Back in the Routine

After a couple short work weeks, trips, and holidays, we are getting back into the routine around here. Last week was our first full work/school week in a while and we were tired! Henry moved to the big bathtub and he seems to enjoy it. Owen is excited about the whole prospect, and I think he's ready to start taking baths with Henry. It'll be a little while longer before that. Henry needs to get a little more stable on his bottom before then. He's sitting on his own now, although he occasionally does a backward flop. I try to keep a pillow on hand to soften his fall. I remember this with Owen.

Owen had a haircut last weekend - he was overdue! I feel like he needs another already! We also went to the Downtown Aquarium to go on rides after dinner last Saturday. Every time we drive by there, Owen asks when we can go back to ride the shark train and other rides. So Saturday, Ike & I got to experience the shark voyage that caused such an uproar when Grandma Phyllis & Grandpa Tom took Nat & Owen on it. Of course once we were on and the train started moving, Natalie hid her face in my lap the whole time, waiting for the big shark to jump out of the water at us. Owen was very excited about the whole thing. Henry just enjoyed the ride. Afterwards, we all went on the ferris wheel and carousel. Natalie & Owen also enjoyed some dippin dots ice cream. Sunday after breakfast we went to the playground. We hadn't been there in a while. You know the Houston summer is close when in the first 15 minutes, Owen's cheeks were bright red and his head was all sweaty. Sunday afternoon we had our usual playtime in the backyard. It was a really nice weekend. Natalie & Owen both needed a family picture for a school project, so Monday morning during our rush we managed to sit down for a quick shot. It turned out pretty well.













This past week Henry started school on Tuesday. He did wonderfully - no tears or drama at all. He's really a happy baby. He only cries when he's really tired or really hungry. He and Owen had check-ups at the doctor Tuesday afternoon. They are both big boys - Henry is 90th percentile for height and 45th for weight, and Owen is 80th for height and 70th for weight. So the rest of the week was uneventful. Ike was in New York Thursday and Friday (and got home very late Fri night/Sat am due to storms from Texas to the Northeast). Saturday after our normal routine we went to the Children's Festival downtown. We had lots of fun festival food (sausage on a stick, smoothies, etc.) and Natalie and Owen rode some of the rides and went for face painting (although they actually had them on their arms - a fairy for Nat and a dragon for Owen). Owen was really funny on the rides - he was a little freaked out when they first started (you can see him hanging on for dear life in the pictures), but by the end he was smiling and waving. Natalie smiled & laughed the whole time. Sunday was not so fun - Owen was sick over night with a stomach bug and I had it all day Sunday. We think it was a virus - Henry was a little pukey (and loose) at school on Friday and it just hit us harder. Owen woke us up a couple times overnight and there was cleanup (changing sheets, pjs, etc) to do. Natalie had a birthday party on Sunday and I couldn't take her, so Ike went. It was at Pump It Up - where they have tons of slides and bouncy things. She had a lot of fun and wore herself out - she even came home and took a long nap, which is unusual but really nice. In other news, Owen is making a little progress with the potty (he's using it more) - though we have a long way to go. It's different than with Natalie. Everyone keeps telling me boys take longer. We're working at it! So we are back in our routine. We're getting excited for our Florida trip coming up in a couple weeks!