Nook

I had a wonderful Mother's Day with all my boys. They gave me a new Nook Color and I just adore it! I wasn't previously sure about an e-reader, would I like not holding a real book? But, I actually like it a lot. The only bad part for me is that I often read the end or read ahead a little when I am stressed about what will happen in a book, that isn't easy to do with an e-reader, but, I am forced to let the mystery ride, and that's okay too. I can read magazines, newspapers and kids books on it with ease. Downloading a new book takes only seconds. I love to read and this has been the perfect gift.

I also received a necklace with both of my boys names and birthstones on it. Ryan found it at the Vintage Pearl. Good job to Ryan and my boys for picking such thoughtful gifts.

I was also treated to my favorite homemade pasta dinner and strawberry shortcake. I'm one lucky Mommy!

One

It has been one whole year since little Henry Thomas entered our lives. It was an early Wednesday morning and I had been up all night with contractions. I never really had contractions with Andrew, so I wasn't even sure if they were real or Braxton hicks, but I knew I was terribly uncomfortable. I was out of bed walking around and staring out the window at a full moon most of the night. Finally, at around 6:00 am I gave up on any chance of sleep and hopped in the shower. I had to go to work that day, my scheduled c-section wasn't until two days later and my office was giving me a going on maternity leave, having a baby, lunch that day. So, I stepped out of the shower and chose a nice maternity dress to wear that day, all the while stopping and groaning in pain doubled over every few minutes.

Ryan proceeded to get up and get in the shower, from the shower he saw me moaning again and asked how often this was happening. I replied, "I don't know." So, after he rolled his eyes and generally expressed that he thought I was crazy, he suggested I might start timing the contractions. I figured this was good advice, so I sat down on the bed next to the alarm clock and took note of the time after another hard contraction had begun, one, two, three, four, ugh another contraction four minutes later. Wow, four minutes apart, I thought, that is actually pretty close. I told Ryan and he urged me to call the Doctor. I was able to get her on the phone relatively quickly and she informed me that I needed to immediately go to the hospital.

What? I'm having this baby in two days, not now. Ryan and I took Andrew to daycare, since it was a weekday and we both called in to work and were at the hospital by 8:00 am. General baby delivery drama ensued, my doctor disagreed with other doctors, nurses etc. about whether to send me home. But, my doctor won and she went to work on scheduling my surgery to deliver that day.

We were absolutely positive that Henry was a girl. So positive in fact that we didn't have a boys name selected when we went to the hospital that day. On several occasions my doctor had slipped and told us we were having a girl, even asking just prior to delivery what we were naming this little girl. Well, we had asked not to find out the sex of the baby, but we knew our doctor had seen ultra sounds that we didn't and we were sure she had made slips ups due to her personal knowledge that we were having a girl. I told Ryan though, just in case, I wanted to know what the boys name would be and we finally agreed on Henry Thomas, though Nathan had always been a top choice.

At 12:34 pm on April 28, 2010, I heard the familiar voice that had announced Andrew's birth, say excitedly, "It's a boy!" The shock on Ryan's face was indescribable I have never seen, nor will I likely ever see again, such a look of surprise and wonder all at the same time. I immediately began to cry when I heard the huge wails coming from my new baby boy. Ryan planted a kiss on my lips and headed over to see our new baby boy. Henry continued to scream with huge lung power, the nurses commented that most babies are not this loud. Apparently, besides screaming the first thing Henry did was pee all over the place. That's my boy! My doctor commented, "see I didn't know whether it was a girl or boy," in defense of her perceived slip ups. Ryan was handed Henry in a swaddling blanket and he brought him over so that I could finally see this little boy I had been hearing. He was perfect. He had beautiful pink skin and brown fuzz on his little round head. I kissed him and of course continued to cry. They took him away again for his Apgar and other tests, while I lay there being sewn up filled with pride and love and joy.

They wheeled me out of the OR and back to recovery where I was able to hold him in my arms for the first time. Ryan brought him to me and said, "I think he's a Nathan." I said, "no, he's Henry. I've been laying on that table being sewn up for 30 minutes thinking about my new baby Henry. He's Henry." And Ryan never brought up that other name again.

Henry was a great nurser right from the start. He also made lots of little grunting noises all the time. We were somewhat concerned, but were told it was no big deal and then decided they were really cute. He also would make a chortle-chuckle sound that he still makes frequently today.

Henry is such a happy baby. People comment all the time about how adorable and happy he is. He loves to laugh and do whatever he can to make other people laugh. I'm convinced he will be the class clown. He loves to blow raspberries, or hum-while-the-fingers-flick-his-lips or say, "hi," in this hilarious whisper that brings smiles to everyone. He also loves it when others make him laugh. He laughs when someone farts or makes faces or anytime his brother does anything.

Andrew and Henry are quite the pair. Andrew has totally stepped up as big brother. He watches out for Henry and loves to entertain him and make him laugh. They are already starting to wrestle and play together and it makes my heart sing to observe these brothers together.

I always think that the first year is the hardest in a lot of ways; the nursing, the lack of sleep, the why is he crying? But, I wouldn't trade all the wonderful parts of Henry's first year for anything. A big part of me is sad to see him growing up and becoming less of a baby all the time. However, he is becoming "Henry" and I can't wait to see his personality continue to form and to see him grow and progress each month that goes by.

Right now Henry can: crawl very quickly, walk a few steps between two people with ample encouragement, open our locking trash can, push open doors and slam them shut.

Henry can say: hi, mama, dada, nono, tickle-tickle, he can also wave hello and goodbye

Henry likes to: play in the toilet, eat dog food and dog water, play in the tub and drink tub water, steal dog bones, take everything out of the kitchen cabinets and leave it on the floor, play with the phone and dial numbers, push buttons on the remote, remove every singe dvd from its storage place

Henry's favorite book: Pat the Bunny, by Dorothy Kunhardt

Henry's favorite toy: the diaper pail or maybe his toy tv remote

Happy 1st Birthday Henry! We love you more each day and we look forward to watching you grow and learn. phbbts

Easter Sunday

Andrew and Henry in their Easter best, in our church nursery which was the site of the egg hunt due to snow.
The family almost all looking.

We had a very nice Easter weekend. Friday night while boiling eggs on the stove to be colored the next day, I backed up to the stove inadvertantly and caught on fire. Yes, fire. I was yelling, "I'm on fire, I'm on fire" and finally Ryan came over an put it out. Luckily, I was not burned. But, my favorite Wyoming Law sweatshirt could not be saved from the flames. Andrew couldn't get over what had happened. Asking again and again, "what happened Mommy?" "How did your shirt catch on fire?" I kept explaining that was why we don't get near the stove. Now maybe I'll practice what I preach.

Saturday we dyed eggs and enjoyed being home and together. Sunday morning, Andrew awoke and without even waking us, found a little bag and began to search for all his Easter eggs. He was half way done when I got up and helped him search. He was elated to find all of his eggs and he really enjoyed telling everyone all the clever/silly places the bunny had hid eggs. He enjoyed some chocolate bunny and playing with his Easter basket. Both boys were dressed for church, where they were able to enjoy yet another hunt in the church basement, due to the newly fallen snow. Why must Easter and Halloween always bring snow???

Ryan delighted us with his culinary pursuits and we enjoyed a nice Easter dinner just our family. It was nice not to travel, and as much as we love to visit with family, it was also kind of nice to enjoy a day just the four of us. We all took a two hour nap in the afternoon and generally had a wonderful day!

Some Pictures

Andrew in the tub...love the beard!

Henry trying beef stroganoff - he loves real food, no more baby food for him! Henry in the tub - brother gave him a beard too!

So tired, Henry passes out in his chair.

We've been busy as usual. Last weekend Henry and I went to Nebraska to visit family. My Grandpa Bartels turned 85 and we had a nice party for him. Ryan and Andrew spent the weekend at our friend's ranch. Andrew came home with all kinds of stories, including how calves are made, and all about a dead deer they saw on a hike. Andrew truly thinks he is a cowboy and he will ranch someday! Maybe he will...

We are home this weekend, which is good we need to do laundry and catch up with life. Ryan is enjoying his new position as a director and although it is stressful and there is always a lot to do he likes the work. I too am really enjoying my job as well. This kind of work is definitely my niche and I am so glad I made the move.

Mommy's Job

Andrew and I were talking about my job the other day. He is really beginning to have long conversations with us about all kinds of things. I told him that I was a lawyer, and he said, "like Peter Pan!" He loves the movie Hook, in it Peter grows up and becomes a lawyer, the profession is not presented in a good light in the movie, but I responded, "yes like Peter Pan." Then he wanted to know more about what lawyers do, so I explained that I go in front of judges and argue for my clients. We had recently had a conversation about the police and putting people in jail, so I explained that when those people go to jail they go in front of a judge and the judge decides whether they did a bad thing or not and whether they get to stay in jail or go home. Andrew responds, "if they didn't do a bad thing they go home, but if they did they stay in their cage, or they can tell the police that they are sorry and won't do it again and then get out of the cage!" Thank goodness it isn't that easy to get out of jail or Mommy would be out of job.

Book Suggestion

So, my very first post on this blog referred to a book I had recently read called, "I Don't Know How She Does It" by Allison Pearson. I just read that this book is being made into a movie starring Sara Jessica Parker. To all my fellow working moms out there you might want to pick up this book, it is a fun, fast read. I guess other people liked it too if they are going to make a movie.

I have to admit sometimes I use some of the lead character's tricks in my life. Kate Reddy is the main character and she is a business executive, married with two children. She does things like buy store baked goods and then adds a few little touches and removes the store packaging to make it look homemade. I totally do this! Not all the time, but when I just don't have time to bake treats for school, I use some of these tricks myself, then you still look good in front of all those perfect stay-at-home mommies!

If you are a working mom you will totally relate to this book!

More Andrewisms

(Ryan was explaining his work that day regarding retirement benefits for UW employees. He told Andrew that "retirement" is for old people who no longer work, but still get paid from money invested like a piggy bank.)

Ryan: Do you know what an old person is?
Andrew: Yes, it's when someone turns silver and their face cracks.
Ryan: (laughing) You mean their hair turns grey and they get wrinkles?

Daycare Worker: What kind of picture are you going to color?
Andrew: I'm going to color a picture as beautiful as my mommy!

Awww, gotta love little boys!