Five Days!

Finley is scheduled to come on Monday morning, just five more days! Henry came ten days early, so that would mean I would go into labor tonight and have him tomorrow morning. I don't think that is going to happen. It looks like I will be waiting with this little one.
We have been trying to fill our days with fun activities and evenings with quality family time. I find it is easier to keep the kids busy at this point. Although, I admit that most evenings when Andy gets home, I retire. Today, we ventured out to the splash pad. Henry loved it. He kept running through the water shouting, "fun, fun, fun!" Addison, on the other hand, was not so venturesome with the water and barely poked her toe in. She did eventually get her arm wet, which she proclaimed was "very brave."
Tonight we went on our last family night outing. We had a wonderful picnic dinner at Lake Michigan and then threw rocks into the water and played in the sand. We tried putting our feet in but the water was freezing. Henry didn't care, but for the well being of his little feet, we wouldn't let him go in for too long. Henry could spend his entire life just throwing rocks in the water and scooping them into his bucket. Addison had fun collecting rocks and playing in the sand. It was a beautiful evening, and I'm sure I will never forget it.

Brother and Sister Love

Addison and Henry have been exceptionally cute with each other. As Henry grows into more of a little boy each day, they seem to be growing closer as well. The other day, I took Addison out on a little date to Starbucks and then to Target to peruse the toy aisles. She mentioned about ten times how much Henry would love this or love that. "I wish Henry were here to see this mommy." That same day, Andy took Henry to get his haircut. After, the lady offered him a sucker. Without hesitation, he said "orange suck please." The lady then asked if his daddy wanted one. Henry replied, "No, sissy suck. Pink, please." Oh, be still my heart. The little guy knew his sister would want a pink sucker. He was so proud bringing it home to her.

Dentist

Today was one of those mornings that I wasn't able to get compleltey ready before we had to leave. Completley meaning, brush my teeth. You see, I hate brushing my teeth right away when I first wake up. Usually, I wait until after I eat breakfast. Well, we were already running late, so after breakfast we zoomed out the door. When we got home, I kept thinking I needed to go brush my teeth, but never made it upstairs to do it.
At 5 o'clock, I took Addison to her scheduled dentist appointment. I thought as we walked in, "man my teeth feel disgusting. Luckily, they won't see mine." As we walked in, the nice receptionist informed me that, I too had an appointment at the same time as Addison's. Lovely.
The called Addison back first, so we went back and I showed her where I would be and where she would be (right next to her cubicle). Without hesitation, she got up in the chair and informed the hygentist that her "bunsers are a little red right now and kind of sore." Nice.
I must say it was really strange listening to the hygentist clean Addison's teeth as I was in the other room. She is getting to be such a big girl!

Our Two Year Old

I wanted to write a post about our little Henry and what he is up to these days as a silly little two-year old. I must say, he has changed so much in the last two months. He has turned from a baby into a funny, talkative guy. His favorite things to say is, "Why? Sissy, phone, and mall, Buzz, and George." Which, I may add are also his favorite things in the world. He also loves trains and airplanes. He recently discovered slides, tunnels, and bridges at the park. He could go up and down them all day long if I let him. Of all the things he loves, I must say his greatest love are babies. He just cannot help himself when a baby enters the room. He runs over, sits down and just has to kiss it. He is so gentle and sweet with them. Henry is an exceptionally picky eater. His staples being pizza, sausage, hot dogs, apples, and strawberries. I often try new things, but he wrinkles his nose and disaprovingly hands it back to me.
Henry is the sweetest most sensitive little man I've ever met. If anyone is crying, he is right there to pat their face and say "you otay?" His sweet kisses and hugs warm my day. I can't imagine my life without him, and can't wait to see all that God has in store for him.

Happy 2nd birthday, Henry!

Henry turned two yesterday! Yikes, how is my little guy already two? He seemed pretty excited about his birthday, when we told him it was his birthday he would do his adorable, "woohoo." The day started off with daddy going in to get him out of bed. Andy wished him a "happy birthday, buddy." In response, Henry said, "mall? Mall?" Yes, my two year old's greatest desire for his birthday was to go to the mall and "walk." A little while later, Addison came downstairs and wished her brother a "happy birthday." and then added, "hmmm," as she did her trademark tap to her lip as she thinks very intently, "I wonder what I should wear today for Henry's birthday." Oh three year old decisions.
Much to Henry's disappointment, we couldn't just go immediately to the mall. Instead, we had to eat and get ready. If we truly could just go in our pajamas, but I don't think that would be socially acceptable. The little guy sat outside my bathroom reading a book, with every step of me getting ready was over, he would look up and say, "done?" "No, I need to dry my hair." When that was completed, "done?" "No, Henry, I need to do my makeup." He continued this until we literally pulled in to the mall parking lot.
Addison was really cute about the present she wanted to buy Henry. The night before, she told me she knew the "perfect gift." "A Buzz Lightyear doll, mommy. I think he would love that." While we were at the mall, we went in to the Disney store for her to find a Buzz. As we were looking around the store, she walked right up to the salesclerk and said, "excuse me. I'm looking for a Buzz doll for my brother Henry's birthday. Do you happen to have any?" I must add that she was right, the Buzz is without a doubt Henry's favorite present.
The day was pretty uneventful after that. We had homemade pizza and then had family over for cake. He was thrilled with his presents and excited to have all the attention.

Catch up

As I sit here tonight, the baby is kicking like crazy as my other two sleep upstairs. Andy is gone for guys small group, and I am just enjoying the quiet. It seems like there is so much I want to write about, little things that I say, "I've got to blog about that later." But by the time later comes, I am too tired or distracted to sit and write. Oh well, I suppose I should give myself a little bit of grace as I just keep getting larger and more tired by the day.
We went to Michigan last week to visit my family. It was a really nice, relaxing trip. Addison's favorite part was "going on a date with grandma to Starbucks." Which, may I add she was firm about not wanting Henry or I to tag along. "I need some alone time with grandma, mommy." According to Henry, his favorite part was "grandpa." But I think his other favorite part was the opportunity to share in his life's greatest passion with someone else who can fully appreciate it: going to the mall. Every single morning the first words out of his mouth were: "mall. grandma. walk." Seriously, he said it about a million times this week. Grandma, unable to resist his pleading, took him to the mall to walk everyday.
We also had fun playing with the cousins and just hanging out. Addison was pretty insistent that she would be fine if we just dropped her off with Payton and Ella. Personally, my favorite part was just being with my family.
Andy drove up with us last Saturday and then took the train home on Monday. So Friday morning, the kids and I headed out on our own for the drive back. When I say on our own, I also mean without Dora, Curious George, or any of our other little entertaining friends. No DVD player, just like the olden days. I was a bit apprehensive to drive alone without the assistance of these characters, but the kids were so well behaved and delightful we barely missed them. (Sorry, George).
As we drove through the city, Henry was totally mesmerized by the trains and Addison enjoyed pretty much everything else around her. As we approached the loop (sitting in traffic) she yelled out, "what do we do when we drive in the city? We pray!" It warmed my heart that she reminded me of the tradition that started in college. So we prayed, Henry even let out an "amen" at the end. After we prayed, Addison informed me that when she grows up she is going to live in an apartment in the city. "You and daddy can come and visit whenever you want," she sweetly included.
That about sums up our last few weeks. Eventful and yet totally uneventful at the same time.

Perspective

As of late, we have been sick. So sick. Stuck in the house- timing when the next dose of medicine can be given- bored out of our minds- if I have to watch one more episode of Curious George, I'm going to die-sick. Thankfully, Andy hasn't gotten anything, but the kids and this pregnant body just can't seem to ward off the germs that are attacking. We had a cold virus right after Christmas (mine turned into bronchitis), stomach flu in the middle of January (I ended up in the hospital), and now Addison just recovered from walking pneumonia, Henry an upper respiratory infection and tonsilitis, and the same upper respiratory infection for me. It is has been great. Well no, not really, I'm being sarcastic.

Have I mentioned that I've been feeling sorry for us? Bored. Stuck in the house. Feeling miserable. That is until I was reading, "The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. It put my pity party into major perspective. He was talking about the poor and illnesses they face. They lack the medical resources to help their children, and many families loose their children to what we call common sicknesses. The line that stood out to me the most was, "An ear infection becomes a death sentence for a child." An ear infection, are you kidding me? I cannot imagine my child being sick and not being able to do anything for him. Last week, when Henry was so sick, the doctor I saw said it wasn't anything but a virus and that with time he would get better. But with each day, his fever got worse and he grew more lethargic. I knew that there was something else going on, so I was able to go to a different doctor and get the proper antiobiotics that were needed to cure his sickness. Now he is perfectly healthy and back to his silly self (with a strong tinge of whine the antibiotics have yet to wipe out).

To even consider that instead of taking my baby to another doctor to get the right medicine, there was nothing more I could do than to hold him and watch him grow worse, makes my heart quiver. What if? What if I was born in a poor area of Africa or Southeast Asia and my little Henry would had lost his life to tonsilitis? Or Addison to walking pneumonia? Thank You, Lord. Thank You that we have access to antibiotics.

Perhaps this week wasn't so bad after all.