18 Months... really? Really.

Henry got a haircut today, and he's looking good.  It suddenly hit me, though, that not only does he look a little older with the new 'do, but he's actually 18 months old today!

Time does, indeed, fly when you are having this much fun.  Has he really been around for a year and a half?  He's definitely more toddler than baby now, especially since he can count the following accomplishments:

• Sliding down his slide without our help
  
• Giving us cute phrases and even a couple of complete sentences, including this fluke, "I might fall."
• Helping put toys away and singing "Blocks away, blocks away... " or "Books away, books away..."
• Giving appropriate animal names and noises.  (So, so cute... especially the cat and the duck)
• Refusing almost all vegetables and asking, instead, for "froo?"  (fruit) 
• Pitching terrible tantrums that surely rival any two year old
• Playing interactively with his classmates (including chasing Laura around their room)
• Petting Penny, telling her "no" when she barks too much, and exclaiming, "Meemee!" when she enters his room
• Mastering the rocking horse and rocking chairs of all shapes and sizes
• Wiping his hands on a napkin after a meal 
• Tolerating, wearing, and even requesting sunglasses or "s'gassee"
• Telling everyone that "Mama at werk!" or "Daddy at werk!"
• Out-dancing most people I know.  Seriously.  It's fancy footwork.
• Riding his truck and even navigating so as to not "bonk!" the furniture and walls
• Pointing out "big" trucks on the highway (Not going to type how he says truck)
• Conquering a fear of the pool and even attempting to swim
• Spelling aloud and writing his name "Hendricks Johnson Hughes"  

He's still working on jumping, and he's got the momentum part down.

We celebrated the 18 month milestone by going out for a sushi dinner--Henry's choice.  

R&R

We visited Henry's Nana and Granddad in Surfside last weekend. The main reason for the visit was to celebrate Steve's birthday, but Henry takes mini vacations veeeeeeery seriously...Of course, we take it pretty seriously, too, so after a pool nap, real nap, and some beach time, we got some Painters Homemade Ice Cream. Henry loved it--especially their crisp waffle cone.

Good Grief!

Henry can throw a fit and a half! I knew that he was in the stage of high emotion and frustration with limited communication, but I never knew he could get quite as mad as he gets lately. There are lots of articles with differing advice of how to handle this phase, which is predicted to last for a very long time, but when you're in the midst of it, it's very hard to remember what I read.

The worst fit, by far, occured this morning after he woke, didn't want his diaper changed and desperately wanted his "bi" (pacifier) which is normally for nap and bed, or when we're in public warding off a fit. Thankfully, Daddy was also here, so I didn't feel quite as bizzaro world as when it happens while it's just the two of us. (People who know Henry well understand that he's typically a really fun and sweet boy.)

After Henry yelled and screamed, went limp in my arms and then tried to knock my water glass out of my hand, he gave me lots and lots of hugs and kisses before I left for work. Are we in some sort of abusive cycle?

Water play?

Grandjane was nice enough to inflate then fill their grandkiddie pool last Sunday.  Henry, however, woke from his nap more intent on playing with the sticks in the yard.  He got in a little water play if you count throwing the sticks in the pool.  

He mostly taunted us with the "tic," though.

Grandjoe had no success trying to talk Henry into getting into the pool.  All of this reluctance towards water play came the day after he went nuts in our neighborhood pool--splashing, sticking his face in the water, and even paddling to swim.  (Video to come!)

Henry

Henry is saying his name now, and his teacher told me today that she got to hear it several times.

Henry was sitting at the table waiting for his snack. Apparently, Mrs. Candace wasn't preparing snacks quickly enough, and when she turned her back to get another fruit cup, he starting chanting, "Henry! Henry! Henry! Henry!"

She reported that she picked up the pace. The kid was full of himself before, but, oh.... what do we have in store?

'mile!

I freely admit that Henry commands much of my attention in the half hour or so before Daddy comes home to take over playtime on nights that I have class. Sometimes, though, class participation forces me to rely on my peripheral vision to make sure Henry is at least safe. Today, before I could commit my full attention, Henry climbed atop one of the dining chairs. He was so proud, and so was I! (Of course, we will likely have climbing troubles soon enough.)

Henry responded to my lightening fast camera whipping out by saying, "''mile!" as I pointed and clicked. I caught his new cheesy, forced "mile" below.
Later, after his bath, he had some more fun...
Here he is attempting to read while riding the rocking horse... naked.What a cute smile--the real one and the 'mile one!

What's Henry up to these days?

Our happy kid is quite pleased with himself and his accomplishments.  We find him clapping and cheering, "Yea!" for himself when he completes a task like nesting his blocks or putting away a toy.  

He is taking an especial liking to sitting in rocking and stationary chairs as well as any available step or ledge lately, and I imagine him saying, just like my mom's mom used to say, "It sits well."He continues to love to be read to and to read us, citing "moon," "duck," "dog," "bubbles," and other frequently seen illustrations.  His love of books also includes their uncanny ability to be scattered about in random places such as our garden tub or in Penny's box.
He is still getting bit far too often in daycare, and we know exactly which child is biting him. Yet, he still seems very happy with his teachers and classmates and recently began talking about them at home. We frequently hear about "Mia, Zach, Wawa." (Jeremiah, Zack, and Laura) We met with the YW director last week and know that they are doing their best to thwart the bites as well as teach the habitual biter to cope in other ways. We were asked if we have any ideas, and for some reason, the director shot down all of my suggestions.

Henry is also fairly proficient in clothing removal and can also put clothes in his hamper.  (This accomplishment can bring on a cheer, too.)  He continues a love affair with shoes, and he is now attempting to put them on all by himself.  It's a little frustrating for him, though, that he has no real success at it yet.  

Walking is definitely secondary to running for Henry these days.  He runs inside and out and had a supremely good time running around with his cousins last week.  

It's no wonder he gets really, really tired sometimes.  

Our boy is growing so fast that it can feel like we can't keep up with him.  This catch up post was fun for me.  Henry is a neat kid, and I love looking back on and  looking forward to good times with him.

High Expectations

No pressure, Chippie, but you have a really fun brother and sister... good luck keeping up! Henry cannot wait to meet you!

Reunion by the lake

There is a theme lately--family, unions, and reunions. Not a bad theme!

We spent a delectable and pleasant July 4th at lake Marion with family. We don't see Cory's Aunt Walton and family nearly enough, so it was nice to spend an afternoon eating, chatting, and getting in a little swimming with our family. Henry and I also worked in a nap. I can think of no better way to celebrate the birth of a nation!

We are looking forward to the next reunion and feel certain that Marie will except no excuses for non-attendance next year. Be forewarned!

This reunion specifically gave Henry a chance to spend a little bit of time with his Granddad...
... and some more special time with Nana.

Nana?

It sure has been a long time since my last post, and it's certainly not because we haven't been doing anything. Actually it's quite the contrary. We have been super busy, starting with a fun-filled long July 4th weekend.

We were invited to attend Brad and Kelly Northington's wedding, and since we were excited to be there to witness the union, we asked Nana if she would mind including a little babysitting in her holiday weekend.

She accepted, and we are grateful! So is Henry. He loved having Nana here for a weekend.

They had a lazy Friday on July 3rd...
complete with some picking and grinning...
a trip to Whole Foods for some gelato...

Then it was time for Mama and Daddy to go to the church to listen to my brother perform a beautiful wedding ceremony in which Stacy looked equally beautiful as a bridesmaid while Evan and Anna made every single witness "awwwww" when Evan tried to hand David the ring pillow and Anna offered her flower basket. Who knows what went on at our house! We do know that Henry woke up on the July 4th asking for "Nana." He still will ask for "Nana?" when either seeing her picture or gatching glimpse of a woman with similar hair who we seem to spot from time to time downtown. Nana certainly made an impression!