Henry's 12 Months Old

We made it to the BIG first birthday! A few tears may have been shed by myself, but mostly it was a happy day full of reminiscing over the past year. And oh what a wonderful, challenging year it was.
Henry taught all of us so much, and hopefully we taught him a thing or two :)

I should have put the sticker on his bottom for this photo shoot.

Other than turning one, another big first for the month was Christmas! He met Santa and did NOT like him, understandable. He opened a present from under the tree all by himself and without me knowing, but great job, bud. He enjoyed celebrating Christmas in Oklahoma with tons of cousins. And he certainly enjoyed opening and playing with all his new toys.

This boy would not sit still!

Here is what all happened this month:

Eating: I started weaning Henry from breast milk. He now only gets breast milk three times a day and gets cows milk with his snacks. He took to cows milk like a champ. He is definitely easier at transitioning to new things, unlike his brother.

Activity: I've noticed Emerson and Henry interacting and "talking" more to each other. I love watching their relationship grow. Henry has started to cruise the furniture and stand up independently, but I still feel like we are still a long ways away from walking. He is also now waves and points to things.

Sleeping: Henry has been hit or miss on naps lately. Some days he takes only one, other days two. It's nice to be able to skip that morning nap and be able to get out and about. But he really needs two naps still. On the days he just takes one, he is cranky and most likely over tired and won't nap well. We are just in the glorious phase of nap transitioning.

Serious...

Smirk...

 

Smile.

Doctor Visit Stats:

• Height: 2 ft, 5 in (75%)
• Weight: 21 lbs (47%)
• Other: We switched pediatricians and I could not be happier! Sometimes the hardest part about moving into a new community is not knowing who and where to go for health care. After living here for over a year, I received lots of good advice about who to go to. Our new pediatrician got lots of great reviews and her husband is a family doctor in the same office, so it's a one stop shop, so to speak.

Likes, Dislikes and Other Milestones:

• Hair is still thin, but it seems to be getting darker and curler in the back, so in other words, he has a mullet.
• Finally seem to be gaining weight. Love seeing rolls on those thighs.
• Said his first word, "Dada."
• Loves giving kisses.
• Has mastered walking in a walker when we play outside. 
• Wears a size 4 diaper.
• Wears 12 month clothing.
• Still working on getting his front tooth in, has 5 teeth total.
• Loves reading his Baby Peek-A-Boo book. 
• Likes bath time with brother, but only for a short amount of time. 
• Does not like being taken in and out of the car seat/stroller.
• Does not like green beans.
• Loves blueberries!

Christmas, 2015

Doesn't Christmas feel like forever ago? Really it was only about 15 days ago, but my neighbors stare at my lingering decorations and outside lights as if 6 months has passed. I'll get them down, eventually. Besides, I can't take it all down without having posted on my blog about Christmas, right?

So here it is...

1) We had some pre-Christmas fun: pancakes with Santa and sugar cookie baking. 

I would cry too, Henry. 

 

2) We opened our family presents. Emerson's big gift this year a tricycle. He loves it! He can't quite reach the pedals (oops), but likes to push off the ground with his feet.

3) We then traveled to Oklahoma to celebrate with my family.

Cousins, cousins everywhere! 

Matching jammie boys.

Cousin picture. The only two not cooperating are mine, of course.

 Merry first Christmas, Henry!

4) We took a cold trip to the mountains on Christmas day. We drove up Mount Scott, fed prairie dogs and then ate Chinese food. You know, like a normal family.

5) Then of course a trip to my family would not be complete without seeing a pet hedgehog (not pictured) and some chickens.

Emerson could not contain his excitement, but was still too afraid to actually touch one.

Henry had no fear : )

 

6) And lastly, we got to make a bonus stop in Dallas to see several of Jesse's family. 

Now that that's done, I can take down my Christmas decorations and focus on my sweet baby turning ONE! Stay tuned for that...

Henry's 11 Months Old

Watching Henry's personality develop has been such a cool thing. He is going to be our "funny" kid. There's one in every family. The one that is outgoing and always telling jokes. That's going to be our Henry. He's always happy to make someone else happy.

He's also such a sweet snuggler. He will just melt into your shoulder and make you never want to let go. Sigh, I know it won't last forever, but I hope his snuggliness is something that is a part of him always.

Also this month, "Henry, you are such a mess!" He probably hears that from me several times a day. He is into EVERYTHING! I don't ever remember Emerson being likes this. I mean, I turn my back for two seconds and I find him in the toilet with toilet paper everywhere. He cannot be trusted. He's also unwrapped a few presents now and eaten several pine needles. And I thought having a Christmas tree this year would be hard because of my toddler, ha, nope. Henry is the ornery one.

Speaking of Christmas tree, this was Henry's first year to pick one out and "help" decorate. It was also his first Thanksgiving. So fun watching these firsts.

Here is what's new this month:

Eating: Henry is a small fry, but he is an eating machine! Loves to eat most everything. A definite dislike would be green beans.

Being a second child has its downsides, but it has its upsides as well! He's been introduced to cookies and milk shakes already (just a few bites). Oh boy, he is going to have a sweet tooth like his momma and brother. If this had been Emerson, I would have killed over dead if he had sugar before his first birthday, ha. Like I said, there are upsides, Henry. Remember that.

Henry is now consistently nursing four times a day, with three meals. He is still biting me! So glad (and kind of sad) that our breastfeeding journey is coming to an end soon. And so proud that we made it this far. 

"This pose is new, mom."

Activity: He is getting more coordinated in pulling up and crawling so therefore we don't have as many bumps. He loves to pull up on everything, even when there is nothing to hang on to, like the wall. He has attempted to just stand up all alone, but has yet to master it.

"We meet again, sticker."

Sleeping: We are back on a really good sleep schedule. Goes to bed anytime between 7-8 p.m. and wakes very consistently around 7 a.m. Sometimes he will sleep in as late as 7:30 (yay!). An even greater sleep accomplishment this month has been Henry waking up happy. He used to always wake up in the morning with tears, now he wakes up happy and can just play with his toes until I come get him. It's blissful.

Doctor Visit Stats:

*No doctors visit this month

Baby yoga pose?

Likes, Dislikes and Other Milestones:

• Saw Santa Clause for the first time.
• Does not like Santa Clause.
• Cutting a new tooth, we are now up to four.
• Drinks from a straw and loves to have a cup with meals.
• Loves to high five daddy. Momma, not so much. 
• Loves to be chased around the house.
• Started playing peek-a-boo by himself.
• Loves to pull books off of shelves. 
• Shake his head no. 
• Has the sweetest curls behind his ears and on the back of his head. I'm not afraid to have him rock a curly mullet for a while. I don't want those curls to ever leave!

O Christmas Tree, 2015

It's that time of year! Time for my favorite Christmas tradition, picking out our Christmas tree. This year was extra special because it was Henry's first time to "help" pick a tree.

The hunt begins.

 

 The winner!

Emerson was just happy to run around.

"I'm freeeee!"

Traditional Jesse's-bringing-in-the-tree photo.

 And now I get to enjoy the wonderful fresh pine smell...and dig pine needles out of Henry's mouth : )

Our Family Thanksgiving, 2015

Leaves, matching shirts, beautiful weather, LOTS of wonderful food, and family...yep, that sums our family Thanksgiving. 

We had lots of fun traveling to Nashville to spend Thanksgiving with Jesse's family. 

The boys did great on the car ride, had fun playing with their cousins (first, second, once removed...whatever), and slept like champs despite all the chaos. All around great trip! 

Our best attempt at a family photo.

So much fun in the leaves!

 

Henry's first Thanksgiving!

"Grrr, I'm going to crush these leaves"

Brother photos may be my new favorite thing. They are so awkward and so sweet.

 

Going in for a kiss! 

Play time at the park with the adults and kids.

All those cousins (first, second, once removed...whatever).

 

The second day we went to Jesse's grandparents farm and spent the day with family. Emerson had the time of his life riding on the back of a pick up truck through the pasture and climbing up into BIG tractors. Wish I would have taken more of this day, but somehow only found ONE picture (which I stole from my MILs Facebook page. Thanks, Kim).

Emerson was in heaven riding on the back of the truck. He was especially tickled when he saw a cow poop. *sorry for the gross image

So many blessings this Thanksgiving. Hope you all were able to count yours.

Henry's 10 Months Old

There were so many Fall firsts for Henry this month. First pumpkin patch, trunk-or-treat and Halloween! I love that I get to help make these wonderful memories for Henry.

Also, baby curls, lots of travel, and pulling up and bumping into everything pretty much sums up everything else that happened this month.

 

Here is what's new this month:

Eating: It finally happened, something most breastfeeding women dread...being bit! Ouch! Once he bites, he is done nursing, so hopefully he gets the picture fast.

He tried Spaghetti for the first time and loved it!

Per doctors request, I have been doing my very best to fatten my child up, so he has been eating a lot more fatty meats, dairy and rich fruits/veggies. I've even been putting butter on his toast, which of course he loves. He gained two pounds, so I guess the better on the toast trick worked : )

Activity: Henry loves to clap his hands, especially right after bath time. I guess that's when he's happiest? He has also started shaking his head "no", although, I don't think he knows what it means yet.


This boy! He pulls up on everything, thus creating lots of falls. This month he fell right on his upper lip (the Frenectomy) and busted it. There was so much blood! But thankfully it healed and is looking well.

Well, hello there, sticker. 

He figured out that he can take the sticker off. Grrr.

Sleeping: Two words, time change. We had finally caught a break on the sleeping issues. He had been sleeping 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. if not later for a few weeks and then BAM, the cursed time change occurred (that I once adored) and it messed up everything for Henry. He now wakes up before 7 no matter how much a try and tweak his schedule. Maybe it will even out in a few more weeks.


Doctor Visit Stats: 

• Height: 29 inches
• Weight: 19 lbs 7 oz
• Other: Had his blood drawn to check for iron levels and it was a horrible experience (mainly for me to watch). Thankfully all came back normal, so we don't have to do it again.
  

 Likes, Dislikes and Other Milestones:

•  Has started to pat my back when I pat his.
• Celebrated first Halloween, dressed up as a Dalmatian puppy while big bro went as a firefighter.
• Went to his first pumpkin patch.
• Laughs at himself when he scrunches up his nose and snorts.
• Flew to Virgina for the first time for a wedding and had many other firsts: strayed up way too late, rode a carousel and saw Aunt Molly, Uncle Jonathan and Cousin Cassidy.
• Climbed a few steps on the stairs, yikes!
• Cutting 3 new teeth!

He is just the happiest baby!

A Life Update on Emerson

The Good. The Bad. The Ugly...and The Wonderful.

I'm talking about life moments with a toddler. Oh my, the past six months has taught me a lot about my little guy. Emerson is just so much fun at this age, and yet so very challenging. He makes me question every parenting decision I make, teaches me new patience daily, has made me pull my hair out, and yet still I discover a deeper love for him.

If it sounds like a crazy roller costar, it is.

Parenting a toddler is no joke, but watching him grow into the little man that he is becoming is so very worth it.

He laughs at his own jokes. He likes to play with his brother (on his own terms of course). He is social and yet shy. You never know which Emerson is going to show up (personality wise) when we are in public. He is very verbal. I often catch him singing Faithfully by Journey or There's a Fountain Free from our church song book. He likes to mimic everything! He loves his momma, but is attached to daddy's hip on the weekends.

The past six months has brought some changes. He's finally adjusting to having baby brother around (only took about 6 months, eek). He had tubes put in his ears and it made a world of difference on his mood since the ear infection were gone. Now, unfortunately, we can't blame his tantrums on his ears...its all him! We celebrated holidays, went on vacations, played and grew. All the while, I didn't think he was changing much, until I went back and looked at pictures. Emerson has changed so much! It's scary how quickly my mind forgets the baby he once was.

Each day he changes, each day he makes me smile, each day I laugh with him and each day he makes me mad and feel tired. But that's what it's like being a parent. You take the good with the bad, with the ugly, and in return you get the wonderful : )
 

Just after his second birthday.

 He looks like such a baby here!

 

This is our everyday norm. No pants and lot of tears.

I can't even handle that hair and those glasses. This was right before our beach vacation in July.

 Heart melted. Probably one of my favorite photos ever.

And we can't forget about brother. This was the first time Emerson ever asked to hold Henry. Made my world. 

Showing off our more feminine side.

First day back at Play School. It's like he grew up overnight in this photo.

 Sharing sweet hugs with brother.

Happy 2.5 years, Emerson. We have survived this far, let's make it to age three!