18 months and counting

18 months. How the time flies. I think I'll die when he turns 2.
Henry has been and continues to be the boss of the house but I like to think he is a benevolent little dictator. Thank goodness he is a pretty tidy one too. He is great about picking up his toys whenever I ask and even cleans up on his own sometimes. He went through a phase where he had to wipe his hand on a napkin during dinner any time they got any food on them at all. Mildly OCD? Yep. Thats how I know he is my son.
He loves dressing up. Mommy and Daddy's shoes, mommy's hair clips and bands, his halloween costume...pretty much anything he can get his hands on.
His talking is getting better and its so cute to hear him try to say new words. Sometimes he gets a little lazy though and when you ask him to say something he just rambles off some noise that sounds nothing like it and smiles. My favorite words are: turtle, "durdle" please, "teeease" thank you, "tank you", and I love you "I uhv ooo"
We went to his doctors appointment a few weeks ago and the poor baby had to get five shots (seasonal flu and H1N1 shots added to immunizations). He was not a happy camper for the next few days with flu symptoms and all. It was also a "perfect storm" because one of the first things the doctor asked me when he walked in was, "what are you feeding him?" Turns out he is still only around 20lbs and has moved down to 2nd percentile for his height to weight ratio. I swear I try to feed him but he sometimes just won't eat. He likes to pretend eat (gets out a bowl, spoon and sits at his little table pretending and saying yum yum but when I give him food..."NO NO NO!"). Well anyhow, the doctor told me to start giving him these instant breakfast shakes. I told him we tried that before but he consistently refused them. So he recommended a different brand and adding vanilla ice cream in it even for breakfast. Well, I started getting nervous about feeling like he isn't getting enough but with the flu symptoms he was not feeling like eating and it lead to many tears and "food fights." Well, fast forward a few weeks and he is eating a little better but still not well. He drinks tons of milk and some of the shake, but if anyone has any advice on getting this little guy to eat, I'd appreciate it. =)
Oh and as I look at all the pictures I realize he has his paci in all of them. We're working on him having it only at nap and bed time. He isn't too happy about it so far, but little by little I guess it'll be better.
Other than that Henry seems to be doing pretty good. Running around, dancing and playing like crazy. I sure hope he doesn't go nuts during winter here.
We sure do love having this funny, strong, sweet little boy in our family. Heres to Henry!

Halloween-better late than never

Oh, Halloween. Not a holiday I love but we tried to make it a good day. We made cookies, watched a Yo Gabba Gabba Halloween video, took Henry to the park and dropped off some cookies to friends.
Henry was a little turtle and continues to put the jacket part of the costume on pretty frequently and loves when you call him turtle or as he says, "durdle"
Happy Halloween.

Thank you.

Sundays can be very difficult days. I think like a lot of parents I have had the thought, "why am I even at church." Henry acts up and then the stares and annoyed looks begin and don't end until the third hour ends and we're on our way home.
Now, I don't think Henry is particularly bad. He wants to walk around and he gets mad when he can't climb on the chairs etc. But we sit in the back and if a family looks annoyed by his walking by we move him away; we take him out if he screams loudly more than once. We are trying to keep him in as much as possible though because we don't want him to think church is just going and playing in the foyer and we want to hear our meetings as much as possible, thats just our parenting decision whether it seems good or bad to anyone else.
Well, on one Sunday after a particularly bad Sunday I was gearing up for the stares when a pleasant surprise came on the chair next to me.

"Whats your name?" Says the little girl named Makala in the drawing. She drew a line for Henry to write his name on. Then for the rest of sacrament meeting this sweet girl and her two brothers drew Henry pictures and passed them to him while playing with him and holding him. They were so sweet and I was so grateful to not be stared at for at least one hour while these adorable and kind children helped Henry get through sacrament meeting. But of course they didn't just help him as I'm sure you've guessed. Thank you dear, sweet kids.

Above: Henry and one of the little boys are killing a monster.

Above: Henry's house on Halloween.

Above: jumping on the trampoline

Playing basketball.

Just five of about 10 the kids drew for him including his own little "Henry book"
Too cute.