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I only update this blog about once a month, so here’s a LONG post…

Henry is now 2 months old and weighing about 14 lbs!  He sleeps very well at night, and less well during the days.  At least once a week he throws me a no-nap day and those are very trying.  Obviously he gets a bit fussy because he’s exhausted, and I get fussy because it’s no fun juggling a crankypants baby, a two-year-old and a job.  Luckily he usually counterbalances those with a couple of super sleepy days to help me get back on track.   In general he is still a very pleasant, easy-going dude.  He’s really becoming quite expressive – giving us big open-mouth smiles and lots of “goo ahh goo”‘s.   It’s wonderful!

Lloyd continues to bond with Henry, calling him “MY Henry” and shouting, “OH NO MY BROTHER!” when Henry fusses.  He has started grabbing Baby Fred (his doll baby) when I’m parenting Henry and copying what I’m doing.  It’s funny to learn what he’s picked up on.  Apparently I say, “Just a second! It’s okay!” a lot, given how often Lloyd says that while running to comfort Fred : )

Lloyd has had some big developments in his athleticism this month.  One day he decided enough was enough and he FINALLY started jumping!   It’s no wonder he had some difficulty, as he is a lot of boy weighing in at about 38 lbs.  Anyway, now he is a jumping man, who can also do a sommersault and can climb on the jungle gym!   Here are some youtube videos you can enjoy :

• Jumping/Sommersault Movie
• Climbing Movie

Lloyd has started quoting the beloved program Dinosaur Train by exclaiming, “I have a hypothesis!” and he’ll tell us that a hypothesis is “an idea you can test!”  The other day he said, “I hypothesize Grandma eats meat!,” so he’s making good progress in his understanding of the scientific process : )   Thanks, PBS!

He’s also in a really WONDERFUL stage of grumpiness (/sarcasm) where he becomes Lloyd the Grouch.  Key phrases are: “I don’t like people,” “I don’t like Mommy/Daddy/These Guys,” “I go away,” “I don’t like mans and women,” and the ultimate womp womp, “I’m just a sad boy.” I can’t wait for the time when I can look back on this phase having come out the other side and laugh.   He’ll be over this soon, right?  I swear we give him tons of attention and affection!

Other big events this month included Mother’s Day, and we did it up right.   The boys celebrated me on Saturday and gave me a new phone, an orchid plant, some wine (glug glug), and a wonderful day filled with fun!  On Sunday we started off the day at my parents’ house doing a nice trail-walk and later we went over to Grace and Jerry’s for a great kebab dinner.

Our friends Erin and Zach got married and Henry tagged along for the big event.   When Henry was about 4 weeks old Greg started giving him the occasional bottle (of pumped breastmilk) so that Henry would be used to them.  It really helped us for the wedding, because I was a bridesmaid and wasn’t available to b-feed for the event.

Henry taking bottles also means that Mom and Dad get to go on dates!  So Grandma and Grandpa have babysat the boys twice now and it’s wonderful getting some time with Greg where we can have a real conversation and enjoy each other’s company without all of the (beloved) distractions.   Funny story: when we went on our first date it was to a nice dinner at Terry B’s and I decided to dress up.  I came downstairs in a skirt and high heels and Lloyd was totally perplexed.  He ran up to me yelling, “What are these legs?!?!?!  What are these shoes?!?! Where are your pants?!?!”  I guess that’s what I get for working at home and wearing jeans and sneakers every day : )

I want to end by sharing this email my dad (Gramp-E) sent me the other day.  It really made me smile:

hey Beep, I was out working in the sawmill this afternoon and something occurred to me about Lloyd. Do you remember Tuesday when Lloyd was out in our backyard and all of the sudden he said he needed a washcloth? You didn’t question him. You just gave him one and he set about sadly dabbing at his uncomfortably wet shoes (and socks).

As you know, I don’t know anything about child development. But I do know that the majority of adults do not attack a problem with a solution without first complaining about the problem, blaming others, etc.  What I witnessed was a leadership trait, a strong one.

I’d say he’s one to keep an eye on… love, dad