More Yeas!

Yea for fall!

A few things I know now that I am a Mommy, by Stace.

1. I understand the importance of a routine, and the importance of flexibility.

2. With a 95% accuracy rate, I know the feeling of a poopie through Henry’s diaper and clothing.

3. I now understand that Henry has a big surge of energy immediately prior to crashing.

4. I know that it is imperative to him that he take off some article of clothing prior to leaving the house, and also in the car.

5. I know that when Henry becomes quiet, he is most likely eating a book.

6. I know that it is inevitable that I become known in town as Henry’s Mom, and what’s more, I am becoming more quickly known in this role within a short 9 months than I have in any other capacity over the past 4 years of living here.

7. And, possibly most importantly, I know that everything I have learned (and there is much more than is documented here) is all subject to change at any given time.

I have a couple loads of laundry waiting. I have, oh, 3 loads half folded and waiting to be taken upstairs and distributed. They have been sitting downstairs for about a week. I have finally succumbed to the notion that if you want a clean shirt, just go down to the basement and get it. Henry is sick and oozing from every orifice. Mommy is sick and oozing. So is Daddy.

A couple nights ago Henry started some teething action, and what I don’t understand is how it seems to sort of “come and go”, as 2 nights were pretty dreadful with him waking in a fit every half hour or so, in conjunction with a fever, and now everything is fine, and still no sign of teeth. He refuses to allow us entry to check it out. He barely puts up with me cleaning up his snot. Life must be very difficult for him.

I love being with Henry and wouldn’t have it any other way. I hate going to work and leaving him even though I only do that part time. And yet, I fondly remember the days I snuggled down with a book… I remember the days of not doing something and then having to do it again in another 5 minutes (like pick up a toy, clean up a spot, wipe a nose, diaper a baby, etc.) – and that is an enjoyable memory for me.

Henry has a mini rocking horse given to us by a friend. I put him on it last night and as he was putting his hands on the rungs, he turned toward me in awe and smiled big. This is not the first time he has been on it, but the glee tickled me. I held his torso and rocked and rocked and rocked until I felt it in my back, and when I stopped he jerked forward for more. So we rocked and rocked and rocked.

Yesterday Henry began to slither. Or scoot. It’s sort of a cross between the two. He starts out sitting upright and then soon thereafter is on his belly and moving toward the wood floor where he can slide a little easier. This is pretty exciting for him and a little nervewracking for us as we are beginning to think about purchasing more gates for the house.

He eats – happily - zucchini, broccoli, spinach, peas, cauliflower, tomato, cheese, sweet potato, squash, cherries, blueberries, mango, pear, apple, carrot, tofu, yogurt, lentils, and probably some other things I cannot think of. We are now enjoying some pureed meals like “lovely lentils” and “cauliflower cheese surprise”, and he is a super duper eater. We usually cannot get it to him fast enough.

He chatters and squawks, he plays with books, he sucks on everything, he doesn’t go far without his Nuk. In music class the other day he blew his Nuk out about a foot away in favor of breathing (his cold was in full force that day), and cooed through class. He has mastered the attention cough and smiles big when people check to make sure he isn’t choking.

Henry and I were enjoying a gorgeous sunny morning yesterday hanging out outside of the Goodbye Blue Monday Coffeehouse, and we greeted folks as they walked by – well, in the Minnesotan way with a brief smile and quickly averting our eyes – but many stopped to chat with Henry. He is so accustomed to this that he smiles at everyone who walks by even if they pay no attention at all.