Child Development, Parenting & Marriages. Oh My!

The past couple of months I've been doing some work for my previous employer.  It's a long story, but I had signed a contract for work stating that I would work until Nov. 2012, but with Clark getting a job down in Kaysville for the summer and then us moving to Twin Falls I had to break my contract.  So to repay them I'm doing some work for them.  They are revamping their website and wanted some "handouts" that would be helpful for people in the community.  They sent me a lot of different topics and I've been finding information for them.  I thought I would share a couple of them with you.  Most of the information are things I've gathered from college courses and my work at the Child and Family Support Center.  The only way I could think to share the document was to save it as a jpeg and upload it as a picture.  I am not "computer" savvy at all.  So I hope you can read it. 

These were just a few of my favorites.  When I'm finished with all of them, maybe I will do another post.  I really love some of the information I found on Parenting.  Children really need our love and support.  They don't need to be harped on and ridiculed.  I find myself saying "no" to Henry and I feel bad.  I don't like saying such negative things to my one year old.  Obviously, if they are in danger then saying "No!" is appropriate.  But I'm going to try to use words besides No.  Children need rules and limits, but they also need love, attention and positive interactions.  And speaking of positive interactions, our spouse needs that too!  I love the "magic ratio" of 5 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction.  John Gottman is a smart dude.  So I better stop blogging and go give my hubby some positive interactions.

Lovely Sunshine

On days when we are stuck inside, Henry finds entertainment by going in his room and playing with the bin of socks.  He likes to empty it out then fill it back up.  Who needs toys when you have socks.  

Over Easter weekend we enjoyed time out in the glorious sunshine!  Cousin Liza was so nice to take Henry down the slide over and over.  

One day when we were visiting my sister Adrienne who just had a baby, we decided to let the new mom and her baby sleep so I took crazy, loud Henry out for a walk and we found a park!  This was his first time swinging, and I think he liked it.  Or maybe not.  I think he was actually pointing to the swing, and tried to climb out of the swing moments after this picture.  He also just really liked to eat the wood chips.  

My wonderful Sister Allison drove me and Henry home to Twin Falls a few weeks ago.  All the kiddos did great on the 2.5 hour drive!  I was so proud.  Max even set a timer on the ipod so he would know exactly when we would be there and didn't have to keep asking us.  Although, half way through the drive he said he dropped the ipod and didn't know where it was!  Silly kid.  

Since they were only here for about 24 hours we quickly went to see Shoshone Falls on Wednesday before I had to go to mutual.  I love this picture of the three boys looking at the falls.  It also made me a little nervous and anxious.  I don't like heights.  

We played at a park both days since the weather was so nice.  Savannah was such a sweet little girl and just sat on the blanket nicely.  Henry was a monster and was either trying to crawl away and eat gross things or steal her toys (it looks like they are holding hands, but Henry was making a grab for her toy.  Savannah squeaked at him and wouldn't give up her toy to the bully!  Good girl Savvs!)

I'm sure Allison would tell you she had a lovely time in Twin Falls, and it really isn't that bad of a town.  We had fun, even though it was a very quick trip.  I'm glad we had nice weather so we could just play outside the whole time!  When the wind isn't blowing 20-30 miles an hour, its quite enjoyable outside.  

11 months old

Henry turned 11 months on March 10.  That already seems so long ago.  Good thing I wrote down his milestones or I would have no recollection of what they are now.  I definitely lost "memory" brain cells after having Henry.  It's worth it though.  Who needs brain cells, right?  

Around 11 months is when he started to get "angry".  He arches his back and goes stiff or he screams.  They could occur because of various reasons such as taking something he can't have but wants, ie: shoes, books and paper.  All of which he tries to eat.  He is still our little goat.  He is always on the move and likes to push the laundry basket around.  He is starting to learn to climb on and off of things.  When we go somewhere with stairs he b-lines it to them and refuses to leave.  And if we make him leave, he arches his back, goes really stiff, and screams.  He is always moving, but I love when he will just sit for 15-20 minutes just playing with his toys.  It usually involves taking things out of a container and then putting them back in.  

He still takes 2 naps a day with one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  He drinks 3 8oz bottles and has breakfast, lunch and dinner meals with random snacks in between.  If he finds the container of the puffs, he will take the lid off with his teeth and just help himself.  He's so independent.  He also loves Greek Yogurt, Blueberries and pineapple.  Those were some new foods he recently tried.  He has 4 bottom teeth and 2 top teeth.  He has been drooling like crazy again, so I wonder if more teeth are coming in.  His little teeth are sharp and dangerous!  He bites my shoulder all the time, and it hurts! One time there was even a little blood.  Don't put your finger in his mouth or you might loose it.  He has some sharp little chompers.  

He is still a sweet little boy and is generally very well-behaved.  He loves Clark way more than me.  Sometimes when Clark is holding him and Henry has to come to me he cries and reaches for Clark.  I'm glad he loves his Dad.  I think it is sweet.  Clark adores him, and they are the best of friends.  When Clark gets home he will take Henry down stairs in the basement just so Henry can climb up and down the stairs and explore.  It is unfinished (but we keep it clean and actually have a big rug down there) but it's still a dark, cold basement.  I'm not sure why he likes it so much.  But Clark is a good sport and always goes down there with him.  Or if Clark has to move his car to the street so I can get my car out, he takes Henry along for the "ride" and lets him steer the car.  It's things like that, that make Dad's more fun than moms!  But in the middle of the night when he wakes up crying I get to be the "nurturer" and go pick up my baby and cuddle him back to sleep.  Mom's and Dad's have very different styles of "play" and babies need both!  

We had to get a baby gate to keep Henry out of the kitchen because the stairs to the basement are off of the kitchen. At 11 months he still hadn't mastered going down by himself.  

He still loves to stand and look out the window.  On this day he was waving bye to Dad as he went back to work after lunch.  

On Saturday before Easter we had a little party with my family.  My Step Mom has a tradition of rolling eggs down Old Main Hill at USU.  I always hated this tradition when I was a student there and had to fight off the swarms of Seagulls as I walked up the steps to get to class.  I really hate birds, especially when there are hundreds of them eating nasty hard boiled eggs after Easter.  But now that I don't have to deal with the birds, it's fun to watch the kids roll the eggs and chase them down the hill.  Last year I was VERY pregnant with Henry (I was induced the next day) and Clark went running down the hill to catch an egg and he totally biffed it and rolled multiple times.  He had grass and egg stains all over his clothes and shoes.  This year he played it "safe" and didn't chase any eggs.  All the nephews were sad they didn't get to see uncle Clark roll down Old Main Hill again!

We were in Kaysville for Easter Sunday and had an egg hunt at the Pierson's.  Henry found the $20 egg!  woo hoo!  We are bad parents and kept the money. I'm sure we spent it on Henry though :)