Hank 10 Months

Ah, with Hanks 1st bithday just days away, I find myself backlogged on blogs and needing to tell you all that he was doing at 10 months. How quickly we forget. I can say this: he still had just 8 teeth, was barely crawling, barely pulling himself up, still nursing just in the morning and at night (no more pumping, hurray!), and still just the happiest (and cutest) boy in the world!

Traverse City/Kewadin - 4th of July Weekend

This 4th of July weekend found us getting out of town a day early to spend the evening in Traverse City. We enjoyed an evening on the bay at the Holiday Inn and then took in a little shopping downtown making sure to try the cherry samples at Cherry Republic. We tasted chocolate covered cherries, cherry salsa, cherry bbq, cherry soda and cherry wine - which we bought 4 bottles of.
And then we were off to the cabins on Birch Lake. We enjoyed all the cabins had to offer including the peace, good company, card playing, reading, skiing, fishing, tubing, eating and just relaxing!


Hank absolutely LOVES the water!


And if our weekend weren't filled enough, we spent a few hours with the Rockford Youngs at their new cottage on the lake. We were even lucky enough to see the Sherwood Clan. And I skiied for the first time since high school! What a rush made even cooler by the cheers coming from the boat by my girls and their cousins.

Happy Birthday America!!!

Dr Johns

A couple weeks ago Eleanor had her first real cleaning at the dentist. Eleanor has beautiful little white teeth and has always let me do the brushing for her. At her cleaning the hygienist mentioned a soft spot between the teeth and suggested an x-ray. A few days later the receptionist called to let us know the dentist reviewed the x-rays and unfortunately Eleanor needed FIVE fillings. Oh my heart sank. I felt like I failed her. I did her brushing and all the cavities were between her teeth with only flossing could have prevented. I think I flossed her teeth only once in her life.

So we called a pediatric dentist who uses nitrous (laughing gas) for doing fillings. I wanted her as comfortable as possible. She did wonderfully well. She wasn't scared, she didn't hesitate. She went off with the hygienist and came back happy when she was done. Three cavities filled and an appointment to do the others in a couple weeks.

Polaroid of Dr Johns and Eleanor

So now I'm thinking, if Eleanor has 5 cavities, Carolyn must have a mouthful. She's my sucker loving candy hound who is stubborn and rarely let's me help brush her teeth. So when I'm flossing her teeth I see black spots - one especially black and huge. Great, now I'm a double bad mom! So I call the dentist and ask if Carolyn came come too.

A few days ago, Carolyn saw doctor Hudson for a checkup. She wasn't very cooperative so I'm expecting the same today at the dentist. I'm imagining the dentist and hygienist prying open her mouth which she kicks and screams. But the dentist is so friendly and asked her if she would like to pick out a new toothbrush. She doesn't hesitate and walks over to get a Jesse from Toy Story toothbrush and a handful of stickers. She sees the big blue dentist chair and starts climbing in without being asked. She gets her picture taken and a ride in the chair. He counts her teeth and stops at the dreaded black spotted tooth. Then says it's hard and if it were a cavity it would be soft. It's just a stain and he was able to scrape most of it off. So she's cavity free!

Polaroid of Dr Johns with Carolyn

And while Carolyn was getting checked out, Eleanor scooted off to the other room, a veteran now, and had her other teeth filled. So she's cavity free as well! Shew! Now let's get flossing and throw out those darn suckers.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the best dad's in the world - my buddy and my husband!

Sunday Matt got the royal treatment with bacon pancakes with bacon syrup and a side of bacon. And a cup of coffee in his new annual Father's day picture mug! Then as much as we all wanted to relax and waste the day away, we couldn't. I worked in the garden then Matt and I pulled weeds. I packed a lunch for Matt and the girls to take to the park while Hank and I ran out for groceries.

For dinner we had Buddy, Jackie, Hanna and Emma over for grilled onion and bacon burgers with blue cheese and a corn and blueberry salad and a coffee ice cream cake for dessert. Delicious!

Love all you wonderful dads!

Breakfast with Eleanor
Carolyn at the park getting ready for the picnic
Eleanor at the park

Daddy and the kiddos on the swingset

Hanky Boy

Carolyn giving Hank a push

Carolyn getting a 'circle ride' from daddy on the tire swing

Dinner with the fam

Hank 3/4 of a Year!

Hank McGuffey Young Stats

29 3/4 inches long (70% percentile)
18 lb. 2 oz (15% percentile)

Skills
Waves
Says Mama and baba
Stands and tries walking with fingers
Squirms when being held
Rolling more and scooting a little
Says 'No' to binkies (doesn't really say no, just doesn't take them anymore)

Just after Hank turned 9 months, I slowed down on pumping and breastfeeding and he got his first taste of formula. He had a combo bottle and was a bit perplexed at first but is not getting used to it.

Hank is also all about waving. Just tell him, "Hank say bye-bye" and his arms start waving. If he already wasn't the cutest baby in the grocery store, look out now!

He's also getting more mobile - squirming when being held and scooting on his bottom and a little on his belly. He's also close to pulling himself up and loves holding hands and taking steps.

Fernwood Camp 2011

Eleanor went to her second year of Fernwood's nature camp this year. She learned about amphibians, birds, skunk cabbage and spiders along with many other great bits of nature knowledge. She came home with crafts and new games and even new friends.

On the first day we asked Eleanor if she talked to anyone. A scared no was her answer. Matt told her she should go up to some little girl and say, "Hi, I'm Eleanor" and that girl is probably afraid to talk too and then they can be friends. So on day two, Eleanor told Matt "Daddy, I did what you told me. I talk to a girl and we're friends!" "Great Eleanor, what's her name?" he asked. "Uh, I forgot." :) Well at the end of the week she did remember - Ellie. How can a Eleanor forget an Ellie?

Waiting for the end of camp award ceremony

Camp Completion Certificate!My Girl!

Next year Carolyn will be old enough for camp too. She sure was sad about not being big enough. She told me, "I am big Mom! I'm this big!" (hands stretched over head)

Revelation at the Young Residence

Revelation (rev·e·la·tion): a pleasant often enlightening surprise

Yes a revelation. We are succeeding in making changes during our bedtime routine. No it doesn't happen overnight and yes this probably sounds like a mini accomplishment to some. But we are pleased with our girls staying in bed at night. Since the girls share a room, they have always had a tough time winding down at night. But we got tough and they are coming around. We used to sit in the living room and see them wander out of their room five, six, seven, plus times a night sometimes. And more often than not when I'd wake them up in the morning their room would be a complete disaster with every imaginable toy strewn across the floor.

And with a good night's rest come nice sweet girls who sit at the table and eat dinner. This is not new for Eleanor. She always sits and eats with us. But Carolyn's attention span at the table lasted about 2 bites and 3 minutes. And now....wow, it's amazing. She'll sit and eat. I know not exactly climbing Mount Everest, but we'll take it!