It’s not everyday that Henry and I get to dine with his Aunt Bridget, but this afternoon was an exception. Here’s what happens when you get the two of them at the same table over food. Or faces. Or both. It makes sense, really. “Auntie B” and I have been known to hold a few “face offs” in our own time. It’s grand to see that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in this regard. I didn’t even have to teach him!
glad to be making the most of the good things this week!
mm
look mom, a teething biscuit!
No teeth yet for our boy, but the biscuits are a hit.
i have to admit, that gummy smile is a personal fave.
mm
I was inspired today by this post, which brought me back to this post from eight and half months ago. At the time, Henry was just shy of a month old–his preferences, newborn and tiny. Not so these days, as our crawling, cruising, chatty little man makes his opinions clear and well known in this neck of the woods. He is bolder by the day, and we love him for it. Henry’s new list is 80% revised and comes with nine times the experience. He’d never admit it, but he’s quite the seasoned reviewer by now ;)
In no particular order, the list:
1) Sophie the Giraffe. Where he goes, she goes. Sophie is Henry’s lovey to date, if he has one. We never leave home without her, and although her spots have faded, Henry lights up at first glance every time. Perhaps its her cultured and well-traveled background he’s so drawn to…now 50 years in the making, Sophie is still traditionally produced in Rumilly, in the Haute-Savoie Region of France, and made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea Tree. Comment magnifique!
2) Baby Einstein’s Take Along Tunes. A favorite even before he could change the songs himself, Henry has an affinity for his Take Along Tunes. This toy (I should say, these, because we deemed it worthy of a backup) has bought us countless hours of peace and quiet while traveling. The songs themselves are relatively catchy and manageable to the parental ear, and the flashing (disco-like) lights seem to engage young minds in a way I’m far less able to tolerate at the old age of 29. The batteries on our first unit are just now wearing out, and the second is still going strong. Thank you, Baby Einstein, for a most perfect diversion. Henry loves you, and so do we.
3) Puffs!!! As Henry will be the first to attest, puffs are amazing. They’re the perfect snack for any time of day, great on the go, and easy to clean up. Not to mention the fact that they’re excellent practice when little ones are first rehearsing manual dexterity. Gotta love that pincher grasp! I still get a kick out of watching HD eat them, even months after their introduction. Such pudgy little fingers…such a guiltless way to buy time with a hungry boy. These Happy Baby Organic Puffs are our absolute favorite. There’s always a canister or two somewhere in the house.
4) The Ergo. I had no idea how particular a baby could be about a baby carrier. I had grandiose visions of swaddling Henry and wearing his cute little self everywhere we went when he was small, but he was on an entirely different plan. No Moby, no K’Tan, no slings, no Infantino. I liked them all and wanted so badly for one to work, but alas. That is, until we picked up the Ergo. This baby carrier redeemed the glimmering hope I’d once had of hands-free baby-wearing bliss. Henry protested a bit at first, but with a little determination and a number of trips up and down the block to experiment close to home, he finally made peace with the Ergo. We love it, how well it wears, how supportive it is for both mom (short!) and dad (not short!), how it looks, feels, adjusts. You get the idea. The Ergo Baby Infant Insert was also helpful when H was small, and we still sometimes use the cushion without the shell to boost him up for comfort. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
5) Sassy Seat Doorway Jumper. A household favorite indeed. Henry jumps his little heart out and our hands are free. We’ve found it especially useful on nights when the tired in our boy just won’t make an appearance, when we’re still eating dinner and he’s ready for action, and when it’s too close to bedtime for a nap and not quite close enough to call it a day. Somehow, its bouncy, springy, bright, and buggy self does the trick in all three scenarios, and for this, we’re grateful. Very definitely worth looking at in the doorway of our living room on a daily basis. Trade offs, you know?
6) Bugaboo Frog Stroller. Making its second appearance on just as many lists, the Bugaboo was a Craigslist dream come true pre-baby, and it’s still going strong. It jockeyed with a B.O.B.for a bit (which almost stole the title for its running stroller capabilities), but we have to admit that the Bugaboo has fought hard and strong for spot numero uno in our book. Could be the cozy and oh-so-warm foot muff at this time of year, or the fact that we’re all a bit too sentimental to pick another favorite since it’s been with us from the start. Regardless, Henry gives it two adorable thumbs up. He’s snug as a bug in his Bugaboo, and we love that.
7) That’s Not My Bunny (and other similar titles). Henry wants to read this book daily. He will find it anywhere in the nursery and turn the pages over and over. We’ve since procured That’s Not My Dinosaur and have several others in the queue. (That’s Not My Puppy will have to make an appearance here shortly.) Could be the touchy-feely aspect, with great tactile variety page after page, or it could just be Usborne. There’s not a single Usborne book we’ve encountered to date that we don’t all absolutely love. “It’s ears are SO soft!…”
8) The Boppy(s). A tried and true friend to both mom and baby, Henry and I have spent many-an-hour enjoying all that it has to offer. Since Henry’s first top ten debuted, we’ve borrowed a second Boppy from a friend to eliminate the need to transport said Boppy from one floor to the other and back again with every feeding. Genius, I tell you. I’m not a proponent of excess with the exception of a handful of areas in life, and this would be one of them. At some point, we’ll bite the bullet and just purchase a second one of our own. With more babies (hopefully) on the way someday, it just plain makes sense.
9) Pediped shoes. We couldn’t help but love these for Henry, so he’s been in them over the past few months even though he hasn’t grown his sea legs in their entirety just yet. They are just too darn cute on his little feet, they’re easy to clean, and they’re perfect as Hank transitions from crawling to standing to walking. They go with nearly everything in his wardrobe, which makes his mama happy, and best of all according to Henry, they’re a delight to chew on. Yuck. You can’t win them all as a parent, we suppose. At least they’re adorable…
10) California Baby Calendula Cream and Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion (in Calming). Ok, so we’re cheating a little here and grouping skincare as one item on the list, but I’ve had a number of moms ask me what we use for Henry’s skin, and the above is our favorite combination to date. The Calendula Cream is a little bit pricey (most affordable at your local Target:), but lasts forever and works like a charm. We use it on Henry’s cheeks when they get chapped and on any tiny eczema patches when we see them. Applied consistently, it heals spots right up with all natural ingredients (and it has the yummiest smell to boot!). As an alternative to oft-recommended steroidal creams for baby eczema, I was thrilled to discover this option worked for our bug. As a daily body lotion, we love the above-mentioned Burt’s Bees Nourishing Lotion. 99.9% natural, it packs a moisturizing punch, smells sweetly, and comes in at nearly half the price of comparable all natural baby lotions (still flying under the radar with a very minimal number of synthetic and/or processed ingredients). I don’t feel guilty spending a little more to feel comfortable with what we’re applying daily to the munchkin’s skin. And since we added these two to our regimen, Henry is nearly eczema free and rarely dry. What’s not to love?
We’ve come a long way from the newborn napper and bouncer that once held coveted spots on Henry’s top ten list. Instead, we’re now embracing noisier toys, books, and finger foods, just as a nine month old should. Undoubtedly, the list will morph again quickly as we approach a first birthday, the Summer months, learning to walk and run and liven things up even more. There are other items, too, that didn’t make the cut but could have–so many products we appreciate as parents that make the task of raising a little one oh-so-much more manageable on a daily basis. While it can be overwhelming to make choices when you want the absolute best for your child “no matter what,” we’ve learned that the very best item for our babe can sometimes be the free one we were handed down, an item we borrowed, something we made, or the exact opposite of what we thought would be absolutely perfect before we tried it. Regardless, Henry is happy and healthy, changing and learning at a wonderful, steady pace. Top ten or no top ten, we are lucky, lucky, lucky and growing ever more so by the day.
from our little reviewer to yours,
mm (& co.)
At this stage of the game, I can check a few things off the list. Good thing there’s still half a weekend left :)
Last night we watched The Ides of March. I liked it well enough, but wished the ending didn’t feel so abrupt. No matter. We sweetened the deal with a little dessert mid-movie. I thought it fitting that our dishes ended up looking so patriotic. Unintentional, of course, but still fun. And with a little chocolate sauce drizzled on top, oh did it hit the spot!
Then over breakfast this morning we plotted out our grocery list, including items to cook up a few new (to our menu) dishes this week. First on the docket? A recipe for Faux Pho from Epicurious. In essence, it’s a close-to-authentic twist on the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. Jason treated me tonight and cooked up a small storm in the kitchen. We love Pho, so this was fun to try. Will we make it again? Definitely. The only note I’d make is that the recipe says to simmer broth for 78 minutes. Given that the entire dish calls for 30 minutes of prep and cook time, total, we decided that 7 to 8 minutes would do. Sure enough. One little dash makes a big difference:) Oh, and we added fresh lime since that’s how we’re used to enjoying it, plus a little Rooster (Sriracha) sauce because we love a good kick. The serrano peppers will do it, but Sriracha adds an extra punch. All in all, a delightful meal!
If you decide to try it out, you’ll have to let us know how you like it. The whole house smelled wonderfully of fresh ginger, basil, garlic, chiles and lime. Yum!
The little one is fast asleep and we’re watching Storage Wars reruns before bed. I do love the weekend!
relaxed (and full:),
mm
I love Saturdays in the summertime. Mostly because they’re made up of the finer things…coffee downtown, trips to the Farmer’s Market for fresh produce and flowers, family time, an occasional trip to the beach. What’s not to love about traipsing around town and enjoying the hot, sunny weather?
Today was no exception. Henry toted us around all over the place. Farmer’s Market? Check. Coffee? Check. Cloth diaper store, toy store, and adorable baby store? Check, check, check. And courtesy of the best new food cart to join West Michigan,
the silver spork. a new favorite.
I noshed on this yummy number for lunch:
summer orzo salad with fresh veggies, berries and feta.
We all came home toasty and tired. It was a hot one today!
sleepy baby.
Later, after we’d rested a bit, we summoned up enough energy to make faces for awhile:
smiley.
lovey.
and oh-so-poutey. my fave.
Do we think there’s a bit of Irish in the lad?
henry o'malley. ;)
Not a bad way to spend the afternoon. Not bad at all.
i hope i dream about that sweet face tonight…or the salad. they’re both delish if you ask me!
mm
Turning 29 was as uneventful as I planned, and made sweet by a day filled with Henry, lunch with friends, dinner with the boys and a visit to the toy store downtown. It’s a lovely turning point, to have the day center on the little one instead of on me. And the sun shone all day long, the sky stayed a clear blue, the temperature was perfect. All in all, a good start to another year, and one I’ll certainly remember.
Snapshots from our evening out:
whitefish with yellow tomato chutney, ginger-coconut purple sticky rice and sautéed veggies
playing with trains at the sandcastle. love these. a future "must" for henry's nursery.
my handsome little guy, "dressed up" for mommy's birthday in a onesie with a tie. thanks, becca, for the sweet duds!
Despite a very unhappy Henry at the tail end of the day, my first birthday as a mom was filled with great moments. I’m so blessed by the efforts of friends and family to make sure I felt celebrated and loved.
one lucky lady,
mm
Aside from the fact that there’s a cute little newborn running our lives these days, today felt almost completely like a normal, Kehrer family kind of Saturday. It was, of course, infused with a little extra in the way of scheduling challenges, and also with a lot of extra sweet moments with Henry. We are learning to be a family in an entirely new way.
Compared to last Saturday, today felt like a total victory to me. We did sleep in a bit, but we weren’t confined to the house for hour by hour feedings. Instead, Henry woke up around 7:30, having given me a nice, 3.5 hour stretch of sleep. He ate, and then (I know, I know) against all parenting wisdom, I let him curl up next to me on my pillow in our bed. He is such a little bug! He LOVES sleeping on his side (which he can really only do with a little help just yet), so I held him next to me and we dozed in and out for the next two hours…absolute mommy bliss in my book! We have such a cuddler on our hands, and I couldn’t enjoy it more.
From there, we resumed “normal Saturday” routine. Dad and I took turns getting ready while the other took care of the little man, Henry got a bath (also a mommy favorite), and then we ventured downtown for coffee and a bagel, the Farmer’s Market, and a nice walk down 8th Street in between. The weather could have been warmer (or sunnier for that matter), but it was still lovely to be out and about together. Henry slept like a dream the whole time.
Back at home, we ate lunch, I fed Henry, and then he and I snoozed on the couch for the better part of 3 hours while Jason cut the grass and relaxed. Tummy time naps are growing more and more common around here (thanks to the Boppy, which allows us to cuddle up safely with the kiddo). When we woke up, it was dinnertime for everyone. From there, we fulfilled our Memorial Day weekend obligation and bundled Henry up in the car seat for a trip to Captain Sundae, which we enjoyed from our favorite ice cream eating spot at a local park while Henry slept like…well, a baby. And now we’re back at home wrapping up the evening. I’m excited to tuck into bed tonight after one more feeding, and looking forward to church and a BBQ with friends tomorrow. What a difference a week makes, hmmm!?!
In other news, I’ve been trying to keep photos of Henry coming, but some days, I’m just too busy admiring him (ok, and changing diapers) to take very many. I’ve stock piled from yesterday and today though, and with J home, it’s a bit easier to find great photo ops. Here are few shining (and one not so shining:) Henry moments from the past few days:
Over ice cream tonight, I asked Jason, “Hey? Do you remember that one time, when we had a baby and our lives changed forever?” Yep. That pretty much sums it up. Wouldn’t trade if for the world.
loving the weekend,
mm
I’m so grateful for so much lately, and today was filled with even more to be thankful for. Ten things that I’ll go to bed grateful for tonight:
-4.5 consecutive hours of sleep before morning came
-Visits from two good friends, great conversation and watching them enjoy Henry as we spent time together
-A bagel with vegetable cream cheese and a decaf coffee from Panera…delivered to my doorstep!
-Spring rain and the way everything keeps greening up outside the window
-Two short but lovely naps
-Time to pick things up around the house and organize a few piles of mail that have been driving me crazy
-Getting out of the house tonight to run a few errands, pick up fresh fruits and veggies from the grocery store and have dinner with J (while Henry slept in his car seat…almost the whole time)
-Good feedings, longer naps and fun awake/play time with Henry
-A regular (not speedy) shower, time to dry my hair and a sleeping baby in the process
And last, but certainly not least…
-I got into my regular old jeans today!! I never thought my hips would go back to normal size again when I first tried to squeeze into a pair a few weeks ago, but today was a different story, and I’m SO excited. I don’t know what I was thinking trying them on so soon in the first place. After today though, I’m thinking I can start to pack away maternity jeans–and that’s a bit thrilling for this new momma.
Today was really, in so many ways, refreshing. When the little one falls asleep peacefully tonight, I most definitely will, too :)
delighted by the little things,
mm
oh, and this…because it totally made my night last night. A sneak peek at a few photos H and I had taken last week. Sheer joy!
http://www.walcottimaging.com/blog/2011/05/25/henry-newborn-photography/
As it turns out, no matter what time of the evening we decide to have dinner, Henry believes it to be his dinnertime, too. There’s nothing wrong with his theory, of course, but it poses a little bit of a challenge to us as mom and dad. Dinner has always been our chance to catch up on the contents of the day, to decompress, and on weeknights, to connect for the first time since saying goodbye in the morning. Times have changed though, and our old dinner routine has flown.
Nowadays, I can try to time the making and eating of dinner with Henry’s last feeding, attempting to predict when he’ll nap and for how long. Stirring pots on the stove or checking items in the oven gets a little tricky though, with a newborn needing to eat in the next room. If I do get the timing right…prep dinner, feed Henry, finish making dinner, then Jason and I sit down to eat in just enough time for the little one to begin fussing about halfway through the meal. I’m learning to enjoy the art of reheating, as well as the art of “Oh well. I’ll just eat when I eat, and if it’s cold, it’s cold. Oh, and if it’s tomorrow, well then, I’ll appreciate it that much more.” Kidding. Between the two of us, we can at least manage to make sure we both eat a meal. The when and the how are simply in question.
It’s taken me a few weeks, but I’m grasping the necessity of high protein, quick-to-grab food items, and also the necessity of having them within reach. Arm’s reach. When Jason asks me if I need anything before he leaves for work in the morning, my go to answer is now, “Um, a glass of water and a power bar? A banana? Maybe two power bars?” I’m finding out that Henry and I can navigate the day much better if mom has a snack for herself up her sleeve. Henry has carte blanche where food is concerned, but without a few staples close by, breakfast for me might fall around 11am, lunch, at 2.
The important thing at the end of the day? We’re all getting fed. Henry will never go hungry, and with a bit more careful and patient planning, neither will we. In the meantime, while we explore these new parent waters, looking at this face all day helps to quell the frustration, the impatience, and possibly, even a hunger pang or two:
making the most of it,
mm
It’s pretty humbling, this thing of God always providing enough exactly in the moment that we need it. I’ve experienced it many times before…living in Africa, raising funds for missions, emptying the piggy bank for necessary things…but I’ve never quite felt so provided for in the same way as I’ve been over the last ten days. God is nurturing my heart, my new-mommyhood, and my physical self through the generosity and selflessness of others in profoundly simple ways. At the end of every day, I can’t help but look back to reflect with gratitude on the one that has just come and gone.
God so often sustains me through prayer, worship, time alone, nature, relationships–the areas where I’ve grown accustomed to Him meeting me, and the places where I’ll first look to find Him when I’m postured to ask, confess, pray or praise. But lately God is showing up in acts of kindness, time, service, comfort and wisdom, and He is surprising me at every turn. I never imagined people dropping what they’ve got going on, or making incredible efforts to rearrange schedules just to come and help me and our new little family. Our parents have all made significant sacrifices of time and energy to come and be here with us as we acclimate to life with Henry, and they’re not just here holding the baby. They are cooking and cleaning, changing and washing, encouraging and loving and doting on the three of us in a way that is so elemental and basic and yet, so perfect and needed in this season. Friends keep dropping by to bring meals–some planned and some unexpected, but all in perfect timing. Thoughtful and surprise gifts have arrived in hand and by mail for our little son, blessing us with their sentiments and prayers and celebration. I look around this house and see signs of community everywhere–sustenance for my soul that is otherwise tired and subdued and ready for some semblance of normal to return again.
If having a baby and letting go of inhibitions, modesty, privacy and plans isn’t enough, what happens in the wake of birth is certainly one of the most humbling experiences ever. As someone who has a hard time sitting still, I’m having to learn a great deal about saying yes and saying no, about being served, about waiting, and about being patient with myself and this whole process in different ways than I perhaps expected. Undoubtedly, I’ll be back on my emotional and physical feet before long. In this healing space though, I’m just relying on the evidence I already have before me–that the details will fall into place and the laundry will get folded; the house will be kept as clean as necessary, the baby will have what he needs at every turn, and no one will go without under this roof. God is good–and gracious and merciful, all the time. All the time, He is. And it is good.
From the beginning…community:
From the beginning…LOVE:
sustained,
mm
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