January has come and gone!

Well, January has come and gone and Henry reaches his 10 month mark tomorrow. He has changed so much over the last month and has really taken off with walking. I will update with all of the changes when I post his 10 month pictures, but wanted to upload a few because I have been so slack this month. Henry's new FAVORITE thing to do is to play in the car...we spent an hour in the front of my car the other day and he threw a tantrum....yes, my child threw a tantrum when I pulled him out. I think he cried for 10 minutes. Anyways, I thought I would get some pictures of him playing the driver.

I had to take a picture of this...Henry has started becoming attached to me and needing to be held....so, he stands at my legs and fusses. Not only do you see his sweet face, you hear this wonderful noise of whining that goes with it. I know I will probably miss this when he gets old, so I should be thankful he wants me to hold him, right?

Henry and I traveled to Spartanburg this past Wednesday to visit my college roommate, Catherine, and her sweet children. We had a great time catching up and Henry LOVED all of their toys...it is amazing how much more fun other peoples toys are! We tried getting a picture of the three of them, but they boys would not sit still and Grace ran off crying..."I don't want to sit next to Henry." It was hilarious to say the least!

Thanks for having us Catherine! We will have to do it again soon!

Love this picture...Grace is so sweet with Bailey.

Sweet Grace...she is hilarious!!

Here are Henry and Bailey playing in the kitchen....this is about 30 seconds before Henry pours out Graces water and she starts crying....sorry Grace!

Sweet Bailey! He smiles all the time!

Lazy cold winter days....yeah right!! This was very out of the norm!

Henry enjoying a snack....peanut butter crackers and bananas! Mom's favorite!

TUBES!

If you have read any of my previous posts, you will know that my little guy has suffered from some ear infections. We took Henry in a little after Thanksgiving and he had a double ear infection in which he was given 2 shots of antibiotics, and put on oral antibiotics. Well, it is now January 14th and Henry has been on oral medicine since that day....everday! Our pediatrician told us he was a good candidate for tubes in his ears to help drain whatever fluid is in there. We went today for our consultation with the ENT and he says...."Ok, we can do this right now." Even though I thought that is what would happen, I was not completely aware of the process. It was not fun!
PROCESS:
1. The doctor looks in his ears and determines your child needs tubes.
2. The doctor takes your innocent child into a room 2 doors down, straps him down or puts him in a very tight swaddle.
3. The doctor puts numbing drops in his ears, cuts a hole in his eardrum, and places tubes in.
4. The doctor unstraps your child and brings him back to you screaming, traumatized, but hopefully much better than he was when we got there (a double ear infection still) and says goodbye, see you in 4 to 6 weeks.....
What in the world??? Luckily Beau and his parents were there....I may not have made it alone!!! My poor child screamed the whole way home, and for about 30 minutes after that. Finally he settled down and went to sleep. Wish us luck!!
Oh, and if your child is getting tubes soon....its not that bad....sorry!

Nine month update and bath time with friends!

I forgot to post his 8 month pictures, so they are being posted with his nine month ones....

Well, here are the nine month pictures. We went to the doctor on Tuesday and Henry has grown a ton and has a lot going on! He still has an ear infection....yes, the same one diagnosed around Thanksgiving, so needless to say we are going to the ENT next week to hopefully get some tubes put in to help my little man get better! Here are his stats:

Weight: 20 pounds 8 ounces 50%

Height: 30 1/2 inches 95%

Head Circumference: 18 inches 50-75%

Our little man is growing up....and walking more and more! We have started him on "real" food per the doctor, but being a new mom, I have no idea what to feed him....thus far we have tried regular oatmeal, cheese toast, bananas, Cheerios, noodles with cheese, chicken, sweet potatoes and green beans. He is still gagging a lot on it all, but hopefully will get the hang of eating real food so we don't have to buy gross baby food anymore!!!!

As far as his personality goes, he is very active...actually does not like to sit still for a second, unless watching Yo Gabba Gabba (yes, it's still his favorite show). He loves to lead you around by the hand to show you where he wants to go in the house. He is starting to behave in the gym day care for about 45 minutes before having a breakdown. Henry will pucker his lips together when he does not like what we are feeding him. He loves to take baths. Henry takes 2 naps a day for about an hour and a half to 2 hours. He loves the maple cinnamon puffs, is starting to figure out sippy cups and is drinking soy formula, yea!!!! OH, and he will sit and listen to a book, maybe a book and a half without squirming. His favorite book is Pat the Bunny. We have read it so many times that he knows exactly what to do on each page...I have the smartest baby! Overall, Henry is just growing up so fast that and will be 1 before we know it!

Against Beau and Vance's judgement, Lindsey and I gave both our boys a bath together after watching the Gamecocks get a beat down at the Papa John's Bowl....YESSS! It was hilarious because they both had no idea what was going on. You will see Henry loves to touch Carlisles head...I wonder why? Just ignore the little butt!

Along with doing a double bath, we did a double jumping session...sweet Carlisle went up and down nice and easy with his left leg...Henry crazily jumped around with all of his might. It is amazing that they are only 4 months apart!

Houston....we have a walker!

For the past few weeks, Henry has been taking 1 and 2 steps at a time from Beau to I, but has just really started trying it own his own. I have caught him walking between toys and also just standing up holding a toy. It is pretty amazing seeing as how he just turned nine months on Thursday (be on the lookout for his nine month photo shoot on Tuesday). I have taken a ton of video over the holidays and I am putting 4 of them up for you to see how much he has grown.

We go to the doctor on Tuesday for Henry's 9 month appointment, and if I have not already told everyone, he has had a constant ear infection for about a month and the dr said if he still had an infection on Tuesday he was recommending me to an ENT. I guess that can be good and bad, but if it will help little Hen, I am all for it. I will update with a few more pictures of Henry and his friend Carlisle, his nine months shots and all of his 8 month changes on Tuesday so be on the lookout! Enjoy the many videos!

Walking!!

Playing with one of his Santa toys.

Laughing...I love his little laugh. Just ignore my silly noises in the background!

Some more walking!

Actual Christmas pictures

Henry's first Christmas was lots of fun and filled with family and festivities. We stared off early at our house with our Santa gifts and Henry was really excited about all of his new toys. Thanks to everyone for all of the wonderful gifts you gave us and Henry. He has been playing nonstop since Christmas!

When Henry woke up, Beau and I had already showered and opened our gifts to each other so we could focus on Henry. He looks a little confused in this picture.

Then Beau pointed out the toys and he realized it was play time!

Santa brought him a music table. He loved it!

Santa also brought him a push walker. He is still getting the hang of this toy. He moves too fast and gets nervous!

Henry with Ganny and Pops opening up those cardboard blocks that he can knock down without hurting anything. He is still trying to figure them out.

Henry playing with one toy, while I open another.

Henry and I at my parents house. They always make me wear the elf hat to pass out presents.

Henry got a new phone.

Is this all for me???

He loved the boxes.

Henry was so blessed this year with toys, that we had to clean out another cabinet in the den to put all of the toys. Thanks to everyone for your thoughtfulness. Henry is loving having new toys to play with. Now I can switch things out so he does not get tired of the same old toys...poor child!

Houston....we have a climber!!!

Henry loves to climb through this table. Too bad he has not figured out what to do once he has both knees up.

Well, this is not Christmas, but Clemson played in the Music City Bowl on December 27th and Henry was ready for it wearing his CJ Spiller jersey (thanks to his Gamecock loving grandparents)...we won if anyone cares!

Catching up....Christmas!

So sorry I have not posted pictures of Henry's first Christmas yet... we have been having a wonderful holiday with our friends and family. I tried to upload Christmas day pictures, but I think blogger had it with all of my other thousand pictures. Here are a few of the holiday photos....

Dad, me, Jess and Uncle Brent

Pops, Jess, Uncle Brent and Ganny celebrating Christmas.

Jess, Uncle Brent and Hen

Uncle Collin and Brigit showing off Brigit's new Clemson snuggie!

Hen checking out his new truck...

Uncle Collin's Tonka truck....wow!

One of Henry's first presents on Christmas Eve.

Henry and Hampton....his cousin

Henry and Betty

Henry and Ganny

Henry and Grammie playing in one of the shipping boxes...he loves boxes!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I, along with many others, love Christmas time! I love the hustle and bustle at every store I walk into, I love the weather...when it's cold, I love the white chocolate peppermint mocha at Starbucks, I love the stress of picking out that perfect gift for everyone, I love all of the food even though I should spare some and most of all I love the extra time spent with my family. We have been busy the past 10 days preparing for the one big even...the birthday of Jesus! Since it is Henry's first Christmas we are trying to make it special, we are beginning new traditions and spending lots of time together.

To begin, we had to go straight to the Farmers Market to pick out the oh so perfect Christmas tree...I have to say, it is a beautiful tree but after I forced the angel on the top, it leans a little. Henry has also found the tree to be pretty interesting. Actually, he does not like touching the tree so much as the ornaments and the lights...go figure!

Henry and Santa....in this picture, Henry has just realized he is sitting on someones lap. I think he is in shock, but smiling!

I love this one of Henry...he looks so happy!

Our family Christmas picture...sans the dogs this year.

Henry's first Christmas party with Ganny (Beau's mom)!

All Henry wants to do now is walk around while someone is holding his hands.

Henry with Grammie and Papa...my parents.

The contemplative look from the men.

Henry got his first double ear infection yesterday...ouch! I thought I would get a picture on the day of his diagnosis..and check out those 2 teeth on the bottom!

Henry in his Santa pajamas and hat....and upside down passy!

They say...My First Christmas...they are adorable and have a reindeer on the bottom. I tried to get a picture of him crawling from the back, but was unsuccessful!

Henry has figured out how to crawl over the bars under the dining room table...he is very happy in his Santa sweater...I will get a better picture of it later, it is adorable!

I was trying to make a bow for the front door very unsuccessfully...Henry loved the ribbon!

My Uncle Jim made these blocks for Henry and he loves them...especially to be on top of them. Unfortunately he is going to be a climber!

We have had a good time thus far. Be on the lookout for more pictures of this wonderful time of year!