Harry Joseph, Sixteen Months Old

Dear Harry,

This month has been a long one. Between Daddy's audition and gig schedule, you and Mommy have logged many hours alone, both at home and at work. This week, we get to return to normal, which is a huge relief.

You have done some exciting things this month. You have 3 new teeth and are working on a 4th. You started making some new sounds, including some that you haven't made in ages (read: "Mama"). You've had a big growth spurt which makes me think I should have bought more 24 month winter clothes than 18 month clothes. You have spent several hours with your new babysitter (while with me at work) and actually let me and Daddy have lunch out ALONE for the first time in nearly a year. Pretty cool.

You continue to LOVE music like crazy. We finally moved your cello downstairs so you could access it at any time. You like to play it throughout the day and it's funny how you pretend to rosin your bow and turn on your metronome before you start. Also, you like to take it into the kitchen, using the oven door as a mirror, just like in Daddy's practice room.

Speaking of the kitchen, that is your favorite room right now. We got you a new booster seat because I was sick of cleaning your highchair 3-4 times a day. You want to climb in it all by yourself, but you still need help. One thing you can do is climb on the kitchen table. We don't like that. Also, you love to pretend to cook. You have made up your own baby signs for "cooking" and "hot". If I give you a little pot with a few dry noodles and unopened spices, you are in hog heaven. I foresee a play kitchen in your near future.

You have exhibited a bit of a preview of what they call "the terrible twos" already. We have seen full-blown toddler tantrums from you lately. Arching your back and resisting the car seat and stroller. Screaming, crying and throwing things when you don't get your way. It's pretty impressive. I shudder to think how much more we are in for, but I've ordered the book "Raising Your Spirited Child" so we can be prepared.

The other exciting news is that you are going to be a big brother. We are very excited and terrified about becoming parents of two children. We think you will like having a sibling to play with, since you love other kids (that you aren't even related to!) and we didn't want you to be an only child. Considering some of the family dynamics on your Daddy's side of the family, we thought it best that you have a close ally and not be the only grandchild.

You and your brother or sister will be 22 months apart, which is close, but not too close. You will probably not remember this brief time of being an only child and you probably will not understand about the new baby for a long while. But I hope you know that it does not mean that Daddy and I will love you any less. When you add a new member to your family, your heart grows to make room for MORE love, instead of further dividing the love you already have. There is always room for more love. We never knew our hearts could hold so much love until you came. So, when your brother or sister comes, we will be ready this time. And we can't wait to see your heart open up to make room for more love.

Love,
Mama

Bottomless Pete

It's 8 PM on the East Coast. Since Harry woke up at 4 PM, he has eaten the following:

4 oz YoBaby Yogurt, Apple flavor
Roasted chicken, potatoes and green beans
1 Fig Newton
1.5 Raspberry popsicle
.25 cups baby oatmeal with whole milk
1.25 slices of enriched white toast with butter

I don't know what else we can give him tonight, but I think we had better start saving for when he is a teenager.

A Vote for Change

(Please note that I'm a life-long, bleeding-heart, liberal Democrat. I respect anyone who disagrees, but this is a personal essay.)

Two years ago on election day, the 2006 mid-term election, I woke up early. I was anxious about voting, even though Massachusetts is always reliably Democrat. I really wanted to see a change in the house and senate and have a Democratic majority so we could send a message to the White House. I was also anxious because it was the day I was supposed to take a pregnancy test. We had been trying for several months with no luck, so I was not optimistic. I certainly didn't feel pregnant.

I got up at 6:00 and decided to test first thing. When the second (positive) line came up, I was floored. Luckily, the test was part of a three pack. I took another. Also positive. I tiptoed back into the bedroom and climbed back into bed. Hubby was listening to NPR. I said to him, "The Democrats are going to take the house and the senate today. Do you know why?" He groggily asked why. I said, "Because I am pregnant." That certainly woke him up.

We went and voted and eagerly watched the returns that night giddy with both our secret, and the election results. The Democrats, indeed, took back the house and senate that day. Our Harry has gone with us to every election since then and election day, always a special day in our house, has taken on a new significance to us because of our memories of 2006.

Yesterday, election day 2008, was probably the most significant, historic election of our lives. So, we thought it was a fitting day to announce that we are expecting our second child. I'm about 13 weeks (3 months) pregnant with our second child, who is due on Mother's Day, 2009. We have always wanted two children, and this one will be just about two years younger than our Harry. We couldn't be more pleased. This will most likely be our last child, so we are trying to enjoy this special time.

With the election results clear this morning, I'm very hopeful about the world that this child will be born into. I hope both our children will grow to understand what these results mean for so many people. I hope they grow up into a world that no longer sees its leaders as black or white, male or female, but as qualified or unqualified. I hope they see that, with the results of this election, anything is possible if you believe in it and fight for it. They will learn about this election in school as they get older, and I will be proud to tell them that they were both there that day, bringing their own little changes to the world.

Harry Joseph, Fifteen Months Old

Dear Harry,

Oh, Harry. What a month you have had! You have decided that 10 PM is your ideal bedtime and it is slowly killing your mother. You see, we are morning people in this family. That is when we have our energetic, most productive time. You seem to be the opposite. Mornings and then again in the late afternoons, you are sluggish and calm, happy to read books and play quietly, or watch a video. But then, Nighttime Harry arrives. He comes around 6 PM, right after bath time and is heralded by squeals and squeaks and running up and down the hall. Nighttime Harry dances and screams, climbs on chairs and tables, giggles and grins, and demands snacks to fuel his bacchanalia. This goes on until about 9:30 when you start to wind down - only climbing on smaller things - until you are ready to nurse down at about 9:50. You conk out easily at that point and usually sleep until 7 or 7:30 AM with only a small peep in the night. I don't know what is causing this, but it has become routine, at this point. I hope it is just a phase.

We got you your first cello this month. Since my last post about your love of music, we have just watched your curiosity and determination grow. It is very hard for us (and not good for our instruments) to hold you and let you play the cello and bass. So, we thought we'd see what you did with a "Harry-sized" cello. It was love at first sight. You have a little stool that you sit on and bow back and forth. You are quite serious about it, which is adorable, I must admit. You ask to play all day long and we sometimes have to take it away from you when you get a bit *ahem* enthusiastic with it. (Cellos don't like to be hit!) We'll see where this goes. It may pass, but we didn't want to discourage you from something you obviously love. If you continue to show interest, we can start Suzuki next year. Until then, we'll just play.

You are doing so much new physical stuff these days. You can go down the slide all by yourself both at home (on your bum) and at the park (on your belly). You can climb anything that is not standing still. (Please note that the kitchen drawer handles are NOT a ladder.) (Nor is the oven door a chin-up bar.) The other night, I was trying to contain Nighttime Harry to the downstairs, so I closed the door to the third floor. You were running around in the hallway with a pillowcase on your head, pretending to be a scary ghost, when suddenly it got quiet. I waited a moment and then heard what I thought was a baby gate closing. I ventured out to see that you had opened the door to the third floor, turned on the stairway light, climbed upstairs and closed the baby gate and were playing with your beach ball. I must say, I was too impressed to be mad. I think we need to get you on some sort of sports team.

You are indeed an amazing little boy. So smart, so full of energy, so full of love. Nothing you do is small. When you come in for hugs and kisses, you crash into us full force. When you fall down, it is a big splat. And no matter what, you keep going. Each month, when I write to you, I'm just floored at how much you change over each week. You are just barreling ahead so quickly that Daddy and I have to run to keep up. I can't imagine what you'll think up next, but I'm very excited (and exhausted!) at the possibilities.

Love,
Mama

Put Another Nickel In

I swear we didn't do this to him. Harry came up with this all on his own. Yeah, right, you say. A pair of classical musicians for parents and they're NOT pushing him towards music. It is true, I tell you. He has led the way. Harry has always responded well to music, whether it is me singing to him or playing one of his CDs in his room. He will stop and listen and then start dancing. He recently learned the sign for "music" and uses it all the time. It's always been a great tool for calming him and we didn't think too much of it. Until now.

Harry's obsession is centered on Daddy's double bass, which Hubby let him touch at an early age. (Mommy's cello is a forbidden object for now - too delicate.) Hubby is preparing for the upcoming BSO audition and has to put in a lot of practice time. Harry was curious at first, and then started signing for "more music" when Daddy would play. He started letting Hubby actually practice during the day while he played with his toys (or tore down DVDs from the shelf) and when Hubby would stop, Harry would walk over and sign "more." It was cute. Now, it has gone even further.

This morning, Harry woke up around 7:00 and as soon as he got out of bed he ran for Daddy and signed "music" before running to the stairs. I followed him and found him pounding on the practice room door signing "more." I told him "after breakfast" and guess where he went at breakneck speed after his prunes and waffles? Hubby tells me he was able to practice an entire hour (more than I've done in over a year) while Harry alternately played and danced and tore things down off shelves. I think Harry wants Daddy to do well at this audition as much as anyone.

So, you can see why we think he might have a "thing" for music. We are shopping for a toy violin (just try finding a toy cello or bass - impossible!) so he can have his own instrument to "play." As much as we joked about him having to be a lawyer or doctor so he could support his starving artist parents, I'll admit, it is pretty cool to see your passion reflected in your child. Just knowing the whole world he has waiting for him and getting to watch him discover it for himself is pretty amazing.

Yesterday, Harry and Hubby stopped by work to drop off some music I'm lending to the BSO. I took Harry upstairs to see the Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony reading session. As I held him up to the door to peek through the window, I saw his eyes get big and he signed "more music" and started reaching for the door handle, squacking loudly. If they had been playing something other than the slow movement, I would have let him run in to the room and just get lost in the sound. He's too young to understand the quiet that needs to proceed the horn solo, so I had to hold him back. But I understand what it feels like to want "more music" and I look forward to sharing that with him.

Harry Joseph, Fourteen Months Old

Dear Harry,

This post is late, but there is a reason. You have been putting us through sleeping hell for the last five days. After a record breaking night on Monday where you were up until midnight, you went to bed at 9:30 last night and were still asleep this morning when I left at 8:00. I actually got some sleep which means I don't feel like I'm going to die today. Thank you for that.

There are a few reasons that your sleep has been rocky this month. First, you FINALLY have two teeth and two more started peeking out yesterday. Second, you've had a nasty cold since we returned from South Carolina. Third, we set up your big boy room over the weekend. You love your new bed and like to roll around and bounce on it, which does not help you sleep. And fourth, we've begun gentle "mother-led weaning." You no longer get any milkies during the day, so you have been making up for it at night. However, these past few days, that has been letting up. Maybe we are turning a corner?

Some fun firsts this month included your first trip to Mimi & Pop's house in South Carolina. You loved everything from the ceiling fans, to the tile floors, to the ceiling fans, to the glass door, to the porch ,to the ceiling fans, to the ice maker, to the ceiling fans, to the neat toys they had. Did I mention the ceiling fans? You LOVED the ceiling fans. Now, everywhere we go, you point to the fans and make a ffffssssss sound. If they are not turned on, you keep pointing, hoping that they will move on your command.

Another first this month was your first ride on a carousel at Slater Park. You were obsessed with the carousel and would waddle over there whenever I put you down. You danced to the carillon and clapped and generally had a fantastic time. We were there to listen to Daddy play a concert, and you clapped at all the right times, but you were really there for the carousel and the food. We let you taste our fried chicken and you then proceeded to take your own whole piece out of the bag. Same for the chocolate chip cookies. You do love to eat!

This month was long, Harry. Traveling, teething, illness, starting the school year. I felt like I was saying you were "almost 14 months" for a very long time. Even though it seems slow, I know time is really flying by. This morning, I wish I could have pressed pause and stayed snuggled with you and Mu-Mu kitty in your big boy bed. You are turning into a little boy a little more each day and you want to be the "big boy" so much. Baby steps, little one, baby steps.

Love,
Mama

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