Happy One Month to Henry and Happy Hour, seriously!

Henry is four weeks old today and after a morning spent at the pediatrician's office for a well-baby visit (hello Mr. Eleven pounds, two ounces!) and an unpleasant drive home (screaming, overtired toddler), the whole family was ready for a nap. Alas, today was not the day for parent naps. A couple of weeks ago, I booked our favorite babysitter to come and play with Evelyn. At the time, I wasn't sure what we would do with our precious three hours of free time. Today was absolutely gorgeous though, so it seemed a shame to hole up in our bedroom napping or catching up on chores. Also, adjusting to life with two children has been a lot of work-- as in, Chris and I barely have time to say two words to each other that aren't related to a to-do list or one of the aforementioned children. So, we decided to go out "on a date." Henry, of course, would come with us. Since he's a nursing newborn he and I are a package deal.

It's funny actually, the thought of having a relaxing date with a baby when Evelyn was a newborn would have made me laugh (or maybe cry?) hysterically because we were still green in the ways of parenthood. Today, however, going out with just a newborn instead of both Henry and Evelyn, felt like a little vacation! Chris suggested that we catch a movie and then get some ice cream outside in the sunshine before heading home; I thought this sounded like a lovely idea. I wore Henry in the Ergo and we bought overpriced treats and settled into our seats. A couple of patrons glanced at us, probably wondering if our baby would spoil their movie. Henry was sound asleep (and I knew that he would nurse quietly if he woke up-- he is a very happy, relaxed newborn right now). I whispered to Chris, "I hope the sound isn't too loud." The previews and ads were a little loud, but not even loud enough to wake Henry. I wasn't too worried about his little ears at that point. Unfortunately, as soon as our movie started, it seemed as if someone had turned it up all the way to eleven (Spinal Tap anyone?). Chris and I looked at each other and we quietly left. The girl working the ticket booth refunded our money, probably thinking that we were nuts to bring a baby in the first place. Oh well.

We headed to our old stomping grounds (near our old apartment) and walked along the lake front before spotting a Mediterranean restaurant with outdoor seating. We ordered some tapas (half-priced for Happy Hour!) and drinks and had a real conversation. Henry slept in the Ergo for most of our date, though he did wake up to nurse. The breeze off of the lake felt wonderful, almost as calming as the sensation that came over me as I heard a toddler squealing in the distance and realized I wasn't responsible for him or her.

After crawling along the highway during rush hour, we returned home to a very happy Evelyn. She enjoyed a couple of hours of high-energy play in the backyard and some tasty snacks. Chris made dinner for all of us, Henry napped in his swing after nursing a few more times and we started to get ready for bed. It was a pretty lovely day.

A lovely way to end the day

Sweet Henry has been nursing on and off for about three hours (after sleeping for three hours of the afternoon) and he's finally drifted off to sleep in his swaddling blanket next to me. The whole family sat on Evelyn's bed and read a book before Mama-Evie time and then Daddy-Evie time. There is a nice, quiet lull in our house and I'm just breathing it in for a moment. I have to say though, the highlight of the day was a single sentence from Evelyn: I made pizza for my best friend Mama! This was followed by a kiss and an "I love you" for both Mama and baby brother.

Happy Birthday to my little girl!

My little girl is two years old today. In honor of my Evelyn, I'm posting a list of her current favorite things:

1. Spending time outside: Rain or shine, Evelyn is always up for a trip outside. If she's getting a little cranky or overtired, I can usually settle her down (or wind her up, but in a pretty good way) by taking her into the backyard.

2. Exploring nature: Evelyn loves to run along trails in the woods and she loves to dig in the dirt. Worms are friends but spiders are not. She loves to point out the clouds in the sky and whether or not she can find the moon during the day.

3. Nibbling (versus sitting down to a big meal): Evie enjoys pasta, almond milk, cow milk, broccoli, raw peas and treats of any kind (especially frozen fruit bars!).

4. Pretend: In the past couple of months, Evelyn's capacity for make-believe has grown by leaps and bounds. She "talks" for her little animals or dolls and carries on conversations between two characters all by herself. Evelyn also likes to play "restaurant" with her little kitchen set. Her menu usually includes some very interesting (and tasty!) concoctions.

5. Family and friends: Evelyn is a very sweet big sister and she loves little Henry. Anytime we get together with friends (and certainly whenever family members come to visit), Evelyn is in her element. She loves social interaction and seems to subscribe to the "the more, the merrier" philosophy when it comes to spending time with friends.

Happy Birthday to my lively, talkative, and brilliant (I could go on. . . ) girl. I am so blessed to be your Mama.

Her first "harvest"

A few months ago, Chris picked up what he thought was a packet of bean seeds at a local store. He and Evelyn planted the seeds in a little garden bed along the back of the house and we joked that maybe a giant bean stalk would sprout-- if the animals and birds didn't get to the seeds first. Evelyn diligently protected the few feet of dirt she'd claimed as her own, telling neighbor kitties not to go in her vegetable patch. She helped us water the seeds every couple of days. These seeds received a lot of water because Evelyn loves to water plants-- even on rainy days.

Well, one day this spring (sometime in May), we noticed little white flowers and the beginnings of pea pods. Sure enough, the plants growing in Evelyn's garden were pea plants. Fast-forward to today and a few pods were fat enough to pick! Evelyn was delighted! She gobbled up the crunchy green peas, marveling at the "snap!" as we broke into the next pod. I've discovered what many parents already know: If you want your child to eat a food, involve her in the process of growing it!

Where's Evelyn?

Evelyn is not a quiet girl. She is a nearly two-year-old bundle of energy, conversation, and curiosity. Naturally then, Chris and I were slightly concerned when (from the kitchen) we couldn't hear what she was doing. I sent Chris on a reconnaissance mission while I nursed Henry. Five seconds later, he called for me. "Lins, you've got to see this!" I couldn't tell if "this" was good or bad. I continued nursing Henry while heading into the master bedroom. This is what we found:



Evelyn climbed into the bottom storage compartment of Henry's co-sleeper (which was pushed against the wall while not in use so that we could change our bedding). She was quite comfortable in there, curled up like a kitten.

I love my village

I've said before that I love the "it takes a village" concept. This evening marked the fifth time in two-and-a-half weeks that our family has enjoyed a home-cooked meal from one of our friends or neighbors. How fantastic is that? Disparaging news about the state of humanity and the downfall of "real" neighborhoods may take center stage on news websites and in the daily paper, but we have certainly found a wonderful community. They still exist!

Snapshot: My little lion