Back in the Saddle Again

Tonight is the first night George has been on call for an inpatient rotation in a while. In fact, from now until baby's due date, he'll be on a rough Q4 call schedule. So I'm flying solo with Henry. There's a different mindset required when you know that dinner and bedtime will be unassisted. But, tonight, I feel on top of my game.

I'm not sure where Henry picked this up, but he has a habit of stating "I had a fun day" before bedtime (and sometimes before nap, too).

Me too. I thought.

Today I managed to take Henry and our neighborhood friend, Dario, to a Play & Learn session. It was a day to celebrate February birthdays, and they both celebrated their birthdays this week!

I baked a batch of apple bread. Parent lesson: play dates keep children occupied, and allow parents to accomplish other household activities. It's fabulous!

Then, I watched another little neighborhood boy (a 6 month old) in the afternoon and managed to get him and Henry down for a nap.

During nap time, I set up the dishwasher and completed a prenatal yoga session.

Yup. Today was good practice for parenting multiple children. It was a confidence boost I needed.

I sure am tired, but it was a good day.

I suspect this song inspires Henry's daily motto:
Good night ladies,
good night gentlemen,
good night babies
it's time to go to sleep

Hope you had a happy day
happy day
happy day

Hope you had a happy day
'cause I had a happy day, too!

Toddler has Talent

Two days late. We should have practiced blowing out candles more before his birthday. However, I'm not sure guests would have wanted this approach on his big day...

Oh Henry!

Two. I'm still amazed.

From Henry Adam Leydon

From Henry 3-4 weeks

From 7-8 months

From Henry's First Birthday!

From Hampton Beach 2009

From Henry's 2nd birthday

Henry's Two!

From Henry's 2nd birthday

He's two!

I'm exhausted.
I took the plunge and hosted a birthday brunch for Henry and his little playmates. Roughly 6 other toddlers and their parents helped us celebrate. Whew!!

He's exhausted.
He rallied (sugar rush?) and skipped his nap today (this has happened twice this week, and I hope it's not the start of a trend). He went to bed without any persuasion.

be sure to click on the link to the photo album for more pics of our day.

Dress up day

Henry has been interested in trying on some of Papa's clothes.

He's modeling one of George's vests in this photo. He looked like he belonged on the set of Star Wars as he wandered around the house.

Week 28 profile

A profile view...
Time seems to fly when you're not counting weeks of pregnancy as closely as the first time around. Week 28 already? Third trimester here we come.

Doctor visits are going fine. Baby's heart rate is consistently in the 150s or 160s. (so all those who like to speculate gender can have at it!)

Moo!

We do live in Wisconsin, after all.

Henry and I enjoyed a day "Celebrating Youth" at the Monona Terrace. We needed to get out of the house, and this event provided us with much needed distraction and a place to run around, without boots, coats, mittens, hats, etc.

The highlights:
* traditional Mexican music, provided in part by our neighbor boy's uncle (it's nice to have an "in" and learn about events like this in the community)
* traditional Native American drumming
* Balloons! "SO pretty" -- Henry gasps and quickly starts naming colors.
* Mascots. A complete surprise because Henry can be a little shy at times. I don't blame him when it comes to people (who must remain mute?) in costume, dressed as animals, or other objects -- a giant heart?! But he warmed up to this idea when encouraged with the "just give a high five". And soon he was all hugs.

In this photo, I felt a little sympathy for the cow. Henry just kept shouting "MOO!" at the poor thing. The mascot would nod, but didn't really say anything. He was relentless. I guess he was expecting the cow to actually moo. Though he did provide a lot of hugs.

I spy...

A stroller.
Way up high.

ha! The sights you'll see when you turn around from the sink.

Chicken Soup

I bought a little piece of sunshine for $4. I've been staring at these flowers everyday for nearly two weeks (through watery eyes with a stuffy nose and congested head). It's been lovely to see some color amidst the winter blahs. The timing couldn't have been better.

These past two weeks have been a blur of days spent keeping tissues close, hot cups of tea going to sooth sore throats, naps, Vicks Vapo Rub, and steamy showers. (Aside from Tylenol, there's not much else a pregnant momma can do for herself or a toddler, medicine-wise...)

My hat goes off to mommas and papas everywhere who care for sick children. And when they also get sick? It's like instant sainthood. How do you do it?!?

I think we can finally speak from the "other side" of this ordeal (though lingering symptoms are still ailing us). And my own mom deserves a BIG thank you. Last weekend, she drove up to help us get the house in order (is there anything worse than knowing the moment you have any energy there is a pile of laundry, or dishes, and a vacuum waiting for you?) She also took Henry to the Y for a swim. He needed to get out and burn off some energy, and be properly looked after for a few hours.

She also made chicken soup. Like liquid medicine. Henry ate it up. (Of course, his prior meal was half a bagel with cream cheese and a bag of Sunchips. Yikes! Did I mention I've been quite sick, and had not been cooking?!) Which is a vicious cycle. If there's not yummy, nutritious food to eat, how is your body supposed to get better? Seems like there's not an easy answer to this one.

But we've survived. And we're slowly exiting quarantine and approaching our daily routine again. I think.

I am looking forward, however, to days when the flowers won't be $4. They'll be cut from my garden...

Terribly Two

Lord, help me. We have quite the little actor on our hands.

Henry is terribly two at times. In the past week, we've developed more defiance than the constant "no" and "no, Momma" (which is happening WAAAYY too often, in my book). Recently, upon attempting to repeatedly remind Henry that he should sit on his chair at the table, rather than climb up on the table, he responded, "no, Momma, I'm going to stay on the table." Excuse me? Aside from the well-formed sentence, there is something wrong with this picture.

Today, he seemed to just want to jump on my last nerve. After I turned the light on in the kitchen, he went over and turned it off. He stated, as he did this, "I want the light off, Momma." Again, I'm somewhat baffled about how to avoid the simple back and forth argument of yes and no. But geesh! If he keeps this up, I'll have a full head of gray hair by the time baby number two comes around.

I realize that he is entering a stage of independence and wants to make a few of his own choices. I'm just still unclear about how this works as his only answer when presented with options is "no."

So, it's not just a sarcastic remark. Lord, help me. After being sick for this long, my patience is short. Please offer me guidance as we navigate these new waters of Henry & Mommy finding ways to make it through our days without major conflict over little things.

It's not all bad. Occasionally, I get a glimpse of how terribly sweet Henry can be - giving spontaneous BIG hugs. Or singing a funny song. Or sharing a toy with one of his little playmates.

But the switch between the two sides of the coin keep my head spinning!