Also to be known as the day Henry almost broke his mother.
Henry woke at a reasonable hour and we had a nice leisurely morning. He took a thirty minute nap, I showered and then we met my friend Shawn and her son Miles to attend a mom/baby exercise class together. The class was fantastic, and Henry had a great time. He laughed and hammed it up the entire class. He showed off his tricks for the teacher: sitting up and playing peek-a-boo with his blanket.
He crashed afterward in the stroller, which he usually does after any sort of class. He slept for a whole ten minutes on the walk home and then was wide awake. I was trying to shop at the drug store and he proceeded to cry and whine the entire time. After hot-footing it out of there we went home. He played in his room, but proceeded to give me the fat lip every time I left his view.
I tried to get him to nap again but he was having no part of this. We had already made plans to meet another friend and her son that afternoon for a quick trip to Target, so off we went. He was wide awake the entire time and fidgety enough that it was not a relaxing trip. He wouldn't sit in the stroller so I had to drag him around in the Bjorn. He fell asleep in the car for the last five minutes of the trip (and did not sit quietly for the first part) and woke up as soon as we hit the garage.
It was now 4:30pm and he had napped for a whole forty-five minutes that day. He was over-tired and very crabby. He refused to play, he refused to nap, he flailed when I held him, he screamed when I sat down. I must add that I have been in the throes of a massive allergy attack. I broke down and taken some Claritin, which keeps me awake much of the night. It also had been suppressing my appetite, so the only thing I had eaten that day was a bowl of oatmeal and a slice of ham.
Anyway, my head was throbbing, I couldn't breathe through my nose, I was exhausted but jittery, starving and sneezing up a storm. There was no way I could get through another three hours until his bedtime without a break. Adam had a business event that night so I was on my own for dinner. I put him in the stroller over his hollers of protest and hit the pavement. I had to turn back once because I realized I still had my slippers on. I made it five steps on the sidewalk before I noticed it was raining. Well, too late now. I put the rain cover on his stroller and trudged down the block in my quest to get Henry asleep and find some food. I had no umbrella and was wearing flip flops.
He was awake on the ten block walk to the grocery store, and the entire time I was there. I said screw it and just walked across the street to McDonald's. Gross, I know. I picked up a newspaper in the hopes of reading it with my food once he fell asleep. The drugs must have been making me delusional. He was awake while I ordered my food and then he proceeded to scream. Screamed while I waited, screamed while I tried to get a soda, screamed while 10 people decided to get in my way while I was leaving. He screamed for the entire 10 block walk home. About 2 blocks into the walk the rain ripped a hole in my bag and my beloved Diet Coke with real caffeine went splattering on the sidewalk. About 5 blocks later, he kicked off both of his blankets and they landed on the wet sidewalk. I then proceeded to run them over with the stroller. I picked the wet, muddy blankets off the ground and forged on. I am sure I got plenty of dirty looks. Who is this crazed, soaking wet woman frantically pushing a screaming baby with no blankets and his socks hanging off, all while eating french fries and cursing under her breath?
We arrived home, I dumped my bags, put the still pissed off Henry on the bed and peeled off my wet clothes. I sat him down on the couch with me while I ate and he was suddenly all smiles. Laughing and cooing like the previous hour never happened. He proceeded to stay awake for the next TWO hours, and it took me almost an hour to get him to sleep. Every time I laid him down, he woke up. Once I finally got him to sleep he woke every time I blew my nose. I kid you not. I was thisclose to cracking. If I saw a band of gypsies I swear I would have handed him off.
Vent over.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
The Great Communicator
Henry has started to communicate in ways other than crying.
He looks over at a toy that he wants to play with next and I move him over to it. Tuesday he looked at his Radio Flyer Rocket Ship which is for when he is much older. I have never seen him notice it before. I moved him next to it and he played with it intently for about 10 minutes.
If I am sitting near him on the floor he will put his little chubby hand on my lap and continue playing.
He gives me a funny look and starts jumping in his Exersaucer when it has worked its magical pooping charms.
He has started reaching for me when he wants to be held and hugging my neck when he doesn't want to be put down.
When his diaper is too wet during the night he kicks Adam in the back over and over until Adam gets up to change him!
Whenever I have a glass of water or he sees me pouring one his little mouth starts opening like a bird. If I don't give him some right away he starts lunging for the glass.
I thought I was crazy recently when I noticed him waving at the appropriate time. Yesterday at the doctor's office a nurse stopped to talk to him in his stroller. She waved at him and he waved back! She said right away, "he just waved at me!" I couldn't believe it.
Anyway, I need to start the sign language with him soon. I am using a website called www.mybabycantalk.com to get the signs. I was thinking of starting with Mommy, Daddy, Wet, Sleep, Eat, Drink, More, Done and Help.
He looks over at a toy that he wants to play with next and I move him over to it. Tuesday he looked at his Radio Flyer Rocket Ship which is for when he is much older. I have never seen him notice it before. I moved him next to it and he played with it intently for about 10 minutes.
If I am sitting near him on the floor he will put his little chubby hand on my lap and continue playing.
He gives me a funny look and starts jumping in his Exersaucer when it has worked its magical pooping charms.
He has started reaching for me when he wants to be held and hugging my neck when he doesn't want to be put down.
When his diaper is too wet during the night he kicks Adam in the back over and over until Adam gets up to change him!
Whenever I have a glass of water or he sees me pouring one his little mouth starts opening like a bird. If I don't give him some right away he starts lunging for the glass.
I thought I was crazy recently when I noticed him waving at the appropriate time. Yesterday at the doctor's office a nurse stopped to talk to him in his stroller. She waved at him and he waved back! She said right away, "he just waved at me!" I couldn't believe it.
Anyway, I need to start the sign language with him soon. I am using a website called www.mybabycantalk.com to get the signs. I was thinking of starting with Mommy, Daddy, Wet, Sleep, Eat, Drink, More, Done and Help.
Mmmm, Sweet Potatoes
Henry has finally received clearance to start solids. I have been giving him cereal for the last month or so, but we had yet to do any fruits or vegetables. I fed him sweet potatoes yesterday and the boy was in LOVE! I couldn't shovel it in his mouth fast enough. When I fed it to him today he made mmm noises after each bite. Adorable.
Henry's First Portrait
I was super excited to get my hands on this! Did you know that one of these embryos is our little star Henry? I don't know which one but I love that we have this. My guess is the one on the left as that looks to be the best quality. Freaky isn't it?
Henry's 6 Month Appt
Henry had his 6 month well baby visit on Wednesday. He is 27 1/2 inches long and weighs 16lbs, 13 oz. He received two shots and an oral vaccine. Unfortunately he had a tough night after the shots. He screamed and screamed and screamed. My poor baby. He is feeling back to his old self today. He is able to sit unassisted and he can transfer objects between his hands. He can also roll from front to back and back to front.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Whoops!
We are going to Montauk in August for a week. We have rented a condo on the beach that has a kitchen, deck, pool etc. We can spend the day at the beach and pool, walk to town and hang out after Henry goes to bed. The place is pretty popular, so you have to pre-pay with a check within seven days of making the reservation.
I sent in the check last week and the woman called me today. Not only did I write a different amount in the box than I wrote on the line, but it wasn't even the correct amount! I was so embarrassed! I told her that I hadn't slept a full night in six months and she said that she wouldn't cancel our reservation. Whew! I really need this vacation! (But I think I should be bringing a nanny...)
I sent in the check last week and the woman called me today. Not only did I write a different amount in the box than I wrote on the line, but it wasn't even the correct amount! I was so embarrassed! I told her that I hadn't slept a full night in six months and she said that she wouldn't cancel our reservation. Whew! I really need this vacation! (But I think I should be bringing a nanny...)
Ouch!
Henry has popped two teeth over the past week. All I can say is "Ouch" and that I have a call into a lactation consultant!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Happy Half Birthday Henry!
I can't believe it, Henry turned six months old today. Everyone warned me that they time would fly, and they were right. His first six months have gone by in the blink of an eye. He is an absolute joy and just gets better every day. Here are a few shots from his big day:
Looking cute in his new rugby
Showing off his excellent posture
Posing with his 1/2 Birthday Cake (not made by Mom)
"If I can't have any then no one can!"
Thursday, April 12, 2007
In my defense, it was dark.
A few times per night, Henry, Adam and I play the pacifier game. Here are the rules: Adam keeps one on his pillow, I keep one on mine. Henry keeps one in his mouth. When it inevitably falls out, Henry flails around looking for it. He tosses himself side to side, burying his face in the mattress with his mouth open like a little aardvark searching for ants. Whoever he hits first shoves it quickly in his mouth before he fully wakes up.
Last night he tagged me first. I picked mine up and popped it in his mouth. For some reason, he didn't stop crying and I didn't feel him start sucking on it. It took me a moment to realize I was shoving it in his ear.
Last night he tagged me first. I picked mine up and popped it in his mouth. For some reason, he didn't stop crying and I didn't feel him start sucking on it. It took me a moment to realize I was shoving it in his ear.
The best defense is a good offense.
Henry is an active baby. A very active baby. He has never been content to sit on laps quietly or relax in his stroller. If there is action to be had, he wants in. I think Julie's mom called him a little "busybody."
Last week we decided to go out to dinner for our anniversary. For some reason I listened to Adam and didn't get a high chair. Mistake #1. Henry woke up 5 minutes after we sat down and was pining to get out of the stroller. I took him out and held him in my lap, which was mistake #2. Try eating BBQ ribs with one hand. Not easy. Do this while keeping Henry away from the water glasses, silverware, 3 side dishes, beer bottle... Yes, I needed beer to get through this experience. Even though we made a 5:30pm reservation to accomodate Henry's bedtime within 15 minutes we were saying "Check please!"
After this debacle, I was very hesitant to go to any more restaurants until Henry is at least twenty. Just a few days later, one of the women in Henry's playgroup asked us to lunch with her and her 5 month old son. This baby is an angel. He rarely makes a peep, sleeps in his stroller, sits in laps without trying to wreck the joint and cries so little they have already weaned him from the pacifier. (We are NEVER getting rid if the paci unless I get a Valium prescription).
Anyway, I was very nervous. I thought out my gameplan before hand. I brought a huge bag of toys, some rice cereal for Henry to eat, his little bowl and spoon, a bib, his sippy cup, a bottle of water for him to drink, thirty pacifiers, extra outfits etc. As soon as we got to the restaurant I also asked for a highchair. I figured the novelty of it would be very distracting.
Well, surprise surprise, but guess who the angel was? Our little star Henry. The highchair's best feature was to keep him very, very far away from the table. Every time he looked like he was going to make a peep I shoveled more cereal into his mouth. I was having the best lunch ever! About 15 minutes into lunch the other baby started screaming and we had to cut lunch short. The poor mom was saying, "I don't know what is wrong, he is never like this!" I almost loaned her one of my little angel's pacifiers but I didn't want to bring him over to the dark side.
Last week we decided to go out to dinner for our anniversary. For some reason I listened to Adam and didn't get a high chair. Mistake #1. Henry woke up 5 minutes after we sat down and was pining to get out of the stroller. I took him out and held him in my lap, which was mistake #2. Try eating BBQ ribs with one hand. Not easy. Do this while keeping Henry away from the water glasses, silverware, 3 side dishes, beer bottle... Yes, I needed beer to get through this experience. Even though we made a 5:30pm reservation to accomodate Henry's bedtime within 15 minutes we were saying "Check please!"
After this debacle, I was very hesitant to go to any more restaurants until Henry is at least twenty. Just a few days later, one of the women in Henry's playgroup asked us to lunch with her and her 5 month old son. This baby is an angel. He rarely makes a peep, sleeps in his stroller, sits in laps without trying to wreck the joint and cries so little they have already weaned him from the pacifier. (We are NEVER getting rid if the paci unless I get a Valium prescription).
Anyway, I was very nervous. I thought out my gameplan before hand. I brought a huge bag of toys, some rice cereal for Henry to eat, his little bowl and spoon, a bib, his sippy cup, a bottle of water for him to drink, thirty pacifiers, extra outfits etc. As soon as we got to the restaurant I also asked for a highchair. I figured the novelty of it would be very distracting.
Well, surprise surprise, but guess who the angel was? Our little star Henry. The highchair's best feature was to keep him very, very far away from the table. Every time he looked like he was going to make a peep I shoveled more cereal into his mouth. I was having the best lunch ever! About 15 minutes into lunch the other baby started screaming and we had to cut lunch short. The poor mom was saying, "I don't know what is wrong, he is never like this!" I almost loaned her one of my little angel's pacifiers but I didn't want to bring him over to the dark side.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Easter Photos
Flying High on the excitement of Easter...
Crash Landing, time to go home! Such a sad face
Crash Landing, time to go home! Such a sad face
Reece reading to Henry, Uncle Kevin, Sydney and Ruby
Friday, April 06, 2007
See, I have a sensitive side too.
Look at me, I'm reading! Cousin Brenda gave me this book and I'm really enjoying it.
Hey, there's something green in this card! Is it stringbeans?
Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Thank you for the Easter card and present. I am sitting here in my toddler rocker from Cousin Donna pondering what I might spend it on. Maybe a new book or toy? Maybe a Mother's Day present for my Mom? She is the greatest, she really deserves it.
Of course she is blathering away about some new thing she wants to teach me to do. Something called saving? Who knows what that is, I just want to spend spend spend! Just so you know, she is only letting me keep 50% of it to spend on whatever I want. I have to put 20% of it in my college fund, save 5% of it to help people who don't have as much and 25% to save for big stuff like a pony.
So, if you want me to have $5 to spend on candy, you'll need to send $10 next time. (That's something I'm learning called Math.)
Love,
Henry
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Highway to Hell
Henry and I went to my friend Aly's house today for a playdate. In addition to Aly's two kids Jackson (age 5) and Sophia (age 3), our friend Merri was there with her sons Caleb (age 4) and Jude (8 months) and Lynn came with her son Peter (15 months).
As soon as I get the photo, I will post the group shot. Surprisingly we were able to get all of the kids in a picture with no one crying. Henry had a great time. He loved the bigger kids and played well on the floor (you should see him sitting up now) with Jude and Peter. He did great in the car on the way there; he talked to himself in his carseat for most of the way and napped for the last few minutes.
The trip home was a complete disaster. He was tired when we got in the car and very fussy. I knew it was going to be bad when I lost BOTH of his pacifiers getting him in the car. I just started driving and he started screaming. Finally it got so bad that I thought that something had to be wrong with him. I pulled off the road, got in the back, took him out of the seat and he stopped crying. I checked his diaper, tried to feed him, calmed him down and put him back in the seat. Luckily I found the pacifiers. We get about another mile and the shreiking begin again. I let him go for a few minutes but he was screaming so hard he was choking. I pulled over AGAIN. Same routine. He just wanted to get out of the seat. I got him to where he was almost sleeping and tried again. As soon as his little rear hit the seat the screaming began again.
There was nothing I could do at that point so I just strapped him in. I had gone about 5 miles in 30 minutes and rush hour was quickly approaching. It was also pouring rain. He proceeded to scream at the top of his lungs for the next half hour or so. Just as I was about to dial a priest to schedule the exorcism the storm passed and he fell asleep.
The silence lasted until we came to a complete standstill entering the Cross Bronx Expressway. He immediately woke and the blood-curdling screaming began anew. Miraculously as soon as we pulled into the garage he stopped. I popped him into the stroller and he was happy as a clam. I think I am going to medicate myself for our next car trip.
As soon as I get the photo, I will post the group shot. Surprisingly we were able to get all of the kids in a picture with no one crying. Henry had a great time. He loved the bigger kids and played well on the floor (you should see him sitting up now) with Jude and Peter. He did great in the car on the way there; he talked to himself in his carseat for most of the way and napped for the last few minutes.
The trip home was a complete disaster. He was tired when we got in the car and very fussy. I knew it was going to be bad when I lost BOTH of his pacifiers getting him in the car. I just started driving and he started screaming. Finally it got so bad that I thought that something had to be wrong with him. I pulled off the road, got in the back, took him out of the seat and he stopped crying. I checked his diaper, tried to feed him, calmed him down and put him back in the seat. Luckily I found the pacifiers. We get about another mile and the shreiking begin again. I let him go for a few minutes but he was screaming so hard he was choking. I pulled over AGAIN. Same routine. He just wanted to get out of the seat. I got him to where he was almost sleeping and tried again. As soon as his little rear hit the seat the screaming began again.
There was nothing I could do at that point so I just strapped him in. I had gone about 5 miles in 30 minutes and rush hour was quickly approaching. It was also pouring rain. He proceeded to scream at the top of his lungs for the next half hour or so. Just as I was about to dial a priest to schedule the exorcism the storm passed and he fell asleep.
The silence lasted until we came to a complete standstill entering the Cross Bronx Expressway. He immediately woke and the blood-curdling screaming began anew. Miraculously as soon as we pulled into the garage he stopped. I popped him into the stroller and he was happy as a clam. I think I am going to medicate myself for our next car trip.
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