's about the most amazing thing to hear. In these earlier weeks, before feeling baby, it's so nice to have that confirmation of well-being. It also is just a marvel to ponder that this little life is growing in there without my really being aware of it, physically.

I'm still awaiting baby to make his/her presence known soon. I'll be 14 weeks this Saturday, and that's just a three week difference from when I first noticed Henry moving at 17 weeks. I look for flutters to start any day now.

We made our appointments for the next regular check up and our next ultrasound. We'll see the doctor again on October 6th and will get another look at baby on October 27th. Look for an exciting post shortly thereafter - we'll be announcing the impending arrival of our SON or DAUGHTER!! So excited!

I am feeling better overall, thankfully. Still get a nauseous episode, but no more all-day yuckies. Heartburn is still daily, but I don't expect that to get better before it gets much worse, and for now the meds are still controlling it fairly well. I spent the first trimester baffled at my energy level; when pregnant with Henry, I was SO wiped out for the first few months, but have really not felt that drain until just the past week or so. Strange timing, but it would have been stranger to have really escaped it altogether. When you consider that my body is literally manufacturing another human being, it's all too understandable that I'd be dragging a little. It helps when I get to bed at a decent time - still working on that.

That's all for now - stay tuned.

Photog Flunkie

2009-09-17T14:24:00.002-05:00

What is the number one quality in a really, really bad photographer?

Not taking pictures.

My camera has been neglected for the better part of a month now. That's so unlike me. When I peruse back through my file folders on my hard drive, I have historically taken upwards of 150 to 200 pictures a month. As Henry has gotten older, I have taken less, but is it really believable that over the past month Henry hasn't been picture-worthy? Doubtful. He is becoming more handsome every day and until it was brought to my attention that I've not been clicking enough, it hadn't occurred to me that I'm missing these daily memories of his sweet face.

I'm vowing to get back behind the camera more often. And, more pictures means more blog posts - it's a win-win!

Wordless Wednesday - Henry's Fort

2009-09-02T16:16:00.004-05:00

On his way out to scavenge...

...for provisions.

Okay, it was mostly wordless.

Eleven and a half weeks, and finally some relief.

2009-09-02T15:59:00.002-05:00

Do I dare say that I'm feeling better? If I do, am I risking the inevitable spike of nausea and indigestion that will mock and spite me? Is it possible that things are turning around this soon? I sure hope this is what it looks like. I'm still having a bad day here and there, but definitely more good days than bad. My biggest daily complaint is heartburn, but it isn't always presenting in its traditional form. Most days, I sport a nasty acidic taste in my mouth all day, which has resulted in raw gums due to profuse brushing. For about four or five days now I've had mild but annoying chest pain that I'm almost certain is just another version of heartburn. Tylenol does seem to remedy that, but it is back within the four hours of taking it. For now, I'm combating this foe with lots of Zantac and Tums, though the chalky aftertaste of the Tums is enough to make me gag most days. Sigh.

My next appointment is now under a week away. It will be mostly uneventful, but we will get to find baby on doppler. I'm looking forward to that little peace of mind. These long weeks between appointments in the early months, when it's too soon for physical confirmation of baby's wellness in the way of movement and kicks, make for some uneasiness. It'd be nice to have a window into the womb from time to time, just to check up on things. Good news is that I anticipate baby to make his/her presence known in the next few weeks. I felt Henry for the first time at seventeen weeks, and it's typical to feel movement earlier in subsequent pregnancies.

In so many ways, this pregnancy is just different. I was reading recently through my pregnancy journal for Henry and found that at 20 weeks I was still not really showing yet. I know it isn't all baby, but I already feel huge at 11 weeks this time. I can thank bloat and general tummy upset for that, I'm sure. I'm monitoring my weight here at home weekly, and as of last Saturday, I still hadn't gained from my last appointment - in fact, I was even down a pound and a half. Not sure how that's possible because my clothes are telling me I'm bigger. In fact, I'm pretty sure my denim shorts told me I'm a whale.

Where's baby?

2009-08-14T11:33:00.004-05:00

This morning, I was sitting in the desk chair while Henry was playing. He came up to me and stood between my legs, which I decided became a good opportunity to talk about baby. He's not yet 14 months, so I know his understanding is limited if anything, but maybe getting used to hearing the word will make the transition less shocking. Here is what transpired:

Mama: Henry, did you know there is a baby in here? [points to belly]

Henry: [touches belly where Mama points]

Mama: your little brother or sister is right in here! [again, pointing to belly]

Henry: [looks at Mama, then again at her belly]

Mama: Henry, where is the baby?

Henry: [lifts up Mama's shirt and proceeds to look for baby; doesn't see him/her, so grabs the top of Mama's stretchy pants and pulls down; still no baby]

Mama: [giggling hysterically]

Henry has a lift-the-flap book called Where is Baby's Belly Button? On every page is a picture of a baby with some part hidden behind or under something, i.e. baby's eyes under the hat. He loves this book. On the last page, it asks, "Where is baby?" Baby is hiding under a blanket, and when Henry lifts this flap, we make a big deal: "THERE he is!" He knew if he kept lifting or pulling things, he'd find that baby Mama was talking about. *grin*

A peek at baby!

2009-08-13T22:56:00.005-05:00

**I can't understand why this picture keeps uploading sideways, and I can't seem to fix it. So, forgive me for any strain incurred at the necessity of craning your neck in order to see it in it's intended orientation.**

Here is our first glimpse of the new baby. This was taken today at 8w5d. We had our first sonogram and OB appointment this morning. It was surreal to see the little "gummy bear" on the screen moving, his/her little heart just beating away (182bpm!). I think it's especially difficult to grasp this early, as it's too soon to know a baby is even there (except for all the nausea, heartburn, and digestive issues.) I was awe struck, and immediately felt humbled by God's miracle growing inside of me.

Henry went with us to the doctor's office. He elected not to take his nap beforehand, against my advisement and insistence (you can put a baby to bed but you can't make him sleep - you can quote me on that). I feared the worst, but of course he really is such a great baby and did really well considering. He wanted to run around, and so was squirmy when we were holding him, but he wasn't fussy or difficult. He even had to go longer than usual before lunch, and was such a trooper. I'm so proud of my little man. And, thankfully, he made up for his missed nap and took a nice long three hour siesta this afternoon. Rest time for Mama, too!

My OB says everything is measuring right on track and looks good so far. We're continuing with progesterone therapy for at least two more weeks. We'll do one more draw at that time and reassess. Meanwhile, I have another 4 weeks ahead of me before we get another status update. My next appointment is September 8. At that time I'll be almost 13 weeks and at the end of my first trimester. We won't see baby that day but we should be able to hear baby's heartbeat on the doppler. September 8th doesn't sound that far away, but I know the days will go slowly as long as I'm counting. And I will be counting. :)

My due date got bumped up a day to March 20 instead of 21. What I really think happened is that the doctor read the little dial correctly where the registrar didn't. I knew it was the 20th, but I didn't argue when I was originally told the 21st. What difference does one day make? This means I will be 9 weeks on Saturday. Woohoo!!

A new little pea in the pod!!

2009-08-12T15:48:00.004-05:00

Yep - we're expecting again! If you hadn't guessed - or already heard - the "life changing event" I mentioned in a previous post is referring to learning of a new pregnancy. The newest little House will make his/her debut in March of 2010, God willing.

And, if you recall, that post mentioned how this life changing event has really consumed me over the past month. That couldn't be further from the truth. Between not feeling well most of the day and spending what little time I have online reading up on my pregnancy and baby info (like I don't still have it all memorized from being pregnant just a short time ago), I've completely neglected my blogs. I truly want to use this blog to sort of chronicle or journal about this pregnancy, so I need to step it up. I'm already 8 weeks in!

To answer some of the questions you might have...

* yes, we were trying; no, we really didn't expect it to happen so fast
* Henry and the baby will be 21 months apart if baby goes full term
* we don't have any gut feelings about what this baby is; Daddy thinks maybe girl but is mostly just basing that on how different this pregnancy is so far physically
* we will be over the moon about either boy or girl - can think of really good reasons to want either
* my first appointment is tomorrow, Aug. 13; we're having a sonogram also
* we've found that I am progesterone deficient again this time, so I'm taking supplements again
* we haven't really talked names yet; I doubt we will until we know the sex
* we should be able to know the sex sometime in late October

So far, I'm finding that I am having a hard time physically. This pregnancy is just different from my last. I'd say the prevailing symptom of early pregnancy last time was fatigue and mild heartburn (which progressed to violent heartburn as the months went on). I did experience some nausea, but I don't remember it being this miserable. I do also have heartburn - the last couple of days being really noticeable - but the most misery-inducing symptom for me this time is all-day nausea.

I am not typically a person who vomits. Very few times ever in my memory, with the worst case being a stomach flu in college. No matter how sick I feel, I never throw up, so I never get even a moment's relief. I'm not necessarily wishing I were vomiting, but I can't help but think I might feel better after doing so, even for a few minutes. It makes food taste funny, and makes my appetite and appeal for foods very volatile. Some days I'm hungry, others I'm not. Some days I can eat anything, but most days very little sounds good enough to eat. It hits really hard in late afternoon and evening, making it hard to cook supper a lot of nights. There have been several frozen pizza meals because it's all I can stomach. The icing on the cake is constant bloat/gas/general upset in the digestive system. Is it September yet???

Despite all this, we are very excited and very happy to be adding to our family. Stay tuned for updates!!

What does Henry say?

2009-08-07T15:14:00.002-05:00

At 13 and a half months, everything about Henry is growing; including his vocabulary. I recently made a list of all the words he is saying, has said in at least one isolated incident, and those he is signing. There's several more words that he understands but isn't verbalizing yet. I may amend these lists as I keep thinking of more words to add.

Words Henry says regularly or when prompted:
mama
dada
light
book
uh-oh
duck
moo (cow sound)
ba-ah-ah (sheep sound)
ooh-ooh-ahh-ahh (monkey sound)
oodle-doo (rooster sound)
night-night
ball
ear
eye
blue
bird
hat
amen
bye-bye

Words Henry has said at least once, but won't necessarily say when prompted:
paw-paw
tractor
green
red
nana (banana)
bubble

Words Henry can sign:
bye-bye
all done
more
milk

Bumps and bruises: with walking comes falling!

2009-07-27T16:49:00.003-05:00

Henry's been walking for about six weeks now and is getting better at it every day. It's amazed me how quickly he's gone from one or two tumbling steps to a scamper across the room. He's not running yet, but is getting close to that.

Of course, with walking comes falling. Over the past few weeks, Henry has had more falls, bumps, and bruises than in his entire life. He is definitely more steady on his feet than when he started, but he does not have the coordination to watch where he steps. He is looking up, not down, and trips easily over his toys and even furniture. And, from time to time he still just loses his balance or footing and comes toppling down. He's a tough boy and usually gets right back up. A number of his boo-boos showed up as a surprise to me because he never cried or complained after a tumble, even if he earned a bruise to show for it. There have been a time or two, though, where he falls hard, and needs us to kiss away the boo-boo. One even resulted in a big nasty black eye!

Henry with Uncle Mike - check out that shiner!

In the spirit of making every opportunity a learning experience, I'm working on teaching Henry a new word: "ouch." I am using these falls and resulting boo-boos to help him learn what it means when something hurts. I think it's an important concept because it can help me to communicate to him better if he's about to do something that will result in injury - to himself or others. If he's pulling a playmate's hair, I can say, "no, Henry, that's ouchy." If he's about to climb up on something unsteady, or touch something hot, I can warn him with a "Henry - no! Ouch!"

For a young toddler, a simple word-concept is a lot easier to teach and use than a more complicated one. It is also easier at this age to have an universal warning I can use in any potentially dangerous situation rather than attempting to show a 13-month old every possible place in the home they could get hurt. Chances are, they still won't understand even if you try. Once Henry understands "ouch" he'll be able to apply that idea to any situation - ones we're prepared for, and those we're not.

The Death of the Little Yellow Race Car

2009-07-27T16:27:00.010-05:00

Let's have a moment of silence for the little yellow race car.

Yes, I'm afraid it's true. Henry's most beloved toy - which also makes it one of my proudest yard-sale treasures ever - has been laid to rest. You want the scoop? It's a tale of dirty little secrets that I am going to confess to you today. I'm ready to blow this story out of the water.

Last Thursday afternoon, I got Henry up from his nap, changed a massive dirty diaper, and fed him a snack. A completely innocuous and entirely routine chain of events. Or so I thought.

We'd been fighting a case of diaper rash that was threatening to get really nasty. Protocol is a temporary change in diet, lots of diaper cream, and plenty of time roaming around the house sans diaper. A naked hiney is a happy hiney. So, after his snack, I removed his diaper. It was standard operation.

We played for a few minutes in the playroom when the dryer buzzer blared, alerting me to change loads. I picked Henry up to come with me but he protested - LOUDLY - wanting to stay to play with his toys. I decided to let him stay for the five minutes it would take me to switch loads and fold clothes. I was aware of the risk that he might have a potty accident, but tee-tee is pretty easy to clean up, and he had just had a major poopy diaper not long before. The risk that there was even enough poop in him at that point to make any kind of mess seemed minimal.

That is where I was wrong.

I returned as quickly as possible - I estimate four and half or five minutes. That was all the time it took. Upon entering the room, I saw a poop trail four feet in length, clumps and streaks, leading to under our computer desk. I found him there under the desk, covered in poop, with a poop-smeared toy in each hand. The look on his face was bewilderment. I could see the thought-bubble above his head: "Mama - this chocolate icing tastes funny." *gag*

I flew over and picked him up, first trying to hold him out from me but quickly realizing it was of no use. It was already all over me, and he was now reaching and grabbing ahold of my hair and shirt. *gag* I carried him through the house to the bathroom laughing out loud because, well - what else could I do??

I deposited him in the bathtub, running the shower first to hose the poop off of him, then drawing a bath. We scrubbed in shallow water for a few minutes, drained then ran another bath for an extra rinse. When I had him dried and DIAPERED again, I headed for the playroom to assess the damage once again. I was feeling frantic because it was now almost time when I would expect Zac home, and I was now behind in getting supper ready. We had a church event that evening, and I was feeling stressed to get it all done in time.

I made it as far as the kitchen when I heard him. Zac had come home a little early, and was in the playroom. I stopped dead in my tracks. He said, "I see what happened." I told him I was in the process of cleaning up and that he could tend to Henry or he could clean up the playroom. I was 100% sure he'd come get Henry but to my surprise and delight, he opted to clean the playroom. What a prince!!! I got supper going and found my nerves again.

So, that's the poop story.

Wait - what about the little yellow race car, you ask?

Well, you remember that I said he had a poop-smeared toy in each hand? One of them was the little yellow race car. It was in baaaaaad shape. I began the tedious job of cleaning it after we returned from church that night. I worked on it for about twenty minutes before I decided it was a lost cause. There was poop in the wheel wells. Henry had taken it "muddin" in the trail of poop. When I announced I was going to throw it away, Zac came to take a look at it and attempted to take it completely apart. We couldn't get behind the wheels no matter how we tried. Maybe immersing in hot water, but then it likely wouldn't work after that anyway. We sadly bid it farewell. Henry lay sleeping in his bed, none the wiser. I hated the idea of his favorite toy being gone forever.

Well, that's how the end of the little yellow race car came about.

What - you want a happy ending?? Okay, I think I may have one for you:

I had gone to bed early that night, and when Zac finally turned in, he told me that he had searched and found another race car online, ordered it, and even paid the extra few dollars for expedited shipping! See, didn't I tell you? He's a PRINCE!!! Daddy saved the day! You'll notice it isn't exactly the same, but the original had been a yard sale find and probably a few years old.

This is the closest we could find. It arrived today, and the smile on Henry's face when Daddy opened the box was as big as Texas. He carried it around the house, putting it on things like couches, bookshelves, and chairs just like he used to. It made our hearts swell. That kid sure is something special - poop and all.

An unscheduled hiatus...

2009-07-27T16:05:00.005-05:00

Well, well, well. Too bad the author of this blog has been too busy to bother informing any of her devoted readers (choke) why she's been M.I.A. or when she planned to return. Hmm! The nerve!

I'm truly sorry. A sort of life-changing thing has occurred and I'm almost ready to share with you all. I've been away from both of my blogs for the better part of two weeks now to a) keep myself from spilling the beans prematurely and b) because this life-changing thing has just kind of consumed me.

I have about three posts I'm crafting in my mind and am needing to get down in writing soon because between these posts and the life-changing-thing there isn't any more room in the limited capacity of my brain for simple things like breathing. I apologize in advance for the onslaught of information and updates to come.

I hate that I've missed my regular posts like my devotionals, Fertilizer Friday (on my other blog) and Make Your Home Sing Monday. And Henry's been busy so I have lots to report about him as well. I'm so behind and can't wait to get back in the swing of things. Oh, and this life-changing thing will certainly have its place here too. *wink*

Stand by for news.

Making Your Home Sing Monday

2009-07-13T15:28:00.004-05:00

As promised last week, I've embarked in a study of Proverbs 31 in the hopes of refining my role as a wife, mother, and maker of my home according to God. I will make an installment of this study every week as a part of Nan's Monday meme, Making Your Home Sing at Momstheword. Be sure you link to her fabulous blog to read what she and other ladies are doing to bless their homes.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,
so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
-- Proverbs 31:11-12 (KJV)

Trust is an integral part of any marriage. How firm in the foundation of a relationship where trust is lacking? As I studied these verses, I began looking for the ways my husband trusts in me. What confidences does he have in me? In what ways is he counting on me? Am I giving him reason to trust in me?

I am 100% faithful to my husband and I do not give him reason to think otherwise. I do not talk to or spend time alone with other men without my husband's knowledge. This doesn't mean I am no longer allowed to speak to the male friends I had before my marriage - but rather that if and when I am in contact with them (which is limited anyway) I am sure to always tell my husband that I have spoken with them. I don't consider this to be the relinquishment of any rights - I do it out of respect to my husband and to our marriage. I expect the same of him. I believe the open dialogue adds to the trust we share. If there were secretive relationships - even of a strictly platonic nature - it would sure indicate a lack of trust between us.

My husband is working hard so that I can stay at home. This doesn't mean I don't have a job, as stay-at-home moms know. It just means my job has changed. It's a 24/7 gig with no vacation or sick days. Please don't consider this a complaint - I am so blessed to be in this position. There are days I need to be reminded that I have such a special job. My husband should be able to have confidence in my ability to do this job. He should feel confident that I'll prepare and serve meals every day, that I'll keep the house clean, that his work clothes will be washed when he needs them, and that our son is cared for, is learning, and is getting quality time every day. There should be no doubt that I'm raising our child(ren) according to our mutual beliefs and values. He should be able to trust that I'm spending our money in the ways we've agreed.

My husband deserves to know and be assured that I am not talking negatively behind his back, and that I am honoring him by presenting myself appropriately at all times. If I were to behave erratically, irresponsibly, or inappropriately, it would reflect poorly on him as well as on our church. My husband deserves my respect and I need to practice self-control to keep my anger and frustration at bay. I'll confess - this one is an area I really need to focus on! I need to be in prayer daily to ask God to help me keep my emotions in check. The Proverbs 31 wife will look for ways to lift up her husband - not put him down. She'll do thoughtful things for him; she'll consider him in all her decisions; she'll make him feel special, and acknowledge the things he does for her and the family. Whoa - there's a LOT I need to work on!

This week, I'll consciously work at being this Proverbs 31 wife to my husband. I hope to break bad habits and make better ones. He deserves it, and I know by modeling myself after this woman that God has laid before me in His Word, I'll be honoring Him - and He will bless us.

Daily Devotional

2009-07-13T10:35:00.003-05:00

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah,
and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you,
Be not afriad nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude;
for the battle is not yours, but God's. -- 2 Chronicals 20:15 (KJV)

I'm familiar with feeling overwhelmed. I have had several jobs in my past that can lead to one experiencing this feeling, such as waiting tables, fighting a deadline for a publication, and being responsible for up to 22 young children - and their educational goals - at a time. It tempts me to want to shut down and back away from the stressful situation, but I'm not often afforded that option. The food gets cold, the deadline will be missed, or a child could slip through the cracks.

As a full time mommy now, I still have things to get stressed about. Laundry and other chores that get put off and then pile up; getting to appointments on time with a fussy toddler in tow; keeping up with a budget, etc. If I allow it, I could probably drum up stress in any situation - I seem to be a magnet for it.

Is this healthy for my family? Is it healthy for me? Should I bear the burden of stress so often that it hurts my spirit? NO! Would the visible stress on my face give a false testimony about my very satisfying and happy life? Would it possibly hurt my testimony about having faith in God? Could it even get in the way of my relationship with God? YES!

In the verse, we are reminded that no matter how daunting the task, we shouldn't be dismayed. In all things, we should lean on and look to God for strength and for the strategy to get through the "battle." Like any of our worries, we are told to lay them at His feet - He will get us through.

My Little Helper

2009-07-11T09:44:00.004-05:00

Henry has reached a very clingy, very needy phase. Though I do love the extra snuggles I get out of it, it makes it challenging to get much done around the house. He won't let me work on many of my chores because essentially it means I'm not giving him 100% of my attention - of which he is very deserving, but results in a messier house and a frazzled mama. I won't be too torn up when he decides a little independence is a good thing again.

When in the kitchen, I have two lower cabinets with pull out drawers full of tupperware and other plastics that are kid-safe and fun to explore. Sometimes I can convince him to sit and play in these drawers long enough for me to wash a few dishes, prepare a meal, or put away groceries. Most of the time though he would rather follow me around the narrow galley-style kitchen, clinging to the back of my legs. ;)

I decided I might as well put him to work!

Isn't he the cutest little dishwasher you ever saw??

Daily Devotional

2009-07-07T14:54:00.005-05:00

Say not thou, I will recompense evil;
but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
-- Proverbs 20:22 KJV

**In my devotional book, this verse was taken a little out of context I think, so I'm going to go two directions here: one way discussing the verse as the devotional took it, and secondly the way I believe it is intended within the context of this chapter in the Bible. They both speak of patience, but in very different ways.**

The devotional story talked about a scenario at a grocery store where a customer grew impatient with a slow-moving line and proceeded to make several hateful comments and complaints aloud. The author of this story struck my heart when she wrote that "impatience reveals a selfish and mean spirit while showing patience is really a simple act of kindness." What a basic and common sense concept! How often I too have felt impatient about a delayed expectation, sometimes even being transparent enough that others around me would notice my frustration. In the moment, you feel a little bit justified and satisfied to express these feelings so that whomever you're waiting on might move a little faster to suit you. I hope I can remember that keeping my impatience to myself - or better yet, not submitting to my human-nature at all - would be a simple show of kindness and a reflection of my Godly spirit that would honor Him and give Him glory.

I'm so glad that God is eternally patient. He NEVER tires of our shenanigans or our disobedience to the point that he'd walk away and give up on our salvation. He knows how sinful and wicked we are in our human-nature, and yet he pursues us and desires us to come to Him for redemption. He offers His gift of eternal life with no strings attached beyond a child-like faith in Christ, and with no take-backs. What a patient and loving God!

In the 20th chapter of Proverbs, Solomon gives warnings and instructions to God's people. In verse 22, I believe he issues warning to not look to oneself for salvation but to wait on God. We are all tarnished and imperfect, and only in God can we be made whole and clean. We shouldn't look for ways to justify our sins; when we repent from these sins, we will be redeemed by God's mercy. Salvation does not lie within ourselves or our own power - despite what "the world" would have you believe with all it's new-age and free-thinking movements. Wait and look to the Lord for redemption - "he shall save thee."

Making Your Home Sing Monday

2009-07-06T11:13:00.003-05:00

Have you stopped by MomstheWord today??

I am a work-in-progress when it comes to being a Proverbs 31 wife and mother. That is to say, it takes a lot of work, and there hasn't been much progress. :) I am starting a series of 'Making Your Home Sing Mondays' based on this "virtuous woman... for her price is far above rubies." (Proverbs 31:10 KJV)

I know that God loves me unconditionally, and that though I have not in any way deserved it, I have been given the gift of His forgiveness. That alone is treasure enough and the only real gift anyone needs. And though I know that becoming this woman won't make Him love me more, knowing that it would enable me to show love more abundantly to my family is also a gift.

For this week, I'll just start by saying that I am committing to studying the ways of this woman, and making my heart more malleable that I could become more like her. This will be a personal study, but the fruits of it will certainly be reaped by my husband, my son, and my home. By seeking God's wisdom and example for me in His Word, I will be a better wife, mother, and homemaker.

My Little Mozart

2009-07-05T16:05:00.003-05:00

When you're in the 97th percentile for height, mama shouldn't be surprised to hear you playing from the other room. If anything, she should be surprised at how fast you got there. *wink*

Daily Devotional

2009-07-02T14:07:00.005-05:00

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
the Lord hath made even both of them.
--Proverbs 20:12 KJV

And what would He have us to do with them? Should we use our eyes for lust or looking upon wicked things? Should we use our ears for spreading hurtful gossip or for listening to filth?

So, what WOULD He have us to do with our eyes and ears? We can use our ears to listen when others are hurting. We can use our eyes to look for lost people, or for opportunities to help one another. We can use both eyes and ears to learn from the Bible and from our brothers and sisters in Christ who will share their wisdom with us. Our eyes should look for God's unconditional love that we may follow His example. Our ears should be open so that we can discern good from evil, righteousness from wickedness.

Bling for my Blog

2009-07-02T12:31:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to take a short moment to thank my friend and fellow blogger, Mandy, for giving my blog a little face-lift. If you'll notice, the labels in my side bar are new. She custom-designed these for me. She has a real flair for creative and unique digital handiwork. She has just started selling her designs at her Etsy shop where she's offering a grand opening sale. Her blog is listed in my blogroll, but you can also click here - go on over and check out her beautiful blog!

Daily Devotional

2009-07-01T10:39:00.008-05:00

I'm going through a book of short-n-sweet daily devotionals for women. It occurred to me to share them here so they may bless someone besides myself.

Who, when he came,
and had seen the grace of God,
was glad, and exhorted them all,
that with purpose of heart
they would cleave unto the Lord. --Acts 11:23, KJV

This verse talks of Barnabus' reaction to the witness of the establishment of the church at Antioch. His heart was joy and Spirit-filled, and he desired that more would be added unto the Lord. He could see the happiness and peace among these young Christians, and he wanted more people to experience this peace and joy. I think, as a Christian, it is simple to understand this desire. When we delight in the Lord and His rich abundance in our lives, it isn't hard to want others to share in our joy and to know the same kind of peace in their own lives. Today I want to strive to allow God to show me ways I can spread a little love and joy to those around me.

Birthday Party Fun

2009-06-29T15:48:00.005-05:00

This past Saturday we hosted our closest family members at our home to celebrate Henry's first birthday. It was a small event (though in a home the size of ours, it felt much bigger) but it was a cherished time to share with those who love our little man so much.

Henry made out like a bandit - he got so many great new toys, books, outfits, and so many sweet birthday wishes. He didn't seem too shy amid the room full of ooh-ers and aah-ers and flashing cameras that would rival that of a red-carpet premiere. We enjoyed a causal supper of fresh deli sandwiches along with chicken salad, fruit salad, chips, and a variety of chocolate and white cupcakes.

After everyone had eaten, we gathered around Henry to watch him eat his own chocolate cupcake. As you'll recall from last week's post, he had his first taste of chocolate on his actual birthday, so by this time he was a professional, and I'd say his smash-cake skills had been finely honed. His mess was bigger, better, and more chocolate-covered. My little piggy ate every last bite of his cupcake... except for the tablespoons of icing that were smeared around his mouth.

I am so thankful to all our lovely family who came, to those who couldn't be with us, and to God for the miracle we have in Henry that it would bring us all together to celebrate. Follow us for another year of everyday blessings.

"Making Your Home Sing" Monday

2009-06-29T14:32:00.003-05:00

Over at Momstheword, Nan encourages us to make our homes sing every Monday. I love this meme and am (formally) participating for the first time this week. I actually found Nan's blog through my gardening blog circle, but I think this fits more appropriately here at Everyday Blessings. While I think every day is an opportunity to bless my family, I hope to make it a habit to share what I'm doing each week. I think this will also encourage me to make a more conscious effort in my every task to "make my home sing."

Since having my son and becoming a SAHM, our family has cut down considerably on eating out. This means more sit-down, traditional family mealtimes, and is exactly what I want my children to grow up knowing as a staple of family life. I will be the first to admit that my domestic talents do not include cooking, but I'm doing it anyway, and I hope in time I will have found a collection of recipes my family and I like that I can prepare without incident.

Part of this responsibility includes planning my meals for the upcoming week and the cooresponding shopping list. I live almost 20 miles from the grocery store, so I don't frequently just "run out" to pick something up. It isn't economical to be unprepared. That isn't to say I don't end up back in town again later in the week, at which time I can pick up additional needed things, but generally, I try to make it a weekly trip.

I sit down with a printed calendar each week and fill in the main course I'll serve for every day. I have kept previous months calendars and sometimes use those for ideas, but I also reference cook books, magazines and occasionally the web for new recipes to try. I generally do this on Monday or sometimes Tuesday mornings. Tuesday is grocery shopping day. I compile my list to cover every day up to the following Tuesday. It's nice to have this predictability in my life, but I am one of those OCD types.

I try to make it a goal to find at least one new recipe to try each week. Some weeks it doesn't happen, and other weeks the new recipe is a flop (or I'm the flop... either way it isn't edible.) I'm also making a real effort to prepare meals that are more nutritious than what we'd typically eaten in our previous lifestyle. With little eyes watching and little minds absorbing everything we say and do, I want to set examples for healthy habits.

I'm relatively new to blog land - does anyone know of any good nutritious, kid-friendly (because my dear husband is as picky as my dear son) foody or meal planning blogs out there? I don't have access to a lot of exotic or rare ingredients (and we likely wouldn't eat them anyway) so simple is better. I'd love to expand my repertoire.

Thanks, Nan, for helping me to remember to bless my family. Go check her out and share about how you are blessing your family today!

Happy Birthday Henry!!!

2009-06-20T09:25:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to you,
happy birthday to you,
happy birthday, Dear Henry,
happy birthday to you!!!

My baby is ONE today! I've spent much of the past 24 hours remembering the hours and moments leading up to the birth of my son, and I just really can't believe it's been a whole year since that day. It was life-changing, to say the least - but this is the life I would choose if I had to do it again. Being his mama, spending every day with him, learning about him and watching him learn, seeing first smiles, giggles, rolls, steps and discoveries. It's been a gift and a blessing straight from God, and for that I'm thankful.

We're just doing a small celebration here today - his birthday party will be next Saturday. I made him a chocolate cake - his first chocolate experience! - and he'll have a small gift or two to open.

I can't wait to see how this next year continues to bless us, but I can't help but wish it would slow down a little, so I can savor his baby days a little longer.

Milestone: First Steps

2009-06-17T08:39:00.003-05:00

Milestone Alert! On Monday, Henry took his first steps. It was right after lunchtime, and I was on the floor with him playing with toys. I helped him stand up and as soon as he was on his feet he took about three or four steps toward me. I don't even think he realized he was doing it.

We've known he was close. The day before, Daddy watched him take one step. He's been walking all over the place with his push-walker and while holding our hands. Over the past week or two he's been increasing the length of time he could stand after letting go of whatever was supporting him. It's been coming, but I still think it surprised us when he actually did it. I called Daddy immediately to tell him, and when he got home he got to watch Henry take a few steps as well. That evening we practiced some more, and again yesterday. Last night he walked several times back and forth between Daddy and me. He seems to enjoy it - or at least the praise and cheering we give him when he does it. I'm such a proud mama!!

It's just one more reminder that my baby isn't really a baby anymore at all. His first birthday is just three days away. *tear*

Photo Update: Tooth

2009-06-08T10:04:00.003-05:00

Here, if you make a funny squinty face, you can see the lower left lateral incisor I posted about last week. The new top tooth has been harder to see, let alone photograph, but if I get a good shot of it, I'll add it here too. And, no, that's not war paint - it's squash! :)

Henry Meets Stryker

2009-06-02T14:26:00.005-05:00

I'm a member of an online forum for moms and I really love it. Within this forum is a group of moms whose babies were all born at about the same time as Henry. This 'playroom' as we call it has been a fantastic resource when a new mom (that's me) has had umpteen random questions that sure enough other moms are also asking that BTDT (been there, done that) moms can answer.

Here's a small-world phenomenon for you: this forum is full of women from all over the world, and there are several others just like it. The town I live in is quite small and rural. Yet, another of the moms whose little boy - his name is Stryker - was born just three weeks after Henry is from my small town. Two women from the same speck on the map found each other in this massive online forum! She and her husband actually now live in Washington state (military), but recently she was down here visiting her family and we decided to have lunch. Here are a few pictures of our lunch. We didn't plan for them to be dressed alike, but how cute that they were! Of course, too bad Henry couldn't look happy about it or anything. ;)

After our lunch, Stryker and his mama had some errands to run, so we parted ways. I had already planned to go to the park and put Henry in a swing, so here are a few park pictures as well. He loved swinging and going down the slide with Mama. :)

Plural:Teeth

2009-06-01T16:05:00.002-05:00

STOP THE PRESSES!

I just got Henry up from his nap, and while on the changing table, in good light, I discovered he has also just cut his LOWER left lateral incisor as well. I have no idea when this one cut... sometime in the past week because I know I checked there last week. I totally missed it since I was watching the top so closely.

So, now the count is up to six!

Another Tooth!

2009-06-01T14:02:00.003-05:00

Just got the report from the Tooth Fairy. She has bestowed Henry with his fifth tooth as of yesterday or this morning. It is his top left lateral incisor. I have been watching for it as he's displayed all [his] classic signs: disrupted night time sleep for the past several nights, looser and more frequent stools (oh yeah - someday he'll thank me for sharing that with you all), and grabbing at his ears for several days. I really think it must have cut within the last 24 hours because though I could see the swollen spot in his gums about two days ago, a swipe through his mouth yesterday still did not turn up any hard enamel. Today, though, it's official - the new little pearly white is there in all its glory. Bless his heart... I hope this means we'll all resume sleeping again... except that while admiring his new addition, I think I noticed slight swelling where his top RIGHT lateral incisor will appear. ;)

A Ride in Paw-Paw's Tractor

2009-05-29T10:24:00.004-05:00

Memorial Day we had lunch at the in-laws. Food and company were excellent, and the weather was even nice. Paw-Paw, a farmer, had been out working that morning, and came in shortly before lunch time. After we ate, he wanted to take Henry out for a ride in his big John Deere tractor. Paw-Paw, Daddy and Henry took a short tour of Highland in the big rig. Daddy said Henry kept a pretty good grip on him, but was absolutely fascinated with all he saw and heard. I think I know what that face looks like. ;)

Big Boy Car Seat!

2009-05-28T11:25:00.004-05:00

Henry's got a new ride.

Almost two weeks ago, we purchased a new big boy car seat. After researching different models, and learning more about car-seat safety in the process, we decided on an Evenflo Triumph Advanced. It's the Premier edition, and is a beautiful seat that looks great in my car... not that aesthetics was anywhere near the top of the list of priorities when making our decision. But, it's a nice touch.

The Triumph Advance, known in car-seat circles as the EFTA, comes highly touted as the most highly rated, comfortable, and safe convertible car seat in it's price range. There are certainly seats available for far more and far less money, and ratings follow respectively. If money were no object, Henry would have a Britax, but I have been assured that there is no "perfect" seat, and all must pass the same minimum safety standards, so I feel very confident that our choice was what was best for us.

We based our decision on a number of factors, including ratings, ease of installation and use, size, weight/height limits, price, and comfort. I want Henry to remain rear-facing (RF) until at least 18 months (hoping really for 24) and the RF weight limit on the EFTA is 35lbs - this meets the AAP recommendation. I also want Henry to be harnessed to the maximum weight limit of the seat, and for the EFTA that will be 50lbs. This isn't the highest limit available, but higher than most. When Henry outgrows this seat, we'll move him to a booster which will go to 100lbs, although I believe we'll be out of the seat before then, especially because he is such a big boy.

So far we love the seat! I was concerned that he wasn't reclined enough to be comfortable, but Daddy easily fixed that with a rolled up towel, per instructions in the owner's manual. It's plush and roomy, and he can really kick his feet up!

Okay, here's my schpeel: the current law in Texas states that children must ride rear-facing until they are 20lbs and 1 year old. That is really a bare minimum that the state requires, but most seat manufacturers, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends leaving children rear-facing to the maximum weight/height allowances of the individual car seat, or 35lbs and 2 years old. There are lots of families who even practice extended rear-facing well into toddler-hood.

Here is a link for a video that convinced me we weren't going to forward-face Henry at one year. There is simply no good justification for turning him yet, especially when the safety benefits of leaving him rear-facing are so great. I hope you'll watch it and consider passing this information along. This is an article discussing the pros and cons of extended rear-facing. For more great car seat information, visit this site.

As for our family's decision, for now, we're going to reevaluate at 18 months. I would be very comfortable extending to the full 24 months recommended by the AAP, but 18 months is our compromise. ;)

Swimming... or not.

2009-05-27T08:00:00.006-05:00

Months ago I found a kiddie inflatable swimming pool on clearance at Wal-Mart for just $5. I put it away, along with a pair of swimming trunks, long awaiting summer days when I imagined Henry splashing and squealing away in it. Well, those days are here - or so I thought.

I decided one day recently that it would be time to give it a try. Henry loves his baths, so I was just sure he'd be equally enamored with the swimming pool because he also loves being outdoors. I invited M and A to join us, and soon we had both babies suited and slathered with sunscreen.

First, there was the fiasco of getting the derned thing inflated. I quickly realized just blowing air into it myself would never work - not if we wanted the kids to swim sometime that week. M and I were contemplating firing up the air compressor (which we neither one knew how to do) when I remembered we have a manual pump for our air mattress. I dug it out from the closet, and in under five minutes, the pool was ready to go.

Perhaps we should have known... the babies were already a little short with us during all the pumping and prepping. Just getting the pool outside to it's spot and keeping it there despite a considerable breeze that threatened to blow it away was a challenge. Meanwhile, I was trying to bring water out to the pool 2 quarts at a time using a tea jug so that the water would be warmer than if we had used the water hose. And all this time, M is juggling both babies who have by now proceeded to express their impatience and intolerance for our bumbling around. So... it wasn't going quite like I had imagined. ;)

Finally, we had both babies in the mostly still empty pool, and as I continued to bring water out in a series of trips, the struggle became keeping the babies, particularly A, in the pool. M was of course on baby round-up detail, and I was back and forth between house and pool, bringing out cameras and toys with each trip. A began to fuss again with frustration at being corralled, and that was all it took to set off Henry too. Next thing I knew, both babies were crying and I hadn't even gotten the pool filled! I was torn between continuing to bring water, in the hopes that as it filled, the pool would be more fun and we'd still be able to salvage our efforts... and staying with Henry to help calm him down, which I knew would be futile anyway. He was clearly not a fan of swimming.

So, with both crying - sometimes wailing - babies in the pool, M and I did the only thing we could. We took pictures. [insert maniacal laughing]

After archiving the disaster, we swiftly got both babies wrapped in towels and back in the house to be dried and changed. The crying continued. I think exhaustion had set in by this time, and I knew Henry wouldn't have real peace until he had a nap. I did get a couple of red-eyed smiles after he was in his dry clothes again and playing with some toys.

I'm fairly sure my child isn't American - he doesn't like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or swimming.

Picture Perfect Picnic

2009-05-21T15:37:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine had her baby yesterday, so Henry and I set off this morning to visit her and her newest bundle of joy. We arrived at the hospital and met Daddy, and then the three of us headed to the maternity wing and visited for a bit. I had packed Henry and myself a lunch, expecting to maybe eat with Daddy after our visit. To our surprise, Daddy's boss offered for us to take our lunch "to go" so we headed to the city park and found a beautiful, quiet spot to enjoy our lunch on what is certainly one of the last pleasant days of spring in Texas this year. It's approaching the end of May, so 100 degree days are in our near future.

I hadn't planned for an outdoor lunch, but I just so happened to have a large blanket in the back of my car, so we spread out beneath a tree and shared a yummy lunch as a family. It is one of those blessings that demands my immediate gratitude to God for allowing me to be a stay at home mom, able to stop everything I'm doing to spend time with my family. These moments, especially now when Henry is our only child and still so young, won't last long. I cherish them and praise the Lord for blessing me far beyond my worth.

Eleven Months!

2009-05-21T15:02:00.005-05:00

No. No way. It can't be true. My Little Man simply cannot be eleven months old - a mere 4 weeks from the end of his first year. He is literally growing right before my eyes, making it a risk to even blink so as not to miss a single moment.

Yes, yes... I am among the ranks of the world's worst bloggers. I haven't been faithful to our followers in reporting the "daily blessings" Henry brings to us. He is mobile and into everything. He's fine-tuned his crawl for speed and agility, able to zoom across a room in the time it takes me to turn around. In fact, I can bet that if I turn around, I'll have to look for him - because he won't be where I left him. He is also working on two-legged mobility. He loves to hold on to our hands and walk, and can do so for considerable distances. His balance is still off, but he sure wants to be on the move just like the rest of us - on our feet. He loves to cruise around the furniture, and is just starting to experiment with letting go. He only stands a moment or two hands-free, but I know where this is headed, and I'm afraid it'll be here only too soon. I predict he'll be walking, or just nearly walking, by his first birthday. (Okay now, Henry - get busy proving Mama wrong!)

Here are his eleven month pictures. I love to take a "scroll" down memory lane by looking at the progression of the past year on the sidebar of this blog. Be sure you do too!

Where, oh where has my baby boy gone? Clearly, he's not a baby anymore. *tear*

Photo Update: Easter

2009-05-01T11:07:00.004-05:00

Daddy had to work Easter this year, so Henry and I made the trip to church without him. Our church always has an Easter egg hunt for the kiddos, but it was really soppy and wet outside as it had rained a good bit the day or so before. I decided that since this would be the year he wouldn't throw a fit about missing it, we'd skip it and opt to stay warm and dry instead. I do think he would have had fun watching all the big kids though. Doesn't he look handsome?? :)

Photo Update: Diaper Bag Diving

2009-05-01T10:49:00.003-05:00

Henry climbed Mt. Mommy for some diving - diaper bag diving! (Forgive the blurriness of the action shot...)After diving, he "helped" me unpack his bag - in other words, he dragged everything out of it. ;)

Photo Update: Playdate

2009-05-01T10:13:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I'm waaaaaay behind, and I have several photos I want to share, so I'll just dump them into a few picture posts. I guess it's too much to ask for me to keep up these days!

Up first is a playdate with M and A we had the Saturday before Easter. Henry and A played together and I slipped out to run to a consignment shop hoping to find a white polo for Henry's Easter ensemble. It was a fun visit!

Ten Months!

2009-04-21T15:32:00.006-05:00

I just can't believe it! My baby is ten months old! It's so hard to believe (or accept!) that my little man is so nearly approaching his first birthday. It's hard not to be in love with him as he is now - he's handsome, charming, and full of joy at life's simplest pleasures - like, say, an empty soda bottle! But while I am trying to enjoy him today, I can't help but long for him to be little(r) again. To have one more whiff of brand-new baby smell; to see his first smile; to have silent conversations as we stared at one another; to take a nap with him; to relish a time when he'd fall asleep in my arms... these are just some of my favorite memories from the past ten months.

Here, finally, are some pictures. These are his official ten month pictures, but I have several others I'd like to share. I'll try to spread them out over a few posts - maybe that will encourage me to write more often! Also, I went back and added video of him crawling in this post - be sure to check it out!!

Milestone: Crawling!

2009-04-15T13:32:00.004-05:00

Milestone Alert! I'm behind, as is usual these days, but I wanted to make the official announcement: Henry is crawling! I don't think I even know an exact date - the transition from an almost-crawl to a real crawl was not obvious, and I think he didn't have it down consistently for several days, until about the middle or end of last week. Even now, his crawl isn't a graceful one; his Daddy calls it a half-crawl, half-bear-crawl. More or less, he moves his right knee, but uses his left foot instead of his knee. It's a crippled-looking crawl, but it seems to be working for him. He can already get around faster than I can believe. The days of disgruntled frustration are over - you can tell he is happy as a clam to motor around the room as he pleases.

Check out this video - and please, ignore my commentary... I wish I would remember how goofy I sound when I'm recording and just keep my mouth shut! It has a little crawling, a little waving, and a little "no" in it! **** Technical difficulties - please check back soon for video!****

The run-around...

2009-04-11T10:44:00.003-05:00

The past couple of days have been busy. Henry and I have been out more than we've been home it seems, but I do kind of like being out and about. It breaks up our routine a little, but he's at a good age and seems to be resilient enough to handle it well.

I had a dog as a kid who loved a ride in the car. She wanted to be in your lap, and would be snout-to-the-glass until you rolled down the window so she could let her ears flap in the wind. Bliss. Henry is no exception (minus the snout and ears). I really think he enjoys rides in the car. Like most babies, he does sleep in the car, though not immediately. He will spend the first thirty minutes of the trip looking left and right out the windows. Our newest vehicle sits up a little higher than our previous car, and I think he really likes the view. He's generally a really observant baby.

More Chompers!

2009-04-08T19:30:00.003-05:00

Sometime in the last 24 hours, Henry's top right central incisor came through. It looks like its neighbor to the left is also just days away from making its debut. This makes a total of three teeth that have officially come in (with the fourth on its way.) It's been interesting waiting for these top teeth. We've been expecting them since early March when the pediatrician noticed they were close. Unlike the bottom central incisors, which broke through in January at nearly exactly the same time, you could really see these top teeth coming. As time got closer, the gums thinned, revealing the large teeth just beneath the surface. I had noticed this before the pediatrician confirmed, and I couldn't believe those were actually his teeth - they were so big!

I'm almost scared to mention it, because it would be my luck that as soon as I say it, he'll never sleep again, but for the past week or so, we've really been sleeping well around here, at least at night. Two nights ago, though, we had a rough one - he woke near 3am and we were up and down with him until around 6am. Then, last night, good again - I'm wondering if the bad night had anything to do with this new tooth. It at least helps me make sense of a random bad night when I'd just begun to have hope that I might someday enjoy uninterrupted sleep again on a regular basis. ;)

Milestone: Waving Bye-Bye (or Hello!)

2009-04-06T15:44:00.004-05:00

Milestone Alert! Yesterday, for the first time, Henry waved to us. This is the first really meaningful gesture he's used to communicate with us, other than smiles and putting out his arms to be picked up. We were having lunch after church yesterday at Grammy and PawPaw's house. After he did it the first time, we all broke out in cheer - a reaction I think he liked. He repeated, and so did the applause... I pointed out that we ought to wave back instead - clapping and cooing isn't a normal response to a wave. ;)

This is a skill I've been modeling and teaching for the longest time it seems, but developmentally he just wasn't ready yet. Or, is it possible that he's understood all this time and has just not responded? Who knows! We didn't get pictures of it yet, but I'll post when we do.

I should also take this opportunity to apologize for my absence. I really hope to get back in the blogging habit this week, maybe now that life isn't feeling so hectic. I spent the last week or so preparing for a yard sale, and it managed to take up most of the free time I would have otherwise spent online. Be assured, you haven't missed much. He is still working really hard on crawling, but just isn't there yet. He might crawl a step or two, but I don't think it counts. When it's official, you'll all be the first to know!

Mischievous Monday

2009-03-23T13:28:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to share some pics I took just before his afternoon nap today. He was busy being impish and mischievous - two of his specialties. A couple of these shots show him getting ever closer to being officially mobile, so be on the look-out for another milestone report soon. In the meantime, I'll be busy baby-proofing the house!

"Eh, what's up, Doc?"

I just think he looks more like a toddler than a baby in this one. *tear*

"If I can just get my rear end to cooperate with my front end, I'll be on the move!"

Milestone: Pulling Up

2009-03-22T10:00:00.005-05:00

Milestone Alert! Over the past couple of days, Henry has been working on something new. I've not posted this sooner because I didn't want to jump the gun, but now I think it's official - he's pulling up.

About two days ago, I was playing with him in the family room. I sat on the sofa, opposite him on the floor. He was flat on his bottom, facing me. I put my hands at the edge of the couch, and gestured for him to grab and hold them. When he did, he started pulling himself up. His feet slid under the bottom of the sofa, so he wasn't coming all the way up to a straight and tall stand, but he went up as far as he could go. He did this a handful of times, and when he was up, I repositioned his feet to steady him, and then encouraged him to take steps alongside the couch to reach a toy or my hand. He's not ready for that yet, but I predict he will be soon.

Yesterday morning, when we first went in to get him, he was up on one knee in his bed, having pulled up on the rails. Throughout the day yesterday, we practiced the pulling up on my hands exercise without the couch. I sat on the floor opposite him, and he pulled up, his feet sliding until they reach my lap. He got up to a better stand this way, without his feet being trapped beneath the sofa.

This morning, during a marathon nap resistance, I walked in to redirect him back to trying to go to sleep and found him standing straight up in his bed holding on to the rails. He had been fussing some, and when I came in, he smiled a triumphant beaming smile - I think he wanted to show off! He's got so many new tricks, he hasn't got time for napping!

He is not quite graceful about it yet, and other than his bed, he's not shown any interest yet in using furniture to pull up, but I expect he'll be trying that next. I'll try to get some pictures when he does!

Nine Months

2009-03-20T13:16:00.004-05:00

Henry is nine months old today. He's been here longer now than he was in my womb. That is astounding and yet sobering for me because it means he is growing just so much faster than I can stand. We have a well-baby visit coming up next week where we'll get weight and length stats, but we did make a doctor's visit early this week for an ear infection, and he weighed in at 24.5lbs. He has almost tripled his birth weight. I am anxious to know his length (or can we call it height yet?) too, but not so much that I'm going to try to figure it out on my own before his appointment. I'm going to guess as much as 30 inches - he was almost 28 at six months.

My blog is young - I so wish I had started the first time I thought about doing this - so it hasn't recorded each of his milestones as he's hit them over the past nine months, so I'll do my best to list the big ones.

*He blessed us with first smiles at around 6 weeks.
*He started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks, then regressed at 11 weeks and hasn't consistently done it since. YAWN.....
*He could hold up his head for periods of time without support at around 8 weeks.
*He started to imitate some letter sounds at 3 months.
*He stopped night feedings between 3 and 4 months.
*He could roll from back to belly at 3.5 months.
*He could bear weight on his legs at 4 months.
*He could sit assisted at about 4 months.
*He started rice cereal at 4 months.
*He could roll both ways by 4 months, but only did so rarely.
*He could sit unassisted at 5 months for periods of time - unlimited by 6 months.
*He weaned from the swaddle at 6 months.
*He found his feet at 6 months. :)
*He was a babbler by 6 months.
*He was eating pureed veggies and fruits by 6 months.
*He started saying "mama" and "dada" at around 7 months.
*He started finger foods at 7.5 months, but is still very picky about them.
*He could put in his paci at 7 .5 months.
*He cut his first two teeth at 7.5 months.
*He started rolling for fun and mobility just before 8 months.
*He started showing readiness to start crawling at 8.5 months - pushing up on hands, scooting back end, pushing up on toes, and occasionally getting both front and rear ends off the ground at the same time...
*He could hold his own bottle at 8.5 months.
*He could sit up from a laying position just before 9 months.

I take pictures of him each month on his "month-day", and they're posted over in the sidebar - be sure to check them out and see how he's grown. Here's a few more I took this morning:

Milestone: From tummy to sitting position!

2009-03-16T13:17:00.004-05:00

Milestone Alert! Today marks the first official time we've caught him moving from a tummy to sitting position unassisted. I first saw him do it in his crib this morning, but for whatever reason, he seems more mobile in his bed (or on any bed) than on the flat floor, so I assumed he had that advantage and wouldn't yet be able to do it from the floor. Then, at lunch time today, Henry and Daddy were playing with his choo-choo train. He had turned it over to dump the little balls out of it, and rolled to his tummy to attempt to go after them. When he gave up, he used the train to support himself while he pushed up to a sitting position. Still, I gave credit to the train as his support, and doubted he would quite be able to do without it. And then, after Daddy went back to work, he did it twice by himself, with nothing to support himself. My big boy!!! Keep it tuned here for more updates on Henry's milestones!

Playing catch-up...

2009-03-16T10:00:00.004-05:00

I haven't blogged in about 5 days - that may be a record for me in my brief blogging lifetime. I guess I have occupied myself otherwise, though, because I can't remember any time when I sat around with nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs.

I'll start playing catch-up with a report about a dinner meeting with family. Last Sunday evening (a week ago) Henry, Daddy and I traveled about an hour to what is about the half-way point between our home and my Dad's. We met at a favorite restaurant to partake of fried chicken and chicken-fried steak, served family-style with all you can eat side dishes. I'm certain I ate all I could. ;)

We met my Dad (Grandpa) and my brother (Uncle Mike), as well as Debbie and her daughter Paige. Though this eating establishment boasts line-dancing waitresses, Henry was entertainment enough. He was passed around, charming any who noticed him - including everyone at our table and many of the patrons at neighboring tables.

Debbie, Grandpa, and Henry

Paige and Henry

Uncle Mike and Henry

Ugh, I think we're sick again!

2009-03-11T10:39:00.004-05:00

Another bad night, another tired day. Only last night, as I was up and down with him, I knew at least one thing keeping him from resting was that he didn't feel well. His nose was runny and he had begun coughing a little. He wasn't feverish, but I gave him some ibuprofen anyway because I always assume teething could be the culprit of restlessness too. If there was any discomfort, my hope was that it would take care of it.

This morning, it is obvious he is sick again. My unofficial mommy's-instinct diagnosis is a cold. So far I don't think we're dealing with the nasty RSV virus we had in January/February. He has no fever, and his coughing is still shallow. His nose is running far and away though, so I've gotten the booger-sucker (aka nasal aspirator or bulb syringe) after him repeatedly, which he just loooooves. ;)

Meanwhile, I also went on a Lysol rampage, spraying and wiping down every surface, door knob and handle, and all of his toys are soaking or washing as I type. *sigh* I thought stinkin' cold and flu season was behind us finally. Please keep us in your prayers for a quick recovery!

Tired Tuesday

2009-03-10T14:42:00.003-05:00

Nothing extraordinarily interesting to report today, but I couldn't stand not to anyway. Henry and I (and Daddy too, for that matter) are all tired today as a result of a 2am rendezvous. Here's how it went down:

7:20ish - Bed time. He hasn't seemed to catch on to the time change yet, and both of the past two nights he's been wound up just as I lay him down. He acts tired and cranky at the usual time, and at the usual point in our bedtime routine, and even as he drinks his bottle just before bed he nods off, doing the warm-comfy-contented-eye-roll. Then, when I go to lay him down, it's as if he notices that it is still daylight outside and therefore I, Mama, must be confused about what time it is and what we ought to be doing. An hour later, after several trips back into his room to retrieve him from the other end of the bed and off of his tummy, he's finally asleep - now that it's dark.

12:30ish - Midnight fussing. He just kind of whines and whimpers off and on. I go in to check on him even though I know he's mostly asleep. I watch from the corner of his room, hidden, and when he settles, I go back to bed.

1:15ish - Fussing, part 2. More of the same. I wait a bit, until it gets louder and more dramatic, then I go back in to check and watch. When he settles, I leave.

1:30ish - I had only climbed back into bed when it started again. This time, I can tell he is awake. I was waiting for this because I knew he had a dirty diaper, but I wasn't going to dare wake him to change it. I go in, perform the world's fastest diaper change in the dark, and put him back in bed. Now, I would have to contend with an alert baby in the middle of the night, but it couldn't really be helped. I went to get some ibuprofen in response to the whining and whimpering from before the diaper change. I put some water in a bottle and offered it to him from the side of the crib, to make sure he wasn't thirsty. I dug for several minutes until I found the blessed paci, and plugged it in. At least now I knew all his needs were met, and it would just be a waiting game until he went back to sleep. It was now after 2am.

I waited to save myself another exorcism from my warm bed, and when I thought enough time had passed, I laid back down. I could hear movement and settling over the monitor, but not another peep. Of course it took me many passing minutes to finally succumb to sleep again too.

6:30ish - He's fussing again. This isn't an unusual wake-up time for him, except that he lost better than 2 hours of sleep throughout the night, including at bed time, and for all he knows, it's still 5:30am because it's still pitch dark outside. I am not ready to get up at this point, so I make a futile attempt to buy myself another 30 minutes of rest. I go in to hunt for the paci again, and promptly plug it in.

7:20ish - Surprisingly, this is the next time I heard anything. He mercifully went back to sleep for another 40 minutes! And Daddy let me take my time getting out of bed while he started getting the bottle and breakfast ready.

We're dragging a little today, but we're making it. Tuesday is town day, when I do my weekly grocery shopping and errands, if any. He is usually such a good little shopper, but today his tiredness was more than he could handle. He was a bit fussy and irritable, but not so much that many an elderly passerby didn't stop to comment on what a beautiful (and well-fed) baby he is. We came home for lunch and a nap, and when he gets up in a bit we'll be on the go again, this time to the park for a walk, if it isn't raining.

Blog Make-over

2009-03-09T21:13:00.003-05:00

No need to adjust your monitor - I've just made some cosmetic changes to my blog. A mommy friend of mine made a beautiful header for me, so I needed to change templates so it would fit better. Thanks to Sara for helping me out! Hope you all like it!

Photogenic Monday

2009-03-09T14:02:00.008-05:00

For your viewing pleasure, and because I can't go 24 hours without snapping a picture of this kid, I'm just sharing some of my favorite shots from the past couple of days:

I bought this outfit before he was born. The size is 12 months, but as you can see, at nearly 9 months, he's already filled it out. But, I still love it, and thankfully we've had some warm days recently allowing him to wear it before it's entirely outgrown.

Here, he was just rolling around, being all kinds of charming and cute. Below, we took the liberty to snap a few pictures in someone's beautiful yard near a restaurant we visited this weekend.

Self-feeding - when did he grow up?

2009-03-07T09:39:00.004-06:00

We've been working with Henry over the past week or so to transition to more finger-foods. It's hit and miss so far. He has always been such a good eater - as evidenced by his robust size - but we're finding with this new challenge, he's resisting foods for the first time.

I started him first on these little puffs made by Gerber designed for baby's first finger-foods. They come in a variety of flavors, but so far he seems to shun all but the banana flavor. We actually started these a few weeks ago, but it was the litmus test for me because I was so worried about the possibility of him choking. These puffs are tiny and melt almost immediately as they go in his mouth, so they were the training wheels we both needed to convince me he was ready to try something more adventurous.

This last week, I've introduced diced pieces of some of his favorite foods, as well as a new food or two. The game is on: Henry vs. Mama and the Big-Boy Foods. After several innings, we're not a lot closer to him being a designated eater, but it's okay because I'm not 100% sure I'm ready for such grown-upness anyway.

Let's look at the loss column:
*He just said no to diced cooked carrots, diced green beans, diced peaches, and diced pears.
*He actually gagged (and threw up) on small curd cottage cheese.
*He seems to have regressed a little on his puffs, with less than 50% accuracy in his aim to get them in his mouth.

And, a look at the win column:
*If I mash up the peaches a little, he might not spit them all out and manages to swallow a tad bit.
*If I mix his cottage cheese in with his sweet potatoes or peas, I can trick him into eating some of it.
*If I leave the green beans on his tray long enough, he'll eventually start playing with them and inadvertently a sliver or two end up in his mouth. And sometimes, he doesn't spit it back out.
*He loves baby yogurt, one of the new foods we've tried this week.
*If I take advantage of his hunger by withholding his bottle until I've first offered the foreign foods, he's a little more likely to sample. And sometimes, he doesn't spit it back out.

That's a final score of 5 to 3, so we'll say we're winning, but it's gonna be a long season. And, on a side note, since starting to offer solids before the bottle, I've experimented with seeing how well he could drink his bottle without my help. He's already in the high chair, so I just tilt it back so that gravity is working with him instead of against him, and he just goes to town. All by himself. Without my help. Doesn't need me anymore. *tear* I don't remember him asking me if he could be all grown up yet, because I'm sure I would have asked for a little more time.

Peas and Sunshine

2009-03-05T09:24:00.008-06:00

Yesterday, perhaps to make good on my pledge to get together with that friend of mine and her daughter more often, we took advantage of the spectacular weather for our first outdoor play date. (Let's call my friend M and her daughter A.)

M and I spoke early in the morning to arrange our outing, and by lunchtime we were spread out atop blankets beneath a towering shade tree at the city park. My primary objective, outside of visiting with M&A, was to put Henry on a swing for the first time. I was sorely disappointed when we arrived to find that the swings were not safe or designed for babies as I had hoped at least one of them would be. We improvised, but I'll get to that in a bit.

I could not have dreamed or ordered better weather. Truthfully, in Texas, weather comes in extremes; seldom do you have days where it is completely comfortable to be outdoors without either a jacket or an economy sized tub of sunscreen, SPF 200. The spring and fall seasons last only a blink or two, with scorching summer heat being the dominant climate pattern. Case in point: today, in early March, the temperature is expected to reach near 90 degrees. But, yesterday, it was the perfect day to be outdoors. There was a breeze, not so strong that we were chasing down belongings blown from our picnic blanket, but gentle, ruffling up our children's fine wisps of hair. At that time of day, the temperature hovered above 70 degrees. The mild sunshine shimmered and sprayed between the branches of our shade tree - not the harsh rays of mid to late summer sun. I could have spent the entire day there, just soaking it in.

First order of business upon arrival was to feed the babies their lunch. Henry is transitioning to more finger-foods and varieties of textures, so I brought some foods that he had refused in the day or two preceding, hoping one of these times I offer, he'll be more receptive. Of course, I also brought back-ups: pureed peas and applesauce, and after he gagged on curds of cottage cheese and spat out diced carrots, I was thankful I'd had that foresight. He sipped on white grape juice and seemed every bit as smitten by our surroundings as I was. M and A tackled lunch as well - literally. M had to almost sit on her to keep her still long enough to eat. A, being mobile, wanted to cruise around and didn't seem terribly concerned about missing lunch.

Once the babies were fed, M and I grazed on our lunches while still fussing with the kids as they tumbled around on the blanket, playing with toys and trying to reach the edges of our palette. Before long, we had each of our cameras out and were staging scenes of the babies playing together (or not.) I know I took 94 pictures myself - yes, obscene.

As we neared nap time, I decided that I would attempt to get Henry in that swing, even if it meant I would have to hold him as I sat in it. We all made our way to the playground. Now, M is about perfectly sized, and her little bum did fit in the kid swing, but barely. That, of course, meant that my larger bum would in no way fit in the kid swing. I had spotted a tire swing on the opposite end of the playground equipment, and decided that I could probably get into that swing with Henry. It was hard plastic, shaped to look like a tire, but in no way soft or allowing any give. I hiked one leg over the edge to sort of straddle it and once I tested it a little, I relaxed and we swung in short strides. It wasn't exactly the picture I'd had in mind, but we were swinging. M&A came over to see how we were managing. I tried to reposition myself so that we weren't sitting so precariously on the edge, hopefully enabling us to get a better swing going. I bent my right leg so that it was spanning the hole in the middle, creating a place for Henry to sit that wasn't on the edge. Well, that hard plastic edge dug into my leg and was quite uncomfortable - but at this point, I was stuck. I couldn't move while holding Henry, and the longer I sat there, the more uncomfortable I became. M was trying not to laugh, failing. She took Henry just long enough for me to remove myself from the swing, but not before she snapped a picture - thanks, M! We were both laughing hysterically, and when M sends me that picture, I'll post it. Maybe.

Henry and I had such a great time - I hope another beautiful day finds us back at the park again soon. Here are just a few of my pictures:

Oh, the irony!

2009-03-04T09:50:00.004-06:00

It's no great secret that my son isn't the world's best sleeper. Even at eight and a half months, we are still enduring night waking frequently. Some nights are better than others, but an uninterrupted night is a rarity. And we consider sleeping past 6am a luxury. He hasn't needed a night feeding since he was around three months old, but for reasons that continue to elude us, he is generally a restless little man. We have been sleep training practically since birth, and while there are clear benefits from this effort, his problem seems to be simply staying asleep. This, I think, is just the M.O. of some babies - some sleep better than others. It probably doesn't help that I haven't committed to weaning from the paci either. ;)

Monday night, after several solid nights of waking, crying, fitful sleep (and not much of it), Daddy was going to be "on duty" because, in a role reversal, I would be volunteering the next day while Daddy would have the day off to be with Henry. I have to admit I was a little excited at the prospect of a "night off."

Well, Henry and Daddy must have struck up some kind of man-pact, because he went down at 7pm, didn't make a sound ALL night, and even slept until about 7am, which is unheard of anymore. I was thankful because it meant WE ALL had a good night's sleep, but I can't help but see the irony of that situation. :)

He's such a ham!

2009-03-02T09:26:00.010-06:00

Okay, so there is this little foyer area at church with large, distressed leather sitting chairs and great natural light from a tall window. It's great for taking pictures, and if there's time to kill between lunch and the second service, I like to steal away to this little spot for an impromptu photo shoot. Here's a sampling - he just eats this up!

This one I tweaked just a bit to get the faded color effect. Thanks for admiring my little guy!

A busy day makes a sleepy boy...

2009-02-26T20:10:00.014-06:00

I love days when we get to go out, even if it's just to run errands. Today was one of those days, but we mixed business with pleasure and were able to make a few visits while we were out. We made the mundane stops: gas, the local grocery store for miscellaneous items we missed this week at the store, a furniture store in town, and then we made a stop at the bank to say hi to Grammy. After the ladies gushed over Henry during his parade through the bank, we met up with a friend of mine and her daughter for a play date and lunch.

As the babies grow, it is so much fun to see them interact differently. Not so long ago, Henry seemed to be generally anti-social around other people, preferring to be the observer rather than the participator. He has really blossomed into a much more social baby over the past month or two, and genuinely enjoys the company of others. He wants to engage with those around him, and it's a joy as his parent to see him develop socially.

Although we should probably do so more often, my friend and I try to get the babies together for play dates. Today was a treat for all - both babies were in good spirits and seemed to be eager to play together. Granted, the little girl, at nearly 2 months older than Henry, was quite busy pulling up, standing, and creeping alongside the table while Henry contented himself with toys and anything he could put in his mouth, but there were fun moments of rolling, talking, and touching. They smiled at one another, and were obviously communicating. It was such a fun visit. My friend and I also enjoyed some daytime interaction with someone who didn't need us to wipe their tush.

After our busy morning out, Henry and I headed home for some R&R. I put him down, which he seemed grateful for, and was quickly snoozing. That freed up some time for me to revisit my blog and try to square away some of the things I was frustrated about yesterday. ;) After I get pictures uploaded, I'll add a couple from today. He was the most handsome little man in his green overalls, blue bucket hat, and blue tennies.

This evening, when Daddy got home, we made a return trip to the furniture store, and then it was supper time, bath time, and getting ready for bed. My little wiped-out guy was so sleepy and snuggly. He took his sweet time drinking his bottle, and then when he was finally finished he closed his eyes, nuzzled his cheek into my chest, and gently smacked his lips a few times. He was so perfectly peaceful - almost looked like a porcelain doll cradled in my arms. I rocked with him for several minutes, unwilling to rush my precious time when he's still small enough to hold, and still baby enough to need it.

Giving it a go!

2009-02-25T15:12:00.002-06:00

Okay - here I am in my maiden voyage as a blogger. I have been trying to format and personalize my blog with limited success so far. I will eventually work out the little details, but I rationalized that I had to start somewhere.

So, I'm taking this opportunity to invite you all to follow this blog and be witness to the way Henry blesses us every day. I hope to update regularly, but forgive my growing pains as I'm figuring out the world of blogging.

In lieu of an official post, here is at least a recent picture of our little tank. Let's ponder what he's saying...