Henry said his first curse today.
I have been making felt Christmas ornaments for the tree and found the adorable ladybug I had just finished floating in a cup of cold coffee. I exclaimed "Oh shit!" and Henry took that moment to improve his articulation and repeated it as clear as a bell. I laughed, so he has been repeating it this afternoon. Of course I can't stop laughing yet. Oops!
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Still Pregnant
Update: Last appt was on Thursday, doctor said the baby was low and I am 3cm dialated. He said I could go at any time or it could be a while. Total crapshoot. I have advised the baby that it would be in their best interest to wait for Grandma's arrival on Friday.
Henry has finally started talking about "Da Baby." We have been putting together toys, chairs etc and washing clothing and he points out what is his and what is for the baby. We are missing the spring from the baby's sleep hammock and had to put in an emergency order for a replacement so the child has someplace to sleep. Who am I kidding, I might as well start sleeping in the crib and just give the bed over to the baby, Henry and Adam.
We still don't have a boy's name picked either. Oops!
Henry has finally started talking about "Da Baby." We have been putting together toys, chairs etc and washing clothing and he points out what is his and what is for the baby. We are missing the spring from the baby's sleep hammock and had to put in an emergency order for a replacement so the child has someplace to sleep. Who am I kidding, I might as well start sleeping in the crib and just give the bed over to the baby, Henry and Adam.
We still don't have a boy's name picked either. Oops!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Tick tock
I am now under the two week mark before the baby is due. Although I am very excited to meet the baby, things are certainly different the second time around. I feel like I have a ticking time bomb on me that I don't know when it is going to go off.
The arrangements for Henry's care are spotty at best. My mom is due to arrive on 12/12, two days before my due date. I have a good chance of lasting until she gets here because I was late with Henry, but you really never know. Our original fall back plan was to have Adam's Dad come in. He just started a new job on Monday, so his availability is now severely curtailed.
We have various friends, neighbors and relatives that have offered or been "recruited" to help. Although I know everyone is very willing to do what they can, I am cognizant of the fact that they all have lives, children, jobs and schedules that may cause conflict. Especially since we don't know when we will need them, for how long and how much notice we can give them. If my water breaks and there appears to be a problem, we will need to go straight to the hospital. Although this is unlikely, it is certainly in the realm of possibility.
I also worry about having to leave in the middle of the night. Henry has never been away from me for more than a few hours and certainly never slept in the house without me. If he wakes and neither of us are there, he is going to have a heart attack. I wish there was some way we could prepare him better, but I don't know how to do so without scaring him.
Worst case scenario is that we could always bring him with us to the hospital until someone is available but that certainly is not ideal. Adam and I were laughing about me trying to have the baby with Henry standing next to me saying "Ma...Ma...Get up...Draw Dora's Backpack...Chase Henry..."
I'm sure everything will wind up working out as well as it can, but of course I still worry.
The arrangements for Henry's care are spotty at best. My mom is due to arrive on 12/12, two days before my due date. I have a good chance of lasting until she gets here because I was late with Henry, but you really never know. Our original fall back plan was to have Adam's Dad come in. He just started a new job on Monday, so his availability is now severely curtailed.
We have various friends, neighbors and relatives that have offered or been "recruited" to help. Although I know everyone is very willing to do what they can, I am cognizant of the fact that they all have lives, children, jobs and schedules that may cause conflict. Especially since we don't know when we will need them, for how long and how much notice we can give them. If my water breaks and there appears to be a problem, we will need to go straight to the hospital. Although this is unlikely, it is certainly in the realm of possibility.
I also worry about having to leave in the middle of the night. Henry has never been away from me for more than a few hours and certainly never slept in the house without me. If he wakes and neither of us are there, he is going to have a heart attack. I wish there was some way we could prepare him better, but I don't know how to do so without scaring him.
Worst case scenario is that we could always bring him with us to the hospital until someone is available but that certainly is not ideal. Adam and I were laughing about me trying to have the baby with Henry standing next to me saying "Ma...Ma...Get up...Draw Dora's Backpack...Chase Henry..."
I'm sure everything will wind up working out as well as it can, but of course I still worry.
Freedom!
We have recently started to be able to do more with Henry. For example, we can go to restaurants and be assured that he will act somewhat human and that we can find him something on most menus. We can bring him on longer car trips and even if he doesn't sleep he can sit for longer periods. We brought him to see the Thanksgiving balloons being blown up on Wednesday and he seemed to get it and have fun. We can even bring him shopping and he will sit in the cart or be content in the stroller or walking with you.
Whenever we are doing something fun, I always think why we haven't we done it sooner or more often. And then I remember various stages that he has gone through and am reminded why. For example, when he was an infant he would scream like he was being murdered whenever he was in his carseat. So, even though we are crazy first time parents, we have always had a kid that really didn't give an inch (but of course we love him!)
We were walking through Chinatown on Saturday night, having successfully finished an evening that didn't involve screaming, a kids menu, a high chair, sippy cups or special dishes or even a stroller. We didn't wake him from a nap and weren't rushing home for bed. I was very excited thinking of all of the things that we could do now. And then I remembered that we could do whatever we wanted with our newfound freedom...as long as we could squeeze it into the next two weeks! Ahh, reality...
Whenever we are doing something fun, I always think why we haven't we done it sooner or more often. And then I remember various stages that he has gone through and am reminded why. For example, when he was an infant he would scream like he was being murdered whenever he was in his carseat. So, even though we are crazy first time parents, we have always had a kid that really didn't give an inch (but of course we love him!)
We were walking through Chinatown on Saturday night, having successfully finished an evening that didn't involve screaming, a kids menu, a high chair, sippy cups or special dishes or even a stroller. We didn't wake him from a nap and weren't rushing home for bed. I was very excited thinking of all of the things that we could do now. And then I remembered that we could do whatever we wanted with our newfound freedom...as long as we could squeeze it into the next two weeks! Ahh, reality...
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
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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!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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
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
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
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
Monday, November 17, 2008
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!
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!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
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!
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!
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