Repeat

Henry does this new trick where he says, for example, "want to go to the pumpkin patch?" And then I foolishly repeat it to make sure I understood him, "Do you want to go the the Pumpkin Patch?" Then Henry answers, "yes!" As if I was asking him. We did this all week. On Saturday he said, "Pumpkin Patch tomorrow." And then Sunday morning says, "Pumpkin Patch!" So, we had a Mom & Son date, just the two of us back to our new favorite PP. It was much cooler. I mainly followed Henry around. We went on the train and then spent the majority of the time with the animals. He pretended to feed the animals and talked to them. He also went through a mini-maze all by himself.

He really loved the young chickens...sorry Auntie Tricia

sorry about the goat-butt picture, but you can see Henry bossing them around

Good idea Henry-Boy, thanks for loving Pumpkin Patches as much as I do

Mr. October

No, I am not talking about Jeter, I am talking about this stud...

I love these boys.

...and the 5 Little Pumpkins rolled out of sight!

Pumpkin Patches are my passion. We tried Vertuccio Farms this year right next to Ryan's work. It had all we needed and not as expensive as Schnepf (and no bad memories of the Peach Festivals that I worked back in the day). It was a little warm for my taste, but sunshine is good. I may even go again...Zane and Zach would enjoy.

Special Guest Star: Pedro, Henry's Brazilian Uncle

(Ryan's Brazilian brother that stayed with them for a year in the 90's)

Ryan loves when I make us pose...I love it!

Henry gets to ride the Cow Train...here's my ticket

Thanks Ryan for taking one for the team

"How Tall This Fall"

Pedro being a good sport

Corn Maze

This way guys!

Henry leading the way

The Goose Whisperer

Four Little Pumpkins rode out of sight (that is 3 pumpkins and my Henry Boy pumpkin)

From Small Things, Big Things One Day Come

Oh Henry, from the moment we saw you squirreling around on the ultra-sound, I knew you would steal my heart...make me love you and drive me crazy all at the same time.

Things I have loved this second year of your life:

1. words--you have a lot of them. Funny ones, serious ones, bossy ones, sassy ones and loving ones. I love when you say, "Not like thaaat," and drag out the "a"
2. bath time--you have your own world in there. My favorite thing was one time when the alligator was being mean to the frog you said, "Now you are going to have to sit with me." And then you held the alligator to your chest gently and broke my heart.
3. cousins--I love how you wrestle with them, laugh with them, watch them and yes, even fight with them.
4. read--you go in your room, close the door (sometimes in my face) and read behind your door. I love hearing you read the words you have memorized.
5. sing--you love your preschool songs and like to sing them loud, especially in the grocery store.
6. play--you love to throw your animals from one place to another.
7. puzzles--wow, how could you not love them when your parents are fanatics
8. I just love you, not for what you do, but for who you are...and the brave, funny, serious, loving boy that you are becoming.

You are unbelievably loved my little two year old...here's to year 3.

Thanks Lou Lou for taking Henry out for his birthday dinner and ice cream.

Birthday Party Excitement

So in all the sickness and hospital nonsense, I put Henry's 2nd Birthday Party planning on the back burner and then turned the burner off. Whoops. Little did I know my mom and her siblings were taking care of us and firing up some plans...of course, this is how things are done in the Padilla family. I wanted to have the party at my Tata's house in Florence, because Henry and his mom love Tata's yard. So they divvied up the food and all we did was show up with the cake. We arrived to a standing ovation...everyone was there before us...whoops again.

I'll eat you up, I love you so

Thanks for helping cousins, this may have taken days. Henry was actually blowing at this point, but you can't tell.

We love Nemo

Anyway Henry loved celebrating his birthday with all of his most favorite people in Arizona. He got a lot of great gifts. Pajamas that he needed desperately and fun clothes (my Aunt Kathy bought the shirt that I REALLY wanted at Target). He kept throwing the clothes off the table to make room for his toys. Thanks all my family for taking care of us and being so generous with Henry. We are so BLESSED!

Henry loved that everyone was singing to him

Some post party wrestling

Oh Poop

We spent 4 hours in the Urgent Care on Sunday night with a Henry Boy who would not drink and if he did, it was exiting quickly.

He got his first IV and a book. Fluids were injected and we were sent home. Doctor says it was probably an intestinal virus.

did not get better...I cried all the way to the ER.

We spent 9 hours in the Emergency Room on Monday with a Henry Boy who still would not drink and the exiting thing was getting worse. It was a ridiculous experience in the ER filled with Arizona's finest...

He got his second IV. No book this time, but was poked 3 times to get a vein. Sadness. Fluids were injected and we were sent back into the waiting room IV and all to further witness the parenting of Arizona's finest.

thanks Tara for coming to our rescue and documenting our day

Henry was still not drinking, so we were admitted to the hospital. I was actually relieved, because then the nurses and doctors could do the majority of the worrying.

Henry was isolated from all the other kids. Weird that I was frustrated, because in the ER all I wanted was to be away from people.

Lots more fluids in and lots more fluids out.

Diagnosis...Rotavirus. Poop.

Good nurses, except for the one who gave him ice cream when he had not eaten ANYTHING for two days. I protested, she insisted and Henry threw up. Too bad she was not in the room.

Since Monday Henry kept saying, "Ready to go home?" And finally Wednesday afternoon he (and his mom) got their wish. One week before he turned two.

As we drove away, Henry says, "Ready to go to the library?"

Gotta LOVE this Henry Boy.