Forgotten vacation videos

I know I don't have to post EVERY video I take of Henry, but here are two sweet videos that I neglected to put in my post about our trip to Captiva, FL. 

Awesomeness

So this happened last week before LJ left for work one morning and of course I forgot to post it.  LJ was playing guitar and Henry started "dancing" (shaking his head and bouncing up and down).  Then Henry decided he wanted to make some music too and went over to the piano and started playing.  What a smart little guy!  I'm so impressed that he realized that he could make music too by playing the piano and it was so cute that he wanted to be a part of what LJ was doing.  

I love my boys.  =) 

April 17, 2013

Walking! (with help)

This is a video of Henry with his new push toy that he got for his birthday.  This video was taken March 17th, but as I post this Henry is still not walking by himself, although he is getting a lot closer!  Henry is now standing up by himself for a few seconds, but then sitting back down when he realizes that he is standing on his own.  He's also walking a lot holding on to our hands, but doesn't want to let go of our hands and walk by himself.  Henry is a cautious guy and I think he's still a little too scared to take those first steps by himself. He is getting more and more confident in his skills everyday though, so I think it will happen SOON!

Henry's Celebration of Life Party

For Henry's first birthday we decided to have a party with our friends the weekend after his birthday since we were in Florida for his actual birthday.  Henry's party was March 16th, so well over a month ago... but I'm working on catching up on the blog!  =)
Both LJ and I like the tradition of Montessori celebrations of life that are typically done in the classroom for each child's birthday, so we decided to do one at home for Henry's birthday party.  

Henry getting ready for his journey around the sun

Holding the globe and walking around the sun! 

A Montessori celebration of life is typically done for each child in the classroom.  On their birthday the parents will come in  to the classroom to help celebrate.  The class gathers in a circle and a candle and sometimes a replica of the sun is placed in the center.  The twelve months of the year are placed around the candle.  The child will then hold the globe and walk around the sun for each year of life, representing the Earth's journey around the sun that takes a year to complete.  As the child walks the parents talk about them during each year of life and share different photos or milestones from each year.  It is a really sweet tradition.  =) 

Walking and singing:
"The Earth goes round the sun
The Earth goes round the sun
The Earth goes round the sun
and now Henry is ONE!"

Getting ready to blow out his candle! 

Since we were celebrating Henry's first birthday, he walked around the sun once, and LJ shared a poster of photos of Henry that I had made around the room for everyone to see.  I helped Henry to hold the globe and walk around the sun as he is still not walking by himself.  

LJ sharing a poster of photos of Henry at each month in his first year.

Yay Henry!  Happy Celebration of Life! 

In addition to having a celebration of life for Henry we also wanted to have a birthday party too, so after the celebration there was cake, and cupcakes for all!  LJ made special baby-friendly banana muffins that did not have any added sugar for Henry and other babies at the party.  We did use cream cheese frosting that had plenty of sugar in it, so that might have negated making a no sugar cupcake.  =) There was also plenty of other delicious food thanks to both Grandma's and chocolate cake too! 

"Hey, whats going on over there?" 

Henry needed a little help blowing out his candle.
He was fascinated by the smoke. 

"Huh, what is this thing?  I've never seen anything like it!"

"Now I'm one!"

"This blue stuff is good" 

Actually taking a bite of the cupcake.

"Look mom and dad, I'm so big!"

Henry and his lady friends!
L-R: Delilah, Harper, Henry, Olive, and Maggie

My sweet family. 

Opening up presents - so big! 

The celebration sun and months I made for Henry's celebration of life. 

The materials for Henry's celebration of life:
-photos of Henry
-Candle
-Sun
-Months of the year
-Globe 

A  photo for each month, starting at one month old. 

Happy First Birthday Henry!

Henry turned 1 year old on March 8, 2013!  

Here are a few pictures from Henry's first birthday in Captiva, FL.  

3.8.13 - celebrating Henry's first birthday at Harborview restaurant at South Seas Island Resort

3.8.13 - opening presents from Aunt Bridget and Uncle Paul

3.8.13 - cute shirt from Aunt Tonya and Uncle Jim

3.8.13 - opening a present from Grandma and Grandpa Horth

3.8.13 - super excited about his new outfit 

3.8.13 - Henry and his great -grandma Strubbe on his first birthday

3.8.13 - Henry with his parents and grandparents on his birthday

This Montessori Mama Is Proud...

Henry discovered  the purpose and direct aims of his Object Permanence box in March, (which is to teach little ones that even when you no longer see an object it still exists)  and since then he has been all about it.  He has realized how fun it is to put the ball in the hole, and is so proud when he does so.

The first video is one that LJ took on 3.11.13

Since Henry discovered how the Object Permanence box works he has been interested in putting other "balls" in holes.  This video was taken the very next day and is a great example of his spontaneous focus and concentration.  Henry putting the egg shaker in the hole inside the block was completely spontaneous and self-directed.

3.12.13

This next video was also taken the very next day.  Again, Henry was completely self -directed in putting the egg shaker inside the Object Permanence box, other than me asking him to do it for the video.  =)  He is one smart little guy!  A great example of Montessori education for even the youngest children! 

3.13.13

Trip to Captiva, FL

3.3.13 - Henry's first visit to the ocean!  

3.3.13 - Beach baby!

March 2-9th we traveled to Captiva, FL, which is and island off the gulf- coast of Ft Meyers,  just north of Sanibel Island.  We went with my parents and stayed at the beautiful and luxurious South Seas Island Resort.    I was a little bit nervous about flying with Henry, but he was such a trooper!  I was worried that the airplane ride would bother his ears or make him scared and that he wouldn't nap at all during our travel days.  I was pleasantly surprised, as travel days went smoothly!  Henry did better on the plane than he does in the car.  I think it was easy because I could just hold him in my arms and he loved that.  He nursed on the plane and took naps on each flight.  I think all the white noise of the plane helped to soothe him to sleep.  

3.5.13 - Henry on the beach with Grandma and Grandpa Horth

3.5.13 - Henry sticking his toes in the ocean with Grandpa

Unfortunately during the second day of our trip my dad got a bad stomach bug.  At first we thought it was food poisoning  but when Henry came down with it later that afternoon we knew it was a bug.  Everyone got it, but strangely I never got sick, and only had a very mild stomach ache.  LJ and Henry had it the worst.  Henry got so sick that he couldn't keep anything down, including breast milk.  We were worried that he was getting too dehydrated because he had gone over 12 hours without having a wet diaper.  We ended up taking him to the ER in Ft Meyers at midnight.  While in the ER the presiding doctor wanted to give him IV fluids and Zofran, which is a medication that prevents vomiting.  Four different nurses tried for two hours to find a vein to give Henry an IV but none of them were able to get it.  It was a traumatic experience to watch my baby crying and writhing in pain, even though I knew the medical staff were trying to help him.  After eight or nine failed attempts at getting the IV in I finally asked that we review Henry's care plan.  He had been able to nurse in between some the of the IV attempts and hadn't vomited in past hour.  He even had a little bit of urine in his diaper, so they sent us home with a syringe and vial of Pedialyte, with instructions to give him fluids through the syringe every 30 min.  

Thankfully, Henry made a full recovery, but it definitely put a mark on our trip.  

3.4.13 - Poor sick baby.
Henry and I walking on the beach after one of bouts of vomiting.
This was before going to the ER later that night. 

On the positive, we got to walk on the beach every day were were in Captiva.  We stayed in a house that was literally right on the beach, so it was easy to get out of bed and walk out to the beach.  The weather was a bit chilly most of the days, with temperatures in the 50s-60s, but sunny for the most part.  We were lucky to have two nice days where it was in the 70s and sunny, so we made the most of those days by dipping in the ocean and going to the pool.  

3.5.13 - Enjoying one of our warm weather days in  Captiva by dipping in the ocean! 

3.5.13 - soaking up some sun with my boys! 

3.5.13 - Hooray for beach walks!
These guys look pretty happy for having spent most of the night before in the ER.  

 Also during our time in Captiva we had the joy of seeing manatees for the first time!  We rented bikes through the resort which was great call, because it allowed us to get out and explore while being able to enjoy being outside.  We rented a bike trailer for Henry, which he loved riding in, but did NOT like wearing the helmet.  I am excited to use our Burley trailer at home with him this spring and summer!  

3.7.13 - Biking around the island.

3.7.13 - Henry happy and feeling much better! 

3.7.13 - a chilly but beautiful walk on the beach 

3.7.13 -doing some beach yoga with Henry 

3.7.13 - Beach walk with papa.

 The most exciting thing that happened on our trip was Henry's first birthday!  It was strange and a bit surreal to think back to being in the hospital giving birth to Henry as we lounged pool-side with our one year old! =)  I still find myself in awe that we made it through the first year of being parents and that Henry is such an amazing and inspiring little guy.  The day of Henry's birthday was our best day of vacation, and also our last. The weather was absolutely perfect; 75 degrees and sunny, everyone was healthy, and everyone was happy!  We enjoyed the day by going to the beautiful pool complex right on the ocean and spent a good chunk of the afternoon there.  After a good nap we went out dinner at the beautiful Harborview restaurant where we were finally able to meet up with my 92 year old grandmother, who lives in Naples, and my Uncle Jim and Aunt Tonya who live in St Petersburg, and Uncle Paul and Aunt Bridget who were visiting from Chicago.   

3.7.13 - Hugs from Grandpa

3.8.13 - At the pool on Henry's first birthday!

3.8.13 -  luck guy!  Henry got to spend his birthday at the pool! 

 I knew taking a longer trip like this with Henry would be different than it is to travel without children, but even though we had some challenges, I am so glad that we made the trip.  I love traveling (for the most part) and I hope that we can raise our children to also love visiting new places.  We were very lucky to have my parents help navigating through the airports and just as extra pairs of hands to give us a break when we needed one.  I look forward to our next family adventure, (and cross my fingers that we are healthy!). 

3.8.13 - Henry's first birthday! 

3.8.13- Hip-hip hooray!  Henry is one today! 

LJ and I with our little baby, who is now not so little anymore!