Morning

Silas, this morning you slept in, long after Daddy and Henry had gone downstairs. You stirred at one point, raised your head to look around, and then burrowed into my neck. I'd been awake for a while and was getting restless. I looked over at my iPhone on the dresser and wished I had it in my hand to mindlessly surf the internet.

But then, as I felt your warm, fuzzy head resting against me, I realized how fleeting these moments are. You're getting so big so fast. I imagined you as a teenager, too busy for his mom; a young adult, out on his own; and a man with a family to take care of. And I let you snuggle into me until you woke up and smiled your sunny smile at me.

Good morning, baby.

Dreaming Silas

Henry Quotes (November 2011 Edition)

HENRY: When Maddy was over we were writing messages to each other. I wrote, "Maddy sat in a chair and a T-Rex ate her."
ME: What did she say?
HENRY: She said, "Awkward." And I said, "Yeah, that IS awkward!"

Henry & my husband watched a documentary about Jake Jabara, who flew combat in the Korean war and was the first American jet ace in history. At the end, the announcer stated that Jabara tragically died in a car accident at the age of 43. Henry said, "They say that like 43 is young." And he was honestly puzzled.

Henry Quotes (October 2011 Edition)

HENRY (upon first waking up): Today is going to be another horrible day.
ME: Why do you say that?
HENRY: Because I'm trying to be truthful.

My husband is home today, so he kept Silas with him while I walked Henry to school. On the way Henry said, "For once we don't have that bulky stroller, bulkin' things up."

When I ask Henry to check on Silas for me, he'll give me the report: "He's just sittin' in the living room, playing with his toy dog. I'd say there's a 10% chance of him bonking his head."

I just randomly belted out a song from a children's video and Henry joined me midway through. When we finished, there was a pause, and then Henry said, "We're not very good singers."

ME (frustrated): Henry, has anyone ever told you that you're a pain in the tuckus?
HENRY: No.
ME: Well, you're a pain in the tuckus.
HENRY (brightly): Thanks for tellin' me!

HENRY (enjoying the spoils of trick-or-treat): When are you going to tell me that's enough candy?

Happy Halloween!

Henry was an astronaut for Halloween. We spent way more than parents should spend for a kid's costume, but it was a huge hit.


A surprising number of people called Henry a "spaceman" or a "space cadet."


Finally Henry walked up to the grown-up at the next house and announced, "By the way, I'm an astronaut."


Silas came along for the ride and sat patiently in the stroller for an hour while we made the rounds.


He was not too impressed by all the activity.


Henry objected that his candy bucket didn't really go with his costume, because "why would an astronaut be carrying a pumpkin?"

But then why would an astronaut be trick-or-treating?


By the way, the cow is our neighbor Patti. I included this shot because I'm just so amused by a tiny astronaut and a cow standing around together.

I mean, what's an astronaut doing talking to a cow?

Eleven Months

I can't believe that the last update I posted about Silas was over two months ago. Sorry, little one! I've been busy enjoying him, though.


I mean, look at that face! He is just a little ball of sunshine. So happy most of the time. But he's also developing a feisty side. Now when we put him on the changing table he yells and cries. It used to be his happy place, but no longer. He's also not too happy about going in his carseat or even sometimes his stroller. I think now that he's so mobile he either wants to be on the move or in our arms.


He can now just reach the piano keys, if he raises his hands up over his head. He has always loved the piano; when my husband sits down to play, Silas will immediately crawl over to him and whine until he's lifted up onto Daddy's lap where he can bang on the keys. But now, he's cut out the middle man.

Still no words, though he does say "mamamamama" and will repeat it if I ask him to say it. Still not walking, but lots of creeping along the furniture.

He sits and plays by himself more than I remember Henry doing. He likes to flip through the pages of his board books on his own, though he never sits still long enough for me to read him one.


He's devious like Henry, though; when he puts something in his mouth that he shouldn't (carpet fuzz is a particular favorite) and sees us coming, he clamps his mouth shut tight and tries to crawl away.

He still nurses almost exclusively. He hasn't seemed super interested in food, and with everything we've been through with Henry I'll admit I'm a bit worried about him developing allergies. He has eaten (and enjoyed) liver sausage, though. That made for an interesting smelling poopy diaper.


He has this way of looking at us very intently. Sometimes when we're holding him he will back his head away and look at us full in the face. Then we smile, he smiles back, and his whole face lights up. Such a sweet, sweet boy.

It's HOT at Grandma's House!

Henry Quotes (September 2011 Edition)

SILAS: Da!
HENRY: That kind of sounds like "Daddy."
ME: Sometimes babies do say "Da" or "Dada" for "Daddy."
HENRY: Or maybe he means "Da Mom."

DADDY: Goodbye, Henry. I'm going to work.
HENRY: I think a kiss would be appropriate.

HENRY: Mom, would you look up this Lego kit and find out how much it costs?
ME: It's $119.
HENRY: Are they KIDDIN' me?!

HENRY: I don't want to walk to school today! I want to take the van!
DADDY: Why don't you want to walk? Does something hurt?
HENRY: No, it just takes too long.
DADDY: What would you rather do with that time?
HENRY: Spend it with you.

ME: Henry, wear long pants today. It's kind of chilly out.
HENRY: What's the temperature?
ME: 50 degrees.
HENRY: Above or below zero?

HENRY (patting my legs as I brush his hair): Mom, your legs sure are jello-y this morning.

HENRY (after throwing a fit and having a few minutes to reflect): Mommy, I'm sorry. I forgive you.

Alarm goes off. Henry wakes up and immediately says, "One, I do not want to go to school. Two, I do not want to go to school. Three, I do not want to go to school!"

My Sweet Henry

Henry Quotes (August 2011 Edition)

HENRY (to Silas): Remember me? I'm Henry. But you can call me "Hen" if it's easier.
SILAS: Mep.
ME: How about "Mep"? Because I think that's what Silas said.
HENRY: Yeah, that works too.

Henry was working on a new Lego kit this morning and said, "This is NOT WORKING. It must be for ages 100 and up!"

Daddy & Henry were checking out at our local food co-op when Henry said, "Thanks for shopping at Outpost, blah blah blah."

HENRY: You're the best mom in the universe. Write it down!

Last week when Daddy & Henry went to Outpost, Henry was hopping on one foot and flailing his arms down the aisles. He fell into a shelf of salad dressing, and as he was putting the bottles back Daddy asked him if he had learned anything. Henry said yes, but then he immediately started hopping down the aisle again. Daddy said, "I thought you said you learned something," and Henry replied, "I did. I learned not to talk to you."

AUNT KAREN: Oh no, I forgot my book. Darn it!
HENRY: You mean, "Damn it!"

HENRY: I want to be an alien for Halloween. But I want to have a spaceship around me and just my head sticking up through the hole. Plus I want a container in the back for candy.
ME: That sounds complicated.
HENRY: No! It's simple!
ME: So you're going to make it, then?
HENRY: It's not *that* simple.

ME: So tomorrow I was thinking I'd try a new recipe...
HENRY: Bored.
ME: What did you say?
HENRY: I said I'm bored.

HENRY: I don't like it when you say my name. I don't like my name.
ME: I didn't like my name when I was a kid, but now I like it.
HENRY: What was it?

Nine-month Update

Silas had his nine-month check up this week. He's 29.25" tall (84th percentile) and 20 lbs. 10 oz. (55th percentile).

He's still never had any solid food, which raises eyebrows, believe me. I guess with Henry's history of food intolerances I'm hesitant to push things with Silas. Since he's obviously thriving on my breastmilk (and he's not crying or grabbing for our food), I'm waiting until the time seems right.


Just yesterday he started crawling with a forward motion, spurred on by his desire to mess with the external hard drive sitting on the floor.


He's been crying when my husband takes him from me, or when I walk through the room he's sitting in. He'll still go to strangers, but only if he's not hungry or tired, and not as willingly as before.

He also cries when we take something away from him, like a piece of grass he's decided to shove in his mouth. (Hey, I thought he'd just play with it.) Henry didn't start throwing a fit about that until about ten months. Just sayin'.


He's interested in everything, which I know I should be happy about since it means he's smart and healthy and developing normally, but damn it's annoying when I'm trying to hold him with one arm and, say, drink a cup of coffee with the other.

Still, he's such a sweet little bundle to carry around.

That boy is pure joy.

Trains!

Or rather, Tracks!


Today, while Daddy was playing a gig at Irish Fest, Henry and I kicked it old school by building some track.

The line branching off from the shed on the left side of the photo is Henry's track and the one on the right is mine. See how they connect in the middle?

Awww...

And here is Silas, destroying our track just a few hours later.


That's just how babies roll.

So Close, and Yet So Far

Silas still isn't crawling, but he's definitely got the strength to do so. It's just a matter of coordinating the limbs.


He can easily get up onto his hands and knees.


On your mark, get set...


Make that funny face where you scrunch up your nose and breath through it rapidly!


Okay.


Now what?

Happy Birthday, Henry

Henry is six years old today. Last night at bedtime I told him the story of his birth for the first time. When I finished he wanted more: "There must be some sweet stories from when I was one or two."

So I thought of more and became wistful, thinking of my sweet little baby, toddler, preschooler, SIX-YEAR OLD.

When at last he was asleep, stretched out the length of the twin bed, I looked at how long he is and how his face is starting to reveal hints of his teenage self.

The days are long, but the years are short, indeed.

Henry Quotes (July 2011 Edition)

HENRY: I'm going to do something I've been thinking about doing for a long time: make a model of a penis. In three dimensions.

My stepdaughter was telling us about the rides she went on at the waterpark yesterday: The Plunge, The Sting Ray, etc. She said that for one she kept her arms folded in and it dropped her ten stories, but she couldn't remember what it was called. From the other room Henry piped up, "The 'Kill Yourself'?"

HENRY: Who keeps not putting clean underwear in my drawer?

I set Silas down so I could eat my breakfast. He started fussing and I said, "Do you want me to have soggy granola? Is that what you want?" and Henry said, "No, he wants ATTENTION."

HENRY (while out on a walk): Why is that sprinkler on if there's no one around to run through it?

Henry told me that he wanted to keep his birthday party small this year, because "last year there were too many people and it was too hard to keep under control."

Nova DVD: The Great Pyramid of Cholula is the largest pyramid ever constructed.
HENRY: Ha ha, very funny. That's not true.
(FYI, the one at Cholula is the largest by volume; the Great Pyramid of Giza is the tallest, which is what Henry was thinking. So he's contrary, but with reason.)

ME: Aw, did Venus come to keep you company?
HENRY: Yeah, and I can't even THINK with all this purring!

HENRY: Play a game with me. ("Play a game" means pretend something.)
ME: No thanks.
HENRY: You have to! Okay, I'll give you three options. If you don't pick anything, I'll choose for you.

I got out of the van at Outpost & Henry said, "I'll unbuckle myself. You unbuckle the baby -- otherwise known as Silas."

The Best

Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby.


Except maybe little baby toes.


So sweet and delicious. All of him.

Teeth, Baby

The very next day after Henry lost his first tooth, Silas' first baby tooth came in. And it's in the same location as the one Henry lost.

My babies are growing up.

Still Fighting It

Henry lost his first tooth today. We realized it was loose about a month ago (when the dental hygienist pointed it out) but it was last week that Henry started wiggling it in earnest. He was standing in the neighbor girl's driveway, waiting for her to come and play, when it finally came out.


Henry says that he doesn't want to leave it for the tooth fairy, who he doesn't believe in anyway. He wants to keep it forever.

That's my boy. Holding on to what he can while things change all around him.


Last night as I lay down with Henry at bedtime he asked, "Mom, will you be sad when I'm grown up?" Before I could think of an appropriate answer (because YES! I will be sad), he burst into tears and told me that he doesn't want to grow up, not ever. He said, "There's no fun when you're grown up."

Good God, what have we been modeling for Henry? Of course there's fun. In fact, I like being an adult a helluva lot more than I liked being a kid. But I can't tell him that, either.

The other day I was remembering when Henry's first tooth came in -- possibly the tooth that I can now hold in my hand. He was up all night, fussing and unhappy, and I found the strength to comfort him even in my exhaustion. The next morning I saw that a tooth had popped through and I was grateful that I'd been so patient with him.


Now that tooth is gone, and my baby is growing up.

Edited to add:

The night after Henry's tooth came out he had one of his thrashing and crying episodes in the middle of the night. He was whimpering and finally he said that he wanted me to come lie next to him and he would tell me what was wrong.

With his head resting on my arm, he said, "Do you ever feel like you're not really you?"

The next morning I came across a video for a song Ben Folds wrote for his son, titled "Still Fighting It":



He sings:

Everybody knows
It hurts to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it, we're still fighting it
And you're so much like me
I'm sorry

Oh, Henry. I am sorry. But also so, so proud.

What's in a Name?

At some point in the past few months Henry started calling me by my first name, Kay.

Like, all.the.time.

For a while I overlooked it, figuring it was just a phase that would quickly pass. But weeks went by where I heard "Kay, I'm hungry," "Let's go to the park, Kay!" and "Kay, read me a book." When I would tell him I wanted him to call me Mommy or Mom and he explained that he called me Kay because Kay was my name.

I tried to figure out why it bothered me so much, and what it finally came down to was that for years and years I cared for children who were not mine, as a babysitter, a stepmom and a nanny.

I enjoyed caring for them, but it was always clear that I was merely a substitute for the real deal, their mother. I longed to be a mom to my own child and finally, I got my wish. When, as a baby, Henry first displayed his preference for me, and then eventually said "mama" -- well, there are no words to describe how I felt.

No wonder it was painful to hear Henry call me by my first name.

Now, I know I'm still Henry's mom, and still just as important to him, no matter what he calls me. And I realize that his having to share Silas with me could account for the change and that maybe -- probably -- I should have let it go.

But finally, one day when I was yelling at him about something unrelated, I added, "And from now on you're going to call me Mom or Mommy! No more calling me Kay!" Surprisingly, he agreed. He still slips up sometimes and calls me by my first name, but he willingly changes it when corrected.

It's good to be the mom again.

Funny Baby

Silas, at 7.5 months old, laughing:



Henry, at 7.5 months old, laughing:



I hadn't even realized they were the same age until I uploaded the video of Silas onto YouTube and saw the one of Henry. A friend on Facebook said that I changed my comedy routine. What can I say? Different kid, different schtick.

Henry Quotes (June 2011 Edition)

As I sang Silas to sleep last night with the song I adapted from "Bye Bye Birdie" (We love you Silas/Oh yes we do/We love you Silas/And we'll be true) my heart warmed as Henry sang along. Alas, he was singing, "We love you Silas/Oh yes we do/We love you Silas/And we'll smush you."

ME: Henry, could you please put your bowl on the kitchen counter?
HENRY: I thought you'd never ask.

HENRY: Do you know my least favorite part of my dance in the Spring Sing? [shows me] That was stupid. If the dance were a piece of paper, I'd cut that part out and throw it in the garbage.

HENRY (while playing Angry Birds): Boy, those birds must *really* hate those pigs if they're willing to destroy themselves to kill them.

HENRY (half asleep): Cover me up, please. [pause] Don't just lie there; cover me up!

I think Henry may have outgrown storytime at the library. When Miss Sue asked the kids what they know about kangaroos, he said, "Some species have adapted to live in trees and have lost the ability to jump."

Henry just told me, "Someone has to help me clean up! If Daddy won't do it, then you do. Silas doesn't understand about cleaning up and Venus doesn't have opposable thumbs."

Daddy has been introducing Henry to Jonathan Richman lately. His favorite song so far is "That Summer Feeling," but when he heard "The Tag Game" he said, "I hate tag."

Henry really slayed them at the dentist's office last week, regaling them with his knowledge of deserts and griping about Lily from his class at school. I had to laugh out loud when the hygienist asked him if he'd be going to first grade next fall and he answered, "Yes, but I'm trying to prevent it."

HENRY: Zoe said my birthday is only seven days after hers.
ME: That's not right. Her birthday is soon and yours is in August.
HENRY: I know, but she said that, and I said, "Oh!" because I was trying to go with the flow.

I love that Henry thinks the lyrics to the Death Cab song "You are a Tourist" are "There's a birdie in your heart" (it's really "When there's a burning in your heart.").

Block party today. Henry just ran out of the house, saying, "Goodbye, I have some serious water ballooning to do!"

I'm soooo proud of Henry. The little girl across the street was sad because she missed doing the pinata at the block party, so Henry gave her half of his candy and told her, "Friends are more important than candy."

I am the Mother of Invention

Henry loves to invent things. I'll say, "Man, I hate having to brush your crazy long hair!" and he'll ask, "Should I invent something that would keep my hair brushed so you don't have to do it?" And then he'll be off with his popsicle sticks, bits of ribbon and other stuff he's collected and saved (and by saved I mean shoved) in his art dresser.

Today I went inside the house ahead of Henry and heard a loud roar like a jet flying overhead. When he came in he told me it was a helicopter, but that "it flew by so suddenly I didn't have time to turn on my camera" -- he has one in his head, you know -- "but I think I'll make something that will automatically record anything flying overhead."

Here is the camera he built from paper, tape and a toilet paper roll:


In his left hand are drawings of all the possible objects the camera could record: helicopter, airplane, blimp or zeppelin.


See what I mean about the hair? I'm still waiting for that invention.

What's cool is that he knows these things don't really work, but that doesn't stop him from continuing to create and invent. In Henry's imaginary world anything can happen. The mix of creativity, engineering and art just astound me, and it almost makes the mess (did I mention he never wants to throw out any of his creations?) worth it.

Almost.

Finally Asleep

Last night my husband's band played a show, which meant I was on the hook for getting both boys off to sleep. Sometimes this is a simple matter and they're both in dreamland without too much trouble. Last night, however, Henry would not.stop.talking and Silas would not.stop.rolling.over.

I think Silas is at the very beginning stages of crawling, so when he rolls onto his stomach he'll push his upper body up with his arms and kick his feet. I love that he's working so hard to figure it out; however, I wish he would do it on his own time.

After they were both finally out I shot this video of them. There are few things sweeter than a sleeping child, unless maybe it's two sleeping children. In it you can see how HUGE Silas has gotten -- at his six month doctor's visit on May 23rd he was 19lbs. 4.6oz. (80th percentile) and 17.72 inches tall (83rd percentile).

Henry Quotes (May 2011 Edition)

I just found a Mother's Day card that Henry made at school in his backpack. I told him it was beautiful and he said, "I'm glad you agree."

The other day Henry was watching "Thomas and the Magic Railroad" with his half-sister Maddy. At one point Maddy leaned in toward the screen and said, "Go Lady! Go go go!" Henry burst out laughing and said, "Maddy, you don't have to say that!"

HENRY: I'm starting to feel sick again. I guess that means no school tomorrow!

HENRY (on hearing that his older brother works at BOTH union buildings on campus): You must be really busy. How do you manage it all?

Six Months Old

The little man is six months old today. He is such a joy.


So friendly.


So content.


So adorable.

Henry Quotes (April 2011 Edition)

HENRY (after being asked to do something he did not want to do): Mommy, you're silly! I don't care for your silliness!

I took Henry to see his doctor and when she walked into the examining room, he took one look at her, turned to me and whispered, "Mom, that's not Dr. Mullen." It was a very science fiction moment.

HENRY: Mom, I'm sorry.
ME: Sorry for what?
HENRY: I don't know.

Last night for his story before bed, Henry chose a kids' book on recycling that we recently bought for him. He called it, "Why Do I Recycle, Anyway?" (It's actually titled "Why Should I Recycle?")

ME: Henry, do you want to hear something sad? Do you remember my friend Maggie? Her cleaning service has been throwing away her cloth diapers.
HENRY: Oh, I thought you were going to say she died.

HENRY: Mom, what is sixty millions?
ME: Sixty million.
HENRY: Ha ha, very funny.

Sing a Song of Silas

Silas really seems to respond to music, so much so that he'll stop fussing and listen intently if we start to sing to him. He responds the most to my version of "We Love You Conrad" from Bye Bye Birdie:

We love you Silas,
Oh yes we do.
We love you Silas
And we'll be true.
When you're not near us
We're blue.
Oh Silas we love you.

Maybe my husband will get his little musician yet.

Five Months

My sweet baby.

How Baby Signals His Needs

When Silas starts to lose it, his little arms start slapping his legs, one after the other, like he's drumming. Then the screeching begins. Holy hell, the screeching. It's so loud sometimes that I have to remind myself that he's a baby, because otherwise my temptation is to tell him to shut it. Generally he's overtired, wants to be picked up or needs to nurse...or all three.

There he goes now. Must.Make.Screeching.Stop.

Silas' Taste of Summer

It hit eighty degrees outside today.


Silas wore big-boy clothes for the first time and enjoyed hanging out outside.


It's a great big, wonderful world out there, Silas.


Welcome to it!

Henry Quotes (March 2011 Edition)

HENRY (after arguing with me about something): Mom, I don't want to fight anymore. I just want you to do what I asked.

We've been telling Henry lately that we don't want to hear him talk back to us. Tonight as I got into it with him over something, he yelled, "How's this for back talk? I'M SORRY!"

Henry wasn't thrilled with what I served for dinner, and he said he was full. I warned him that he should make sure he really was full, because he wasn't going to get any more food before bed. He said, "I know. I could beg and beg and nothing would happen."

HENRY: At school they call gym, art & music class "specials," but they're not special at all!

Last night Henry said to me, "Mom, have you heard of something like 'Star Wars' called 'Cone Wars'? Liam said all the spaceships are shaped like cones."

I've been working my way through the "Little House" books with Henry. Last night he said, "Why don't they ever talk about Laura going to the bathroom? It seems like she never has to go."

HENRY: Salmon are born in fresh water, then go out to sea. After they get married, their babies are born in fresh water and it starts all over again.

A Cub Scout selling popcorn just rang our doorbell. After Daddy said, "No, thank you" and closed the door, Henry said, "But he said it was delicious!"

HENRY: Venus [our cat] is going to have to learn to feed herself, because I'm getting tired of feeding her.

Stats

Silas, five weeks old:
Height 23 inches
Weight 11.5 lbs.

Silas, two months old:
Height 25.5 inches
Weight 14 lbs. 3.8 oz.

For comparison, Henry was 24.75 inches and 15 pounds at two months.

Silas, last week, at four months old:
Height 28.5 inches
Weight 16 lbs. 14.2 oz.

Henry was 28.75 inches and 20 pounds, 3 ounces at four months.

Henry, last month at five-and-a-half years old:
Height 3' 10.5"
Weight 46 lbs. 6 oz.

Song for Silas

A more politically correct version of "Ten Little Indians":

One little, two little, three little babies,
Four little, five little, six little babies,
Seven little, eight little, nine little babies,
Ten little baby boys.

One of those babies is my baby.
His name is Silas Ja-ames.
I love him, I don't mean maybe.
One little baby boy.

Silas, 15 weeks & 5 days

Silas is such a joy. So beautiful, so sweet, so smiley. We always thought Henry seemed like an old soul; Silas just seems innocent and new.

We continue to marvel at his bright blue eyes and reddish blonde hair. He has rolled over multiple times, once even getting his arm out from under himself -- but hasn't attempted it again since. He's laughing with more frequency. When he needs to sleep his cry becomes more guttural, and if I hold him in my lap with his body curled around me and his face buried in the crook of my arm, he falls asleep easily.


Henry still, for the most part, ignores Silas, but every now and then I see a glimmer of what their relationship might become. Tonight I was home alone trying to get both boys ready for bed by myself. I put Silas, who was droopy, in his bouncy seat in one bedroom with the light off while I went to brush my teeth.

I was hoping that he would fall asleep so I could brush Henry's teeth and read to him without having to hold a squirming baby. While I was in the bathroom I could hear Henry talking, too loudly, and when I was done I found him in the same room as Silas, with the overhead light on. I admonished him, and he said, "Silas was fussing, so I went in to keep him company."


By the way, here's a picture of Henry wearing an owl mask he made at storytime last week:


He's at that age where he won't let us take a normal photo of him, so this is the best I can do for now. It was so much easier when he was an infant and I could stick him somewhere and take shot after shot.


Yeah. Kind of like that.

Update on Silas

Poor Silas is getting short-changed in the blog department. It's a lot harder with two kids to find the time and have the energy to write. When I'm not with one, I should be with the other or getting things done around the house. At night I go to bed when the boys do, because I'm so tired and I know Silas will be nursing every few hours all night long. I have hopes that this is only a temporary situation, though. I know the time goes so fast.

Silas is now almost fifteen weeks old. He is, simply, a total joy. He pretty much only cries when he's tired or hungry, and sometimes even when he's crying he'll grin through his tears if we get close to him and smile. He coos and squeals and occasionally laughs.

He's found his thumb, though he still takes a pacifier. He doesn't seem dependent on it, though, and sometimes he shoots it out of his mouth with a FOOP! sound.

He's not rolling over yet, but when he's lying down he's constantly pushing his head down to the side and trying really, really hard to roll. I don't think it will be long now.


We continue to be amazed at Silas' brilliant blue eyes and reddish-blonde hair. I do have Scottish and Irish ancestry, so the genes are there, but I never expected Silas to look so completely different from Henry. In some ways, that's kind of cool. Henry has the most gorgeous, dark brown, pool-like eyes with long, dark eyelashes, and now I have a blue-eyed baby. Both my boys are beautiful.

And as long as I'm comparing: Silas is a much easier baby than Henry was. We can put him down and he's content for long periods of time. As I write this, he's sleeping in his swing. At night he nurses every few hours, but he stays asleep and goes back to sleep if for some reason he does fully wake up.

To be fair to Henry, he had food intolerances that I didn't figure out until much, much later. The poor little one was probably miserable, colicky and spitting up and needing us to hold him all the time to make the discomfort tolerable. I feel bad that it took me so long to finally help Henry, though I tried my best to solve his issues from the beginning.

And I'm sure Silas has benefited from my experience with Henry. I eat completely differently now than I did when I was nursing Henry. Not only have I cut gluten out of my diet, and most corn and soy, but I've gone from eating a (fairly processed) vegan diet to eating a whole foods, traditional-type diet.

In any case, the only health issue I've found with Silas so far is a small patch of dry skin on one of his legs. I'm monitoring it, but so far it seems to be fading, if anything.

And now you're up to date. :)

Henry Quotes (February 2011 Edition)

I was just working in Photoshop when Henry walked by and said, "Are you sure you know what you're doing? That's something Daddy usually does."

HENRY (to the cat): Venus, you're so peaceful. I hate to disrupt your peacefulness. But here I come.

ME (to Silas): Hello, little man.
HENRY: He's not a man; he's a baby. But to a germ he's a giant.

Henry's take on coffee: It's important, because it wakes you up. Otherwise you wouldn't know where you were going and you'd walk into things.

Overheard from the kitchen, where Kelp & Henry went to make my birthday cake:
DADDY: The first thing we should do is clean up, but I don't feel like it, so we'll just push everything to the side.
HENRY: Hey, that's *my* secret cleaning trick!

HENRY (picking up a Larabar): Yum! This is my favorite kind.
DADDY: Really? I think they're just so-so.
HENRY: So, so *good*!

Henry Quotes (January 2011 Edition)

DADDY (coming out of our tiny powder room after helping Henry): GOD, I do *not* fit in that bathroom!
HENRY (yelling from the bathroom, without missing a beat): GOD, I *do* fit in that bathroom!

ME: Henry, please put the quarter you got from Grandma in your money jar.
HENRY: Why does it always have to be ME?

Henry was grumbling about something in the family room when I left to change Silas' diaper. From the next room I heard him yell, "I'm still complaining!"

HENRY: I want to go to Infinite Gym (a gymnastics facility we go to every week) but I don't want to leave the house.
ME: If we had it in our basement we could go whenever we wanted. It would be Infinite Basement.
HENRY: Ha -- [pause]. That's not a good one.

Baby Chuckles

I heard Silas laugh for the first time today! We were giving him a bath and he chuckled once when I washed between his toes and again when I washed behind his knee. It could be the cutest thing I ever heard.

The Many Faces of Silas

Eight weeks old: