Coundown!

In less than one week this boy...

Will be ONE!

No more baby :(  



The last few weeks have certainly been trying and if I didn't know any better I'd swear I had a child entering the "terrible twos" phase!  It started with mini tantrums.  As far as a tantrum goes, it was absolutely laughable- Henry wanted something and couldn't have it so he would proceed to gently lie his head on the ground then writhe silently on the floor.  This (wonderful) tantrum quickly progressed over the next few days to some loud protesting, head-thumping and throwing his head back so that if no one was there to catch him he ended up on the floor.  Not something I'd expect from an almost-one year old (*sniff*).  He has been sleeping less and clinging more (to me, and sometimes ONLY me).  Which has led to some serious grumpiness (from both mom and babe).  I don't mind cuddling most of the day but when you're trying to cut chicken and stir something on the stove while your child is screaming at your feet with his arms wrapped around your leg...for the THIRD time that day...it starts to get a little frustrating!  And I really really REALLY beg the sleep Gods to please keep him asleep until after I get the kids to school.  And while I enjoy grumpy company, I simply need a few minutes to shower, feed the older two and get at least the oldest out the door.  Wake up then and we can have a super duper happy and calm morning, just the two of us (until the Tasmanian Devil, AKA Jonas wakes up!).  And the hitting thing really needs to be nipped in the bud ASAP.  His brother, the dog, his brother...Jonas can only take so much!    

It hasn't been all bad.  He's been getting really good at talking.  I might be the only one that understands "dud" and "deent" but he's been picking up a few hand gestures and signs to accompany his language so soon others might understand too!  "Mama" is always loud and clear.  When he sees dad he whispers, "dadadada".  If he picks up a ball and starts murmuring- watch out!  He's actually saying, "throw" or "catch" and he likely won't wait for you to be ready!!  He LOOOOVES being outside.  Not being able to go outside elicits some serious tears.  With age he has grown a mega mop of soft hair that curls when it's wet.  There will be no first birthday haircut- I'm enjoying this!  When he's anticipating something like a tickle he giggles like crazy and it's so funny to watch and hear and always makes me laugh too.  When I'm sitting on the floor I'm a target for dive bomb hugs that come with a huge laugh and are always welcome.  

And have you ever seen a baby that loves the Sit 'n' Spin?        

Just shy of 7 months



Weee!



     

This love started at almost 7 months and has continued since.  He visits it on an almost daily basis!

The countdown has begun!  Am I ready?  Yes and no.  This is my last baby and it's just not the same when it's not your own.  I look at my oldest, who will be TEN this year, and wonder where the time went.  But it's going to happen so I might as well enjoy the ride!

Uh-Oh!

We were in Maryland over the weekend, hanging out with some family. 
Baby boy Henry (happy 11 months!!!) is in stair and explore mode.  Fortunately they have some great stairs for baby stair lovers.  He was able to practice over and over and over again!  Made him happy; made me nervous.  But like the others he's a stubborn one and as such he wouldn't stop- win for Henry.  Makes sense- it goes along with his whole issue of not playing with real toys so I shouldn't really be surprised.  Of course, there are exceptions like trains (he says, "chchchchch"), riding toys that he can push, cars (he says, "ffffffffff" while he drives those), blocks and dolls/stuffed animals.  And he loves to read books (that's my boy!!) But his other passions include the dog bowls (especially when filled with water), REAL remotes, REAL cameras, REAL phones (he knows the difference and God forbid we try to give him a toy), pots, pans and mommy's laptop.  
Anyway, on our last day I was buzzing around packing while Henry did some exploring.  He usually has to be closely watched while he explores, especially in antique-filled houses, but he was playing with the trash can in a safe room so I left.  A moment later he comes out to me and holds his hands up (kind of like I-don't-know-what-to-do style) and says "UH!".  That means "Uh-Oh" in Henry-speak.  So I scooped him up and asked what he did.  We went back to the bedroom where I found a tipped-over chair.  I just love talking about this, thinking about it because the thought processes of little babies totally blows me away.  How cool that he knew that something was wrong and could let me know!

On that note, he did something else that humored me and made me realize how much he's growing and learning.  On Friday while we were getting ready to leave Henry was really insisting on trying to go down the stairs.  In our house it's a big no-no because it's about 13 steps and no one was available to hold his hand.  He was persistent though and I had to keep distracting him as we packed.  Finally, he decided that it would work better for him if we were all out of the way (I can only assume what was going on in that brain of his).  he started pushing everyone who was in the hallway into bedrooms.  At first I didn't know what he was trying to do until he pushed me back into my room, pushed Jonas (the other hallway dweller) into a bedroom then took off running for for the stairs.  He looked at me as he neared the stairs and realized he was busted.  Then moved faster.  There's a reason I call him my sneaky sneaky boy!

Some other new milestones: more understanding of "drink" but can't really say it yet.  I'm teaching him a little sign language to help.  He still loves waving and says "bah" (bye) sometimes when he waves.  He throws kisses to his Japanese Grandma (she taught him so it's their special thing!), he's getting better at throwing and trying to catch, his 8th (and now 9th) tooth is still working it's way out but it's not here yet.  When we say, "yay" or tell him he's doing a good job (or similar) he claps.      

Happy 11 months Henry!  I can't believe you're almost ONE!!!  March 30th is coming fast! 

10 Month Milestones: This is That and That is This

Henry turned 10 months old on January 30, 2011.  Boy has time gone fast!  Even though he was never small (born at almost 9 and a half pounds) he is still my tiny little baby boy.  I'm only really hit with the reality of how much he's grown when I see younger babies. 


Henry is 10 months old (photo courtesy Grandma Weaver)

 He picked up some new skills during month 9, like stacking blocks, walking (looks like Yoda!), and talking.   Some of his first words were "hot" (we had to teach our kids this word early because we have a gravity furnace that uses a huge grate in the middle of the floor between the living room and dining room.  There isn't much room to go around it to get from one room to the other and there is no way to put a safety up so we had to be proactive!), "dog", "mama", "dada".  He loves to walk up to the heater and yell "oooott!!!". 

His loves: phones, "driving" his toys, balls, balloons, pots and pans, books, the dog's water bowl (he also drives the water bowl!).  He started to understand the word "drink" and shakes his head "no" when he knew he was doing something he wasn't supposed to, like racing to the stairs!

Since he was born he has hated- with a passion- a dirty diaper.  Sometimes brings me a diaper when he has a dirty diaper!  It bothers him a lot.  I'll keep my fingers crossed that he is an early potty trainer (much like his big sis, very UNlike his big brothers!). 

Now at 10 months old he is learning even more words.  His newest favorites are "that" and "this".  He loves to show us something and say "dis" or "dat".  I'll tell him what it is and sometimes he'll try to repeat me, sometimes it is still "dis" or "dat"!  He has started blowing raspberries again- something he picked up a while ago then dropped.

Henry still loves clapping, singing, dancing (especially when his siblings are watching Yo Gabba Gabba) and cuddling.  Mommy is still his favorite person though recently he has started engaging in other people and has become quite friendly to complete strangers!    

One of my most favorite things about him is that when I ask him to bring something to me he does it with enthusiasm.  And he gets VERY upset if you just take that something without asking.  He still loves all the toys I've mentioned earlier but now he also plays fetch.  He will throw a ball and chase after it.  Sometimes he brings the ball to us and if we don't throw it he takes it back and throws it himself! 

  

He has 7 teeth right now and another one on the bottom looks like it will be popping up soon.  And those EYES!  I love his expressions- you can see so much feeling in his eyes.  And gotta love that deep blue!  I have green eyes, dad has hazel.  My older two boys have hazel and it looks like my daughter's change from green to hazel depending on circumstances.  He also has the best "I'm getting into something" look! 

Happy (belated) 10 months to you, Henry Sebastian!  We love you so much!! 

Henry's Wobbling!

Henry took his very first step on December 23, 2010.  After that it seemed he decided he wasn't ready any more because the majority of the time he held on as he made his way around the house.  But not today!  Today he was toddling everywhere.  It's so darn cute to see them wobbling with their short, chubby legs!  Whenever I saw him I cheered him on and he would get so exciting, bouncing, clapping and plopping down on his bottom.  I just want to eat him up!!! 

So even though his official start date for his first step is the 23rd I will say that his first day of really walking is January 10, 2011.  And what a great birthday present for ME!  It's a day early, but I don't mind.  I'd rather be surprised a day early than not surprised at all :D
     

 

 

Baby Henry's Latest Milestones (9 Months)

Yesterday, January 6, 2011 Henry started blowing bubbles.  Not actually blowing them but making the noise, sort of like a raspberry but with his lips instead of his tongue.  We did it back and forth- what a fun game!  He is still a big fan of clapping and an even bigger fan of making ME clap.  He laughs so much when he makes me clap.  It's very cute!  He also likes to play Pat A Cake over and over and over again.  But only the clapping, rolling, patting and pointing (to You and Me).  Marking it and putting it in the oven make him mad, lol!  We play this game often.  Another fun game is growling.  He really has fun growling at us.  A grinning, growling baby is a funny sight indeed!! 

I think Henry's most favorite game of all is climbing the stairs.  Our stairs are built so that no matter what he can at least get on the first step.  With a gate there it likely that he could fall easier, right onto our gravity furnace (yes, we still have one of THOSE!) grate that sits in between the living and dining rooms.  So when I do have the gate up it's after the landing (which is two steps).  He likes to climb down the stairs too but hasn't mastered that skill.  Over the holiday he had some great stairs to play on and was trying to climb up and down all weekend!  He will also race up the stairs when he hears the water running.  That boy LOVES bathtime and heaven forbid if someone is bathing without him.  He will try to get to the bathtub if he has a poopy diaper too.  He hates being messy as much as he loves his baths!!

Henry has also learned a new word.  He loves to drop things over any ledge he can find- the table, his high chair, the couch- it's all SOOOO much fun!  Now when he drops something he says, "Oh oh."!!  He's singing now too, especially when he is tired.  He will lie his head on my shoulder and sing, "aaah ahhh ah ah ah".  I melt whenever I hear his sweet voice.  ♥ 

He took his first step a few weeks ago but has decided that walking without holding on just isn't for him yet.  He did it a few times (a fantastic job too :D) but there are more interesting things to accomplish in his busy life!