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.

Henry's first concert

First off, let me make everyone aware that I am on a good month for residency. You can tell because I am posting things. When I am posting things it means stuff is happening and I am able to participate in this. It's been nice.

Last Saturday was Jiggle Jam. It is a yearly 2 day music ordeal here in KC. The headliner was They Might Be Giants. We thought it would be fun, so we went. It was quite a warm day, but Henry didn't seem to mind at all. His little face got red and stayed that way the entire time. I'm afraid he takes after me in that respect. Henry, sorry about that. We got to hear Bongo Bob sing a little and then went to the main event. There were tons of people there but we managed a spot in the grass. Just because we had a spot didn't mean Henry was done exploring. We took turns following Henry around and he would eventually make it back to home base. The picture above was one of his wanderings. I guess he got a little tired and had to sit. He really did like the music and danced quite a bit. I enjoyed it too. I look forward to next year.

Also, earlier that day Henry and I showed up for our swimming lesson. I guess it was canceled, but they let us swim anyway. Henry was already excited and was signing the word swim (I didn't even know he knew the sign but Aaron taught him behind my back). When we went into the water he plunged right in. He didn't have any fear. When I told him to lay on his back he would (but just for a little bit). It was a lot of fun. I look forward to Aaron seeing his swimming abilities.

There are so many things that Henry is doing where I can understand him more and more. For instance, this morning I was putting on his sock and he signed car. I told him we weren't leaving right now, but later he would go to Grammy's house. He seemed to understand that. Also tonight I asked him how many 5 is, and he showed me. Oh, but that isn't about understanding him, but more about improving communication.

Ok, well bottom line is things are doing great at the Stilley/Solyntjes household.

Swimming part two

Since last post, Henry is doing quite well. He still has a hoarse voice, but I don't think it bothers him. I'm trying to lay off giving into his every demand. I even let him cry out this morning (okay, well I got him the first time, but definetly not the second). Because he was doing so great, I took him to swimming lessons.

It has been a great goal of mine to take Henry to swimming lessons. I wanted to do it earlier, but my crazy schedule and Aaron's hate for the water prevented this. I actually signed up for a course once, but it was canceled because Henry and I were the only swimmers. Anyway, 2 weeks ago swimming lessons started at the YMCA 2 blocks from our house.

The first lesson went pretty bad. I think the water was a little cool and Henry was definetly not into it. He kept pointing at the shore and fussing. There were 4 other kids there and they were doing all the things they were supposed to do (blowing bubbles, floating on their back, getting their face in the water). I tried to keep up, but it made Henry cling even closer to me. I did dunk him in the water at the very end, and he came up screaming. That's how we left the last session.

Today, Henry freely walked into the water. He was a little hesitant initially and didn't want to get too deep, so we hung out in the shallow end. Eventually the instructor gave Henry a little plastic duck the all the rules changed. He was willing to grab the duck underwater and go swim to the duck (by me holding him on his belly in the water). We played a game where we set the duck on the edge and said "bye" and then later swam back to him and said "hi." He loved it and started smiling and laughing. After he was in a good mood he was able to stick his chin in the water, blow bubbles and even briefly float on his back. He was having real fun all thanks to the "daa" (imagine 1st three fingers to the mouth making a duck sign). Today I think we made a real breakthrough and I look forward to next week. Hopefully Aaron can join us and even enjoy himself too.

There are research studies showing that children who have swimming lessons are less likely to drown. That in itself is a reason to continue. Having fun another good reason.

Henry is going to be a great swimmer someday. Maybe next week we'll have pictures.

Oh, and by the way Aaron is starting to turn the corner on his illness too. Luckily my schedule is crazy good and I have a willing mother-in-law to help us out when we need Henry help.

Recent Life

We got to enjoy a trip to see Grandma & Grandpa Solyntjes, Aunt 'Nae, Uncle Benjamin, Uncle Phil and many more in Minneapolis recently. It was a great time. Henry even called (Grand) "Ma" and (Grand) "Pa" by name, which he hasn't started doing yet for my parents! He also calls "Nae" by name. It can get a little confused with knee, but so far we've been able to tell the difference. He had a fever off and on the last couple of days we were there, and got sicker after we got home, with croup and some labored breathing. I also came down with "the crud" (as my mom calls it, who has/had it too). Yuck. It's really the first illness Henry has had other than acid reflux and a stuffy nose or two. It was hard on Laura and me to listen to some of his obstructed breathing due to an inflammed throat. We took him in to see a doctor, though Laura knew she wanted to give him a certain steroid to reduce the swelling in his throat, which we started and has been a huge help. He's still a little hoarse, but much better.

He's seeming less and less like a baby and more like a little boy all the time. We can't stop calling him "Baby" yet though.  Maybe someday soon.

Well, we're still enjoying it all, hope you are too.