Merry Christmas!

(to the tune of Jingle Bells) Oh what fun it was to watch the boys today!

When discussing Santa this morning Ralph asks "is he real?" Hmmn, already questioning the validity of Santa? Ralph did great at waiting for Henry to wake up before approaching the gifts and stockings.

I think the boys would have been satisfied if they had only gotten a stocking and no gifts. It was a little funny to watch them play with their stocking gifts, not thinking about what was still ahead, just enjoying the little things.

Henry was great at opening gifts as first thing this morning but as the day wore on his enthusiasm wore off a little.

Henry was wired by the time we got to Grandma & Grandpa's. For some reason he ran back and forth and then some circles while we were trying to get him to open gifts - he was acting as if he was on a sugar high or as if he had been sitting for quite a while and had some energy to expel but neither were true.

The boys got to nap a little later than usual at Grandma & Grandpa's after opening gifts. I escaped Henry's room and thought he'd be asleep soon after I left but he was still a little high strung and started singing "Happy Birthday" and "Jingle Bells". It took quite a while, along with a visit from Grandpa before falling asleep. He tried to get Grandpa to play "peak a boo" with him but finally gave in when Grandpa faked him out. Ralph played his own procrastination game with Mike but gave him before Henry did.

The boys had great fun playing with their gifts and I'm glad we have another day to be home tomorrow!

Christmas Traditions Continued!

The race was close but we managed to complete our other holiday tradition before Christmas! We tried to make the boys handprint ornaments earlier this week but got a kit we had not tried before and was not that successful. Going back to what we know we had a much better experience tonight. After we set the official ornaments aside the boys had fun rolling out the 'dough' and pressing their hands down - Ralph would use his other hand to assist pressing down his hand then he helped Henry press his hand down so it would get a better impression. So fun to watch them.















Hopefully our newest tradition will expand over the years but Ralph helped make chocolate covered pretzels this year. I got things rolling but handed over the task to Michael and he and Ralph did their best at dipping pretzels.

Candyhouse Chaos!

Just before Thanksgiving I entered a "guess how many jellybeans in the jar" contest at the Lincoln Children's Museum. The two guesses that were the closest would receive a chance to participate in the candyhouse workshop and decorate not just one candyhouse but two! I debated about letting the boys each do their own but knew it would be more fun if they shared a candyhouse and we invited one of Ralph's friends who used to go to our daycare. Leighton & Ralph had not seen each other since Halloween and I was glad to see they were super excited to see each other.

It took some time to find the candyhouse workshop area but when we finally did we were in awe of the setup. The houses were sitting on a table waiting for us along with the frosting and utensils to frost the houses with. Our house almost started to look a little tye-died as some little hands were not to fussy on which colors to mix together. Then we ventured to the candy station and filled the tray with so many options (vanilla wafers, marshmallows, suckers, gum drops, cereal, licorice). Ralph and Henry went to town half-haphazardly placing candy on the house with no pattern in mind. It was just fun watching them to their thing. This is Ralph's 4th year of making a candyhouse and Henry's 2nd - but the first time at the Museum.

The boys have not been to the Children's Museum since Henry was super small so it really was a new experience for them. They had fun and we are looking forward to returning.

Henry: Crossing items off the 2-year check list!

Yesterday Henry had his 2-year pictures done at Penneys. We lucked out both in Henry's willingness to participate and in the photographer. Henry was very cooperative in every pose he was placed in. The photographer, who we've had before, was great working with him. Whew!

Today Henry had his 2-year well child check up. He weighed in at a meek 23.2 pounds (11%) and measured 34" (33%). The only larger than average measurement was of his head - 19.5" (50-75%). We aren't surprised by any of these measurements but, of course, wish he was a little taller. He did great with the finger prick needed to do a lead test but did cry during the shot for Hep A. All of the other checks were fine. I told doc the story of the pebble coming out during a nasal rinse - first time he's heard of that happening, though I can't imagine there's a high percentage of parents that would even attempt a nasal rinse on a toddler so that is not that surprising.

Birthday party, pictures, check up . . .I think that completes the 2-year check list! I am amazed at how much it seems Henry has changed in a week. There are no more babies in the house! I write that with some sadness and excitement. I look back on the last two years and wonder how we did it. How did we survive the long stretches of sleep deprivation? With the exception of the sleep challenges Henry was a great daytime baby and played well independently. He's got a great smile, is mostly a good natured boy who feeds off others feedback and responses, and has a contagious laugh. I am sad our days of cuddles at bedtime and rocking are numbered though I know there's plenty more to come at the rate we are going. I am sad his days in a crib are numbered. I am not sure I am ready for him to have the freedom that comes with a big bed. I am sad he will outgrow some of his current mannerisms and they will be a distant memory. I am excited as I watch him become more independent in trying to do things and begin to learn colors, letters, and numbers, as well as labeling items.

Henry: Celebrating 2 years!

If the next 364 days are anything like tonight, we will have a great year! NOT! It's as if he's heard of the "terrible two" cliche and plans on living up to the name. I'm hoping the last few days finally took a toll on him and he was just overly tired but wow, he was sure sensitive.

Henry had one new tooth break through in the last month, the bottom right cuspid. His got one opening left. Unfortunately he is continuing to use his teeth for evil (ie. biting friends, marking territory, and as a form of communication). He had been biting a few times at week at 'school' but today he broke a new record, unfortunately, and had to have a talk with the director.

Potty training started just over a week ago. I was going to wait until Henry moved up to the next room at daycare when he turned two but it turns out he won't move up for awhile so I asked his teachers to start sitting him on the potty the Monday after Thanksgiving. He wasn't happy about sitting on the potty the first time but by Wednesday he had one successful trip to the potty and two successful trips on Thursday. Before the official start of potty training he had gone potty in the little potty a few times over the last couple of weeks.

"More potty" remains one of his stalling tactics at bedtime, along with "tissue?", "rockey", and reciting names - "Ralphie?", "Daddy?", and the names of many friends at 'school'. After each name I usually say "night-night" hoping to get the idea across that it is time to go night night. His newest stalling tactic involves asking for and inspecting shirts that have balls on them (baseball & football).

Life is an adventure with Henry. The evening of Thanksgiving I thought Henry sounded a little stuffy so we decided to give him a nasal rinse. It's a messy job but necessary sometimes. After squirting water up one nostril we heard a clink when something hit the sink - Mike and I looked at each other since nothing coming from the nose should make that sound. Yes, a little pebble from the playground at daycare fell out of his nose. We think it had been in his nose for 5 days as he did wake up with a little bloody nose the Saturday before.

While Henry's sleeping has greatly improved, he wanted to relive his younger days last Friday night and was up off and on from about 10:40 pm - 2:12 am. We still aren't sure why this little regression but on Saturday morning, Mike was looking in Henry's ear and made a comment "Is that a rock in your ear?" I have not peaked myself but would not be surprised. If you ask Henry if his ear is okay now he says "rock" as he points to his ear.

Henry's language skills are flourishing. He does a super job repeating words, even multiple syllables. Sentences Henry self-initiates are getting a little easier to understand and are usually 1-2 words. It's so nice to finally see some progress in this area.

Henry is starting to make some new facial expressions when he eats - so funny to see him open his mouth wide and raise his eyebrows when putting food in his mouth.

I have noticed Henry already subconsciously picks at his fingers/fingernails/cuticles.

Henry has mastered "flip it" with his winter coat - a trick we learned when Ralph was in the toddler 2 room. Henry is so excited when he actually has enough "umph" to get it over his head.

I think he has had some experience with ice packs at daycare. If he gets an owie at home and is crying I'll ask him if he needs ice, he says "ice" and walks over to to the freezer and tries to open the door. Once given an ice pack he holds it up to the spot that has an owie and sometimes he holds the body part out for a kiss.

Photo taken this morning, while in a hurry and not that cooperative. I was trying to get him to smile by saying "no mommy no mommy". It almost worked. Notice the morning bedhead and puffy eyes. He seems to be going through a hair phase . .if he does not have bed head he has hat head or just plain static hair. He may need product for his 2-year photos next week.

Henry: An Elmo Birthday Party!

Henry celebrated his birthday a few days early this morning with an Elmo themed birthday party. We combined two of his loves, Elmo & trains, on his birthday cake by having Elmo drive a train.

The guest list included Grandma & Grandpa, Uncle Larry, and Uncle Rick! Yes, Henry finally got the chance to meet Uncle Rick!

Henry was not too hesitant to open his gifts and had some narration to go with the opening of the gifts. I did try to get him to open gifts on his own but he was content to sit on my lap as he tore into the gifts. He wanted to take many of the gifts out of the box right away but luckily he can still be easily distracted and he nearly finished opening gifts before running to a toy Ralph had been playing with. After a little prodding we got him back to the task at hand.

Ralph did a great job of sharing Henry's new toys. We gave the uncles the task of opening and taking some toys out of their boxes . . and Ralph would play with them while Henry opened more gifts. When Henry was done opening gifts Ralph brought over the remote control fire truck and told Henry "here you go" without any coaxing - I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, there have been a few arguments as the day has gone on.

Henry thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate cake and frosting. He cleaned his plate and asked for more!