Christoria

It is proving much harder, with a full time job and active toddler, to keep up with posting here.  And, I’m not sure how many folks are still checking for updates.  But, as this blog also serves as my on-line journal of Hendrick’s life, it seems appropriate to continue to post milestones as I still look back to see “when did he get his first tooth?” and “did he really start walking at 11 1/2 months?”.

Given that he turned 3 in March, I thought I’d start with the basics.  At his 3 year check up he was 35.5 lbs and 41 inches.  That continues his growth pattern of being in the 97% for height and 75% for weight.  He’s nothing if not consistent.  Given his size and overall good health, I have to say that he has been sick a lot this season.  Whether it’s an ear infection (3-4 times already), pink-eye, chest cold, head cold, or stomach bug (with vomiting AND diarrhea), it seems to always be something.  I hope this bodes well for future immunity!

In other news, he is in preschool five mornings a week and does a lot of crafts, singing, and learning.  He knows the alphabet, identifies letters and numbers, can count to 20 in English and 10 in Spanish, knows all his colors, animals, vehicles (“That’s a car transporter, Mommy”).  He has always been a great talker and now he can formulate sentences to communicate complex thoughts and almost always speaks in complete sentences.  He is sensitive, can be tentative around new things, perceptive, funny, active, strong-willed, stubborn, and loving.  He is not shy around new people and will often go up to an unknown child (at the park or even at the grocery store) and ask for a hug. 

His memory is sharp (and I wonder, when he’s older, what he’ll recall as his first childhood memory) and he often remember details (he remembers taking a plane to New Jersey to see the NJ Knapps and remembers Cousin David’s black dog, Axl).  He is starting to learn the days of the week (by associating the day with what happens on it.  For example, if I say, “Tomorrow is Sunday.  What do we do on Sunday?”  he’ll say, “Go get eggs and toast at Russell’s and watch the trash truck.”)

He knows the people in his life who love him and who he loves and it’s often something we’ll run through.  It starts with me saying, “Who loves you?” and he’ll say, “Mommy loves me.” and I’ll say, “Who else loves you?” and he’ll go down a list that often includes Daddy, Bella, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Vic, Manuel, and Auntie Beth.   Then we’ll turn it around and I’ll ask “And who do YOU love?” and he’ll start a new list.  And, sometimes, he’ll leave me off on purpose, just to get a reaction that usually involves a lot of tickling.  The people and order change and it’s by no means inclusive of everyone, but he has connected the word “love” to the people in his life, which to me is remarkable.  

He loves to call people on the phone and now knows how to dial himself (with assistance).  He calls Grandma/Grandpa, Uncle Vic, or Auntie Beth on his own and just because he wants to.  If they answer, he initiates a conversation all on his own and will often walk out of the room to engage them.  If voicemail picks up, he’ll leave a message with some prompting from me.  However, if I whisper, so does he, which I’m sure is hilarious on the other end.

While he still wants what he wants when he wants it and doesn’t want what he doesn’t want (like going on the potty), we don’t have nearly as many tantrums or battles as we once did.  Time out is still an effective tool or just the idea of it which usually comes in the form of a choice, “Either stop XYZ thing or you’ll have a time out, your choice” and inevitably he has to do whatever offending thing just one more time to show who’s boss. 

We are at an impass when it comes to potty training (and by “we” I mean the school and us).  While he gets the concept and has even had success going on the potty, no amount of cajoling or enticing or rewarding will get him to sit on the potty if he doesn’t want to, which is MOST of the time.   We moved him into training pants from diapers, although I doubt that will have any impact.  And, while it is a PITA to change diapers, I don’t mind it so much, and have learned, that with all things Hendrick, he will do it when he is good and ready and not a moment sooner.  The school, however, is on us, because they want to move him into the 3 year old room and he must be potty trained to do so.  So, we shall see.

We are very much looking forward to summer.  Summer in So CA is lovely and evern moreso with a child. The weather is great (and rarely too hot) that we can be outside a lot.  Not only here, in the backyard, with the water slide, but at friend’s pools, the beach, the Aquarium, and we may even attempt to go to the tide pools this summer.  There is also a water recreation area at the Sante Fe Dam that we hope to visit.  It’s a time for laughter and play dates and adventures of all sorts.  And, it’s a time for h0memade lemonade and ice cream and bbqs and corn on the cob with family and friends.

My job will be ending in 3 days.  It is yet to be decided what the future holds in terms of my employment.  And, while that weighs on me, I’m in greater part thankful that if I have to be unemployed, I have a loving husband and little boy to spend my time with.  Life is good!

Happy New Year!

Has it been almost three months since I’ve posted? Why, yes it has. As a working mom with a busy toddler at home, I don’t seem to be able to
find the time I’d like to post. Regardless, we are well and blessed.

Chris successfully completed his first ‘tour of duty’ in the Rose Parade. He was stationed in post parade, manning the informational video that
played endlessly to the throngs of visitors passing through to get a bird’s eye view of the floats. While he was on his feet 12 hours straight for
three days in a row, he enjoyed his post and looks forward to next years parade.

Hendrick is thriving. It feels like he bypassed age two and went straight to age four. Not only does he continue to be tall and lean (41 inches, 34.5
pounds and wearing 4T/5T) he just seems older (but is still all 2 year old when it comes to not getting his way or having his demands met
this.very.minute).  He can answer the phone and have a legitimate conversation with whomever is on the other end (although this is reserved
for known callers as we don’t ascribe to him answering the phone willy-nilly).

He takes snippets or phrases that he hears and incoroporates them in his own way.  Recently he’s begun saying things like, “Mommy, will you come play trash trucks with me?  It’s very important”.  C’mon, what is cuter than that?!

We’ve made no headway with potty training.  He will let us know when he wants a diaper change (usually as he is peeing/pooping or immediately after), but even with a potty board and the promise of new Dora and Diego stickers for success, nothing.  He used to at least humor us and sit on the potty, but now has no interest whatsoever. 

He is enamoured with babies.  A friend brought her newborn baby boy over this weekend and Hendrick could not wait to hold him.  He was the same with cousin David in New Jersey.  It’s very cute to see.   His favorite toys are his trash trucks and he’s grown to like sticker books as well.  Dora is his favorite.  He was recently saying, “Mommy, I miss Dora” in the mornings.  Again, cute.

We are finally getting some real rain in otherwise sunny So CA.  I welcome it, but just not all at once!   I saw a beautiful rainbow yesterday (can’t remember the last one I saw here) and today we got hail.   Maybe there is puddle jumping in our future this afternoon.

We just returned from a week long trip to New Jersey to visit the entire Knapp family, extended family, and long time friends of Chris. It was quite an adventure with Chris & Hendrick flying (Hendrick’s first plane trip) and me traveling by train (3 days there and 3 days back, a trip I documented on Facebook).

I learned during a reception that my brother- and sister-in-law had for us that many in the extended family check this website for updates and I also learned how much it means to them to stay connected this way. So, even though I will continue to post regularly to Facebook, I will also do more in depth postings and pictures here. Welcome back to those visiting again!

We had such a nice visit that included seeing cousin David who is now 3 months. Awww, the delight of an infant. Now, don’t ask Hendrick what he thought or he will tell you that he’s my only baby and that I’m not to hold baby David without simultaneously picking him up, too (which is quite a feat given he weighs 33 lbs and is 40 inches!).

We also met a couple of Grammie’s friends, Chris & Hendrick were able to visit Aunt Fred, we went to Cinzia’s house and spent time with her and her three children, we had a great family dinner out at a local Italian restaurant, and managed to go in to New York one day to FAO Schwarz and to lunch at the Cinema Cafe.  I was able to visit two work locations, one in Paramus, NJ, and the other on Long Island (which, for this So CA driver, was quite the exercise in navigation and self preservation on the many different bridges and highways I took to get there).

We so enjoyed spending time with Robyn & Paul (and when I asked Hendrick tonight who we loves he said, “Uncle Paul” followed by “Aunt Robyn” and “Cousin David”. Nevermind that I was #7 on the list of who he loves. And, when asked where they live, he promptly said, “New Jersey!”. He also knows that he lives on “Paloma Street in Pasadena” and I taught him tonight that Uncle John lives in “Penn-syl-van-i-a”. That’s a 5 syllable word, the way he says it

We are now getting ready for Halloween (on short notice having been gone for a week) and Hendrick will pass out candy again this year (as a skeleton) vs. trick or treat. We pass out the king sized candy bars and our house is the hit of the neighborhood.  Hendrick loves seeing who’s at the door and letting them pick which bar they want.

He is as strong willed and charming as ever. He’s adapted well to pre-school and his teacher reports that he is polite, well mannered, and very helpful.  He is so big for his age (97% for height and weight) that often more is expected of him than his 2.5 years.  It used to be that everything he knew we taught him, but almost every day now he comes home singing a song or repeating a tidbit that he learned at school.  They grow up so fast.

We’ve now graduated from his being able to ask/answer a question to actually having a dialogue. He is very thoughtful about what he’s going to say and amazingly (to us, anyway) answers questions in complete and sometimes complex sentences. Being able to communicate with and even reason with him (when he’s interested in being reasoned with) is something I not only relish, but am deeply grateful for.  I am very proud of the little boy he is fast becoming.

There is a lot of joy and laughter in our home (oh, and tantrums still) and we continue to be eternally grateful to be Hendrick’s parents.  We are looking forward to the upcoming holidays and being able to share them with family and friends both near and far.

Wow, has it really been 2 months since I posted?!  I guess the ease of posting pictures to Facebook keeps me from posting actual updates here.  I must get better at that.

Hendrick is in school now.  He started in June and has finally acclimated in that he doesn’t cry endless tears at drop off or pick up.  It’s hard to know if he’s enjoying school because he can’t really communicate whether that is the case and his teachers are pretty positive (although I maintain that they are likely that way for our sake).   They would like us to enroll him full-time but I’m not ready for that committment just yet.  Mornings, five days a week, is enough thank you.

He does seem to be learning, or at least singing, at school because now he knows the words to several songs and will break out singing spontaneously.  His favorite is still Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (and, because we read him the book of the same name, he can actually sing several choruses) and he also knows Purple People Eater, She’ll Be Comin’ Around the Mountain, Ring Around the Rosie, and Rockabye Baby.

He’s about 40 inches and 32 pounds…catching up to some 4 year olds we know and most people that don’t know him think he is 4 (which presents a problem if they expect more than his 28 months allow).   He’s a pretty good eater but likes the staples: mac n cheese, pizza, pasta, rice, carrots, corn on the cob, all manner of fruit, cheese, yogurt, etc.  His next pediatric appointment isn’t until he’s 3, so it’s odd no longer having a “well baby” check up to chart his progress.

He will go to swim class twice/wk with Chris now that summer is here and depending on how he likes it this time around we may continue it through fall.  We also received an inflatable water slide for the back yard that he loves (and thinks of as his pool) so I’m wondering how traveling to an actual pool will go today.

My sister in law Robyn had her first baby, a boy, David Bryson, a little over a week ago and we hear that things are going smoothly so far.  It’s these times in particular that make living so far away difficult.  We are trying to schedule a trip back to New Jersey so that Hendrick can meet his newest cousin.

Speaking of new cousins, my sister is pregnant with #2 and due in September.  It is raining babies!

We’re going to attempt a trip to LegoLand at some point in addition to possibly heading to Santa Barbara (and a trip to the zoo) and/or up to see Auntie Beth (Hendrick’s god mother and my “oldest” friend).

More on Hendrick being a “strong willed” child in my next post.

It’s been eons since I’ve been able to post an update (mostly because I’ve been uploading pics to FB, otherwise the site was down the last time I attempted an update). At any rate, Hendrick is approaching 27 months (wow!) and is go-go-going all the time. We just returned from an action packed trip to Palm Springs over Memorial Day where we visited The Living Desert (their version of a zoo which was really quite fun), Children’s Discovery Museum (a play date with Cristy and her son Quintin), and grandpa came for a night (and we had ribs at Babe’s).

Physically, Hendrick resembles a 4 year old…he is tall at 39 inches and weighs about 32 lbs. He is long and lean (something I still aspire to be . He continues to be quite active…climbing, jumping, running (instead of EVER walking) and continues to go to gymnastics. Summertime will bring swim classes as well.

His ability to communicate verbally (with us and everyone he meets) continues to be his strong suit and makes for many a funny saying. While driving in Palm Springs he delivered his rendition of something we tell him all the time and blurted out, “I’m not hungry, I’m bored”. Chris and I burst out laughing which then prompted Hendrick to say it another two dozen or so times making himself laugh in the process. It was priceless! He also doesn’t forget anything (whatch what you say!) and before nap time yesterday I mentioned that when he got up we’d go look at fountains. When he awoke 2 hours later and I went to get him the first thing he said was “We go look at fountains now?”. It was really the first time he’d held on to a notion that long, over a nap no less, and recalled it immediately. The same thing happened when he woke up this morning. Last night we talked about going to Target today and when I entered his room the first thing he said (which is usually, “I want milk”) was, “Go to Target with Mommy today?” with the cutest inflection in his voice.

He is starting school (a toddler program, part-time, 5 days/wk mornings) next week that is a drop off program. As the day draws near, I have a knot in my stomach…when did he get to be such a big boy?!

Nevertheless, it is a LOT of fun around our house these days

This is just to catch everyone up on the recent happenings with Hendrick.  First, he is just so fun to be with.  He is very communicative, funny, charming, and sweet.  He’s very inquisitive if sometimes reserved, and is learning new things daily.

One of the local mom’s clubs was hosting a tour of the fire station that’s right around the corner from us so Chris & Hendrick were able to join in.  Chris said Hendrick was most interested in running around the station, but Chris did manage some good pictures of Hendrick with the fire truck and fire men.

The Skirball Cultural Center has a permanent Noah’s Ark exhibit and we went with Auntie Beth.  I’ve never been to the Skirball and we will definitely go back.  The exhibit itself was awesome…very hands on, very interactive, and a lot of fun for us all.  We also popped into the comic book exhibit and Hendrick took his first ride in the batmobile (you can still ride those “cars” for a quarter).  He was trepidatious at first but Chris coaxed him in and although at first he freaked and wanted out, he soon started squealing with glee and when it was over promptly said, “Again!”.

We celebrated a low key Easter today with Sunday breakfast as usual.  Then, grandma and grandpa came over for dinner and to participate in Hendrick’s first egg hunt.  We hid eggs, and cars, and a bunny in the yard and it only took him a minute to get the hang of it and before you know it he found everything that that “Easter Bunny” left for him.

So much fun…that about sums it up.  Grandma, Grandpa, Grammie, Great Uncle Vic and Aunt Donna, Aunt Sabrina, Tim, and cousin Lucian…the list of those assembled to celebrate this special day goes on.  Although the weather was a bit chilly and the sun only peaked out toward the end, the Mexican Fiesta was a hit.

It was so good to see the house teaming with children, ranging in age from 7 months to almost 5 years.  The fort was put to good use, the pinata was a hit, as was the food, margaritas, and let’s not forget the Wubbzy cake.

Many thanks to all those who were here and those here in spirit.  It is lovely to be able to celebrate these occasions with family and good friends and neighbors.

Take a peek at the photos in the photo album to your right.

Everyone always says, “it goes by so fast” and now here we are the day after Hendrick’s 2nd birthday.  Was it really 2 years and 10 months ago that I was pregnant with him and then on bed rest all those months?  Has it really been a year that I’ve been back to work?  Can it be possible that next year he’ll be in pre-school?  Yes! Yes! and Yes!

We went out to dinner with grandma and grandpa to celebrate the auspicious occasion…when all our lives were changed for the better by the birth of this little boy.  And, while it’s true it has been happening a little at a time, it was like someone flipped a switch and overnight he’s become an independent, “I do it”, little being making his way in this world.

Sabrina, Tim, and cousin Lucian arrive from New Zealand tomorrow after a year away.  Grammie comes in from New Jersey for a birthday visit on Wednesday, we’re looking at schools, we’re awaiting the birth of a cousin Knapp in July, and embarking on projects at home as we get ready for summer.

We count our blessings everyday and are overjoyed to say, “Happy 2nd Birthday, Hendrick!”.

Next month we will celebrate Hendrick’s 2nd birthday.  I was looking at some of his baby pictures on the mantle the other day, tears streaming down my cheeks as I thought, “where did the time go?”  He is a little boy now, all boy.  He is adventurous, fearless, active, energetic, sweet, loving, and hilarious.  Oh, and did I mention smart?  As a whip?  He sees all and forgets nothing.  We have to be very careful…with what we do (as he’ll undoubtedly want to do it, too) and with what we say (he repeats everything!).

We went to Travel Town this weekend which is essentially a train museum and yard with all manner of retired trains that you can climb all over.  Hendrick loved it.  And, he got his first real train ride, too, as we boarded the miniature train for the two loops around the park.  There was a small store where we were able to pick up some Thomas the Train pieces for his train set and he was able to play with the other children on the train table they have set up.  Never mind that he was a head taller than the 3 year old boy he was playing with.

The learning is fast and furious.  He communicates mostly in 3 word sentences and most everyone can understand him.  He has begun to watch a little TV (he is up at 5:30 in the morning) and Jack’s Big Music Show and Wow Wow Wubzy are the two shows he watches (in addition to Jeopardy just before bed).

He is 29.5 lbs and nearing 38 inches.  He is solidly wearing 3T and we just bought his first 4T jacket.  It is quite amazing what a miniature person he is.

We love him to pieces.

While it is easy for most parents to find the genius in their child, Chris & I marvel at how fast and furiously Hendrick is learning.  While I’ve posted here before that Hendrick amazes us regularly with what he knows, I have to say that at a mere 22 months, it surprises even us that he knows the ABCs.  And by that, I mean he knows the alphabet (probably not that it is an alphabet, per se) in grouping of letters all the way from “ABCD” to “Y&Z” and all letters in between, some more discernable than others but there is no mistaking that he is saying the alphabet.

A couple of months ago we noticed that he did not like being left out of a hug.  So, if he saw Chris and I hugging, he would pitch up fit in protest and say “Hug! Hug! Up! Up!” just so as not to be discluded.  Then a group hug would ensue where we “squeeze” him.  Now he has taken to ordering Chris and I to kiss each other.  It started with him asking for and giving kisses by commanding “kiss!, kiss!”.  This would happen throughout the day and before either one of us left (say, for work).  However, the other night, as he was sitting in Chris’s lap reading bedtime stories, I bent down for a kiss and instead Hendrick pushed my face into Chris’s!  And, so now, with every kiss we give him, if we are in proximity to each other, he will take each of our faces in one of his mitt-sized palms and push it together.  ADORABLE!