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Sunday, May 6, 2012

Heritage

While driving to church today, I forgot my intended destination and, on autopilot, headed towards Grammy's house rather than church. Henry noticed right away and I guess I shouldn't be surprised that he was that astute and conscious of directions. He is the grandson of truck drivers, after all.

Henry: "Mama! Dat's NOT da way to church! Dat's da way to GRAMMY'S HOUSE!"
That snapped me out of my reverie and right back to reality.
Me: "Yep, you're right, Henry."
Henry: "Silly goose!"

So on our circumvent route to church, I realized we would drive by the cemetary where my beloved grandparents are buried. And the question came- should I say anything to Henry about what we were driving by? What would he make of it? I decided to try it, anyway. I had explained to Henry before that he was named after my grandfather and that Grandpa Henry passed away before he was born.

Me: "Henry, we're going by the cemetary where Grandpa Henry is."
Henry: YOUR Grandpa Henry? Who die-ded?"
Me: "Yes, my Grandpa Henry died and we named you Henry after him."
And that was it.
Then we passed the cemetary and he saw the John Deere store next to it.
Henry: "Lookit! Tractors!"
Me: "Yep, my Grandpa Henry liked tractors a lot too." (He was a farmer.)
Henry: "Yeah! And when I was your Grandpa Henry, I liked tractors lots n' lots!"

So this just made me think of continuing our heritage, from passing down names to carrying on the farming tradition and that part of my grandfather lives on in my son.

Grandpa Henry died on June 2, 2004 and when I was due to have Kathryn on June 1st last year, I had to wonder if she would be born on his death-day. I suppose it would have brought some happiness to that sad memory, but at the same time, I didn't want her birth to share that day. Then when I got closer to the end of my pregnancy, I didn't care what day she came as long as she GOT OUT. She was 4 days late and came on her own time on the 5th. It's hard to believe it's almost been a year.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Hair Today..Gone Tomorrow

Henry: OK, I'm dressed now. I wanna watch a video wit' TWO fruit snacks and an apple-apple juice box!
After settling himself in the computer chair, he reaches up to run his hand through his recently-shorn hair and looks at me, panic-stricken.

Henry: Mama! Is my haircut STILL THERE?!

(Where else would it go??)

Holdin Out on You

Kathryn's in her jumper, angrily bouncing and squalling after finishing her Mum-Mum. Then I realized what she was saying.
"Mama! You're holding out on me! I KNOW there's another Mum-Mum in that wrapper!"

Yep, you're right. Mean Mama. Now she's happily smacking her lips, knawing on the other one.
Dada & Kathryn's new game- Puppet Theater Peekaboo.
He stands behind an open door and lifts her above it so all you can see are her head & shoulders. She laughs and loves it. 

 Dada: Yeah, until she laughs and 4 gallons of saliva drools down onto my head!

Way to take one for the team, honey.

"I'm cute and I know it"

It's 8pm and "Sleeping Beauty" has just ended. I'm congratulating myself on the great timing for Henry's bedtime. Then Henry looks imploringly up at me with his big hazel eyes.
Henry: I wanna watch "Cinderella" now, PLEASE Mama??
Me: You look so cute, you know.
Henry emphatically nods and says, "Yes, I do look cute."

He's SO working it!

Sleep...What's that?

Ugh, someday I will sleep through the night. Henry came in around 3am, crawled in next to me and spent the next 3 hours sharply jabbing me in the side with his little feet. King size bed and he can't stay on his own space? Then Kathryn was up just before 6, demanding a bottle and making "the smell."

Henry just stumbled into the living room.
"Mama! Where my Daddy? What time he coming home???!!"

Tub Time

The kids had their first bath together. They were so cute facing each other- Kathryn sitting in her high-backed bathseat with her little toes reaching out to Henry's feet. Then they both started kicking & splashing and soaked the bathroom (and me). Love it.

Henry was ADORABLE! He even gently washed her hair and was so good- didn't get ANY soap in her eyes. Such little blessings.