A Year Ago

It was almost a year ago that this picture was taken in front of Mimi and Poppa's house. Halloween is fast approaching again... and this year we have two more pumpkins in the mix. It's hard to tell how gigantically pregnant I was, but you'll have to take my word for it-- although it's been a year and lots has happened since then and now, somethings are indelibly imprinted in my memory (and on my belly). Other permanent marker moments include: the babies birth, the wonderful valentine's dinner I had with A, H dancing, E's grin when he stood for the first time, B splashing wildly, fake nose blowing, and many other snapshots in my mind.

b's balloon

B had fun attacking a balloon the other day. He was trying to bite it but fortunately, he wasn't able to get his sharp teethies into it. I know the noise of a bursting balloon wouldn't have gone over well.

Uh Oh, E

E has said his first word, 'Uh Oh' this morning. He was crawling around with a little plastic widgety gear (one of Henry's toys) and he dropped it. 'Uh Oh, E' I said and retrieved the toy for him. He looked at me as I handed it back to him and broke out in a big smile. 'Uuh oooh' he mimicked and chucked the gear down laughing uproariously. uh oh is right...

Who's afraid of the big bad Dark?

H has developed a terror of the dark. This weekend he spent the better part of 4 hours remarking on the fact that it wasn't dark. Dark? He questions, Dark!?! As night approaches, marked by dinner and bath time, the hysteria mounts: DARK? Poor guy.

He does have a night light, but we ran into the initial dilemma that the first one was too bright. He had trouble falling asleep. Its replacement is an exceedingly low watt indigo night light. The last few nights we have awoken (multiple times) to H's sobbing. When we go into comfort him, he is usually shaking. The solution is generally to bring him into bed with us (after several attempts to settle him back in his own bed).

I guess the plan is to get a brighter night light- in the meantime, H has got tired parents. Parents, who aren't so sure they like the dark themselves lately.

to the beat of his own noggin

B has recently taken up head banging in his crib. It first start during our trip to NH when he had an ear infection. It certainly relayed that he was in pain (or if he wasn't to start out with then he possibly was afterwards). But after his ear infection cleared, B continued to bang.

Apparently, he finds it a soothing way to calm down before falling asleep and it is mightily effective for getting mom and dad to wake up in the middle of the night and pick him up. Lordy. From the noise that it makes, we always expect to go in there and find him with black and blues all over his face, but not a one. Perhaps he's analyzed the crib and chosen the location with the greatest resonance so as to get the most 'bang' for his bang so to speak.

Regardless, the behavior itself I don't find concerning but the noise and perceived headache are disconcerting.

mow now!

H likes to mow the lawn. He regularly suggests that it just might be time to mow. He spends lengthy amounts of time in the garage communing with the mower. He even got his own mower for his birthday and when dad mows, H mows. And he is all business when it comes to mowing. I think that if dentistry doesn't work out (H has a passion for brushing his teeth), that he may find success with landscaping.

Tubing

Today was T-day. The babies got PE tubes placed in their ears. They were angels and the whole thing went better than predicted- granted Dad and I have gotten better at pinpointing the reality of any undertaking involving the boys and babies (plan appropriately and then add 30 extra minutes so as not to disappoint yourself).

Honestly, we were expecting little E to be nearly in a food deprived coma and the Bopper to be projecting his (and E's) displeasure in loud measure. But both babies were fairly happy, despite the lack of morning meal (or their usually elevensies). They were groggy and unhappy after the surgery but bounced back nicely. While it may take a couple of weeks to know how the tubes are working, we are pleased that everything went well. And of course that none of us was too traumatized by it all.