Monday, May 28, 2012

A mother's obsession...


You may not believe this, but guess what I do when I'm home on a Saturday or a holiday after putting Henri down for a nap...

Of course I do laundry, dishes, brush my teeth...all the normal things that are much easier to rush through once he's asleep....but then...

I end up on the computer looking at pictures and videos of Henri.  Last night at 6:30, after he was all snuggled into bed, Tim and I sat out in the backyard drinking cocktails and watching videos of Henri on our phones.  It's just that every little thing he does is amazing!!!  He smiles!  He says "ahhhAA"!  He tries to get all of his toys into his mouth.  He figured out how to move the teeter tottering pandas on his exersaucer.  He loves to "stand".  He can scoot around with his face buried into the ground while kicking his feet.  Gone are the days of "eat, sleep, poop".  This little boy is a world full of tricks and I just don't want to miss a minute!  Saturday he found his feet!  I was overjoyed!  I don't know why...but I've always thought that babies playing with their own feet is pretty much the cutest thing that ever was.

We've gone on a hike, hit up a museum, walked at the beach, went to a lacrosse game, and have played quite a few games of ladder ball and horseshoes with friends...

It's nice to finally  be at a point where our life, doing the things that make us come alive, still happens and Henri's with us...versus our life being on hold while we figure out Henri's naps, feedings, and other various needs.  We're even planning (tentatively) a camping trip in October with some friends.  Any tips on camping with an 8 month old are welcome!! :)

We're learning that we are so blessed with a very happy little boy.  He cries when he needs something...but otherwise he loves his bath, is starting to enjoy books and is reaching out for the pages, goes to sleep easily, and wakes up happy with a huge toothless grin plastered across his face the minute he sees us.  He's even content to chill on his own with some toys for 10 minutes or so at a time.

He's also extremely social and recently had a few days of trying out a new trick.  As soon as he realized he had been laid down in his crib one night he woke up fussing.  I had put him to sleep so Tim volunteered to go see what was up...after 5 minutes of relentless crying Tim came into the living room with Henri in his arms.  Suddenly, he was just fine...not a tear to be found in his eyes.  We knowingly laughed at this sweet boy's manipulative ways and Tim headed back towards his room.  As soon as he turned towards the hall Henri let out his cries of protest.  :)  2 days of leaning down to him in his crib and helping him back to sleep (without picking him up!) we are back to the days of easy sleep. :)  He's so SMART!!

He also got his first haircut!!!  Everyone kept telling us his golden locks would fall out...but alas they just grew and grew.  Tim played barber while I distracted Henri.  To be honest he didn't need any distraction at all, he loved it!  and he is even more handsome than before (at least we think so).

I'd post something else...but really...that's what life is for us these days.  And it is so sweet and wonderful...I want to freeze time and live in this place forever.  But, as I walked along the boardwalk at Bolsa Chica this morning with Henri and Norman and we watched the surfers and saw kids playing frisbie and flying kites I realized so completely that there is so much adventure and joy ahead of us yet.