Happy Days

   
     Henry will be 7 months old tomorrow!  I don't know how it is possible, but I fall in love with him a little more (or a lot more) every day.  Robert asked me the other day which was more challenging, teaching high school or staying at home with Henry...We both agreed that being a full time mommy was more challenging.  With that said, I am happier than I have ever been!

    I am not completely "jobless..."  I am the new choir director at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Indialantic, FL.  A friend of mine was driving by the church one day and saw an ad for a pianist/choir director on their sign.  I took the interview and got the job!  This is my first official church job and so far I love it.

Henry Updates:
He eats solid food twice a day (breakfast is oatmeal and a fruit, dinner is some sort of veggie combo)
He really likes squash, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and mangos...still not a fan of bananas!  I'm going to try some new foods on him next week...Robert and I will go to the produce stand and get some good veggies for him to try.
He sits up on his own.
He's almost crawling.  He gets up on all fours and does a lot of rocking back and forth.  He can definitely go backwards, but no forward motion yet.
He parties in his bouncer.
He enjoys the bucket swings at the park.
He is almost able to sit himself back up from a lying down position.
He's about to get his top teeth...we've had a few fun days/nights, poor little guy.
He's still nursing.
He weighs 20 pounds, 8 ounces
He has a hilarious giggle/laugh
He loves to grab/swat/pinch/pull at things while nursing or going to sleep.  I have to give him something to hold so he doesn't claw at my face!  He holds a little snuggle cow to go to sleep at night.
He wakes up once (sometimes twice) at night
He is a sweetheart...very happy and in love with mommy and daddy.
 

Bath time with daddy!

"Old Man Breakfast" (prunes and oatmeal)

Back to School

     Wow...it has been too long!  We have officially started school which means that I'm back to work after an amazing (almost) four months at home with Henry.  Robert and I are sort of in a daycare crisis at the moment.  The school where I teach has a daycare facility because it is a teenage pregnancy center.  Last year, we decided that's where Henry would go...we thought it would be great since I could go see him any time of day.  Other teachers who've kept their kids there said it was fantastic, and that they loved having their children so close.
   Needless to say, that was NOT the case.  It was literally one of the worst days of my life.  I think he screamed all day, and there was not adequate staffing or care.  He didn't even look like himself when I picked him up.  Thank the Lord that Sandra and Jim were in town, because if they weren't I was going to walk into my principal's office and quit my job.  So now mom, Maryellen, and Aunt Mary are rotating up to Melbourne every week until we find a nanny or someone who does home care.
   I've learned my lesson.  I have to work, but I also want my child to receive the best care possible.  I miss him so much during the day.  I really wish I was able to be home with him, but on the other hand I'm blessed to have a job.  We are truly blessed to have such an amazing and supportive family!

     Other than the craziness of going back to work/daycare-dilemna/no more dairy for mommy, Henry is a very happy four month old!  I feel like he does something new everyday, and it is so much fun to watch!  He had his first belly laugh tonight...my new favorite thing.  Please keep us in your prayers, and if you have any daycare suggestions/solutions send them our way!

First taste of cereal...

The jury is still out!

Mamma Mia

     Yesterday, I had one of those moments where I just needed to leave the premises.  I wasn't angry, or upset; just tired and feeling like I needed to be alone for just an hour or so.  I got the baby fed and down for his nap, and left him with Robert while I escaped for my pedicure.  About 10 minutes into the pedicure, I got a phone call from Robert in which I could barely hear him due to the screaming baby in the background.  Of course there was no breast milk thawed out in a bottle ready to go, why would I have thought of that?  Needless to say, I felt guilty and terrible.  Poor Robert was at home frantically trying to thaw out the milk and calm little Henry.  Don't worry future babysitters, lesson learned.
     Needless to say it was not one of my most enjoyable pedicures, but I've convinced myself that I shouldn't feel guilty about taking a little time out for myself.  Nursing is hard work, and at times I do feel a little tethered down.  On the other hand, it is one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and I am lucky that I am able to do it.  I am the only person who can give my sweet baby exactly what he needs.  Every day is a new experience, and I am so lucky to have such an incredibly supportive and helpful husband.  Maybe I had a crazy look in my eye or something before I left, because even in the midst of Scream-fest '11 Robert encouraged me to stay and finish my pedicure.  Every day I thank God for him...and to quote Ben Folds, "I am the luckiest."

    

Catching some Zzzz's

     After talking with a few (okay a lot) of other mommies, I decided (and they told me) that it was time to get our little one on a schedule if we ever wanted to sleep through the night.  I borrowed the book Baby Wise from a friend, and adapted it to our way of thinking.  Basically, all we're doing is keeping Henry on a 3 hour cycle during the day.  Eat, play, nap, repeat!  After about 2 days, he has adapted to this routine.  As soon as we put him in the crib for a nap he zonks out!  Sometimes he wakes up early from a nap, but Robert and I aren't ready to let him cry it out...baby steps right?  The last few nights he has slept for about 7 hours straight!!! AMEN!!!  I don't know how I feel about such a strict routine in the first month (especially since I am nursing), but since he is 11 weeks and starting daycare in a month we felt it was time.  We've only been doing this for a week, and already Robert and I feel more at ease (and more sane)!  Even little Henry seems more alert and playful during his wake times!

Play time!

     Henry got to meet Papa (Henry) and Nana, or Ba Noi (Tam).  Ba Noi is "grandma" in Vietnamese!  They arrived on Friday and headed to Brandon on Sunday.  We had a great time!  Papa cooked us a feast on Saturday night...we had crab legs, lobster, shrimp, steak....whew!  Needless to say Robert and I are eating salad and watermelon on the 4th of July!

The Clark Men!

     We're planning on doing some stuff around the house the next 2 weeks before Robert starts band camp.  Yard work, organizing, cleaning...stuff that we'll never get to once the school year begins.  While that stuff doesn't seem fun, we always feel so much better once we've accomplished it!  To quote our favorite professor, Dr. Madsen: "You control the environment that in turn controls you!"  Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

Ba Noi and Papa

Tam Clark (Ba Noi)

I love my daddy!

Our precious family!

Summer Fun

     Robert and I have gone out of town the last 3 weekends with Henry.  We went to my parents house in North Palm Beach for our anniversary and Father's Day, and finally to Brandon for Aunt Judy and Uncle Gary's 40th wedding anniversary.  While we had a great time, it is definitely a challenge to travel with a little one!  Overstimulation and fussiness aside, we're back home and back on track now, trying to work out his little schedule and enjoy the rest of our summer together.

Little H

     While we were in Brandon, Henry got to meet all six of his cousins on Robert's side of the family.  It was so awesome for me to talk with other experienced mommas about baby stuff.  A little reassurance and loving advice goes a very long way!  Thanks Julie and Sharon! (-:  

Henry and Gan Gan

Henry and Jackson

      Henry is changing everyday, and it is so fun to watch!  Everyday we get more smiles and coos, which completely melts our hearts.  He has this "almost laugh" thing that he does where he sucks in air and makes a noise.  It is the cutest thing ever.  Other than our crazy weekend travels we have been hanging out at the house and venturing over to friends houses for fun.  Almost all of Robert's college friends are dads now, and we all got together tonight for dinner.   

Daddies!

   Dad and Tam Clark are coming this weekend to meet Henry for the first time!  Robert and I are going to focus on enjoying our family time together before the school year starts.  Love to all!

Family

     We are so blessed to have such close relationships with our family.  Sandra (Grandmommy) and Aunt Whitney were just here for a week visiting, and Henry loved every second of it!  Robert and I are so grateful for the help.  I can't believe that I actually got to eat 3 meals a day and go to the bathroom when I wanted to!  It is amazing that such a little person can be so demanding.  A few days ago Henry had a diaper change that required 4 adults to clean him up.  It was like a circus with people running in and out of his room...he even hit the curtains.  I'm sure it was an experience that Whitney and Sandra won't forget!

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He loves the outdoors!

   I can't believe how much he changes every day.  His little personality is really starting to blossom.  He has very expressive facial expressions, going from smiles to a furrowed brow in a matter of seconds.  His favorite place to "talk" is his changing table.  After a diaper change, he usually coos and smiles and even makes what sound to us like little giggles.  Everyday he does this more and more, and it completely melts our hearts!  There is nothing better than gazing into his sweet eyes and seeing a smile spread across his face.  He is such an incredible blessing!!!

     Robert and I are celebrating our 1 year anniversary this weekend!!  We are heading down to my parents to celebrate.  We're going to go to church at St. Ignatius where we got married, and out to dinner at Paddy Mac's where we had our rehearsal dinner (and to reminisce about Ireland) while Aunt Maryellen and Great Aunt Mary babysit our little man.  Hopefully the frozen wedding cake will taste good one year later...

Robert "Henry" Clark, Jr.

     Our sweet bundle of joy Robert "Henry" Clark, Jr. came into this world on April 19th, 2011 at 12:11 am.  He weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces and was 20 and 1/2 inches long!

     Nothing could have prepared us for the amount of love and joy we felt all at once.  God has blessed us with a loving marriage and now our first child.  Henry came into this world with his own little personality already.  At times he has a very serious expression, and Robert and I are always wondering what he is thinking about.  We were so lucky to have both of our families here to help us in those first few days (of complete exhaustion)!  

     Grammy and Grampa Thillman and Aunt Maryellen, Aunt Whitney, and Grandmommy and Granddaddy Floyd were able to be here.  Papa Clark and Nana Tam are coming for their first visit in July, but have met Henry via Skype!

Aunt Maryellen

Grampa

Grammy

Aunt Whitney, Granddaddy and Grandmommy

Grammy

The Aunties!

Tired but very happy!

Baby smiles!