Henry at 10 months

Look at this guy.

I mean, really. Could you say no to that face?

So you understand why we are having some sleep issues. He cries, so hard, and I pick him and feed him, and then he does it earlier and earlier each morning until early morning feeding is night feeding but he maybe doesn't go back to sleep, then tries to take a 6:30am nap, and I'm perpetually exhausted. So, for this 10 monthday, we laid down the law with sleep training. It's not easy. We might be making progress, although I will not say that out loud. And, we've been here before, but after a few weeks he's back to his old ways. Either way, he's mostly cuteness and sweetness and babyness and light.

He started crawling just before Christmas, and ever since he has been interested in nothing but pulling up on anything/everything and getting you to walk with him. He's getting steadier and steadier on his feet and starting to cruise. My dad says he won't walk, but will just run.

He's starting to be a little more clingy around strangers, but warms up pretty quickly and then demands attention and tries to flirt with whoever is around. But he does not like it when I walk away if there are unfamiliar faces. Sometimes at daycare he cries when I drop him off, but that generally depends on whether he's been away for a while due to travel or illness or if his main teachers aren't there. Lately he cries when Miss Andrea leaves before I pick him up and it just breaks my heart. I'm glad he's attached to her, but woe the day (coming soon) when he moves up to the next classroom. I know he will attach to the new teachers eventually, but I wish he could just stay with Miss Rosie and Miss Andrea.

He's still nursing but also really likes solid food. After the pedi told us to give him more of our food, we have been more conscientious about it and he's done really well. He gobbled down the fish from fish tacos and loves guacamole. He likes pizza, grilled cheese, quesadillas (I know, those three are the same thing with different twists),  chicken, most fruits he's tried, some veggies, toast, waffles and sour cream pancakes (seriously - try these). This is such a nice food phase - i love how babies will try anything before becoming nutty toddlers that suddenly refuse  all their favorite foods.  

He babbles a lot, but we aren't hearing any words yet, although one night at Lake Placid Steve and I are convinced he said "ah-do" twice when making the sign for "all done" and then did it again the next day. Nothing since. He does sign "more" sometimes and waves his hands kind of like "all done" but we're not sure he quite understands which is which. His clearest communication is shaking his head "no". It's unambiguous and pretty funny.

Now and then, he and Grace really get each other giggling. It's the cutest, greatest, thing ever. 

Sometimes, you can ask for a kiss and he will slobber on your face. And then you melt into a puddle.

Look at that face! Don't you want kisses and to cover it with kisses?

My boy and his first taste of wweet potato fries.

Winter wonderland

Apparently the silver lining of living in a place as serious about winter as Boston is that when you go someplace with single digit temps for vacation, you don't really notice the cold.

We went to Lake Placid last week for a short vacation of winter sports, eating, and sitting by the fire. Coincidentally, the day after I booked the hotel, I came across this article. We are so cool.

It was about a five hour drive from Boston through the most charming Vermont countryside. We wound through snow-covered valleys with white clapboard villages, and other than not finding any covered bridges, it could not have been more charming. Luckily, I checked the schedule of the ferry listed in our directions to find that the ferries aren't operating this time of year because Lake Champlain is frozen. It made the drive longer, but was quite something to see a lake so large completely frozen. There were lots of giant SUVs parked on the ice with little ice-fishing huts. I'm sure there are very lovely people who really enjoy ice-fishing, but I cannot imagine the appeal. Isn't fishing boring enough without being cold and having nothing to look at because you're in a little tiny tent hut thing?

When we arrived in LP, we headed over to catch the end of the Empire State winter games so Grace could see the figure skaters. It looks like a typical ice arena, right? It's actually the site of the 1980 miracle on ice. To my former hockey player husband, this was a big deal.

Pretty cool, no?

Overlooking the Olympic Oval. Can you find Henry?

Hanging out fireside at the hotel. It had a huge lobby fully of cozy tables and a huge fireplace. Some hotel lobbies are kind of forlorn, but this one was usually full of people reading, chatting, and drinking hot chocolate while watching the skaters on Mirror Lake.

We gave skiing another try at nearby Whiteface where the skiing events were held during the Olympics. It seemed like a pretty cool mountain, for the East anyway, but I wouldn't know since I spent the whole time on the Kids Kampus. They had a pretty great set-up with a separate lodge adjacent to the bunny slope. There was a magic carpet and a beginner chairlift and several wide, easy runs. The lodge was right at the bottom of the runs so we could see the skiers coming down, and it was very easy for Steve and me to switch off between kids. However, when it's zero degrees outside it's hard to get photos and hold Henry (can't really put him down outside when it's so cold). So, this shot of Grace and me on the lift is it. 

Henry, patiently watching out the window.

There were some good moments and some very low moments. After a rather epic meltdown with Steve, Grace had lunch and then she and I headed back out. We found some cones that were set up for turning practice and I told her to make "pizza" (snowplow) turns around the cones. She just did it, no problem, no help. At the bottom, she took off her skis and carried them to the top again. She did this three times, waved at Steve and then headed over to the chairlift. As if an hour before she hadn't been sobbing in the middle of the run. SIGH. After that, she skied from the top of the lift to the bottom, on her own, making turns, twice. There was a brief interlude of attitude, but toward the bottom she said "you've been the leader the whole time. I want to be the leader!" Okay, then! And she led the way.  I tried to get a video as I skied behind her, but of course my phone wasn't working. Oh well, live in the moment and all that.

While Henry was eating, Steve dashed out to take the gondola to the grown-up part of the mountain. He managed to catch part of the runs that were used for the men's downhill events. I tried to get in a few runs by myself, but it was too close to when the lifts closed to go out of the kids area, so I tried to hit the jumps... I was heading for the last jump, very end of the day, and a little kid snowplowed right in front of me so of course I had a slow down, lost all momentum and got no air. Steve pointed out it was the learner's area. I pointed out he got to do a black run. A mother's sacrifice. Grace better mention this when she skis in the Olympics.

Apres ski, we hit the pool and hot tub.

One of the best things about our hotel was that Grace and Steve could walk out the door to go ice skating. They clear a "trail" on the ice in addition to a hockey area. At below zero temps, Grace didn't last long, but Steve did manage to take the whole path. It seemed like a pretty fun way to exercise.

We spent the rest of our time checking out the local restaurants, reading, and relaxing (so to speak, our kids don't follow the conventional definition of the word).

Since it was -25 the morning we were leaving, we decided to add an hour to our drive (instead of more skating) and detour to the Ben and Jerry's factory in Vermont.

On the road.

Snowy owl (Steve saw a bear, too!).

At B&J's.

Henry's first ice cream. He liked it.

Good family fun.

I don't even know

Grace, eating candy hearts: Orange tastes like the beach.

Me: It does? What does the beach taste like?

Grace: Like sand and people eating oranges.

Steve: Do the kids need to bathe tonight?

Me: Henry does. He kind of smells.

Grace: That's not nice! He smells like fresh baby. He smells like dinner.

Cali Cali

In mid-January, the kids and I ditched our down coats and headed west.  We made Emily and Adam's wedding weekend into a trip to see family and friends as well.  

First, we flew to LA, where we landed through wildfire smoke to 80-plus degree weather.  Fires are bad, the drought is bad, but 80-something is good.  It was a long flight because Henry wanted to move move move, and I was very thankful for the four year age difference between him and Grace.  He and I could walk the aisle or change diapers and she could stay in her seat doing her activities or chatting up the college kid next to her (he was quite delightful).  The people across the aisle started drinking with our first beverage service at 8am, but I'm pretty sure Henry charmed them by the end, too.  I had been really worried about the schlepping of both kids, two carseats, luggage, etc., in and out of the airports to the rental car by myself.  It wasn't fun, but we managed. It helped that Grace is such an ace traveler that she knows exactly what to do, isn't nervous and was able to push the stroller.

There are moments in parenting when I shake my head and think "Wow, I really am a grown up, and the responsible adult in this situation."  I may still feel like I'm faking it, but traveling alone and staying in a hotel with my kids AND managing the LA freeways is the real deal.  I'm the adult.  

So, between visits with Nana, we hit up some of our favorite spots.  We gazed at the hills of the San Gabriel Valley and thawed.  It was quick, but great.

The next day, we relived our airport schlepathon, and flew from LA to Oakland, where Aunt Kristie picked us up and I breathed a deep sigh of relief. I had to have my game face on until I saw her, and then I could crumple - whatever else happened with the trip, I had reinforcements! Grace and I were beyond thrilled to see Aunt Kristie and Uncle Hilary, and then crashed hard when we got to Pleasanton

After Saturday morning Minnie Mouse pancakes, the kids and I headed into the city to meet up with a bunch of friends. The entire drive there, Grace was asking me complicated questions about the Von Trapp family.  Finally, near Glen Park I tried to distract her by asking her if anything looked familiar. She looked up and started saying "oh, this looks familiar!  I'm seeing things that are familiar!  Oh, Henry, we brought you to your home!"  She had picked meeting up with her friends at her favorite "park by the firestation", and pulling up and seeing familiar faces filled both our hearts.

I didn't manage to get many good photos because I was busy chatting, and it was sad to miss a few dear friends who weren't around, but it was so so good to see everyone. It was hard to say goodbye after just a few short hours, not enough time at all. But those hugs will sustain me until next time. After leaving, we drove up the hill past our old apartment. As I turned around out front, Grace said "Mommy, I wish we didn't have to leave our old home."  Cue tears. The smell of eucalyptus on such a sunny day overwhelmed me with a sense of being "home." Add all the dear people, and we had an acute case of missing our old life!

Happily, it was wedding rehearsal time so off we went to Treasure Island for another reunion to buck us up again!  I was holding Henry during the rehearsal (not because he was in the wedding) so I got no pictures.  Luckily Grace hit it off with the other flower girls right away and was off running around, having fun.  After the rehearsal, Aunt Kristie and Uncle Hilary met us at Treasure Island and took the kids home for the evening so I could attend the dinner.  I had been so focused on all the logistical details that it wasn't until Jess and I were getting into the car to head back to the city when I realized that I was on my own for the evening, heading off to a wonderful party and dinner with some of my dearest friends.  Jess and I primped, and talked all about baby-boy-to-be.  I can't believe I didn't get a photo of her belly!  The dinner was so much fun - Emily and Adam looked so happy, and it was great to see their families again and meet people I had heard about for years.

Sunday morning, Grace and I headed back to the city to get ready with the rest of the bridal party.  Grace even got her hair curled done with the bridesmaids.  Again, very few photos, but here's one of the flower girls getting hopped up on swedish fish and gummi bears.

Grace and Gavin, flower girl and ring bearer.

The babies had to stay home, but my, Nat, we've come a long way.

My date!

After the ceremony, flower girl and ring bearer up a tree.

The wedding ceremony was simply beautiful.  Grace was adorable coming up the aisle, so serious about her duties but also having so much fun.  And Emily - oh, what a beautiful and radiant bride!  I did my best not to cry all over the place; luckily my uncomfortable shoes helped to keep me from getting too carried away.  The reception was a wonderful party and the view from Treasure Island was amazing - sunset over the golden gate, and then the city lights.  We danced, ate, and caught up with college friends I hadn't seen in more than a decade.  We even got a few moments to joyfully blubber all over Emily and Adam.  What a fabulous couple and fabulous wedding!  I just wish I had gotten even one photo of them (well I did but far too blurry).

We spent Monday in Pleasanton, enjoying family and sunshine.  We walked to Peet's and the playground.  Scott joined us and then Uncle Greg and Aunt Joan came as well.  Uncle Hilary made his famous grilled chicken, and we had lunch on the patio.  I have so many fond memories of sitting out there over food with some of my favorite people - glad to add another one.  I love that my kids are developing relationships with all these folks.  Grace ended up in her flower girl dress climbing around the waterfall in the yard.  Henry worked hard at cruising and pulling things out of cupboards.

I started to get a little nervous Monday evening as reports of the snowstorm headed for New England started and the airline offered to rebook us.  I dreaded the prospect of getting stranded somewhere in a storm without the necessary kid supplies for an indeterminate period, but I'm glad we risked it because we got into Boston without a problem.  Getting home from the airport was another story entirely.  It was a several block walk, and I was wearing canvas shoes without socks (had to pack light!).  Oops. 

At SFO, we bumped into Emm and Adam departing for their honeymoon.  A perfect surprise end to the trip.  

We are quite happy in Boston, but truth be told, we all miss San Francisco. Can you imagine why?