Grandma and Grandpa

This weekend we got a lovely visit from my parents (me being Laura and my parents being Dean and Val). This occurred right after Henry's well child appointment where they told Henry to limit his snacks. Henry has always been great at communicating if he wants to eat and when he wants more. I have always given in because I didn't want to ruin his natural instincts. I've always thought babies and kids grow up knowing exactly what their body wants. I guess I'm wrong. From now on only 2 snacks a day for our little guy. Time to maintain his youthful figure.

Anyway, back to mmmMa and mmmPa (as Henry states). They got in on Friday night and we went to 75th Street Brewery. As soon as we got there Henry wanted to explore and play the one video game they had. When ever I write or talk to people about Henry, I am more apt to tell them all the wonderful and funny things Henry dose. I usually omit the negative stuff. For instance, Henry has started having temper tantrums. My parents quickly were very aware of this new phase of life when the whole restaurant could hear my little boy squeal. We finished our dinner and afterwards my dad thought maybe we shouldn't go out to eat anymore this weekend. We didn't.

But we did, however have a fun time. Before my parents got here, I was kinda hoping that they would install our new garbage disposal. They didn't disappoint me. They did that and more. Thanks guys! On Saturday we also went to the WWI museum. Very interesting and I'll have to go back. Henry liked walking around and playing in the sound booths. We also ate Oklahoma Joe's BBQ (take out!) and then on Sunday walked around Loose Park. I could definitely tell Henry liked having them around. I'm sure he'll ask for them in the next few days. Just think in 1 month he'll be spending all of his time with them - I'm doing a rotation at a clinic in Minneapolis during August.

I learned that most 20 month olds have the capacity to be potty trained. I'm hoping to give it a try soon. The thought of no diaper changes really gets my hopes up. I think it might work because he likes to please us and he already will sit on his potty. What makes me cautious is that he doesn't care when he has a dirty diaper and with his new temper tantrums, he might just refuse. Still, I could just try.... We'll see. This next month I am in the emergency room with scattered hours and then we go to MN. Maybe after that.

Okay, until next time
Laura

PS - Don't miss this video of Henry's harmonica skills.

Henry loves water (sometimes)

Henry is doing so much. When funny things happen, I think to myself that I should write it here. That way even if I forget, I can always re-remember it.

I asked Mary to do a guest blog, and maybe she will. I was hoping she would tell about the time she took Henry swimming. When ever Mary takes Henry to the park, he always gazes longingly at the swimming pool behind the fence. One day he got his wish, unfortunately he wasn't ready. Maybe it was the pool temperature, maybe it was all the other kids, maybe it was because mom was no where in sight, but my little Henry would not go in. He just sat on the side. Eventually Mary gave up and took Henry home. That night Henry developed a head to toe heat rash that lasted a few days. I thought, if he only would have gotten in the pool....

This week is an incredibly hot week. I was looking for some sandals to by Henry so he wouldn't always have to wear shoes and socks (although he loves to say "shoes and socks on"). I finally got him a pair and I thought he needed to try them out. Luckily we have a back yard with a sprinkler. When I turned the sprinkler on, he was a little apprehensive, but he was willing to stick his hand in it. Then he just started walking around the backyard, trying to ignore it. Periodically the sprinkler would hit him and he would freeze up and start whimpering. I would see his little tummy suck in and his hands draw up to his body. I tried to smile and laugh to show him it was alright. While exploring the back yard, he found a little patch of mud in the corner of the garden. He loved this! He would splash and splash in it. The sprinkler would come every so often and he would again freeze up, but then would play again as soon as it passed. After a while, he still wasn't getting used to the water so I thought I would show him how fun it was. I started playing in the water, and it hit me "this water is really cold." No wonder Henry didn't like it. So, I turned the water off and Henry seemed much more at ease. While walking he did trip and land on his belly. At this point he was a lubed up ball of sunscreen mixed with water. He laid on the ground whimpering. I asked if he needed help and he said "help." When I picked him up his whole body was dirty. It is probably the dirtiest I have ever seen him. I should have taken a picture. Because of that he got two baths in a row. Can you believe his luck?

So, no swimming with grammy and no sprinklers.

Yesterday I gave him some water in a normal glass. While he was drinking he accidentally spilled it down his chest and on the floor. After seeing that, he dumped the whole glass on the floor. He tried to walk in the water, but fell down. He laughed and started rolling around in his self made puddle. All this in the morning when I am supposed to take my Step 3.

I guess he's very particular about his water situations. Someday I will figure him out (or maybe not).

-Laura

My boy is growing up

Henry has been taking small steps to becoming a little man. Usually I don't notice them, but I'm trying. For instance, he has become a much cleaner eater and at the end of a meal he rarely has stuff on his hands. Usually when he is done eating he will put things back on the plate and make me take the plate off his high chair. Also, if for instance he is picking his nose and obtains a booger, he will then make a whiney sound and show me the finger. He wants it wiped off.

Yesterday he ran into our dining room table and got a small cut on his lip. It only bled a little, but I gave him a popsicle to get some coldness on the lip. Afterwards he did great and was playing like usual. Aaron was upstairs and I was downstairs so he was gong up and down quite frequently. Now things get a little sketchy, but I think because of all this activity he thew up on the top of the stairs. It looks just like the popsicle he ate. Aaron and I did not know this, but while baking cookies (yes I really did this), I noticed Henry came into the kitchen, opened a craft drawer and picked out a strip of cloth. I though "oh great, later I'll have to wind it back up," but he didn't unwind it at all. Aparently he wanted to clean up after himself, because that cloth is now pink and it is right by his little vomit. Great, now I have to clean up the vomit and the cloth.

So, he's getting more indepenent. Pretty soon Henry will be a big boy. I'll have to remind him that even big boys give their mommy's hugs and kisses all the time.

Laura

Henry Potpurri

The wife's been putting on the pressure to post, so here you go Laura!

• Henry's favorite new acquisition is a computer keyboard on loan from Uncle Rob & Aunt Jenny. He played with it when we were over at their house for awhile, but didn't notice that it was coming home with us. When I handed it to him at home, he was over the moon...put his hands over his mouth and oohed and aahed. He loves to type on it, just like Mom & Dad.

• Another new acquisition is a little plastic toilet. We're still a ways off from serious toilet training, but we thought we could introduce him to it...he thinks it's funny to sit on it.

• I made it to Henry's last swimming lesson, and man did he have fun, as you can see in the pictures I took.

• The King has enjoyed visits to see Aunt Jenny, Great-Grandma Stilley and 2nd cousin Luna recently (and of course Grammy twice a week!). We're looking forward to a visit from Grandma Val & Grandpa Dean the last weekend of June.

• He's learned to put his hands up in the air and say, "I don't know!" which just cracks me up.

• Going out in public with him is a bit of a challenge right now, since he is so energetic and mobile and doesn't want to be tied down or sit still too long. Takes a lot of work to keep him content!

• I finished reading a new book titled The Daddy Shift that is about stay-at-home dads, bread-winning moms and changes in gender roles as it relates to parenting. It's a very enjoyable and thought-provoking read. I've really never felt like we're doing something so crazy with our arrangement, but the book made me consider just how recent of a phenomenon it is that couples would even consider the dad staying at home. It isn't strange to me that dads are taking on more of the parenting...it's strange to me that dads would have ever not been very involved. The book has given me a slightly new perspective on being a dad, though I don't really know how to articulate it. It did make me want to be a better dad.