Monday, May 30, 2011

Henry, 10 months






Henry is our shy flirt. Smile at him and he will give you a coy smile before turning away. Declared a ladies man by many. He is my Henry Bear and when you meet him you understand why. He is sweet (obviously) but also loves to growl 24/7. Even though he says mama, dada and baba, he growls more then anything. Up until this week he was content to sit and play, even without the distraction of a toy. He talks to himself (or us) and throws out his arms in excitement. He loves to play with the stacking rings and try to stack them himself. Maybe an engineer? He loves his feet and will play with them a lot (not in his mouth). He commonly lays on his side in what I've come to call his "model" pose, holding onto one of his feet. He also loves to put clothes, cloth toys, bibs and other items into his mouth and shake it back and forth in a move he must've witnessed watching Toby.

He loves to wave "hi" but not always as hi. He just likes to wave. He still loves to blow raspberries. He FAVORITE thing is to shake his head no. Sometimes I think he really means no and sometimes he does it just for fun. But you definitely will not leave our house without seeing him do it at least 5 times. He can also shake his head yes. It's not as often (imagine that) but seems to be often in agreement for something you said. I think it's another thing he inherited from daddy as Shawn is prone to this when he tells you something that is an affirmative statement. Recently he developed an "adventurous" streak laughing when I toss him in the air. He is still cautious, however, in that he only loves a foot or less of height before his laughs turn into paralyzing fear.




Of his siblings he typically finds Evie the most hilarious. We captured a video of her putting a stacking ring in her mouth and pulling it out with a little noise and he thought she was the bees knees. He also laughs when I tickle him along his rib cage under his arms. He loves peek-a-boo.

He is the hardest to feed, despite what his rolls might imply. He prefers anything toddlerish ie crunchers, mums, yogurt, and puffs and will only eat "baby" food up to a certain point. Then he becomes quite adorably stubborn. He gives you a semi-grin with his mouth firmly sealed. His look sort of says "you can't make me open my mouth, but go ahead and try!" Shawn discovered a trick of pinching his cheeks to get more in but he sure is stubborn. He's not full, since as soon as you pop the lid to the puffs he goes crazy. Henry's "crawl" is a hybrid of Ella and Grant. Not a full crawl but not the paralyzed leg type of Grant. He uses his forearms to army crawl with the aid of one leg. He's a little slower then the other two but getting faster all the time. Henry loves attention from both mama and daddy. He leans a little bit more towards being a mama's boy but revels in daddy's attention too. Here's the highlights of his 10th month:

New foods this month: Eggs Yolks (vomitous, LITERALLY-LOVES them now), chicken pieces (not baby food-have you seen how nasty that stuff looks?) (YUM-give me more!), apricots mixed in with other fruit (ok), and Soy Yogurt (delicious, ranks up there with bananas and mums).

Discovers peek-a-boo with mama on April 30th and finds it HILARIOUS!

Says my favorite word on May 10th: ma-ma-ma.

Henry is very rolly-polly. I love that he has fat creases everywhere. I especially adore his fat forearms and thighs. I "spend" more of my kisses there and also on his adorable cheeks. I love my babies in every shape and form but I so wanted a chubby baby and here he is! Because of his size, Henry fits well in the 12month pajamas and shorts. He looks adorable! He definitely can wear his pants cincher free.


We had visitors the last/first weekend in April/May, my friend Andrea and her two children Emma and Easton. With her I took the kids out for their first extended shopping trip and extended trip in the quad stroller. You should've seen the looks and whispered conversations. We were quite the attraction. Doing this once has grown my confidence in managing going out and about with the kids, like I once did with Evie. Maybe to start shopping once a week with them or doing something beside being homebodies.

Like his siblings he too ran a high fever the last week of 9 months. With it came congestion and lots of snoring. He is already a loud breather, add in congestion and you start to feel like you're listening to a little man through the monitors. On 19th of May, at 2am, I ended up making a trip to the ER because two exhausted parents could not figure out why our normally laid-back baby who finishes nearly every bottle would not sleep and would not eat. So there I was with a happy (why don't they ever act sick in the doctor's office?) being told that Henry had congestion that was not letting him breath to eat and since he couldn't eat he was too hungry to sleep. DUH!! I felt like such a doofus! Why hadn't that occurred to two educated parents?? Especially since up until then we'd routinely used saline to ease congestion. Fatigue can do that, that and being too close to the situation. Who can think clearly when it is your own baby??

It has been a very short but awesome 10 months. I love you, Henry Bear!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Grant, 10 Months




Grant is our silly little man. The one I call "our ham." He is our comedian and makes the craziest faces, and does the silliest movements. He greets us with the biggest smile of all of our babies. He loves to say mama, dada and also "talk" laugh. He makes spitting noises and mimics kissing noises. He loves to wink and sleep on his belly. He doesn't have any "favorite" toys but does enjoy making noise with them whether it is by banging them on something, shaking them or, his favorite, dragging them across the laminate flooring while laying on his belly. Grant can also be a bit of a drama-king "crying" just for attention.


He is our great imitator in facial expressions, vocal sounds and actions. He has recently discovered clapping, which he copies with a HUGE smile on his face. He also likes to use both hands and clap on his belly. He seems to really enjoy rhythm, music and sound. Perhaps a career in the music field. Recently his favorite activity is to crawl around the house, which in actuality is pulling himself around with his hands. It basically looks like his fully functioning legs are now paralyzed and he drags them around as such. He works to get up on his knees and tented up on his feet but hasn't really figured out how to use this skill. Still he manages to get around quite well. He is the most ticklish under his arms and in his armpits. He loves to play the "stinky feet" game.



Grant is Evie's favorite to "love." She is constantly telling him stories, hugging him, cuddling him and sometimes irritating him. He tolerates it in it's most aggressive moments and loves it at its sweetest. Most of the time he adores her. As yet Evie doesn't understand that crying means, "STOP!" He's pretty stubborn and will most likely continue to "tell" her until he can actually say the words. While he loves everyone, he is somewhat of a mama's boy. Here's the highlights of his 10th month:

New foods this month: Eggs Yolks (bleh-LOVES them now), chicken pieces (not baby food-have you seen how nasty that stuff looks?) (YUM-give me more!), apricots mixed in with other fruit (ok), and Soy Yogurt (pretty good).

Starts saying my favorite word: "ma-ma-ma" on May 1st.

We had visitors the last/first weekend in April/May, my friend Andrea and her two children Emma and Easton. With her I took the kids out for their first extended shopping trip and extended trip in the quad stroller. You should've seen the looks and whispered conversations. We were quite the attraction. Doing this once has grown my confidence in managing going out and about with the kids, like I once did with Evie. Maybe to start shopping once a week with them or doing something beside being homebodies.

Grant shared his puffs with me on the 8th of May. He is quite the sweetheart!!!! He delights in others and maybe this is a sign he will be a people person, outgoing and more of an extrovert. He certainly likes to steal the show and be the center of mama and daddy's attention.


Spring had finally shown some hope of arriving on the 10th of May when it was above 90 degrees for the first time. Although there were some warmer days after their arrival in July the babies never were able to enjoy them or wear shorts so this was the first day they did both. The heat though was a tad exhausting for everyone. The hot days also meant hotter nights and after several weeks/nights of the boys being exhaustively restless sleepers, daddy and I discovered that our hot body boys sleep better dressed in their summer pajamas. Finally we went back to only waking for a bottle.

Though his first and only successful attempt, Grant pulled himself to standing while sitting on my lap and using my clothes. He was pretty darn cute doing it to. Until he manages to go from crawling to sitting he won't be able to make any further attempts. He is also pretty cute with his legs. He seems to be the most flexible of the three being the only one to get a taste of his toes and one day during a bottle feeding he used his flexibility to hold his bottle. There he was in daddy's lap with both his hands AND feet holding on. Didn't I tell you he's our comedian?

Grant is still a peanut. I adore that these three are so physically different, giving us a little of everything. In his tinyness the 12 month summer pajamas (the only size we currently own) do not stay over his tush and he probably could continue to wear the size 3 diapers. We've switched him to size 4 mostly for the easy of buying only 1 size. Hopefully they will all continue to do well in the 4's. Like Evie he is bound to need "cinchers" in all his pants so that they won't randomly fall down. Still, as the peanut I get to enjoy his "babyness" longer then the other two. It possibly keeps away some of the sadness that comes when one's babies are nearly toddlers. His small hands and feet are my favorite to hold and nibble.

Their last week of being 9 months was a sick one for the babies. All were running on average 103 degree temperatures (rectal) and though their affect most of the time was pretty good they did have some moments of crabbiness. I took them to the doctor for a double check because of several days of a high fever which spiked in Grant at 104 degrees even under OTC antipyretics. As I suspected they didn't have anything bacterial, just a virus. The fevers eventually gave way to congestion and snotty noses. Grant is doing well currently. Now I am just waiting for another tooth to arrive, though he has no teething signs currently.

10 months is a fun time...we're sad it's gone so fast but it has been a beautiful ride.

One of my favorites of Shawn and the kids. Don't you LOVE their expressions of mutual adoration????

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Today...


Outside My Window...
is rain, rain and more rain. I'm really reconsidering spring as my favorite.

I am thinking...
that I hope this migraine goes away and that maybe a nap would be nice.

I am thankful for...
a better nights sleep then before, a hard working husband and that the kids are on the mend.

From the learning rooms...
this is Evie's last week of preschool.

From the kitchen...
lots of peanut butter sandwiches and eggs. We are out of groceries. Did try a new recipe called "Greek Chicken" that was excellent and tried a new food, Kalamato olives.

I am wearing...
"mom" jeans (ie high-waisted with baby food speckles), a purple top, no socks.

I am creating...
scrapbook pages celebrating anma's and anpa's.

I am going...
to organize this house today...hopefully. Maybe once this headache and fatigue is gone. Then again I may be lazy today. Then off to a benefit for a family who had twins born early at about 23 weeks.

I am reading...
same books as before plus "90 Minute Sleep" to help my 30 minute nappers. So far a very informative read, not sure if I am noticing any improvement in sleep but it's still early.

On my mind...
to tired to think much.

Around the house...
new Barbie accessories I bargain shopped for at a garage sale. Super find! A used Superyard XT to help corral the babies in the house and out.

One of my favorite things...
coffee.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
getting the kids back to normal, picture of Evie with her preschool teachers, cleaning the bathroom, either buying or making a gift for Evie's teachers.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

"Wordless Wednesday"

Ok, I know it's not Wednesday and that this post isn't wordless but here's a picture of the big sitters and the big sister!


Friday, May 6, 2011

Let's not forget about...


Mad at mama;o) Gorgeous no matter what! Super model in the making!


Posing
Evelyn!

She has changed so much since she became a big sister. It seems we just started her first "school" year and yet here we are in May her last month of being in the pink class. She has really enjoyed herself and has learned some amazing things. Here is a little bit about her right now:

Favorite color: Pink

When I grow up I want to be: a doctor, a mommy and a cowboy (when she went on a field trip to the fire station we talked about her going and she just kept telling us "I don't want to be a fireman!!")

Favorite movie: Toy Story

Favorite toy: Ken, Barbie, Dessa (Iridessa), Tinkerbelle and Rapunzel (all Barbie like dolls)

Favorite food: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

Best Friend: Abi

Who do you wish could visit this weekend: Anma and anpa

Favorite song: "Jesus Loves Me"

Favorite book: Toys story

Favorite candy: candy canes

Favorite fruit: grapes

Favorite vegetable: "I don't have one"

Monday, May 2, 2011

Grant, 9 months




Here are the top 10 things mommy and daddy love about Grant @ 9 months:

10. Your laugh. By far the easiest to illicit especially by ticking under your arm and into your armpit. Your laugh is adorable as well because of the deepness of it.

9. The face you make when you want our attention and are "crying." Such a little-old-man-frown that just makes us want to smile. Sorry it is so ineffective;o)

8. That you love games including winking, making tongue noises and peek-abo. I love that you randomly break into these games and I would rather play them then do most anything else.




7. We love that you are small in stature. While we adore our chubby babies we also love your tiny arms and legs and that you are 4lbs lighter then your brother. We love that even though you are so tiny you still have a big belly and adorable double chin.


6. We love your curious nature. How you look at each toy for long periods just trying to figure it out. We love to watch you explore your surroundings.



5. We love that you love music and will "head-bang" to most music but especially "Grant's Song" (to the tune of Bat Man "Nah, nah, nah Grant man, Grant man, Grant man: Silly man, handsome man, Grant man!") We love how you will suddenly hear a tune you love, push yourself up onto both arms and bob your head to the beat.

4. We love that you finally found your voice and our home is now filled with three voices saying "ma-ma-ma, da-da-da" along with other "words." Music to our ears!!


3. We love that you are our cuddlebug. You want to be held the most, rocked to sleep and need us to show our love to you through touch. We hope you continue to love to be held and cuddled.


2. We love your easy smile. You light up the room with that smile and bring it out even at 2am right in the middle of a big cry.
And the #1 reason we love Grant is that we get to call you our son, our little Grant man and watch you learn and grow.

Grant's Statistics and Facts @ 9 months:

Weight: 15# 4oz (1%)
Length: 25 3/4 (1%)
Head Circumference: 17.25 (13%)

*Compared to Evie Grant is a lot smaller both in length and weight but his head is bigger. He's most like her in size and stature but smaller at this age because he started out at 3# 9oz and she at 8# 3oz.

*Meets his Uncle Chris for the first time on March 24th. Plays peek-a-boo for the first time with him using his burp cloth. Grant does all the work holding it over his eyes and pulling it down.

*Attends his first funeral, for great-anma Betty.

*Moves to 3 "square" meals a day and "eats" out at his first restaurant.

*Starts "growling."

*Begins to utilize the pincher grasp on puffs but can only get them to his mouth as he can't let them go once there.

*On April 3rd gets his 3rd tooth: Left upper front.

*Switches to size 3 diapers on April 7th and size 6-9 clothes on the 16th. As typical he grows out of his pants first.

*Gets up on all 4's rocking. Crawling here we come!

*Finally finds his voice on the 7th of April. I confuse it for Ella and come out and he is talking like mad using many syllables.

*Shares an intense dislike for both of the new foods this month, potatoes and avocados, refusing to open his mouth after a few bites.