Thank you, Kansas City!

We headed to Kansas City last Saturday, May 12 and returned on Tuesday, May 15.  Thank you, Kansas City, for another great family vacation.  The boys are about 11 months older than our last trip which helped all around but most notably in the area of naps (or near lack of).   Ralph seemed to sneak a nap in car around lunchtime; Henry took a little longer and usually crashed as we left our afternoon activity around 4-4:30.  Unfortunately neither got good naps while we were gone but managed okay.   We repeated a few activities that we did last time and added some new ones to the list.  The boys did great with the busy days though we might have spoiled them a little with strollers in an attempt to speed things up and not get them tired so quickly.  To free up some room in the car we opted to take two single collapsible strollers which are not quite user friendly even at my height but they did allow some flexibility.

We stayed at the same Embassy Suites in Overland Park as we did last year.  The boys enjoyed the swimming pool and had it mostly to themselves each night.  Ralph is very content to sit on the steps and splash some water.  Henry much prefers to be in the water, or sitting/standing beside the edge and jumping into the water holding someone’s hands.  For some reason Ralph did not think we were in Kansas City unless we were at the hotel.  We would be out and about and he would ask “when are we going back to Kansas City” or “how long until we get to Kansas City?” even while we were in Kansas City.    The boys ran about like wild kids in the room.  They would hide behind the front curtains, run from the front room to the back room, and “make” phone calls.  I finally unplugged the phone so they couldn’t actually call anyone.  After that Henry decided to he needed to have the phone beside him almost anytime he sat on the little potty we brought.  He did stand in an empty wastebasket at one point and had it over his head but was stopped before it was completely resting on his head.  They liked riding the elebator as Henry would say - I'm happy to report no one accidentally pushed the call button for fire/rescue services.  The boys and I had a lot of Mommy time as I slept with them while Mike slept on the sofabed in the front.  In all reality, I don’t think either of us had the best of sleep.  The boys do move some while sleeping, Ralph talked in his sleep a bit one night (kind of freaked me out the first time; I thought someone was in the room), and, even though we had a King bed, they had to be touching me.  We don’t allow ourselves to sleep on the boys bed or them with us at home so sleeping together was big in their world. . .and was clear Tuesday night as we tried putting them to bed at home.  I laid on Henry’s floor Tuesday night, the first night we were home, while he was going to bed and he finally gave in after he came over and laid down beside me on the floor.

Saturday was a day of travel with a few stops along the way.  First stop was Mike’s cousin’s in Tarkio, Missouri.  We didn’t get the chance to visit her last year with the floods but did a few years ago when Ralph was just 9 months old.  Lunch took us to Chick-Fil-A in St. Joe’s.  Their service did not to meet Chick-Fil-A standards in my opinion but the food was as expected then onto Kansas City with a stop at Legends Shopping Mall before checking into the hotel.

Sunday took us to the Kansas City Zoo and Science City.  We arrived the zoo not long after they opened.  They had a Mother’s Day promotion of free admission for Moms. In addition our membership to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo allowed us ½ price admission into the Kansas City Zoo.  We stayed at the zoo for a few hours – definitely could have stayed longer but needed to get to our next stop. Ralph tells people he liked the polar bear the best.  He did surprise me a few times as he got closer to the glass than I might have expected, especially since he didn’t seem too interested in the animals when we visited the Lincoln zoo a few weeks ago.  The “moms enter free” promotion must be a big draw – we saw cars lined up for blocks as we left the zoo.  Science City provided a nice, quiet reprieve in the afternoon. It was hardly busy.  The boys were able to participate in more activities than I thought they would.  It was a day of taking advantage of our memberships to Lincoln attractions as our membership to Morrill Hall allowed us to enter Science City at no charge.

On Monday we visited our two favorites from last summer – Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead and Kaleidoscope.  The Farmstead was busy with daycare/preschool field trips as there were groups of kids wearing the same colored shirt or had signs taped to their shirts.  We watched a cow get milked, pedaled tractors, fished, and played at one of the playareas.  We timed the visit to the pedal tractors badly as we got there when one of the groups did so the boys didn’t get to ride as much as they might have liked to.  Mike bought a bucket of worms and he and Ralph went to work catching a fish.  The fish were biting but not staying on the hook.  Finally, as the last worm was on the hook a fish was caught!  (You can almost see it in the photo if you look really close.)  Kaleidoscope, at the other extreme, was not busy in the least.  We did not have to wait until the next session to enter and could stay for as long as we wanted.  We met up with Mike’s aunt Marcia who works at Hallmark, and later, Mike & her visited his Uncle Ken while the boys and I went swimming.On Tuesday we visited Mike’s aunt and uncle at their home before heading home. 

Couldn't have hardly asked for better weather.   There are plenty of more attractions to do in and around Kansas City, I am sure we’ll be back next year or the year after at the latest.  Worlds of Fun is in the cards someday but it can not be until Henry is tall enough to do the kiddie rides as he would not like it if he were told no.

Henry did great wearing briefs during the trip.  He had a little slip Monday afternoon but did great otherwise.

Lincoln Children's Zoo: 1st trip of the Season!

We finally made it to the zoo back on May 7!  Grandma & Grandpa came along for the fun.  Fun it was!?  The boys didn't seem to care to look at many animals, they just wanted to know where the next "fun" thing was . . . they put money down the wishing well, money in the vortex, climbed on a few things, fed the camels, fed Leo the paper eating Lion, played on the little playground, sat on some bronze, sat in eggs, put their faces in cut-outs, AND rode the train.  We did look at a few animals and will be back soon.  It was too wet to play in the sand areas! : - )

Henry: Celebrating 29 months!

Taking the bull by the horns . . .uh, the bear by the ears.

The 28th month has been a tough month of transitions.

TRANSITION #1 (The Big Bed!)
The quick summary of the last month is that Henry has had a little trouble after the newness of the big bed wore off. We didn't take down the crib as soon as we should have and he may have developed a little confusion on where he was suppose to sleep. I was/am determined to not have to stay in his room until he falls asleep but he is having a hard to staying in bed. There were 3 nights in a row he choose to sleep in the crib after about 30 minutes of continually getting out of the bed.  I guess the good news through all of this is that he is sleeping all night - he has only woke up a few times since the move to the big bed.

 At the beginning of the 28^th month Henry had transitioned to the big bed . . so we thought.    It has been a challenging month of fine-tuning nap/bedtime routines, neither of which is close to being perfected.  I have tried to sit outside his room, on the other side of the baby gate, so he would know I was nearby and he was not alone but it seemed to be a game to him – he kept coming over to give hugs and get kisses.  I then moved inside his room; Henry likes someone to lay on his floor (who doesn't?) BUT it does not help him settle down, at least not if I’m the person on his floor.  No matter if I’m on his floor for 5 minutes or 20 minutes he will continually get up and come over to me with a request or comment.  No matter how much time is spent on his floor it just seems to be a waste of time and prolongs the inevitable.  Nearly as soon as I leave his room the crying/screaming begins.  We’ve tried keeping his door open so he knows he is not alone and he alternates between crying/whining at the gate at his doorway and running back to the bed and burying his head in the pillow (muffled crying over the monitor).  He’ll try to use the potty excuse as a reason to get someone to come to his room.  The other night he kept repeating his name.   He has knocked the baby gate over a few times and earned himself a spot in the crib.  He has cried/whined for close to 45 minutes at which time I visited his room and been hit with a request for the crib.  Thinking the crib isn’t so much a threat for Henry to stay in the bed but more confusing than anything (where am I really supposing to be sleeping?) we did remove the crib from his room the weekend before last.  One night this past week, after already fulfilling the potty request, close to 9 pm I heard the words "Mommy" and "Poopy" coming from his room. I slowly made my way up to his room – he had taken off his jammie bottoms AND his diaper AND thrown his diaper over the baby gate, there had been poop in the diaper . . and evidence that he had visited his bed after removing his dirty diaper. YUCK! We gave him a stern lecture but wouldn't be surprised if it happened again.  There isn't much Henry could do that would surprise me.


I wish he could understand how much it frustrates me up to listen to him cry after I leave his room.  I have tried to coddle him and play into his hands but enough is enough and after sitting/laying/negotiating with him for so long each night I draw the line.  There is plenty of other things to do before my own bedtime and this is turning into a period of tough love. If only he knew I return to his room after the crying/screaming stops to make sure he made it to bed and cover him up.  Yes, Henry, I do love you.


TRANSITION #2 (Potty Training Boot Camp!)
The other big transition in the past month has been the official move to briefs.  About 2 ½ weeks ago Henry wore briefs to daycare and we have not looked back since (other than naps/bedtime), though he has tried a few times!   He will protest trips to the potty at home . . only to turn around and wet himself minutes later.  Up until a few days ago I hardly considered him potty trained since it was all about timing the trips to the potty but I think he is more aware and has more control than I give him credit for. Luckily (at least for now), he is much more willing to let us know he has to go potty when we are out in public.  Luckily, he does not mind the big potty.  I think he prefers it.  I did discover he likes to sit on the big potty with his knees bent, feet on the front of the potty seat.  I've been told one (or more) friends do it at school.

Before making the official move to briefs Henry tried wearing briefs at home the weekend before.  It was hit and miss, literally.   On that Saturday he had 3 successful trips to the potty and 3 mishaps. On that Sunday, he held it 4 hours refusing it even sit on the potty a few times, before the damn broke.  I really wasn't sure what to expect the first day he wore briefs to daycare.

The first day Henry wore briefs to daycare he had one accident, and unfortunately one more just before bath time at home though he had just sat on the potty. Day two was 100% success at daycare . .however, within 20 minutes of arriving at home, less than an hour after the last visit to the potty his pants were wet. His teachers have been great in getting him to the potty A LOT in an attempt to avoid any accidents.

The weekend before last weekend he played the “I go potty” game twice at church. . .this weekend FIVE times! Of those five times he did go four times . . I'm not ready to call his bluff yet.  I'm sure the potty training fun will continue for awhile.

OTHER EVENTS IN HENRY'S LIFE
One amazing story from the past month was one night during a recent cold Mike announce "It's time for water nose" as he was walking to the bathroom." Henry stopped what he was doing and walked to the bathroom willingly, there was crying, no kicking of the feet, nothing. It was incredible and does not seem to be a fluke as it has happened a few times since. 


Henry is a little ham. Most afternoons when leaving school we have to spend a few moments on the stage that is used during chapel. Henry likes to jump around while singing (shouting?) "I may never march in the infantry".  


The fingernail that was injured last month when it was pinched in a door loosened enough it had to be cut off almost two weeks ago.  Wonder how long it'll take before the new nail grows out.


Henry has taken a turn of shyness toward Father at church.  For months he has gone to the friend during the time kids bring up their offering.  Twice in the past month Henry has refused to go up.  


Henry likes to look at the newspaper ads and point out various items pictured.  He loves looking at puppies (ie. dogs) but has absolutely no desire to get close to one.  We review food items on sale and he'll ask about some of the items.


He is not very good on the phone as he gets distracted by all the buttons and usually will hang up on whoever he is talking to within seconds.

He is getting better at pulling his pants and briefs down.  I think he could put his arms in his shirt sleeves if he feels determined.  One day after nap I entered his room only to see his shirt all twisted up like he had taken his arms out and then put them back in.

Henry likes to jump.  He'll take a few steps and then jump.  It is fun to watch. He seems to have pretty good balance.  He likes walking down the stairs in the middle of the stairway and NOT holding on to the railing.  I just cringe as I watch him, holding my breathe until he safely makes it down the stairs.

Chances are we've got a lefty on our hands; Henry heavily favors his left hand when coloring and holding utensils.

Any worry I had of Henry having a delay in his speech is gone.  He may substitute some sounds for others but he is quite talkative and will repeat about any word asked of him.

He can be very thoughtful - if he gets his cup of milk in the fridge and sees Ralph's milk, he'll also take it out of the fridge and take it to Ralph.  On the flip side, I have heard him say "I had it first" and "it's mine" a few too many times.  It all depends on his mood.  He still says "no" rather than "yes" way too many times each day. 

Haymarket Park Outing

Back on April 24, Grandma & Grandpa took the boys to Haymarket Park for some baseball fun without a baseball game.  The 'open house' was an event of the bank we belong to.  The boys sat in the dugout, ran/walked the bases, and were given the chance to give Homer a high five, Henry declined.  Unfortunately between the weather and our schedule only Ralph and Mike have made it to one Husker game.  Henry and I have not made it to any and at the rate we are going we probably won't.  The Saltdogs season is set to begin towards the end of May.  Hopefully we'll have a little better luck and make it to a game or two.