Henry's 1st Christmas

There was Santa, there were presents. Henry didn't cry this time when he saw Santa. He just looked at him with curiosity. He touches the Christmas tree very gently, and there are no ornaments withing his reach. Today Henry got to lick a lolly pop for the first time and he loved it. He was salivating and objecting when I didn't give it to him by hitting his arm and using his high pitch voice. He also had a playmate come visit him. Carlos is only a month older than Henry. They were both crawling all over the place and got along very well. Roman also enjoyed a visit of his two friends Will and Nick this morning. The boys played for 3h and got along very well too. This was a snow less Christmas. I don't remember when we had one without the snow, it's been quite some time. It was rather low key, I didn't cook or do much. Took at easy this time, learned my lesson from last year's Christmas. I am 13 weeks as of yesterday. Can't wait to find out what we are having.

Henry is Crawling

This weekend Henry started to crawl. He is doing better and better. He is 9m2wks old and adjusted age 7m1w old. He is doing great. Poor little guy crawled so much today that he got carpet burns. Today was also his first trick-or-treating and 1st Halloween Party. We went to the Leavenworth Courthouse, it was a great idea for a day that's cold and rainy. Today was 85F so Henry was almost too hot in his bumble bee costume. Roman was a super man. Roman had more candy than ever before. The party was organized by Jessica from the mom's group and it was at the Community Center. Both boys had a great time.

new milestone

On Friday Aug. 12 Henry is sitting on his own. That's at 4m4wks adjusted age and at 7m1week post his birth. He is doing great. Very strong. Started pulling himself up to sitting while in a bouncy seat. He is very talkative. He is loud especially on the mornings. He loves chewing on his hands and feet. He naps 3 times a day. Usually at 8am and noon and then a short nap during an afternoon walk. His 2 naps are usually anywhere from an hour and a half up to 3 hours. He doesn't sleep well in a car or his stroller. He sleeps the best in his crib. If I leave the house during his nap time he has a hard time falling asleep in the car. It will be hard once Roman starts preschool cause his nap times will be interrupted by me driving Roman back and forth.

7 months old

Ever since Henry was born I took a picture of him each month he turned another month. I believe I skipped one month, can't remember which one, I took one a day later I believe. I didn't get a chance to take one today. We went to children's park in KC. With Roman I took one each week of his life. I feel bad that I have been such a slacker. So we have been living at our new home for 2 weeks now. The weather has been extremely hot, triple digits.

Lets see, Henry is definitively not doing things that a 7 month old should, but technically he is not 7 months old, he is 4.5months old and he is for sure right on target. He is rolling over from front to back and back to front, he has been doing that for awhile. He is pushing himself up on his arms. He discovered his feel about 3 weeks ago. He babbles and giggles. He eats anywhere from 5-9oz at a feeding. I have tried cereal and avocado, did ok. I should try again. He sleeps through the night, he falls asleep on his own. No need for rocking etc. He naps 2wice a day for about 2-4h at the time. He is not a big fan of his car seat. Doesn't care to ride in the car. He is probably over 16lbs. Not sure exactly how heavy but wears 6-9month old clothing. He is happy, social baby. He likes riding in the stroller but it has been too hot to take him outside.

Henry's Giggles

Today Henry giggled out loud and played a game with daddy. Daddy kept grabbing his foot and making fun noises. In the anticipation of him touching his foot Henry kept laughing out loud. He started lifting his foot as in an attempt to play the game. It was so cute. I have it on video. On 23rd of June Henry was almost 15lbs and 24inches long. He is starting to push up on his arms while on his tummy. He can sit very well while supported. He smiles at strangers when they smile at him.

4th of July Parade

Today we went to our and Roman's and Henry's first 4th of July parade. It was in South Elgin. There was no problems with parking or finding a spot. Henry was very good in his stroller. He ended up falling asleep. Roman had so much fun collecting candy. He ended up getting almost as much as for Halloween. We were there from 1o am till 11:4o. This was our first opportunity to go to a parade since for the last 3 years we were in Poland. I know that Roman would have loved the fireworks as well, but I didn't want to keep him up so late.

Henry

Henry is meeting all the milestones of a 4-5 month old but his adjusted age is 2.5 months. He is smiling (event to strangers if they smile at him) cooing, holding his head up at 90 deg. when on his tummy. He sleeps through most nights (6-9hrs). He was 13lbs at his last check-up which was on May 11 (9wks old adjusted age). He is a happy baby, easy to take places, likes stroller and riding in a car as long as the car is moving. I don't feel as house bound as I was with Roman when he was that age. Henry is very portable and I have taken him to restaurants and parks, stores. He has not been to a shopping mall yet, cause I have not been shopping much ever since he was born. He has been to church many times. That is probably one of the most visited places by him. He has been to Sam's club twice, once to Jewel and twice to Splash Path. He was out to breakfast twice, once with us for Mother's Day and once with Gerene about a week ago.
Henry has also discovered his hands about a week ago. He loves sucking on them and shoving his fingers into his mouth. He has been drooling a lot too. I doubt that he is getting teeth.

Last day of preschool May 20th

Almost a week ago Roman had a last day of preschool. We came for the end of the year alphabet song. He sang most of it. He really liked his teacher Miss Dana and Miss Natalie. He transitioned very fast, it only took him a week. He made few friends: Mathew, Jack and Robert.

Road trip to Kansas

So we took a 9h road trip to Kansas on May 11-12-13. We left on Wed. and got home late Friday afternoon. We got to see the base and the house we are going to live in. Both boys did exceptionally well on a such a long ride. Henry slept most of the time, waking up for feedings only. It was much easier than I thought. I was very nervous about such a long drive with two young children. I don't remember when I have spend this much time in a car without kids. I am glad we went. It was a good experience. We went to this cool mall called Legends. The weather was very nice on Thursday, it got called on Friday when we were driving back and it rained. On Wed. we drove through some storms and the visibility was poor. Overall a very positive experience.

Roman's favorite bedtime stories

Currently there are 3 books that I read to him daily before bedtime. Kamyczek, Sheep in the Jeep and Otis. During the day he wants me to read to him The little engine that could.
When he was younger (about 2) Good night Moon was read before every bedtime. He also used to like The Things that Go. Roman has many books and he loves being read to. I have to say that it's one of my favorite things to do with him.

Planting flowers in the Plant Nursery

Today we went with our mom's group to the Plant Nursery on Randal Rd. Roman got to pick his own plants and with the assistance of one of the employees he has planted his first plant in a pot. He was a good listener and followed directions very well. Henry was cooperative as well and only cried once cause he was hungry. We were lucky that the sun came out cause it got cloudy and cold later.

Mandarin monsters

Roman was playing with mandarins at the kitchen table. He was lining them up, making a snake etc. I gave him some toothpicks. He made creatures and asked me to put some faces on them: happy, sad, angry and scary I believe was the 4th one. Not sure. He was occupied for 30 minutes poking the poor fruit. He said that one of them was an octopus, another shooting rocket monster. He had so much fun. We ended up eating the oozing juice fruit.

Today was a letter Z at preschool. We had to find a picture of a noun that started with that letter in a magazine. I was desperate to find zebra, zoo or zipper. No luck, but we were able to find zucchini. By the time Roman got to school he couldn't remember what the picture was of. I told him again that it was called zucchini. This evening when I asked him what he wanted to eat since he was hungry(he just had soup, but didn't want to go to sleep). He said cereal. That is his favorite food that he wants to eat 3-4 times a day. Trying to be responsible parents we want some variety in his diet and told him that it's a breakfast food, therefor it's only for breakfast. It doesn't always work. My point is, that when I asked him again and gave him choices of: chicken, eggs, more soup...excitingly he said:"How about zucchini!!!" Wow, great memory, he only heard that word twice today. I wish I had some at home to give to him. Maybe next year we can grow some in our new garden.

Tomato Garden

I have always wanted to do this, ever since we got the house, but have been away for the past 3 years. I wanted to grow my own tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables that are easy to grow. I want Roman to experience the miracle of plants and teach him how to care for them. Today we went to Home Depot and bought 4 tomato plans and 4 pepper plants. Even though the weather wasn't nice(light rain and wind) we decided to plant them. Roman had fun watering the plants from his watering can. He was raking the soil and started removing it from the mini garden. James and I looked at the description and it said that it takes 70-80 days for the plants to mature from the date of planting. We both started laughing since we are moving in July and might not be able to enjoy the fruit. We have spend some $$ getting the whole thing started. I guess it's all about the experience, not about the final product.

Coloring Easter Eggs

Project Roman made at pre-school

Very proud of his creation

This was our first time coloring eggs. Roman loved decorating them with stickers. It seems that he favored his and dad's, since those are the only eggs that got more than one sticker. We goofed up and made dziadek's egg pink vs. yellow. Roman didn't like it that we only made 6 eggs (4 cracked while boiling) and that there were empty spots on the egg plate. Mommy had to be creative and fill them in with tangerines. Later on Sunday Roman did his second egg hunt in his life. He did one when he was 2 at the ambasador's residence in Warsaw. Last year he was more interested in ridding his tri-cycle than looking for eggs in Krolikarnia.

Henry

Henry was 12lbs at his follow up apt. yesterday. He is growing well. Wearing 3-6 month old clothing. He started nursing without the nipple shield. He is still supplemented with NeoSure formula and taking his vitamins daily.

Thomas Live on Stage

Today we went to the Rialto Theatre in Joliet to see Roman's 1st theatre performance. It was a long ride in a car. Took an hour to get there. Roman was very focused and he enjoyed the show. He didn't want to go home once it was over. He was the last child to leave the theatre. He kept on crying and saying: "I want to see more Thomas". Michael and his mom met us there. Both of the boys are big fans. I am pleased that he sat still and paid attention. I know that he is ready to be taken to this type of performance again.

Monday

Long Day. Finally getting some time to sit down and cruise the Internet.

Snow was on the ground this morning, this weather never ceases to present oddities.

Roman was born in a snowstorm in April 2007, if we did not leave at 0300 when we did, I would of been driving in some conditions less than perfect with a pregeant wife.

Four years later, snow in April again. Roman is a energy dynamo. He keeps us young.

Roman's 4th bday

He really enjoyed getting his motorized four-wheeler as his gift. The weather has been less than spring type and he hasn't been able to enjoy his new toy outside. It's been raining a lot lately. He is riding on it right now in the back yard even though it's windy and only 52F. On Monday Fisher Grandparents came over and Roman got his first scooter which he enjoys every day. On Tuesday Babcia and Dziadek came and he got the big gift from all of us. On Wed. ciocia Gosia came and we baked cupcakes. He also got to celebrate his bday at preschool with classmates and Miss Dana and Miss Natalie. He took cookies for the children to share.

better late than never

It seems that every modern parent these days has a blog for their kids. I have never considered myself to be technology savy, but I think that's a great way of keeping an electronic journal for yourself and the kids in the future of what's happening in their young lives. Time goes by so fast, it seems that the older we get the faster it flies by. When you are sleep deprived memories bland together. This will allow me to know which son did what, said what without confusion. Every day Roman says so many smart, funny coments that deserve mentioning. Today for example James read a new book to him. I am not familiar with the story. He came to me and re-told the story to me in his own words. As it turns out the plot line was accurate and he remembered many details from the book. I am very pleased that he automatically knows this skill that many children have to learn.