Bumps and bruises: with walking comes falling!

Henry's been walking for about six weeks now and is getting better at it every day. It's amazed me how quickly he's gone from one or two tumbling steps to a scamper across the room. He's not running yet, but is getting close to that.

Of course, with walking comes falling. Over the past few weeks, Henry has had more falls, bumps, and bruises than in his entire life. He is definitely more steady on his feet than when he started, but he does not have the coordination to watch where he steps. He is looking up, not down, and trips easily over his toys and even furniture. And, from time to time he still just loses his balance or footing and comes toppling down. He's a tough boy and usually gets right back up. A number of his boo-boos showed up as a surprise to me because he never cried or complained after a tumble, even if he earned a bruise to show for it. There have been a time or two, though, where he falls hard, and needs us to kiss away the boo-boo. One even resulted in a big nasty black eye!

Henry with Uncle Mike - check out that shiner!

In the spirit of making every opportunity a learning experience, I'm working on teaching Henry a new word: "ouch." I am using these falls and resulting boo-boos to help him learn what it means when something hurts. I think it's an important concept because it can help me to communicate to him better if he's about to do something that will result in injury - to himself or others. If he's pulling a playmate's hair, I can say, "no, Henry, that's ouchy." If he's about to climb up on something unsteady, or touch something hot, I can warn him with a "Henry - no! Ouch!"

For a young toddler, a simple word-concept is a lot easier to teach and use than a more complicated one. It is also easier at this age to have an universal warning I can use in any potentially dangerous situation rather than attempting to show a 13-month old every possible place in the home they could get hurt. Chances are, they still won't understand even if you try. Once Henry understands "ouch" he'll be able to apply that idea to any situation - ones we're prepared for, and those we're not.

The Death of the Little Yellow Race Car

Let's have a moment of silence for the little yellow race car.

Yes, I'm afraid it's true. Henry's most beloved toy - which also makes it one of my proudest yard-sale treasures ever - has been laid to rest. You want the scoop? It's a tale of dirty little secrets that I am going to confess to you today. I'm ready to blow this story out of the water.

Last Thursday afternoon, I got Henry up from his nap, changed a massive dirty diaper, and fed him a snack. A completely innocuous and entirely routine chain of events. Or so I thought.

We'd been fighting a case of diaper rash that was threatening to get really nasty. Protocol is a temporary change in diet, lots of diaper cream, and plenty of time roaming around the house sans diaper. A naked hiney is a happy hiney. So, after his snack, I removed his diaper. It was standard operation.

We played for a few minutes in the playroom when the dryer buzzer blared, alerting me to change loads. I picked Henry up to come with me but he protested - LOUDLY - wanting to stay to play with his toys. I decided to let him stay for the five minutes it would take me to switch loads and fold clothes. I was aware of the risk that he might have a potty accident, but tee-tee is pretty easy to clean up, and he had just had a major poopy diaper not long before. The risk that there was even enough poop in him at that point to make any kind of mess seemed minimal.

That is where I was wrong.

I returned as quickly as possible - I estimate four and half or five minutes. That was all the time it took. Upon entering the room, I saw a poop trail four feet in length, clumps and streaks, leading to under our computer desk. I found him there under the desk, covered in poop, with a poop-smeared toy in each hand. The look on his face was bewilderment. I could see the thought-bubble above his head: "Mama - this chocolate icing tastes funny." *gag*

I flew over and picked him up, first trying to hold him out from me but quickly realizing it was of no use. It was already all over me, and he was now reaching and grabbing ahold of my hair and shirt. *gag* I carried him through the house to the bathroom laughing out loud because, well - what else could I do??

I deposited him in the bathtub, running the shower first to hose the poop off of him, then drawing a bath. We scrubbed in shallow water for a few minutes, drained then ran another bath for an extra rinse. When I had him dried and DIAPERED again, I headed for the playroom to assess the damage once again. I was feeling frantic because it was now almost time when I would expect Zac home, and I was now behind in getting supper ready. We had a church event that evening, and I was feeling stressed to get it all done in time.

I made it as far as the kitchen when I heard him. Zac had come home a little early, and was in the playroom. I stopped dead in my tracks. He said, "I see what happened." I told him I was in the process of cleaning up and that he could tend to Henry or he could clean up the playroom. I was 100% sure he'd come get Henry but to my surprise and delight, he opted to clean the playroom. What a prince!!! I got supper going and found my nerves again.

So, that's the poop story.

Wait - what about the little yellow race car, you ask?

Well, you remember that I said he had a poop-smeared toy in each hand? One of them was the little yellow race car. It was in baaaaaad shape. I began the tedious job of cleaning it after we returned from church that night. I worked on it for about twenty minutes before I decided it was a lost cause. There was poop in the wheel wells. Henry had taken it "muddin" in the trail of poop. When I announced I was going to throw it away, Zac came to take a look at it and attempted to take it completely apart. We couldn't get behind the wheels no matter how we tried. Maybe immersing in hot water, but then it likely wouldn't work after that anyway. We sadly bid it farewell. Henry lay sleeping in his bed, none the wiser. I hated the idea of his favorite toy being gone forever.

Well, that's how the end of the little yellow race car came about.

What - you want a happy ending?? Okay, I think I may have one for you:

I had gone to bed early that night, and when Zac finally turned in, he told me that he had searched and found another race car online, ordered it, and even paid the extra few dollars for expedited shipping! See, didn't I tell you? He's a PRINCE!!! Daddy saved the day! You'll notice it isn't exactly the same, but the original had been a yard sale find and probably a few years old.

This is the closest we could find. It arrived today, and the smile on Henry's face when Daddy opened the box was as big as Texas. He carried it around the house, putting it on things like couches, bookshelves, and chairs just like he used to. It made our hearts swell. That kid sure is something special - poop and all.

An unscheduled hiatus...

Well, well, well. Too bad the author of this blog has been too busy to bother informing any of her devoted readers (choke) why she's been M.I.A. or when she planned to return. Hmm! The nerve!

I'm truly sorry. A sort of life-changing thing has occurred and I'm almost ready to share with you all. I've been away from both of my blogs for the better part of two weeks now to a) keep myself from spilling the beans prematurely and b) because this life-changing thing has just kind of consumed me.

I have about three posts I'm crafting in my mind and am needing to get down in writing soon because between these posts and the life-changing-thing there isn't any more room in the limited capacity of my brain for simple things like breathing. I apologize in advance for the onslaught of information and updates to come.

I hate that I've missed my regular posts like my devotionals, Fertilizer Friday (on my other blog) and Make Your Home Sing Monday. And Henry's been busy so I have lots to report about him as well. I'm so behind and can't wait to get back in the swing of things. Oh, and this life-changing thing will certainly have its place here too. *wink*

Stand by for news.