Henry's Gym Class

I signed Henry up for a gymnastics (we call it gym class, doesn't sound as girly) a few weeks ago.  He is in the 2-3 year old class since he will be 2 next Wednesday.  So he is one of the younger, if not the youngest kid in the class.  So far he is doing a great job! 

The first night at class I was a little worried because I spent most of the time chasing him around the room.  But he has been doing much better.  We start out the class in a circle, you find your 'star' to sit on.  There is a teacher that leads stretches, and then we run around in a circle marching, skipping, hoping, and Henry's favorite - running.  Then we start the stations.  Each class they have different stations set up that each kid gets to take their turn at.  Henry's favorites have been the trampoline, tents, tunnels, rings, and the basketball hoop.  They take a break in the middle of class where they line up to take a drink out of the drinking fountain.  Henry loves this part and runs faster than all the other kids to be first in line!  At the end of class they all get stamps on their hands.  It is so cute watching Henry get so excited and waiting patiently for his turn to get his stamps.

It is so much fun bringing him to class and getting to run around with him for that 45 minutes, just the two of us.  Experts say it is important for me to have my one on one time with Henry now that the baby is here, since most of my time is spent with the baby right now.  That will change as she grows, but I know these first few months have been a little hard on Henry, having to learn to share his mom.  We both look forward to our Tuesday night gym class together.  

Strait Jacket

As a lot of you know I am a huge believer in the Miracle Blanket, also known as the strait jacket.  This blanket was a life saver for us with Henry.  We didn't start using it with him until after he was a month old, when nothing else was working for him to sleep longer than a two hour stretch, but once we started using it he immediately started sleeping for longer periods (like 3 or 4 hours..which wasn't a lot, but so much better than 2!!).  This blanket is truly a miracle.  Thank you to my good friend Abby for buying it for us as a gift for Henry.  When we opened it up we had no idea what a blessing it would be!  We were actually so intimidated by it that we didn't try it until we had no more options with Henry.  We only wish we would have tried it sooner.

Here is Hannah in her strait jacket:

Once we found out we were having a girl I went out and bought her a pink one.  We have been swaddling her in it since she was born, and she has been sleeping like a champ.  Up until recently.  She is now strong enough and smart enough that she has learned how to break out of the swaddle - which Henry didn't do until he was 5 months old!  So she now wakes up at 1am, and 4am.  Both times I go in she is unswaddled, and ticked off, because she likes the swaddle just as much as we do.  So I feed her to put her back to sleep and then swaddle her back up.  Since this blanket is the swaddle blanket of them all, I know there isn't anything else out there that will keep her in.  She is too smart and too strong.  So for the past 2 weeks she now wakes up twice a night, which has been a killer since I just went back to work last week.  So I guess it is time to start easing her into no more swaddle, which scares me!  First because that means she isn't a newborn anymore, and second, transitions are always hard!  I'm hoping she hasn't gotten used to being fed twice at night either...hopefully that wasn't a mistake on my part.  So wish us luck as we start to teach this baby girl to sleep without being swaddled.  I will keep you updated.  This mom (not 'momma' anymore...tear...) is ready to have her 6 hour stretch of sleep again.

Call me 'Mom' and I'm Sorry

A couple Henry stories:

Henry has called me 'Momma' since he first began talking.  Well this weekend he now calls me 'Mom'.  No more 'momma'.  Just 'mom'.  Short, plain and simple. What happened to my little baby boy??  I feel like he is so grown up! 

Yesterday Henry and I were downstairs getting out the fall decorations.  We had all the pumpkins out and he was getting ready to help me carry them upstairs when he accidentally dropped one and it broke.  He looked at me and said 'I'm sorry'.  It melted my heart.  I have never heard him say he is sorry before.  I about cried right there.  He helped me clean it up while he continued to say 'I'm sorry'.  Precious.

Back to Work and Hannah to the Sitter

Monday was my first day back at work, and also Hannah's first day at the sitter.  Both mommy and baby did great.  It was nice to get back to my adult life, though I did miss my little baby girl.  She did so great at the sitter.  She was exhausted when we brought her home.  She took an hour nap, got up and ate, then went to bed an hour later and only woke up once to eat.  It is tough work going to the baby sitters house.

Henry LOVES having his little sister at the sitter with him.  He kept telling everyone that came anywhere close to Hannah that she was 'his' baby.  'That is MY baby' he would say.  So precious.  I am so glad they have each other.  I think that is why it wasn't as hard leaving Hannah as it was with Henry.  It is reassuring knowing she has a familiar face there with her to watch over her.  He is such a good big brother.

Andy and I met for lunch and have every day since.  It is nice having an hour to catch up just the two of us.  There aren't many hours that we have without the kiddos screaming or in need of something.  That is one thing I missed a lot while on leave, lunches with my one and only. 

Being back at work has been bitter sweet, at times I think I should just stay home with the kids, but other times I know how good it is for me to be working, and how good it is for the kids to be around other kids.  It is the dreaded mom guilt. 

So far I have just dove back into the work load.  I have a new burst of energy being back on the job.  I actually turned around a project today faster than I ever have.  It is like a fresh start.  I need a 12 week break every 12 months!!

Freezer

The fridge in our kitchen has the freezer on the bottom.  This has become a major problem because Henry can now open it on his own.  And he does it ALL the time.  We had popsicles in the freezer for him from when he was having the teething problems.  Well now he goes in the freezer about every 10 minutes wanting a popsicle.  After the second one of the night we said no.  Which is hard because this kid hardly eats.  But he can't eat 10 popsicles in one night.  So Andy hid the popsicles so he can't keep grabbing them.  It is pretty funny though because Andy and I will be in the living room and we will hear rustling going on and sure enough it is Henry in the freezer searching around for something he wants.  So note to self, when we buy our own place we will make sure not to have the freezer on the bottom!

Though I do want to make a note that this week Henry has all of a sudden become a star eater.  He has been eating the most I have ever seen him eat - ever.  Hopefully he keeps it up! 

We've got a roller!!

This morning I had Hannah on her blanket outside the bathroom while Henry and I were showering.  She was laying on her back when I left her.  When I got out of the shower she was on her stomach!  I thought it was a fluke, but nope, she has done it two more times this morning!  The crazy thing is I haven't seen her do it myself yet.  It has always been while I've been running around chasing after Henry.  What a big girl.  Henry never rolled from his back to his stomach, he only rolled from his stomach to his back - so this is new to me. 

So the rest of the day I am going to try and catch it on camera, or more importantly, just see it in person.  I've read that babies can start rolling over as early as 3 months, which Hannah is just a week shy of.  I am excited about the new milestone, but sad too as this really shows me how fast she is growing.  I think she is more motivated with Henry running around as she is ready to start running after him...

Henry TMI

So I got a call from the sitter today...and this may gross some of you non mothers (or even mothers) out, so I am warning you.  Got a call around 10:30am this morning from the sitter.  Henry had gone down for a short morning nap and when she went to pick him up she found that he had pooped and then played in it...yes that was what she told me...played in it.  She said it was on his hands, head, and most importantly, his blanket.  She was hoping I had another blanket I could bring by, but nope, that is the one and only.  And Henry will not go down for a nap without it, and when he is sad, scared, or hurt he needs it.  She said she got him cleaned up, but was worried about what to do with the blanket.  She was going to wash it, and I warned her to not let Henry see her put it in the wash machine, a mistake I made last week.  Henry saw me put it in the machine and threw a major fit sitting right outside the washer.  Of course the wash machine locks, so it isn't so easy to just pull it out.  I had to fast forward the machine and wait for the door to unlock, then occupy him while I semi dried it.  It was a lesson learned that I will never let him see me wash it again. 

So back to the poop thing...does this mean it is time to start potty training??  I am so intimated by the whole potty training thing.  It is totally more for when the parents are ready to put the time into potty training their kids.  I know Henry is interested as he says 'poop' when he poops, he points at everyone's bottoms and says poop, and anytime the baby toots he says poop.  Everything I read says now is the time to do it because after 24 months it gets harder.  I guess I need to start reading up more on training and buy some pull ups.  We can't have Henry playing with his poop anymore...so gross! 

Iowa vs Iowa State

Football season has begun.  The Iowa vs Iowa State football game is always a big day at our house.  Kelly and Ryan stuck around Des Moines for the game so we headed over to their place to watch.  It was quite a different experience from the last time we stayed in to watch the game together, which was pre kids.  Even though babies were constantly crying, it was still a great time!

I had to share these pictures that Andy captured of me and the kiddos on Saturday before the game.  They both cooperated so well!!

Henry loves holding his little sister!

Then we headed over to Kelly and Ryan's for the big game.  I-O-W-A!

Kelly and I with our baby girls!

Georgia reached out for Hannah's hand - it was precious.

Our friends Jesse and Kelly made it over as well with their little girl Olivia who is 7 months younger than Henry.  They had a blast running around after each other.

All the kiddos playing.

Salwey Annual Family Trip to Branson

We spent last Saturday - Wednesday in Branson, MO with my parents, sisters, and the newest addition to the family, my brother in law Brian.  The 7 hour trip down was brutal.  The second Henry fell asleep, then Hannah would wake up ready to eat so we would have to pull over, which then woke up Henry.  I think Henry only slept for 30 minutes each way.  So a very long trip.  I can say that we will not be taking any more long car rides with the kiddos for awhile.  The trip was very relaxing.  We played mini golf, which is a family trip tradition, along with laser tag.  The girls went on a winery tasting and tour, and we of course went shopping.  We visited the Branson Landing which is a pedestrian friendly shopping area with a very pretty fountain that has a water and fire show.  It was very pretty and Henry loved running around. 

Henry with Papa.  We couldn't go anywhere without Papa in the car with us.  I think Henry is more attached to him then he is to me!  It was nice to get a break:)

Henry checking out the course.  He got his own putter.

I was able to play with Hannah in the Bjorn.  I think I played better carrying her around!

The Fam

Hannah did great until about hole 16.  She got hungry so I found a rock to feed her on.  I would of never been this brave with Henry, breastfeeding has been so much easier the second time around!  I feel like quite the pro at times. 

Henry spent a lot of time in the kiddy pool at our resort.  He was able to touch the entire way across.  There was one time where he did lose his balance and went face in.  It was very scary for the few seconds he was under.  But I dove in and got him.  Danielle said I had him above the water before she even got her foot in - it felt like forever to me, but it was only 2 seconds.  He held his breath and didn't swallow any water.  I was so proud of him!!  He didn't even cry when I got him back up - but we all made sure that we were cheering for him so he wasn't scared.  It is all about the reaction of the people around him I have learned. 

Grandma Deaner spending some cuddling time with Hannah in the morning.

Papa's famous breakfast that we all look forward to!

We had a huge whirlpool tub in the master suite that Henry loved taking a bath in.  Here he is all cleaned up with a towel around his waste like a big boy.  So cute!!

Mt. Pleasant Thrusher Days

Last Thursday I loaded up both of the kiddos and headed for Shueyville.  We spent the night at my parents house and then my  mom and I headed for Mt. Pleasant the next morning with the kiddos for their annual 'Thrusher' Days.  I had never been there before and didn't know what to expect.  Henry is the typical boy who loves all trucks, trains, and tractors.  This was the perfect day for him.  He got to ride on a steam engine (below).

Grandma Deaner took him for a ride on a real choo choo train:

He took a ride on an old John Deere Tractor.  They let him go around twice at Henry's request (he would have ridden all day if he could of):

He rode his first pony and wasn't scared one bit!  I told him to hold on tight to the saddle and he did such a great job!

Here is Hannah enjoying the nice day in her stroller: