New Frontiers of Parenting

Tonight, Henry literally threw up into Adam's mouth.

Literally.

And, Adam didn't throw up.

He merely turned his head to the side and spit.

He spit quite a distance.

That
is
Love.

(Adam was holding Henry above his head after jiggling him on his knee for a while after Henry ate spinach and potatoes. Men...they don't get cause and effect sometimes.)

Might Cause Ignoring Your Child.

Band Hero by Franti on Flickr.

The older you get, the fewer surprises come your way. Well, at least in the gift-department. However, this year we were truly shocked to open up a box from my parents with a...Wii! What? I mean, as Brooke said when I told her, we don't even have cable...Random! But, when combined with the awesomeness that is Band Hero, you've got yourself delight for hours.

The first day, we discovered that we'd have to take turns so as to not ignore our son or wait until he goes to bed to crank out a few songs duet-style. Then, Christmas afternoon, we took it to Brooke and Freeland's and played for hours together. Band Hero will truly make you think that you are capable of band greatness and that you missed your calling in life to become a drummer. (that is, until you take the drums off of the "easy" setting)

The Ten

We had a wonderful Christmas and I want to share all about it once I get a few pictures uploaded but, first off, can we just pause for a moment and take in the fact that the year 2010 is upon us?

When Adam and I first moved up here, it was May of 2007. We had been married for one year and he was beginning medical school. His graduation date: May, 2011. Oh, sigh. Gasp! So far away, so far away.

Now it is 17 months away! Wow. Wow-za.

Life is flying by like a freight train and you gotta be proactive and intentional about a few things or else *poof* it's 2020 and your sitting in your pajamas watching soap operas drinking sidecar at 11 a.m with Dorito crumbs all over your lap. Not really but time, it is a-flying.

Happy New Year!

Sunday Afternoons

Who doesn't love a good ol' lazy Sunday afternoon? Well, we don't not love it. Two negatives = a positive. We do. We do love it! As captured by this photograph taken on Sunday afternoon.

Adam is currently getting his critical care rotation on, Henry is napping, Powers is eating poultry-flavored tooth-paste. I just watched the finale of Sing-Off on hulu.com. Hey, I liked that show! They should do it again. I anticipate that college campuses all over the United States will suddenly have an influx of a cappella groups singing underneath archways and in stairwells...basically wherever there are good acoustics. I'm all for that. What the world needs now is more doo-wap groups.

A Slower Christmas

This year, Adam and I will be here in Erie with Henry & Powers for Christmas and New Years. And, although it will be nice to have a nice, laid-back Christmas celebration with our dear friends, the Ackley's, We will miss our families.

And Henry will miss getting to hang out with his two big, crazy cousins.

I got this picture from my sister-in-law and just had to laugh. This perfectly captures their boy-ness. Henry is a lucky kid to have these two as cousins.

Thursday Mornings With the Girls

I think I've mentioned before that on Thursday mornings, Henry & I go to Brooke' s house and watch So You Think You Can Dance with Bethany & her. It's a fun tradition and Henry enjoys crawling after the Ackley's animals. Today was the finale (incidentally, although I like Russell, I hate it when people get so excited that they rip off their shirts to celebrate. Whatever happened to a good old-fashioned fist pump?) and as we were getting ready to leave, Brooke said that she had something to show me.

She had tivoed a show called "Sing-Off" which is an a cappella type competition and this dude...this dude in the purple looks JUST LIKE ADAM. We were cracking up!

So, basically...I don't think that Adam is even in med school. When he's doing rotations, he's really hooking up with his A Cappella group.

Adam, Henry & I went to an Ab-Fab Christmas Party at Brooke & Freeland's house on Friday night. It was a sweaters & spirits party complete with wine tastings and winter olympics competitions (boys vs. girls...girls won after a pivotal dance-off). We even brought our Pack n' Play so that we could stay until the bitter end.

Since Adam refused to cross-dress so that we could match (Can you believe him?!), I went alone looking like an extra from Coming to America. At least I was a festive extra?

A few of the gals.

Thanks for hosting, Ackley's. It was muy fun.

Lotsa Snow

Nice Idea

I wish I could add on to our home a giant, padded room...you know, like those in mental hospitals? No sharp corners, just padded walls and floor...

No furniture.

Maybe a few foam bats...that's it. Ideal for child-rearing!

Oh, well. Maybe our next house.

What would you do-o-o

for a klondike bar?

Nothing, personally...I'm not a fan. Today, we are gearing up for playgroup. I have officially decorated our home for Christmas but not put up a tree (gasp!). I just can't bring myself to do it...the living room is Henry's main crawl-around area and I hate to make it any smaller especially now that it's snowy outside, ya dig ponyboy?

Mary Lou suggested that we put it up in the dining room, which is a great idea but I am currently storing our stroller between walks by the window of the dining room and am not sure where I would move it. I think that we'd be okay without a tree...I just can't decide. I feel so grinch. Christmas isn't supposed to be about what's PRACTICAL!

We Just Need Some Horse-Drawn Sleighs

...and this would be a durned Dickens' novel! Or at least a Bing Crosby song...

It is white everywhere outside...Erie's winter has arrived and I have mixed feelings. It is beautiful, I can't deny it. However, I feel a little less flexible with Henry...like, we can't just hop out and run errands as easily and we can't set up a blanket and sit in the back yard (or else we'll be soaked!) However, to focus on the positive- we CAN bundle up and watch Powers chase a tennis ball around in the yard and pounce on snowballs. That makes Henry laugh. I just don't want to get cabin fever...Thank God for the YMCA.

this is Henry clapping. He has a really soft golf clap that doesn't make any noise...for now.

This Christmas, we will be here due to Adam's rotation schedule. I am sad to not be with our family but excited for our new little family of 3 (or 4, Powers included) to begin new traditions and spend spend some quality time together. Plus our dear friends, the Ackley's, will be here and they have become like family to us. Plus, we will be visiting the south in January (Perfect time of year) and Henry will get spoiled rotten then.

Enjoy this Monday!

Chicka-Chicka

Today, Henry and I went out to eat lunch by ourselves for the first time. We went to Chick-Fil-A and it was the perfect place to go! The staff insisted on bringing us my lunch, they set up a high chair, they checked on us, they put away our tray and trash so that I wouldn't have to with Henry! So nice! Henry did well and just ate green beans and people-watched. Poor kid...it has to stink eating green beans and watching your mom eat chicken strips and lemonade.

And, oh my word, I had never had their Chick-Fil-A sauce before but it is so stinking good (and fat/calorie-free, right Les?)

Here is our boy in motion.

Makes me dizzy just looking at it!

What's Going On Here

• Chasing Henry around in order to dress him
• Warming up with winter soups and stews
• Soaking up Henry's sweet laughs
• Wearing Muk Luks around the house to keep my tootsies toasty
• Adam halfway done with his Pediatrics rotation
• Powers licking Henry after meals
• Picking up choking hazards off the floor 24/7
• Blowing rasberries on sweet bellies
• Savoring every sunshine day (it's like a surprise gift)
• Watching So You Think You Can Dance at Brooke's house
• Christmas lights
• Wearing bright gloves on walks
• All three of us running outside to meet Adam when he comes home
• Henry crawling after Powers and giggling
• Enjoying Christmas!

Officially That Time of Year...

explanation for picture at bottom of page

Well, we successfully hosted our first Thanksgiving! We had a marvelous time at it- there were 10 grown-ups and 2 babies and the food was wonderful and we ate and ate and then the boys threw around a flat football. I used our dining room table as the serving area and then we borrowed two tables to set up in the living room to form one long dining room table. I mixed and matched our dishes and goblets to try and make the settings a little funky and finally got to use our monogrammed cloth napkins that we received as wedding gifts! (We've been married since May, 2006).

Everyone left at 7 when our friend hosted a dessert party where her mother-in-law (who is literally a national pie-baking champion) baked us several pies for our happy consumption. I don't even care for pies very much but these were delicious morsels from heaven. I finally understood what Keri Russell was singing about in that stupid movie.

Adam, Henry, and I only stayed a bit because it was past Henry's bed time. So, then we skidaddled home and put our feet up, at last. It had been quite a day. I now have a new appreciation for the women in my life who plan, clean, set-up, cook, and (the worst) do the dishes on Thanksgiving.

Brooke took the pictures or else I would show you photographic proof of our wonderful day. So, you're just going to have to take my word for it. I'm embarrassed to say that the only picture we took was the one at the top of the page. Adam snapped these uncooperative crescent rolls (pre-oven) with his camera on his phone. They ended up tasting just fine.

Dear toy manufacturers,

Dear toy manufacturers, have I got an idea for you: toy electrical cords. It'll be the candy cigarettes of the new millenium. I can't explain the appeal...I just know that my son crawls right past his boring toys straight to the inviting lamp, computer, breast pump, and alarm clock cord and wants to chew on it.

Standing Up For Himself

Not that you care, but today I walked into Henry's room because I heard him waking up from his nap, and he was standing up in the crib.

Whoa. First crawling, now this...all hands on deck. Luckily, we had already lowered the crib mattress.

Turkey Day Approaches & Ta-Ta

This year, the three of us will be staying in good ol' Erie for Thanksgiving. Due to Adam's rotation schedule, we were unable to make it down to Texas (sad) but we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with 8 other friends (happy!) at our house. It is a nice, low-pressure hosting gig- the 8 other guests are bringing food and Brooke & Freeland are even handling the turkey (yippee!)

I made my Mom's bestest Thanksgiving dish tonight (spinach madeline) and froze it for Thursday. It was the first time that I'd made it and I have a new appreciation for her cooking my favorite dish every holiday (thanks, Mom!)

Thanks for all the advice about Henry biting my ta-ta's during nursing sessions. I am hoping that we can survive this era and I can keep on until his first birthday!

Teeth

Now that Henry has his two bottom teeth, he has bitten me a few times.

While I was feeding him.

It hurts, I won't lie. The first few times, it wasn't too bad but it's become worse and I have yelped out a couple of times and made Henry both cry and laugh. I want to keep on nursing him but, geez Louise...

Swinging!

As a mother, I have a whole new level of appreciation for parks.

Free entertainment.

Henry loved the park- watching the big kids, swinging, going down slides with me, it's all good.

Stranger than Fiction

Today, Henry and I are walking into Wegman's and I see these four sassy old ladies get out of their SUV.

Wow, one of them is really tall, I think.

Wait, another one has a huge adam's apple.

Wait. Yes, they are men. There are four cross-dressing old men walking into Wegman's in front of me. At 11 a.m. In Erie.

Oddly enough, one has legs that I would kill for.

Then, I get into Wegman's and there are two news teams in the produce section filming (unrelated to the cross-dressers, presumably). So, I walk really slowly behind them sniffing and sizing fruits and vegetables. You may see me on the news in a gray sweater.

Back in the Saddle

Currently in my google search bar is the following phrase:

How many calories Dairy Queen blizzard.

My husband typed it in last night. (You don't want to know the answer). Honestly, it's the kind of information of which I'd rather remain oblivious. I mean, where is the enjoyment in a DQ Oreo blizzard (add cookie dough, please) if you are thinking...wow, this is 7 miles worth of running shot to hell in a frosty cup!

A couple of months ago, I began a food journal- you may remember, I vowed to record every calorie that I put into my mouth. A friend of mine said that she could never do something like that- she would become too OCD and then become annorexic.

I don't have that problem. See, I am of the opposite mentality...the slowly slide off of the wagon grouping. Oh, sure I'll keep up with it for a while and then BAM, a festive weekend of eating occurs and then I lose momentum and gain 10 pounds. Until the next time that I recommit, which is now (sorta). Oh, how I miss the days of my (earlier) youth where I could starve myself for a day and lose 7 lbs. Those were good times.

Alas, it appears that you have to change your lifestyle (booo) and, for me, the main issue is trying not to eat as much as my 200 pound husband. I have quickly learned that I can easily eat the calories that I burn off through exercise, thus, I must learn moderation. To enjoy food but not eat massive quantities at supper. To have some chocolate...maybe just not at every meal.

So, here we go again...unless someone has a magic pill. Anyone? Anyone?

Sick Baby + Fall Weather

Adam is goofy.

Henry is sick. But babies don't like to have their noses or faces wiped. This results in Henry having boogers crusted to his nose a lot of the day.

Our thermometer is so slow, painfully slow. And I refuse to do it the rectal-way, so I'm jamming it in his armpit and pinning his arm down while I order Adam to dance around and sing in order to distract Henry while the digital temperature slowly climbs. So, we bought one of those head slide-y thermometers. It took us a while, but I think we get it now.

Adam starts Pediatrics tomorrow in Ashtabula. We had the perfect fall weekend before his new rotation starts- gorgeous weather. We put up lights on two of our trees in our front yard. We walked. We sat on a blanket in the back yard. We went to Asbury Woods. Milking this extended fall for all it is worth.

Plane Facts

I know that I'm late on this, but I am loving reading all the editorials about the San Jose mom and her 2-year old son who were kicked off the Southwest flight when he was too noisy. I know that no one likes hearing a yelling child and I haven't had a toddler yet but as the mom of a six-month old, when Henry is fussy, I'm more stressed out than anyone else. Also, I don't fly with Henry for pleasure...we have to fly to go see his grandparents and I am working my pants off trying to entertain him. I almost always have had people extend uncommon courtesy towards us when we are flying (offering first class seats even!) and I really appreciate that. I don't know what traveling with a toddler will be like but so far, I've seen lots of gracious folks when Henry and I are in the sky.

Salad Week

Being adventurous can take many shapes and sizes and sometimes looks lame-o, but that's okay. This week I am making different types of salads every night. So far, I have made this one (the toasted almonds are so good!) and this one (love a good greek salad) and I highly recommend them...very tasty!

Things That Make You Go, Huh?

When my mom visited, we rented movies to watch after Henry was asleep at night. We hadn't really watched any movies since he was born (besides Harry Potter 6...yesssss). And we realized, hey! Watching movies is fun! So Sunday night, Adam & I rented Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen from the Red Box (fantastic invention, that Red Box, eh?) Anywhoos, it was right up Adam's alley but I had a hard time keeping the Transformer Robots straight. Who just got punched? Which bad guy is that? Or is it a good guy? I'm confused. I feel that the transformers should have more distinguishing marks.

Okay, rant over.

Now, we are watching X-Men Origins: Wolverine. (I am the best wife. Ever. Just kidding.) This movie is weird. If I was an X-Men, I'd want to be able to be invisible and apparate and disapparate. And also, the ability to sing really well. And, the ability to have an awesome British accent. And the ability to go to Hogwarts.

It's silly o'clock at the Jennings.

Bring On the Sun

It was such a beautiful weekend- we spent as much time as possible outside, soaking up the sun and enjoying the yellow leaves everywhere. I could get used to 65 degree days in November.

Today, Henry bit my finger and I felt something sharp- behold! A tooth. His first little tooth coming in and I am a little nervous about feeding him with that bad boy around.

Fun Visitors

My dear friend, Melanie, came to visit us this week and I just loved having her here. There is nothing like a dear friend with whom you can just pick back up and do DAILY things together. We went on a walk, we went to the grocery store, we cooked supper together, she met my friends and we watched So You Think You Can Dance at Brooke's house. We stared at Henry. We talked lots. She is a gem of a gal and one of the most fun people you will ever meet. I am glad she came to stay with us and feel honored to call her my friend. I needed my Melanie fix!

Wild Things

Our little wild thing meeting a goat.

When my mom was here, Adam & I took advantage and went on a date! We went to eat and then watched Where the Wild Things Are. I still don't know what I think about the movie. One cool aspect was that the lead kid in that movie has mannerisms and talks just like my nephew, Caleb. That part was really sweet. I will say this: It's not a kids' movie. Also, they really nailed a lot of unspokens from childhood. Also, it was full of imagination. Also, a lot of it was sad. Also, you probably need to just go see it yourself. It made us think and dissect a lot.

It was a well-made movie, but not a feel-good movie. I probably wouldn't watch it again but I'm glad that I saw it.

Also, stay tuned...Brooke gives the big reveal today on the sex of the baby! (Yes, I already know...No, I'm not telling!)

Hansel & Gretel and their little Monkey, too!

Our first year here in Erie, we had no trick-or-treaters. And I had sat by the window all night with my huge bowl of candy. It was sad.

The second year here, I was pregnant with Henry and Adam & I dressed as Hermoine and Harry Potter for a rockin' Halloween party at Sarah L.'s house.

And, this year, we revisited that party (baby in tow) dressed as Hansel & Gretel with our little monkey-man and his pack-and-play with us (Hey, we didn't want to go home at 7!)

Dressing the monkey was not easy.

Note Hansel's (Adam's) short shorts (photo by Brooke Ackley)

The gals at the party (photo by Brooke Ackley)

Me (Gretel) and Bethany at the party (she was comfortable in her pink snuggie)

Adam and Henry

Overall, 'twas great fun!

The Great Pumpkin

Wet Hair

I had a dream last night that I was getting married. Except I had just gotten out of the shower and my hair was wet and I had no makeup on. And Adam was waiting for me at the end of the aisle and all these people were at the wedding and I suddenly realized...hey, I don't look so hot. So, the bridesmaids have already walked down the aisle and I'm suddenly sprinting back to the dressing area to try and dry my hair super-quick and throw on some mascara and lip gloss. Meanwhile, I can hear the wedding music playing and my Dad is saying, "Camille- we're ready for you." Then I woke up. The end.

Moms

I don't know how it is with you, but when my Mom comes into town- I surrender. I totally succumb to the healing powers of Mom cooking supper, Mom cleaning our house, Mom entertaining Henry while I sleep an hour or two longer in the morning.

I forget how to do laundry, I am suddenly completely useless.

But, I also drag Mom to the Gap to try on skinny jeans (which she looks amazing in) and she buys a cute pair of tall boots to go with them. An official Hot Mama.

Fill In the Caption!

Look What Our Wild Thing Can Do!

sitting

pulling

standing!

Now, I know the laundry basket is not a very safe place to pull-up but he was supervised by Powers, of course.

Just kidding.

Dance Party before bedtime.

Henry in his new high chair- thanks Mama Lulu & Poppa Bob!

Poppa Bob taking Henry on a walk.

My parents were both in this weekend. My dad had to leave yesterday but my mom is here through Friday (Hooray!) We are having lots of fun and Adam and I got to go on a date last night- woohoo!

On the beautiful quilt that Mrs. Helen made (it has nursery rhymes galore!)

Thank you SO much, Mrs. Helen!

And, of course, these pictures are from my Mom's camera so there are no pictures of her- I will remedy this today!

Thankful for good visits! And now, I must leave you to go continue hanging out with my Mom!

Friday, Look Out.

So, on Thursday mornings, Bethany & I go over to Brooke's house and watch So You Think You Can Dance. This week, they selected the top 20 and, can I just say, that I am already beyond annoyed with Molly and Legacy. Out of all those great dancers...one dances like a junior high cheerleader and the other flattered and cried his way to the top because he cannot, I repeat, cannot dance outside of his niche. I mean, if you cry and tell someone that the dance they choreographed changed your life, you probably will get promoted to the next level. End rant.

I went to a surprise going-away party last night for my friend, Aubrey. Aubrey is moving to Japan with her husband and their baby, Roman. So, our girls' group all dressed up in our bath or silky robes and wore socks with flip-flops and tried to do our hair in chop-sticks in an attempt to Japan-ize this part-ay. Also, we ate chinese food and cake and drank tea. It was a fun way to send off our sweet friend. She will be missed.

Speaking of long plane rides, my parents are on their way up here! Yee-haw. So, we will be doing that this weekend- hope you and yours have a merry weekend, too!

Six Months, Howdy Dudey.

Today, our little bouncy (literally) boy is SIX MONTHS OLD! Never has half a year been so wonderful, so exhausting, so funny, so humbling, so fulfilling, so teaching, or so amazing. Here's to you, Henry James Jennings.

on his birthday- photo by Brooke Ackley

A very happy half-birthday!

Healing the Wounds of Yore

How strange is this:

Today, my friend Bethany & I were taking a walk along with Henry and Powers (our dog). A mailman stops us and gets out of his truck with a dog treat to give to Powers. After asking if this was okay (Sure) he bends down and pets Powers and tells us that he loves dogs and feeds Powers a dog bone treat.

He was the nicest guy and I really admire his persistence in breaking down the wall of hostility between mailmen and dogs.

Crazy world.

Really?! Already??

We hadn't even put our lawn furniture up!

It's so curious: one can resist tears and 'behave' very well in the hardest hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window, or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer... and everything collapses.

-Colette

I just discovered that today is National Day of Miscarriage & Infant Loss day and I have no words for the anguish and heartbreak that I see in friends in these circumstances. Please pray for friends and family that have walked this sad, sad road. And, not just today.

A Tale of a Fallen Pinky.

The sea was angry that day, my friend...

Not really but the sky was overcast as I walked out of playgroup on an assuming Tuesday afternoon. With my son balanced on my left hip, I tossed the diaper bag into the passenger seat and slammed the door, and my littlest finger still in the line of danger, and heard the door click shut. And I ripped out my finger from the door and I screamed a bad word in front of my son and ran back into the house with Henry on my hip to ask for ice and assistance.

Tis a sad sight, my friends. Adam thinks I broke the tip of it because it is black and swollen all the way around.

AND, I am in NO WAY dramatic about it, at all. I am not at all like Michael Scott when he George Foreman grilled his foot...

pictures to follow!!

Dropping Things

Lately I've felt like I'm letting all these different balls drop. "Dropping balls" was going to be the name of this post but that sounded weird. But you know how people say, "I dropped the ball on that."? Okay, that's what I'm referring to right now.

Like, phone calls that need to be returned. Or packages that I should mail. Or birthday cards that need to be sent. Or summer clothes that need to be put away. I want to do these things but I feel like I'm failing at getting them done. Once upon a time, I thought that by staying at home with Henry, that I would get SO MUCH stuff done. Like, I would have dozens of hobbies and sew and be uber-organized. Not so much, at this stage, anyway. I look at working moms and I think that they have double the challenge- being away all day and then coming home and trying to get time in with your kiddos and get practical around-the-house stuff done. Whew!

All to say, I am dropping a few balls lately (that sounds not right, but you know what I mean.) I realized something, though. When I look back, I won't regret sitting on the floor with my son instead of putting away his 0-6 month clothes (which are stacked on the guest bed, currently). And, hopefully some friends will forgive me for procrastinating on calling them back because it's hard to call someone back if your baby is doing this: MWAHBAH AAAAAAH. And when he naps, I am trying to lie down myself or take care of something around the house or read or something random.

Confession: I am not a super-organized Mom. Starting on Monday, Adam will have a much easier schedule than the past 3 months and, hopefully, I can pick up some balls then. And now I have to go because Henry is sitting in my lap and trying to eat the desk. Happy Tuesday!

Booger Face

Here's my question about children: Why, why, why do babies hate having their faces wiped? Seriously! Henry has had a little cold and thus snot/boogers caked on his face and mix that with oatmeal cereal and you've got yourself quite a plaster for the skin. This doesn't seem to bother him. It bothers me. But what bothers HIM is getting his face wiped.

I've also realized that the desire to groom your children is overwhelming and so I apologize for giving my mother grief over that.

Winter is definitely coming. It was downright CHILLY this weekend! We took Henry swimming at the YMCA on Saturday afternoon- he seemed to really like it. They have a warmer pool (88-ish degrees) and I'm so glad that we have a place that we can both go on cold winter days to get out of the house!

Oh My...

My alma mater is playing OU tomorrow. Let's say a little prayer for those Baylor Bears (3-1).

Sic 'Em, Bears! Beat Oklahoma!!!

Balloon Feet

Anyone ever tried tying the string attached to a balloon to a baby's ankle? I read that idea in a book and it said it would be entertaining....for everyone.

Just one balloon, though. Not hundreds which might send your child into outer space.

Good Reminder

Personal worship is an absolute necessity for a strong marriage. It comes down to this: If I stop receiving from God, I start demanding from others. Instead of appreciating and loving and serving others, I become disappointed in them. Instead of cherishing my wife, I become aware of her shortcomings. I take out my frustrations with a less-than-perfect life and somehow blame her for my lack of fulfillment.

Bu when my heart gets filled by God's love and acceptance, I'm set free to love instead of worrying about being loved. I'm motivated to serve instead of becoming obsessed about whether I'm being served. I'm moved to cherish instead of feeling unappreciated.

-Gary Thomas
Sacred Marriage

P.S. Someone asked me if I recommend reading Sacred Marriage alongside the Sacred Marriage devotionals. Yes, I would recommend it but either are beneficial, even alone.

Standing On Our Heads to Entertain Him

Corn Mazes and Peas

We had such a nice, full weekend. On Saturday, we went to the Buffalo Wooden Nickel Farm in Edinboro and we did a corn maze with a few friends. I had never done a corn maze before and it was huge (it took everyone at least an hour) but I am happy to report that Adam and I were able to collect all our marks and WIN the corn maze against our 3 other teams of friends. AND, we had Henry strapped to Adam's chest.

We we very proud.

Henry also tried peas for the first time on Friday night. It was his first food, besides cereal. His first vegetable. He made the BEST faces when eating it. Clearly, the taste was not what he expected but he shoveled down a few bites each night.

Appalling.

So, Wednesday night, Adam and I were looking through his yearbook from his senior year in high school. Oh, bliss. The laughter. The blonde-tipped highlights (on boys!). I wish we had a scanner, I would share some of the glory.

First bit of goodness that I'd like to share is the name of one of Adam's fellow classmates:

Shotgun Pace.

How cool is that? That was his name...written out in the yearbook! I asked Adam about it but he told me that everyone called him "Travis". Isn't that backwards? Shouldn't his real name be Travis and everyone call him Shotgun? We had a boy at my high school named Stoney Stone, so I can't say anything but his real name was Clay Stone, I think. Either way...still pretty good, right?

Next, THIS part was truly appalling. There was a section in Adam's yearbook where parents could take out quarter, half, or full-page ads for their graduation seniors. You know, put a baby picture up and then a senior picture up along with a letter telling your graduate how proud you are of them.

BUT, in this section, boyfriends and girlfriends could also take out ads and write letters to one another. So, there would be a FULL PAGE AD with like 4 pictures of Billy Bob and Ruth Ann and then a letter from Ruth Ann to Billy Bob:

Dear Billy Bob,

I love you so much. The past 4 months have been the best of my life and I can't wait to marry you and have babies one day. Remember that night at Sonic? Oh my goodness, you have changed my life...yadee yadee

Yours Forever,

Ruth Ann

and then Billy Bob would write her a letter back on the same page.

Dear Ruth Ann,

When I gave you my letter jacket, my life got more sunshine in it. I love you, baby. Blah blah blah.

Love,

Billy Bob

Can you believe it??? These boyfriend/girlfriend ads were mixed in with the sweet parents ads. We went through this section and I asked Adam which couples were still together. Not many, if any. How awkward.

Sadly, Adam & his high school girlfriend did not take out an ad, so I had little mocking rights except where she started to write a note in the back of his yearbook that started with... "the past year and a half have been awesome."

Oh, high school.

Luxuries

We got a Patagonia kids catalogue in the mail yesterday and... wow.

Just, wow.




and... totally affordable!!!

ha.

p.s. but, seriously, how do you dress babies in wintertime up here?

Student Doctor Adam

Heeeeey, Nice hat!

Someone recently asked me how Adam's schooling is going. To fill you in, it's going well! He is currently on his 3rd month of Internal Medicine rotations- this has been the most challenging rotation yet. The schedule is pretty serious. They are more than a couple 14+-hour days and basically every other day (M-F) is a 12-hour day. He usually has to be at the hospital by 5 a.m. HOWEVER, Adam has such a good attitude about it and even though I often grumble when his alarm clock goes off at 4 a.m., he does not.

Before IM, he did Psychiatry and Anesthesiology (spelling?). He has learned a lot on these rotations, specifically the past couple of months on Internal Medicine and it has boosted his confidence and given him a lot of practice with diagnostics, patient care, consults, etc. Having said that, though, I am excited for his next rotation, OBGYN, where the schedule won't be as full (at least that's the word according to others who have rotated with this same doctor).

So far, so good. I'm so proud of Adam. He's such a hard worker and a good father and May, 2011 is not too far away.