William is 8 months old

Last Thursday William turned eight months old. He continues to be a sweet baby, a good sleeper and a great eater. Have I just jinxed myself? His two top teeth seem really close to popping through and they've really been bothering him this week. He'll be playing (chewing on something) or eating and out of the blue shriek out and then start crying. It's very sad and I wish there was more I could do besides the usual Tylenol. I've overheard Henry trying to comfort him saying, "are your teeth coming out?"

Here's a few notes about William at 8 months:


He still has only his 2 bottom middle teeth. The top two are really close. In the meantime, he loves chewing on his fingers, his toys, anything within his reach.
Chewing,

chewing,
chewing.
He does this cute face where he lays his head down and looks sweetly at you.. It's very sweet, especially when he does it when someone is holding him and he snuggles right up.
He continues to love his feet. He likes to grab them and tries to figure out how they will reach into his mouth.
He doesn't mind being on his tummy anymore. He has been rolling over for a few months, but he just started rolling to get himself to things. He rolls all over now when he's on the floor and is able to get to anything.

William with Holly. These two brothers are getting to be better friends everyday. (With the exception of Henry not permitting William to touch, reach for, or grab any of his toys, books, etc.) Henry really loves William, but it's on his terms. He's not thrilled that William is starting to reach for and roll to things. Just this afternoon Henry initiated peek-a-boo with William; William cracked up. Henry's also really helpful at entertaining William in the van. If William starts to fuss I'll ask Henry to make him laugh and without fail it works every time. All it takes is a funny face and William giggles. He loves his big brother.
William with Grandma and Bapa Bug. (My dad and Sandi)

A few other notes:

• William loves plastic bags and anything paper. I now know why they must put the warning on the plastic bag "this bag is not a toy". I'm convinced William would be satisfied with a stash of plastic bags as his only toys. Unfortunately for him not only are they not a toy, but paper and plastic aren't good ideas for a boy who puts everything in his mouth.
• He loves balls and seems to really prefer them to things with wheels.
• He likes cold baby food, I think it feels good on his gums.
• Just today he started waving. I really thought it was a fluke, but as I kept waving to him and saying, "can you wave to mama?", he kept doing it. We were outside and I asked him to do it about a million times and got equally excited every time until I realized how annoying I might be to the neighbors-then we brought the new trick inside.
• He blows raspberries and has an excited/happy shriek.
• He loves swinging in the baby swings at the park.
• Patrick discovered that William belly laughs when you put something on your head and make it fall off. We're talking huge belly laughs. It's contagious and before we know it we're all knocking things off our heads.
• He likes animals. He gets really excited when he sees a cat or dog and reaches eagerly to grab its fur. When my Dad, Sandi and Cory visited and we went to the zoo my dad brought him into the petting zoo and he was grabbing the goats fur and shaking with excitement.
• He loves "touch-and-feel" books. His favorites are: "My First Touch-And-Feel Farm" and "Puppy Love". He reaches for the textured parts and pats them with his hand or scratches them with his fingers.
• He really likes bubbles. He watches them in amazement.

We're so blessed to have this precious boy in our lives. Having Henry as the barometer to measure how much joy is to come, I love watching William grow knowing how much we have to look forward to.

Splish splash

We're in the process of renovating our upstairs bathroom. Patrick started working on it last Saturday - he tore out the floor, put in new plumbing, painted the tub and surround, updated the electrical, tiled the floor, and put in wainscoting. It's coming along and will be ready to use the shower and tub again tomorrow - huge Y-A-Y, sink "showers" just aren't the same. The boys have been taking baths in the sink separately, but tonight I decided to put them in there together. Both of them had a ball. William mostly loved chewing on the sprayer and Henry loved watching William. He was in awe to be taking a bath in the sink...with William. Pictures of the improved bathroom to come...

Happy 40th Anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Vance

This year in October Patrick's parents, Mary and David, will celebrate their 40th anniversary! In celebration, Patrick's brothers organized a weekend get-a-way for their parents and the brothers and their families. They settled on St. Louis mostly because it's close and their oldest brother, Greg, and his family live there. They planned it so early because in October Patrick's dad will be harvesting his fields. Our plan was to leave for St. Louis Friday evening so we would be there for the whole weekend; however there has been so much rain here this year that David hasn't been able to get all of his crops planted - some of his fields have had ponds in them and then it's been too muddy to plant. He thought he would be able to finish planting Friday and Saturday since it had been sunny all week and things were dried out. (Am I fooling you into thinking I know a lot about farming?) So we revised the plan and all of the brothers headed to St. Louis Saturday morning (Mike, the brother in London wasn't able to make it) and the guests of honor (Mary and David) joined us there on Sunday.

Our first stop on Saturday was Grant's Farm. It's a beautiful, free, zoo-like park owned by Anheuser-Busch. We went there for the first time last summer when Patrick and I brought Henry to St. Louis for the weekend.

The first stop is a train station where you climb on a train and have a guided tour through the park. There are lots of free-roaming animals - deer, geese, caribou, buffalo. I think it's fun and Henry loved it. I think he was in a constant excited-face mode-he didn't stop shaking! Here's Patrick and William on the train:When the train ends it's journey, you arrive at a zoo-like park. There are camels, elephants, monkeys, some exotic birds, llamas, and a huge petting zoo. You can purchase bottles of milk to feed the goats for $1. As you walk into the petting zoo through a turn style the goats grab for the bottles and aggressively start sucking. Henry was terrified at first and he dropped the bottle and ran. Then his older cousin, Haydn, helped him and then he really liked feeding them. They were super aggressive goats though, nipping at clothes and legs.Henry with his cousins Haydn and Hannah in the petting zoo. It was a hot day and this misting area at Grant's Farm was a big attraction. Henry ran through it a few times.Meanwhile William stayed cool by lounging in his stroller (playing with his feet of course).
William's face in this picture cracks me up. Saturday evening we went to Greg and Cathy's house where we all stayed and had a cookout. The kids had so much fun on their big trampoline in the backyard and watching a movie in their theatre room in the basement. On Sunday morning after David and Mary arrived we went to the St. Louis Zoo. It's a really nice zoo and also free. Here are all of the cousins (minus Clayton, 15, he started a job as a golf caddy Sunday morning). Left to right: Caleb, Henry, Hannah, Haydn, William and Isaac.
Henry and Grandpa David, better known around our house as Grandpa Tractor.

The kids were so sweet at the zoo. Here they are walking all holding hands.

Here's Henry and his cousins riding the train at Grant's Farm.

By popular demand

Inquiring minds are demanding more pictures of the new van. Here you go:



Gotcha! But this just happened to be parked in our neighbor's driveway and I couldn't resist snapping the picture. It's a shout out to Patrick's old white van, a blast from the past. I drove it one time in my life on the night before our wedding with all of my best friends to Steak and Shake. We cracked up the whole way as we raised and lowered the mini-blind shades! BTW, the one pictured above is much nicer than Patrick's old van.

Here's our new mini:

We joined "the club"

It's official, I am a mini-van driving mama. As I mentioned in my last post, the transmission in Patrick's car broke last Monday on his way to work. We knew it was only a matter of time. He called me around 8:30 as I was pulling into Wal-Mart with the boys to do some grocery shopping and said that the car was making lots of funny noises and he didn't think he would make it. I offered to leave right away to come pick him up, but he insisted on continuing to drive and wanted to see how far he could get. As I was settling the boys into the shopping cart Patrick called again to say that he really didn't think the car would make it much longer. Again, I offered to pick him up and told him that I would rather leave right away than when I had a whole cart full of groceries (that sounds really selfish); he again declined and told me to keep shopping. Another thirty minutes passed and I was nearly done shopping as he called again. This time to say that he made it to his parents house-about halfway between home and work- and could literally make it no further. I told him as soon as I got the groceries unpacked at home we'd be on our way to get him. We picked him up at his parent's house, he brought us home and then turned around and began his commute again. As soon as he came home that night he told me that his dad's mechanic looked at the car and diagnosed it as a broken transmission. With the realization that the car was not worth as much as the repair, our search for another vehicle began.

Having just had our second baby, it was really only a matter of time until a mini-van would seem appealing and alluring. In fact, lately I've been envious of my other mommy friend's vans. They're so roomy and seem so convenient. It seemed the perfect time to explore the van as an option. I was embarrassingly clueless about the modern van - at our first stop, the Honda dealership I was so impressed by the double side doors that opened that I raved to the salesman about how much I liked that feature and I wanted to confirm that older models had the same feature. When Patrick and I were driving home that evening he laughed and said vans have been doing that for years. Oops. We were both a little hesitant though, I was worried that a van would be too big-you know, bus-like- and Patrick wasn't quite ready to commit to one so we also looked at a few 7-passenger SUV's and a 7-passenger crossover. The irony is that after test driving the vans, the other SUV's seemed small and we began saying crazy things like "it doesn't have enough room." After lots of looking, test driving, late night online research and some stress induced headaches we settled on a used Toyota Sienna that we found online at a dealership in Elmhurst.

Now I don't want to be that crazy mini-van loving lady who goes around telling everyone to buy a van. It was the right time in our lives to consider it as an option and I will say that if you're considering one...do it! I love driving ours. Sometimes I feel like a babysitter because I couldn't seriously be old enough to be driving one around filled with my own children. But it's true and I do like it. I like all of the room and the perks of a van. I'm still learning to park and reverse safely. So far, so good. The boys like it, too; Henry lovingly refers to it as "my van" as in his van. Ha ha, ah the irony, it may well become his when he turns sixteen...

The Diaper(less) Diaries

I feel like I could create a separate blog for this subject because I have so many thoughts on a daily basis and my days seem to be revolving around it. I'll resist however, because I know (or at least I hope) that in a few months it will be a normal, commonplace part of life.



I've always been a bit anxious about potty training and skeptical about my diaper dependent child learning to wear underwear. I starting dreading the task around 18 months when at Henry's well-baby visit his doctor kindly told us that we could introduce the potty. Sound advice? Maybe. A little over-ambitious and untimely? Yes! I've heard and read many different theories and ideas about how one can successfully teach her child to use the potty. Equipped with this knowledge I could still only picture a naked toddler running around the house leaving messes equal to those of an untrained puppy. Everywhere. I dreaded it. When other people's children had potty success I cheered, yet every time I was awed and amazed that it was even possible.



Inspired by the success that Sara and Sally have had with potty training their boys in recent weeks, coupled with the fact that we were homebound (due to having only one car when the transmission broke in Patrick's car) I decided it was time to tackle this monster I've feared since entering parenthood. Last Tuesday (6.3.08) was Henry's first diaper free day. That morning I changed his diaper and told him about the fabulous Spiderman underwear he was going to wear that day. He wasn't excited or upset, I was pleased with his neutral reaction. Again, I've feared the worst. I explained that since he was such a big boy, wearing such big boy underwear he would need to tell me when he needed to go. Off he went. A few first thoughts: his shorts seem a lot saggier, maybe I should have gotten the 4T's instead. Do they look wet? I wonder if he has to go yet?

We made it through that first day and I bravely put underwear on him again Wednesday morning. We've now made it through seven days. By no means are we completely there. I just have committed to this and don't want to turn back now. He had accidents at least once a day for the first few days and he still isn't telling me when he has to go, I have to ask him after a few hours or tell him to go (if we're getting ready to leave the house). He wears a pull-up for his naps and at bedtime; sometimes those are dry in the morning or after his nap and sometimes not. He is now able to do everything all by himself; he uses the step stool to turn on the light then he moves it close to the potty and uses it to get onto the potty by himself. He then wipes and is able to get off of the potty by himself and moves the stool over to the sink to wash his hands. I'm hugely proud of him and he is really proud of himself. He loves the book "My Baby Brother is a Little Monster"; there is a part where the baby needs his diaper changed and Big Bird asks why he doesn't just use the potty. The big brother says that babies are too little to use the potty and that's why babies wear diapers. Last night Patrick was reading that book to him before bed and when he read that Henry stopped him and said, "Daddy, I don't wear diapers". I think he's very proud.

As I mentioned, we're still working on it and our week hasn't been without it's share of ups and downs. Having a child that is learning to use the potty requires much more planning ahead and thinking things through. Before we leave the house to go anywhere I need to make sure that Henry goes potty, and that I have a change of clothes with me. Once I arrive somewhere I immediately scope out the bathroom just in case we need to make a run for it.

A few notes from the first week:

• On Wednesday I thought we were doing so well, Henry was dry all morning and after lunch I was getting him ready to play outside in his little pool. I asked him to take his Crocs off (so that I could help him get his swimming suit on) and he said, "Why? Because there's pee in them." I looked at him and realized that his shorts were wet. We must have just missed it. I had to laugh though. I'm still not sure if he knows before he goes or if he realizes just as it's happening.
• Henry and William spent the day with Patrick's mom and dad (and some cousins) on Friday, and he wore underwear there and had no accidents all day! His mom was very helpful in working with him, but I was thrilled that he did so well away from me and from home all day.
• Friday night we went to Patrick's nephew's (Isaac and Caleb) baseball game with Henry in his underwear. After we'd been there for awhile I asked him if he wanted to go potty and he said "yes". I had a moment of panic as I glanced towards the blue Porto-potty at the other end of the field, but hand-in-hand he and I bravely trudged towards it. He was fascinated by the whole thing, especially having to wait in line to use the bathroom. Once inside I said lots of "don't touch that", "don't look at that" and "don't move". With several layers of toilet paper lining the entire seat he sat down and went potty. I was proud of him but more excited to get out of there. I felt like that was a good initiation into potty training. If we could brave that together, I think we'll make it through the next few weeks.
• Saturday we were in a public restroom together, again Henry was fascinated by the whole scene. He had a million questions. The box next to the toilet, "what's this?", pointing to the woman's feet in the stall next to us, "what's that?", and then it happened, a loud burst of gas explodes from the stall next to us, "what was that noise mommy?" It all happened so fast: while I was dying from embarrassment and trying very hard not to burst out laughing the woman in the stall started to laugh and I apologized. She said she had been there too with her little ones and was very understanding of it all. I made sure we stayed in the stall until she left the bathroom.

It has been an eventful week. I think some progress has been made. I'm still waiting for those magical words, "I have to go". Those four words will be so thrilling to hear. Until then I think we need to buy a few more pairs of underwear and shorts and I'm happy to not be changing as many diapers as before. Buying less will be wonderful, too.

Pretty in pink

The only thing I dislike about the peony is that the blooms don't last longer. I wish they would bloom all throughout the summer. Oh and that they attract ants. Otherwise, these are my favorite flower. I love that the blooms get so big and fragrant. These peonies are from the bushes in our yard. I have cut several stems from the bushes and filled every vase in our house! I hate to waste them.

Boy's pool

Hot, sunny summer weather is finally here! After the super long, freezing cold winter we had I am loving every minute. (*it's also nice to enjoy the heat and not be pregnant in it.) We've been taking out our little pool for Henry - he loves to fill it up and play in it. He filled it up on Thursday morning and we left it out in the sun all afternoon while he was napping. When the boys and I came outside that afternoon the water felt warm, and since there wasn't very much water in it, William got to go swimming with Henry for the first time. He liked it a lot and did a lot of splashing. Henry loved having him in there, too and he designated it the "boy's pool".

William loves balls. We had just these two in the pool and he was occupied with them for a while.

Time to eat

Henry is becoming very independent as he nears his third birthday. One of Sara's friends told her that the "terrible two's" are a myth and that the "terrible three's" are more accurate. I'm definitely starting to wonder. We made it through the twos with some defiance, but nothing more than I would expect from a two-year old. Henry is a spirited boy who has always had his fair share of fiest and lately he has had an opinion about everything and wants to do everything all by himself. I love his personality and I know that as his parent it's my job to channel his independent spirit into doing positive things. He was upset a few nights ago (I can't even remember why) so I asked him if he could come help me feed William. He's always up for helping and was super excited when I asked him.
It was so funny watching him, he opened his mouth every time he gave William a bite. He would say after every bite, "is that good?" in the sweetest voice.
William is looking at me like "mom, are you seriously going to let him do this?"