Is it soooo bad to point?

Dear Henry,

One of the things that cracks me up daily and gives me a lot of joy is your enthusiasm and excitement for all that surrounds you. For the last month or so you have been pointing at things like crazy. I wonder sometimes if your arm flails out and your finger extends out of habit, reflex....without thought. Sometimes you are so excited and pointing at nothing but a blank wall or the ceiling. However, Hen Hen, I love that you want to share the world with those around you. Keep pointing out what amazes you because whoever you hope to share it with loves seeing what you see.

Love,
Mama

Uncle captures nephews

I enjoy my brother's picture taking perspective.

Things I love today...

1. I love that I was at Target at 7:55...five minutes before it opened :)

2. I love that I have been able to get two loads of laundry in already, dusting, and picking up.

3. I love our tree and can't wait until it has lights and ornaments on it.

4. I love this picture of Henry taken by my brother.


5. I love that I am about to put in a chicken to roast so I can make my Aunt Virginia's chicken stuffing casserole for dinner tonight.

6. I love that Charley has a friend coming over this afternoon!

7. I love that Charley loves the cartoon Max and Ruby. It reminds me of an old time cartoon. Slow paced, kind hearted, and just simple. Thank you Grandma Charlie for the Christmas edition!

8. I love that it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...as it snows on and off today.

9. I love that I have all my ingrediants for my xmas cookies and just need to get invigorated!

10. I love Saturdays.

Sleeping through the night

So at 9 months we did the whole...let Henry fuss it out so he would learn to self soothe and put himself to sleep. He did really well with it and after one or two nights he was doing great. And he never cried hard. But in the last 2-3 weeks it seems he has been waking up every 2-3 hours again. And his cries and screams were so hard and sounded so painful. He didn't want his nuk and since we eventually travelled for Thanksgiving I ended up nursing him so I wouldn't wake up everyone at my parents house. He has yet to be sick and he has been poking at his ear so I thought Wednesday night....."This is enough! I am taking him in. He can have his ears checked and I can hear from the doctor again that it is okay to let him cry." So we went in and the doctor checked his ears ---- completely healthy. Looked in his throat...looked good. And then he had a little talk with Henry about not needing to nurse in the night. Henry just stared at him wide eyed, giggled, and then nuzzled into my chest. HA! Then he said, "Maybe he is teething." WHAT! I totally forgot that he could be teething. Sure enough he is getting his third lower tooth. He has 6 teeth already, way more than Charley ever had at this point. I just was telling a mom friend, first time mom, who had a tough night some ideas on what to do when baby won't stop crying. And I said to her, sometimes when you are dealing with the immediate situation and so into the moment you forget about the obvious solutions. So last night as I headed out for my monthly Bunko game. I told Ed that along with the bottle make sure you give him a little motrin.

Drum roll please.....

He slept through the night! So the poor guy has been teething. I feel awful that the most obvious reason wasn't so obvious. But I am thankful that we don't have to do the cry it out thing again.

Winter Begins...

Even though both Charley and I are recuperating we decided to get some fresh air. I love that I could actually shovel this year (last year I was way too pregnant). I love that Charley is now old enough to keep busy in the snow while I shovel. I love that Henry naps well so we will be able to do this a whole bunch this winter.

We used the sled on the drive way. Then we walked around the yard looking for tracks. We didn't find any. It was quiet except for Charley and I yelling to each other. It reminded me of when I was little and me and my brother and sister would venture outside. We would head across the street to this hill that led down into the woods. There was a slim trail that wound through the trees. We liked to sled here. Now that I think about it...it is amazing that we didn't get hurt. But I remember the sound of nothing but our laughter and the dropping snow from the trees.

Coming in today we both wanted hot chocolate...but following Aunt Raina's advice we will stick to water and juice and stay away from milk.

By the way...so far so good.

Mom's aren't supposed to get sick.

Mom's aren't supposed to get sick. We can't get sick. When we are sick then life stops...right? Luckily for me my healthy hubby stepped into my shoes for the day so that I could be sick in peace. My "flu" experience started at 2am Tuesday morning and I finally felt better around 9 pm Tuesday night. I still haven't eaten anything but saltines but I feel secure that my journey is done. Henry survived his mama being sick. He seemed a little startled by the face mask that I got from Charley's doctor kit but it didn't slow him down from nursing.

Henry woke up at 1am fussing and because I just wanted to go back to sleep and we haven't committed to retraining him to not eat since our Thanksgiving travel I got up to feed him. During this quiet time I heard Charley coughing which progressed to gagging. Needless to say, Charley's experience with the "flu" began at 1 am on Wednesday. After a bath and changing his sheets all the while he reminded us of the last time this happened...about a year ago before Henry was born. Boy he has a good memory. Once we had him tucked in and we were back in bed I heard him sucking down his water which I forgot to remove from his bedside table. I ran in there...but too late...he had sucked down most. 45 minutes later he was leaning over his bed again. However, I have never been so proud of my boy. So we just had to wipe his face, pat his back, and back to sleep he went. What a gift to have a child who can make it in the bucket at four years old.

So far this morning I am feeling fine and Charley seems in good spirits. We'll see what happens for the rest of the day. Ed went to work today and I pray that he is graced with a free pass this round of the "flu" . We awoke to the snow plow so outside we have enough snow that I believe might stick around :) Fresh! It looks so fresh.

Ya know...I think on Friday I will hit up Walgreen's for a flu shot. Of course, I got everyone else to get one this year but it keeps getting pushed to the last item on my to do list. Even though this obviously isn't the "flu" or at least the strain that the shot helps prevent....but...

Gosh, if you are reading this and are healthy. Realize how lucky you are to be healthy. I hate getting sick, but I guess it does smack you in the face and make you realize how precious your health is and how quickly it can change.

Three Favorite Moments of Thanksgiving 2008

1. Listening to Charley giggle nonstop with his cousins while playing Monopoly.

2. Watching Ed live vicariously through my parents while he helped buy and set up their new tv.

3. Sneaking turkey with my dad. He and I found ourselves side by side at the turkey before it was being served. My dad pulled off a nice big chunk of meat. He cut it in half with the electric knife. We both picked up our half and stuffed it in our mouth while laughing. Meanwhile, we were yelled at furiously by those who were finishing the preparations. What they don't know...the best piece of turkey is the piece that you sneak right off the bone!

Giving Thanks for Home

Traveling for Thanksgiving made me realize how much I appreciate being home. As we arrived home last night I knew that Henry would sleep much better in his own bed. I knew that the next morning Charley would get up and know what to expect out of our day. Henry would nap when he was supposed to and Charley would have his toys to keep busy with. Being home every day all day makes me sometimes get a little crabby. I don't always appreciate being able to have cozy days at home. Travelling this weekend revitalized me to appreciate having time at home, routine at home, space, comfort, and quiet at home. It reminded me that getting out and away from the environment is healthy and good. As a stay at home mom your work environment and home environment are the same. And so the physical home environment can get...hmmm...I don't know how to explain it....boring...confining...the same...anyways...travelling and operating out of suitcases and your van can make you appreicate your home. I give thanks for our home the physical environment and the cozy feeling that comes when you turn on the lamps in the evening, with some quiet music as you make dinner to the pitter patter of your little ones feet, while awaiting the arrival of your husband. Home - There is no place like it.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2008

On Thursday morning we awoke to Charley announcing loudly, "I get to see my cousins today!" We set out at 8 am for the Wroblewski family Thanksgiving which takes place in Chilton, WI. It took us 5 1/2 hours. We got there at 1:30 and a delicious dinner was served at 2:00. The food, family, and fun was great. Charley played with his cousins. He was a helper when Noah and Dawson played Monopoly. He truly looks up to his big cousins and we pointed out that next year he will be the big cousin to Mike and Becca's little baby! Henry got to play/ or interact with his little cousin Landen. He is three months older and walking! It was fun to watch the two of them figure each other out.

After a little canasta and some pie we headed to my parents. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive. Both boys conked out immediately and slept all the way there....yahoooooo! When we got there we put Henry down and Charley got to visit for a little bit and then he had sleep over with his Uncle Greg. They were roommates. Greg discovered:
-Charley can play flashlight tag
-Charley snores
-Charley talks in his sleep
-Henry's cry in the night can be really loud
-Charley starts your day with great conversation

It was special to have Uncle Greg as a roommate. Henry was disorientated in the night that first night so he had a big crying session around 2am. I ended up just feeding him to calm him so now we will have to start from scratch with not feeding him again int he night. ugh! The other nights went better.

Friday was a lazy day around my mom and dads. My dad went to work and Greg, Ed, and Charley got in the car and went and bought a big TV for my parents. They went to Janesville and bought it and came home and set it up. My dad wanted one and told them they could go get it but we made it seem like they weren't going to drive that far to get the one that was in stock. So we surprised him. The box was turned into a house that both boys loved!



While those three were off TV shopping my mom, Henry and I went and tried to do a little Black Friday shopping but I found nothing. I just wasn't ready. That evening while awaiting Uncle Andy and Aunt Raina's arrival I decided to make my french silk pie. The oven wouldn't heat up. So from 4:30-7 Ed pulled the oven apart, figured out what was wrong, and fixed it temporarily so that we could make the pies, bread, and turkey on Saturday! Friday night we spent a little time in the deep dark basement at my parents. Greg, Raina, and I found boxes labeled with our names. We laughed, shared memories, and brought up some treasures to share with Charley.

Saturday we celebrated the Schneider Thanksgiving. It was a nice day. We got to see Pat and Emmma and Connie and Jim. At one moment Charley said, "I wish it wasn't Thanksgiving because then Grandma could play with me." Grandma was busy making the big dinner all happen so he was left to enjoy all the others fun people. But no one replaces the special Grandma fun. Yummy food, penny poker, and lots of laughs.

Saturday night once the boys had their baths and were in bed my brother suggested we play an old game we used to play as kids. SOOOO FUN! Good times!

Sunday morning we got up and had a yummy breakfast of Grandma Schneider's Skinny pancakes, bacon and pineapple. Aunt Raina continued the tradition of presenting Charley with his advent calendar. SO FUN! Then we packed up and ventured north for the Packer Game (3 hour drive). Ed couldn't get rid rid of this game (I don't know how hard he tried) and so he thought he would take Charley. This was Charley's second game.
I think Ed has always wanted to bring him every other year, however, it is expensive and far and BIG so we'll see. Charley was super excited. Henry and I dropped them off and went and had lunch and did a little Xmas shopping. Here are a few pictures from the Packer game. The boys made it through the entire game. Charley enjoyed a hot chocolate that ended up causing our 5 hour ride home to turn into over 6 hours. Charley got the full experience this time because it rained a little, snowed a little, and was cold!





It was a great Thanksgiving weekend even though the travel seemed to suck some of the fun out of some of the weekend. We are thankful that we were able to travel, that everyone was able to be together, and had time as a family.

Travel for Thanksgiving Weekend 2008

Okay, we hadn't travelled since Henry was much smaller so we knew we were in for some surprises...it was more Charley that threw us for a loop. He is older now, out of diapers, and more aware of how he can whine and manipulate his needs (mainly the bathroom). I start out negatively with the travel because that is a huge part of our holidays (all holidays Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter etc). We always try and do everything and see everyone and it is harder and harder when we think it should get easier and easier. The most popular phrases this holiday season, "What town are we in? I have to go to the bathroom. How far are we now? (the Schneider tradition of showing the kids how far we have driven using the mirror continues)I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. I have to go to the bathroom." How I wished he was 2 again and in diapers.

Charley's need to go to the bathroom verged on entertainment for the young lad. At one point we thought he had to poop and pulled off and once inside he informed Ed that he didn't have to go. As parents we are torn on trusting he really has to go or judging when he can hold it because he just went 30 minutes ago!

Henry rode well for the most part, however, when a child who is 11 months is unhappy in the car...everyone is unhappy. Henry's last 45 minutes of the ride to Chilton was horrid and it made the whole ride terrible...and his ride home from Green Bay on Sunday got bad midway and that sucked the fun out of the whole day, along with the weather. We made it though. Christmas this year will be more broken up. We won't be doing both families in 4 days like usual and that should help everyone's travel attitudes.

It was all worth it once we got to our destinations and could enjoy the company, food, and holiday.