You gonna eat that?!

Who is this child!?  We've been wading through a pretty picky food stage for a little while now. George and I were completely floored when Henry started shoveling in the salad we were sharing for dinner, complete with onions, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.

In the past, trying new food went something like this:
Henry: "Try leaf?"
Papa: "Ok. Sure."
(Henry makes a disgusted face. Leaf of lettuce falls to the ground).

Pickles

Papa found a snack that our occasional picky eater enjoys.

New Year, New Thoughts

I've never been one for New Year's resolutions (good thing, because we're looking at the last week in January, and I've got nothing). This year, it seemed entirely overwhelming to think about intentional, positive change. Goals. Resolutions. Let's be honest, given the news just shared on our blog about the new baby, change is inevitable in 2010. I'll be happy if we manage to satisfactorily cope with raising two children simultaneously.

Additionally, I just try to survive day by day. I was recently asked by a prospective residency applicant's spouse what a typical week was like, intern year or otherwise. There really is none. Some rotations are SO time consuming for the resident that families fly solo much of the time. And others are slightly more flexible, with hours close to 9am-5pm. How's 7am-6:30pm? We try to take FULL advantage of these weeks. But the ups and downs get to a person. Particularly a pregnant person. 

So we enjoyed our holidays. Henry LOVED all the attention. I caught a glimpse of what life can feel like when I'm not the sole caregiver. I was able to go to the YMCA twice in one week, get a haircut, grocery shop by myself.... we both became spoiled. And I knew it would be hard to adjust to George's ugly OB schedule during January. We would have to learn, again, what life is like with "just the two of us" (or 2 and 1/2 of us?)! 

What I was unprepared for, however, was just how big of a let down it actually would be. We were in the thick of it. Post-holiday blues, in the bleak mid-winter (cabin fever & seasonal affective disorder), solo parenting frustration, and pregnancy issues (hormones and heartburn, a bad combo). Just when I thought I could climb to some higher ground, we've all caught horrible colds. Ugh. Sickness. 

In the midst of our struggle though, I have, on occasion, had more positive thoughts. I'd like to share.

This quote made me laugh.

Now the thing about having a baby - and I can't be the first person to have noticed this - is that thereafter you have it.

~Jean Kerr

I'm so glad people are really excited for you when you tell them a new baby is on the way. It helps me become excited, too, despite nausea, heartburn, and fear of the unknown.

In the book Conversations with God, that I read quite some time ago, the author divides motivation of thought, feelings, and actions into two categories. Fear and Love.

I confess, I started out in the fear category for a while.

• I felt that we had hit such a groove with Henry. Life was good. We were confident in our skills to manage one child, public spaces, household chores, etc. So what were we thinking adding a variable to the equation when we'd just gotten things figured out?
• Henry went through a phase of not letting me hold another baby. In fact, it was a rather shocking and violent phase involving screaming "MY MOMMA", crying, and trying to knock the baby out of my arms. That's scary for a momma who knows that holding a newborn is central to caring for one.
• My greatest stumbling block was the thought that I would have to learn how to divide my attention and multiply my love. Wondering if I could ever do enough.
  

Recently, I've turned the corner and am actually looking forward to meeting a new family member.

• Thanks to other friends having second babies and coping just fine (in fact, adjusting with flying colors) I'm sure George and I will find a new groove. It may be a bumpy transition, but I'm hoping to find a smooth spot on occasion.
• Henry's phase of jealousy toward babies has developed into complete adoration for babies (we've been trying to read more books about new babies, which I think helped). Once he's had a chance to hold them and check out all body parts, he's a pretty assertive little lover. Plenty of hugs, kisses, and sharing of big trucks with them. He must really like them if he's willing to part with a big truck. I also learned through his interaction that second born babies are extremely tolerant of a little misguided sibling energy.
  
• As for multiplying love. Someone wisely reminded me that with the birth of a 2nd baby, a sibling relationship, entirely separate from the parent / child relationship, is also born. And it is a beautiful thing to watch unfold.
  

New Year, New Life

Coming May 2010...

You're really doing it

"You're really doing it" is a phrase used by my sister, Jessica, who was "encouraging" Henry this past summer as he pretended to water flowers with my empty watering can. It became our little joke from time to time as we've watched Henry mimic lots of activities.

This time, however, he really was doing it! As George was checking out the new attachments we received to make our bike trailer a stroller, he realized Henry was actually getting the screwdriver to turn the screws. Either that wooden tool box he got for Christmas has already paid off in experience, or Henry will follow Papa's lead as a "Mr. Fix-it." Perhaps a little of both.

Stocking Sewing Project

Recently, I've been trying my hand at sewing again. Thank goodness for those years in 4-H and my mother's knowledge and experience. I finished this project in the "nick" of time so that Santa could use it for Christmas.

Unlike other crafty blogs, I will not be posting any sort of tutorial. There was a lot of trial and error in this project, but the next time around should go much smoother!

Happy Birthday!

A very Happy Birthday to a very special husband and Papa!  We love you!

From Claire in Madison: New Year

*Due to George's night shift schedule, his birthday this year was celebrated with coffee cake as a stand in for birthday cake. Not to toot my own horn, but I thought that was a clever exchange!  :)

Double Trouble

As many have noted, this year's New Year's Eve celebrations were especially brightened by the Blue Moon event. Before I turned in for the night, I soaked in a few moonlit rays and marveled at the tree shadows cross-hatching our blanket of snow on the ground in the backyard.

Our evening here was relatively quiet. That is, until Henry had another night terror episode. Thankfully, this one was brief and he went back to sleep fairly easily. Perhaps he, too, needed to observe a little moonlight magic.

We (Jessica, Meme, and I) spent our clear, still, and frigid evening huddled under blankets on the couch watching the movie, "My Cousin Vinny" - an odd choice, but good for a laugh anyway. Meanwhile, George was at the hospital catching babies for last year's tax credit, and babies that were the first to see 2010 with completely fresh eyes. And more and more babies just because it was the full moon!  The news the next day said St. Mary's usually averages 10 babies a day, and before noon they had reached their typical quota. Aside from experiencing the usual shift work jet lag, it's no wonder George was exhausted when he returned home!

The Holiday Homestretch

Part 3: Meme spends some of her school vacation time with us to ring in the New Year, celebrate George's birthday, and enjoy an arctic blast of cold air. Or, rather, develop a deep appreciation for the balmy weather in Boston upon her return (isn't it amazing how warm 32 degrees can feel after experiencing temps near zero?!?).  This is not far off from how it truly feels here.

From Claire in Madison: New Year

We also had my sister, Jessica, staying with us during her school break - she's the one dressed in her unabomber outfit below. A teacher's schedule sure is nice around the holidays and summertime!

From Claire in Madison: New Year

Henry and I really enjoyed all the company last week, as George resumed his crazy OB schedule at the hospital rotating night shifts and day shifts.