At the Fair!

Unlimited ride wrist bands!

With as much as I'm working and all of the change that is quickly happening around here, this is the best I can do on the blog front. Still better than nothing, right? I'll update soon but for now here's the picture proof that we are all alive and doing so very, very well.

appoLearning

When Garrison first bought his iPad, he didn't realize that the new gadget would be more Henry's than it is his. Seriously, that kid has FIVE folders of apps. FIVE! I admit it's ridiculous but there are just so many great apps for his age, how can we not snatch them up? 

With that being said, I have also totally downloaded my fair share of dud apps. I want Henry apps to be unique, educational, and fun but Google searching typically results in apps that look great but magically turn cheesy, cheap, and super lame after download. And who even has the time to sort through semi-reliable online reviews? Not me. 

What if there was an easy to search database of quality, educational apps? 

OH WAIT. THERE IS.

appoLearning is a well organized, user friendly site with tons of educational apps for children. Each of the apps featured on appoLearning are graded using a rubric that assesses things like educational content, features and design, kid appeal, and safety. Even better yet, the apps are reviewed and graded by experienced educators! If you're not sure about an app based on the grade alone, you can read a review and look at pictures. I found this so much easier than searching reviews online or opening the app store every time I found an app that looked awesome. What I also really like is the extensive amount of learning categories on appoLearning. Whether your looking for a fun handwriting app, hoping to teach your child Spanish, or trying to find a good interactive book for bedtime...you'll find great apps here. 

The iPad is a great tool for working with your child. Check out appoLearning to find some of the best apps available! 

Readjusting My Thoughts on Toddlerhood.

So I was looking through some of my old YouTube videos tonight and I found this sweet video that my little sisters made for me when Henry was just a year old. The last time I watched it, I rocked little baby Henry in my arms in the kitchen of the house I used to nanny at and cried as I kissed his chubby little cheeks. I remember thinking, "Don't grow up Henry! Stay this little!" and just truly cherishing that moment.

Watching this video now is different to me in so many ways. Henry is three, no longer than snuggly little sweet-smelling baby. Every second of every day he pushes my buttons and tests my patience. I get so frustrated with him and honestly I'm not the best at reacting to those moments. I get so annoyed by the littlest things and I'm constantly stressed out, tired, and angry.

But listening to my sweet sisters sing these words and watching pictures of my baby who has so quickly grown into a spirited toddler makes me realize that time passes by so quickly. Every moment you have with your child is fleeting and before you know it, those moments are gone forever.

I know I will soon be looking back on these trying times and missing them so much. I'm not saying it's normal to handle every tantrum like a boss...it's just good to remember that soon those crazy tantrums will end and replaced with new challenges and those with many more.

Try to enjoy every moment you have, the good and the bad, because soon you will be looking back on those days with a fond heart, wondering where exactly the time went.

Send Wine....

Only smiling for this picture because I told him not to. Seriously.

I haven't posted very often here lately because, while important and fun things have been happening, writing about them suddenly feels...strange. When I first started this blog, life with Henry was changing every week. Each new day brought its own challenges, worries, and questions that I needed your advice and support about to ensure me that the crazy state of mind I was in was, indeed, normal. I can't remember when exactly it started, but it feels like Henry finally reached this age where stuff like that just died down. He was sleeping through the night, eating new foods, and not throwing up all over me. We were still going to the beach, snuggling each other at night, and exploring the city on the weekends but taking/uploading/editing/posting pictures of it all suddenly felt over-done and tedious. I didn't need the blogging outlet and the blogging outlet didn't need my mindless over load of the same blah, blah, blah.

Flash forward to now. THREE. What the hell has happened to my child? This lull we were in for so long has very quickly screeched to an end and I'm completely thrown off guard. Terrible twos? HA! Try "tiring threes". Henry is reaching new milestones in so many areas almost daily. His behavior is so off the charts cray that I can't even look at him during his "moments" without laughing because Omg, seriously? Are you for real acting like this right now? (See: Possessed by the devil). You guys, I'm even reading my first parenting book EVER in a desperate attempt to figure out what I'm doing wrong. 

Henry has recently, quickly changed in a ton of positive ways too. He's starting to make jokes that are seriously funny. He's recognizing letter sounds and determining which words start with which letters. He's got potty training down like a boss. He's in a big-boy bed being bribed to stay in there all night with wrapped presents from the dollar store....

Oh, and there are shimmery glimpses in the dark like yesterday when he's telling a boy who just smacked a girl in the face, "That was NOT nice! You need to go to time-out! We do NOT hit!" that make me feel like I must be doing something right. 

With all of this change that's knocked me over out of the blue, I have a feeling I'll be writing here more often. Three is rewarding, but also defeating and I'm going to need all the help I can get...

Camping, South Carolina

I don't think I give the south as much credit as it deserves. South Carolina and Georgia are just so pretty and lazy in the best way possible. This time of year before the heat moves in and the nights are cold and still is my absolute favorite. Last weekend we soaked up the beauty of this season around a campfire in South Carolina. Spending time as a family, forgetting our responsibilities, and just being was so rejuvenating. 

    

We stayed in this old trolley car...Henry was pumped! He cried when we left and asked if we could take the train home with us.

 My apologies to the teenage Henry who may someday read this blog...but OMG. This picture was taken seconds before he pooped all over his shoes. I told him we were camping so he could pee in the woods and he took my advice a step further...

This picture makes me laugh so hard. Henry never wants his picture taken these days but he begged me to take this one. It was dark so I couldn't really see when I took it. Looking at it later, I realized he had posed like this. LOL.

Beach Video

I took these clips last September when my little sister lived with us...only now have I had the time to piece them together. The end of last summer was memorable for me in a lot of ways, in both beautiful ways and the not so great. Getting the chance to spend time with my sister was so valuable and I will always be grateful for those days. Watching this video makes me miss her so much....

Henry Says....

It's no secret around here that we're trying again for baby number two (three). All week my stomach has been weird and at times I felt nauseous out of nowhere, so naturally I was a little excited. Unfortunately, today I started my period :( 

I was laying on the bed with Garrison and he asked me how I was feeling and I told him that my stomach hurt because I started my period. He said, "Oh man! No babies then?" And from the other room Henry yelled, "THERE'S ONE BABY HERE!" Phahaha.

Adjusting and Doing Well!

Guess who's been totally non-existant from the blogging world even though I swore I would be getting better at writing here...Yeah. Everything is still so crazy busy here, two months in and I'm finally starting to feel like we're adjusting to the change. Before student teaching, I tried so hard to prepare myself for this. I knew that I would be so distracted and stressed. I knew that Henry would have a hard time transitioning from full time stay at home baby to daycare attending toddler. And yet, this change has been a million times more difficult than I had ever imagined. Three alone is a challenging age. Three adjusting to a new routine is hell. When tantrums and breakdowns occur, it's so hard for me to determine which is due to this age and which is due to the new routine. I try my best to have patience, but moms of toddlers know this is easier said than done (mantra: I'm the adult, I'm the adult, I'M THE ADULT). 

Henry is starting to like school more and more, although it still seems to be a love/hate relationship. Some days he can't wait to go and then others he crying because I picked him up a half hour later than usual. For an entire week he will tell me that he "doesn't like school" and then the weekend comes and he's all, "My friends miss me. I want to go to school". One of my readers, Meg, recently told me that her son really only started enjoying school once he made a friend. She was so right! I honestly think the turning point in his attitude towards school was his friendship with this sweet little boy in his class. If that kid only knew how much I used him as bait...

HAPPY THREE!

Happy third birthday Henry Bear! Has it really been three years since that day I first saw your little head and big eyes staring up at me for the first time? My mind is blown. You're such a fun kid and every day I am amazed by how smart, funny, and sweet you are. We love you so much! 

Your birthday party was a lot of fun this year. You're making a few friends now and watching you interact with them on your big day was really exciting for me. I know you had a good time at your party because every day since you've told me in a sad little voice, "I want my birthday back. I want my friends to come back to my party." And I can see the wheels in your head spinning when you randomly ask me, "Mom? Am I THREE now?" 

You have grown so much in the past few months. You're starting to write your name, you're potty trained, and you going to school full time! Adjusting to so much change has been hard on all of us but you're pretty much handling it like a boss. We're so lucky to have such an easy going little guy. 

You really wanted a pinata this year!

Charlie

My favorite picture. When everyone was singing "Happy Birthday" to you, you smiled so huge and looked around the room at each person. I could tell you felt so special and loved.

Your current bff. You LOVE her!

The perfect picture to sum up your current "NO. LET ME DO IT!" personality.

Bunz hates parties. DUH.

The entire day you only ate: Gummy bears, cake, cookies, a bite of a hot dog, cake, chips, and cake.

The rest of the afternoon we shot rockets off in the front yard. You couldn't do it then but a week later and you're so good at it. Stop growing! 

Don't worry...dad will catch it....with his shirt.