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Sunday, August 26, 2012

It's time

I'm thinking it's time.....
No, not for another baby. Although I would like more kids. And since I'm off on a tangent anyway, I'm going to run with it.

I've realized there is never a "perfect time" for having a baby. You'll never have "enough" money or be in the "right" job, house, city, time of life, etc.

Deciding to have a child is almost like taking a leap of faith, rolling the dice, crossing your fingers and praying all at once. Even if you think it's the right time, circumstances change change in an instant and nothing is constant, except God. 

Some people wish for a boy, some desperately want a girl, and some wish fervently for years for either. I was lucky in that we didn't have to try and try. Actually it was rather shocking at how suddenly we became expectant parents. Both times. Fertile Myrtle indeed.

I assumed that our first would be a girl and she took the generic baby-name "Osbert" for a few months. Firstborn girls ran in my mother's side of the family and I just thought I'd follow suit. My grandmother was the oldest, so was my mother and so was I.
We toyed with the idea of not finding out and I happily started stocking up on frilly dresses until my skeptical husband suggested that we should have an ultrasound "just to be sure." I think he wanted to put an end to my potentially useless spending sprees. I had a dream that our little "Osbert" was a boy. Then we saw that little appendage on the ultrasound and he was "Henry James" ever since.

So back to "it's time..."
Jim & I talked with Henry tonight and he's all for moving Kathryn into his room this weekend so he's "not alone in his room anymore."
I told him no takesies-backsies because once she's there we're not switching back & forth. I'm not too worried about it, though. He's so good with her, such an amazing older brother. I couldn't ask for a sweeter kid. We are so blessed. So a new chapter in our lives. We'll have our bedroom all to ourselves again for the first time in over a year and Henry will have a roommate.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Don't worry, be happy

Henry's off to mow lawns with Dada. He motions for me to bend down so I'm eye-level with him. Then he wraps his little arms around my neck and gives me a wet kiss as only a 3 yr old can.

"Please don't worry, Mama! We'll be right across da street. OK?"

He knows me too well.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Caution!

Henry's watching my morning ablutions. I'm putting moisturizer on my calves & feet when he pipes up.

Henry: Mama! DON'T walk on da floor wit' da lotion on your feet! You'll slip an' fall!

Mama: You're right, honey. You have to be careful because lotion will make your feet slide. Where'd you learn that?

Henry: Lightning McQueen told me.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Time for Sleep

Henry's taking his sweet time going to sleep tonight. We're going on almost 2 hours since we started his bedtime routine. I just peeked in on him and he smiled sweetly up at me.

Henry: I'm waiting for my falling-asleep time to come.

Tickets Please

Henry's up bright & early playing with Lincoln logs in his bedroom.

Henry: Come on, Mama! Come see the COOL thing I build-ed!
Mama: OK, sweetheart. I'll be right there.
Henry: But you need a TICKET to see it!
Mama: Where'd you hear that?
Henry:  I don't know. That's the way I roll.

Not sure if it's pretentious for the 3 yr old to want to charge admission to view his creations. I admire his business skills.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Mama-moment

Henry was all snuggled in next to me this morning. I traced the curve of his cheek and just marveled (again) at how incrediblely wonderful he is.
*My morning motherhood moment*

Mama (whispering): "You are so beautiful, Henry."

Henry crinkled his brow and opened his perfect little rosebud mouth...

"Stop! I'm trying to sleep without you TALKING!"

Friday, August 10, 2012

Just the Right Size

Henry was showing Kathryn his bright-red snap bracelet. Her eyes get HUGE and she reaches a chubby little hand out for it.

Henry: No, Kaffryn! You can't wear 'dis! You're not big enough! I'M big enough, see? It fits me because I have a bigger BRAIN!!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Beauty

Me: Time to wake up, Henry.
Henry stretches, yawns & sits up in bed, blinking.

Me: You're so beautiful, Henry.
Henry: That's the way God made people.

From the mouths of babes.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Raising a responsible, independent boy (and learning NEVER turn your back!!)

Let me just start by saying we both learned something here.

I'm trying to teach Henry responsibility for one's actions which more often than not includes picking up/ cleaning up after himself if (when) he makes a mess. I don't remember exactly when it hit me (probably happened while I was scrubbing the sticky spot that designates Henry's area of the dinner table) but I realized that he's going to have to start doing small chores or I'll have a 30 yr old "baby" who's incapable of being self-sufficient. No thank you.

So Henry's starting to understand that everyone has things they would rather not do and yet they have to be done, because otherwise, who else would do them?
He's also starting to participate in the household chores now and I'm wildy fostering that interest. Who cares if it takes 3x as long and he's covered in whipped cream from our homemade trifle? 
Dada was getting annoyed at hearing, "Don't stick your fingers in the bowl, Henry" for the umpteenth time and I'm sure he would have preferred that Henry wait until he's a bit older to learn some of these skills. I say no time like the present. That being said.....

My lessons in responsibility and independence backfired the other day when Henry spit milk onto the floor and I handed him a sponge to clean it up. Feeling rather pleased with myself, I went into the living room and a couple minutes later I heard splashing sounds coming from the kitchen. He was dunking the sponge IN THE DOG'S WATER BOWL and had wiped down the ENTIRE kitchen floor. Ugh.

Part of me was rather impressed because I couldn't wipe down that floor in the mere seconds it took him. Now how to harness that energy??

Lesson learned: When teaching your 3 yr old a lesson, DON'T leave them to their own devices because you'll be disinfecting the entire room instead of swiping up a mouthful of milk.

Mama 1: Henry 1