Friday, September 28, 2012

Friday Thanks

Five things I am grateful for this week:

1.  Indian Summer.  It is still 80 degrees in Portland.  What a wonderful beginning to fall.  Crazy that it's dark now when we get home from our evening walks though. 

2.  Funny hubbie.  The single best personality quality my dear husband possesses is his humor.  He has made me laugh everyday since the day I met him.  I cherish him. 

3.  TV.  I don't watch all that much television, but I must admit, I have a guilty pleasure of watching a few series.  One of them is The Voice.  I am a total addict.  I love that show. It's all about watching people's dreams come true right before your eyes.  It's inspiring.  Plus, the contestants are all AMAZING!  Watching it makes me happy. 

4.  White bean chicken chili, zucchini bread, chocolate chip cookies, burgers on the grill.  These are a few of the yummy things that were on our menu this last week....and I do love food. I am so grateful that we don't have financial trouble feeding our family.  1.6 million people in our country, the most powerful and wealthy country in the world, struggle with hunger.  I am so, so, so very grateful we are not part of that statistic. 

5.  Friendship.  This week, I'm particularly grateful for my girlfriend Britney, who lent an ear and listened with a non-judgmental ear when I needed a friend just to listen.  Thank you Britney, I am so grateful you are part of my circle.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Fun with Cooper-dude


Henry and I finally got to meet Cooper yesterday (after 19+ months).  My friend Mary's sister, Annie, was pregnant with Cooper at the same time that I was pregnant with Henry.  Our due dates were only weeks apart.  We delivered only a week and a half apart.  It was actually Annie's delivery that woke me up to the REALITY that I would indeed have to deliver Henry someday (I was in a bit of denial up until then).  Ever since the boys were born we have been talking about getting them together for a playdate.  BUT...life sometimes get in the way...so it took us 19 months to finally get together.  SO MUCH FUN...totally worth the wait.  Thank you Annie for hosting!!!  Cooper-dude is SOOOOO cute.  I love his smile and laugh. 
Annie showed us a great park in Canby, walking distance from her house.  Henry loves parks (well, really anywhere he can be a wild man).  Henry really likes slides and tubes.  This tube was particularly fun because the big kids at the park would hide inside for the little kids to discover them.  However, there was a funny moment when one of the big kids (probably about 5 years old), saw Henry at the end of the tunnel pointing at him and started whining that "you're giving my spot away!"
 Look at me, I can get down low...and then throw bark chips all over my head.  Silly goose.
 Henry thought it was sooooo funny to play peek-a-boo around these poles.  He didn't quite realize that this body is actually bigger than the pole and you can see him at all times.  Fun times.
May I just say, it is really hard to get a picture with two toddlers looking at the camera.  I finally just gave up.  This was the closest I got. : )
Peek-a-boo!!!  Precious interactions.

Monday, September 17, 2012

19 Months


Seriously, who's in charge of this kid???  Henry really didn't understand why Mama thought this was "danger."  He tried desperately to play a game of keep away before Mama quickly declared victory and found a new home for this appliance plug-in way up high. 
Henry loves his trucks.  This dump truck is a favorite because it is big enough to carry smaller trucks in its bed. 
 Henry has mastered climbing up on the couch.  He is now working on how to get his toys up on the couch with him.  It is great fun watching him problem solve.  He often forgets to put his toys on the couch before he climbs up, but this time he remembered to put his truck on the couch before he climbed up.  He was so proud of himself.
Climbing the stairs is still a favorite pastime.  Although, he now much prefers to climb them upright with the assistance of Mama's hand.  He grunts with all the effort he has to exert as he climbs each stair.  It makes Mama giggle.
 
We often play chase.  Sometimes when Henry is chasing me, I turn around really quick and roar like a lion. Henry thinks this is absolutely hilarious, leaning forward to laugh and squeal with delight.
Hehehehe.  Daddy thought he was watching football.  Henry's in charge of both the recliner AND the remote now (and of course the dog leash...just for good measure).
 
Henry's favorite foods these days include: grapes, blueberries, apples, bacon, smoked salmon, rotisserie or roasted chicken, grilled steak, crackers (in particular Ritz crackers), waffles, pancakes, nuts and yogurt.  Getting Henry to drink milk is a challenge, but Mama keeps offering it.  He'll drink a few sips (perhaps 1-2 oz), but not nearly the 2 cups (16+ oz) they (pediatrician) recommends.  Making oatmeal with milk is Mama's new secret weapon.

He still doesn't like to brush his teeth, but he tolerates it if he can keep his hands occupied with other bathroom goodies (comb, toothpaste tube, sunscreen bottle, etc.) or splash his feet in the sink while sitting on the counter (which is the only way he will let me trim his nails...something he REALLY doesn't like and protests with great vigor). 

Henry is learning how to go down the slide by himself at the park. Throwing balls (or really any object for that matter) has also become fun.  Ryan has been working on "knucks" with him, but he has yet to learn how to "blow it up." It is funny watching him try though.  Henry is also starting to give closed mouth kisses and he says "mmmmmmmm" when he delivers them.  So sweet. 

He LOVES tractors, the bigger the better! 

Henry's current list of words include: "Dad," "Mama," "doe" (which means "door"), "dog," "dab" (which used to be "daboo," which still means garbage), "wow," "new, new" (which means "no, no"), and "yeah."  We're up to 8 words now (at least that I can recognize).  Progress.  Smile. 

He's getting really good at identifying pictures in his various picture books and will point to objects if you ask him "where's the car?" "where's the dog?" "where's the garbage can?" etc. 

Every developmental stage has been fun in its own way, but this stage is fun because the two-way communication is really starting to blossom.  He's so much fun to be around!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Friday Thanks

Five things I am grateful for this week:

1.  Anniversary.  Ryan and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary in grand style by attending a wedding a guests.  The location was beautiful.  The weather was pleasant.  The company was awesome.  The evening was memorable.

2.  Day at the Zoo.  I extended the Labor Day weekend by a day so we could attend the zoo as a family for the first time (okay, second time if you count Zoolights).  It was a perfect day off.  We spent the entire day together as a family.  We couldn't have asked for better weather.  We even all took naps in the afternoon.

3.  Cuddling with Baby Ben.  I got to visit with my friend Wende and cuddle with Baby Ben (three weeks old) on Monday.  So, so, so very precious.  I need to get going on making another one of them for me. : )

4.  Grandparents.  Ryan and I are so VERY grateful to have family that lives close.  Last weekend, Grandma Sherry and Grandpa Keith took Henry overnight so we could celebrate our anniversary without a curfew.  Grandma O offered to watch Henry an extra day this week so Ryan could go fishing with Grandpa Jim.  It was an awesome day out on the river.  I am grateful Ryan got the opportunity to go play for a day.  Heaven knows he has earned it!

5.  Fall.  Okay, I realize that it is not "officially" fall, but fall begins for me on Labor Day weekend.  The weather in Oregon is amazing in September.  Cool mornings/evenings and sunny afternoons.  The food is super yummy.  I love all the peaches, pumpkins, squash and SOUP that come with the fall.  Plus, my favorite holiday happens in the fall...Thanksgiving.  I can't wait!!!  We usually go to the beach a few times during the fall to spend time as a family and also go crabbing (even though I'm allergic still).  Simply put, I love the fall.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Trip to the Zoo

 Mom!  How do I get in there to touch the pig!?!
Perhaps Daddy will some day let me ride a REAL horse.  Okay....perhaps it's more like, perhaps Mama will some day let me ride a REAL horse.
Monkeys were by far Henry's favorite exhibit at the zoo.  This was a perfect way to spend a day off of work, Mama was in heaven spending the day with her two favorite dudes.
Henry liked the fish exhibit that was down low to the ground, just at his height.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Fall is Here!!!

Have I ever told you, I LOVE THIS BOY!!!  

 He is the perfect anecdote to a bad mood.
Henry LOVES to read.  His favorite book right now is I Love Trucks.  His favorite part of this book, as pictured, is the page about the digger (which is technically a tractor not a truck, but who's keeping track). 
A man on the move.  Henry has now "mastered" running and climbing up on the couch.  His other new skill is backing up to sit down on the bottom step of our staircase.  The most important skill he has recently mastered (finally) is going down the stairs on his belly.  The only problem is that he would prefer to go up the stairs upright now.  I am trying to still encourage him to go up on all fours, but he usually demands assistance with a couple of Mama's fingers to help provide some bracing.
The best part of Great Uncle Mike is that he owns a tractor.  Visiting Uncle Mike's property was like Disneyland for Henry since he had free access to the tractor.  Although garbage cans still remain an interest to Henry, tractors have moved to the top of the list.
 Fireman in the making.  Visiting Daddy at work is SOOOOOOOO much fun!
 I'm goin' to get you Mama!
Push me higher Daddy!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

The Real Deal

Happy Anniversay Love!!!  Cheers to the last 5 years of marriage (13+ years of true love).