Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a cute picture from Halloweeen that I thought you might enjoy. Henry was a NY Jet (for the second year in a row). We didn't do this because he is such a fan, but because it is an easy costume that is very similar to real clothing. I am always amazed at the young children that will wear elaborate costumes with things going on their heads. Not my little guy, he certainly has always made is preferences known!

Hope you all have an exciting day planned; we are going to my brother's house. They are great cooks that are sure to plan a very traditional meal. In general, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I love knowing what to expect. I am especially looking forward to the mashed potatoes with gravy and stuffing. Henry is looking forward to the pie I think. Adam brought home a small blueberry pie last night and Henry was running around, his face covered with purple and whipped cream yelling "More pie!" I think that is a ringing endorsement.

We went to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons being blown up last night which was fun. Henry seemed to enjoy it, I will post some pictures later. OK, off to cook our contributions for the meal (sweet potato casserole with pecan streusel, corn pudding and shrimp cocktail.) Hope everyone has a great day!

More Photos

Henry eating his first Shake Shack burger, a NYC institution Sneaking into my makeup when I left the bathroom

A cute one of the two of us from a recent birthday party

More Photos

Henry and Great Grandma Ruthie at his Florida birthday party Henry with GG Ruthie, GG Jack, me, Adam and Aunt Gloria

GG Jack supervising Henry while he makes his move on an older woman

Photo Catch Up

Belly shot taken on 10/15/08, approx 32 weeks



Family Photo taken at Henry's first trip to Chinese Buffet in Boca Raton while visiting with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

Florida Birthday party, Cake made my Great Grandma Ruthie (Shades from Great Aunt Sylvia and Cousin Cindy)

Henry with his Elmo cake on his actual birthday

I haven't posted photos in a while, so here are a few

Our Sibling Preparation Method

Are we supposed to actually have one? Everyone we meet asks Henry how he feels about being a big brother. He always looks a bit perplexed at the question, but he has other pressing things on his mind.

Despite the TON of (unsolicited) advice we have gotten on the topic, we haven't done much. I ordered the requisite "I'm a Big Brother" book just because I felt like I should be doing "something" and someone else loaned us another book about there being a baby in the house. We have yet to read either to him, but he would rather read his "Oh David" books and imitate David shoving his finger up his nose.

According to some, we are way late on starting the process. But in our defense, his sense of time is pretty skewed. One day is pretty much the same as the next to him. Why worry him prematurely? He doesn't have the language skills to really express his fear yet (other than he doesn't like the Schwartzman Quartet on Jack's Big Music Show). It is a pretty abstract concept that "Mommy has a baby in her belly" if you really think about it.

He has only recently started understanding what a baby is. Not to generalize, but as a boy he has never played with dolls or nurturing type games. He has never shown interest until recently in even paying attention to babies. Two of his friends now have younger siblings, so I have tried to introduce the concept that way. Overall, he is very sweet to them.

I ask him if he wants a baby to come live with us, and of course his answer is "no." But, that is his answer to 99.99% of questions posed to him. I ask him if he is a baby and he answers that "no" as well, which may be a good thing.

I am slowly trying to take baby type items out of the closet so that they are not a novelty. Remember, Baby #2 will be sleeping in a hammock type device so I want him to get any rocking out of his system now! We did buy a toddler digital camera for the baby to give him when he comes to visit at the hospital, so hopefully that help.

That's pretty much the extent of it. I sense an impending disaster brewing!

Update

Since I have been accused by my mother of slacking off at blog writing, I will attempt to post something. As you can see by the ticker, I have less than 30 days to go until #2 arrives. Other than sheer exhaustion and my pelvis feeling like it is splitting in two, things are going well. Oh, and horrific heartburn. I think I have personally raised the stock price of Tums due to my level of consumption. I have insomnia like I did with Henry, so I am up until all hours of the night reading.

Henry is doing great, he is enjoying his increased TV time. Honestly, I am too tired to fight off his TV demands by the end of the day. Embarrassingly, he can now quote more of Dora the Explorer than I am comfortable with. He runs around saying "No Man!" (Oh Man!) and "Oh May!" (No Way!) He does the little dance at the end and insists on high-fiving me, while yelling "Yeah" just like Dora does. He also carries around his little Diego backpack with our homemade map in the pocket. Yup, my little TV junkie.

Speaking of the backpack, I need to check it frequently. I was looking high and low for my cell phone charger this week and found it tucked neatly inside with his other treasures. Adam was looking for our tongs to make the bacon this morning and found them in Henry's kitchen. I have also caught him stuffing groceries in there.

He is talking a ton, he refers to himself now as "Ahna." A big improvement from "Dada." He loves playing with his little friends now, they chase each other around the house and actually seem to notice each other. We also have to sing Happy Birthday a few times per day, subbing in the names of the family and his friends. I guess his birthday had a big impact on him.

Things are going well at the doctor, I have had an uncomplicated pregnancy so far. At my last visit, I had still only gained 16 pounds, which I am sure I will be thankful for later. My blood pressure and all other tests are coming back fine. Due to my "Advanced Maternal Age" (isn't that a hoot!) I need to have a stress test every week moving forward. Since it requires me to be strapped to a machine with Henry on the loose at the doctor's office I think they should measure maternal stress at the same time!

That's all for now!