Henry's Birthday Weekend

We had a great weekend celebrating Henry's second birthday. Papa and Nana joined us for pizza and ice cream on the 25th to kick things off. Grandma Dodie and Grandma Rhona (AKA "Mona Mona") flew in Saturday morning and we enjoyed a picnic lunch and a train ride up in the Berkeley Hills at Tilden Regional Park. Next on the celebratory agenda was a Sunday-morning party at Krusi Park with a lot of Henry's friends. Henry was spoiled rotten with many exciting gifts. Among his favorites were the balance bike, fishing pole, and pirate water table (see below).

I can't believe my "baby" is two years old! Happy birthday, little Hen.

Bay Area Discovery Museum

Last week I was lucky enough to hear about a 24-hour deal from the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. They were offering 50% off a year-long family membership. I've been wanting to check out this museum since we moved here, but it was always too expensive or too far away. Well, this incredible deal was the kick in the butt that I'd been waiting for.

Today we used our membership for the first time and checked out the place with our friends Emily, Jillian, and Addy. The trip had an auspicious start in that we were all able to pile into Emily's van. Ever since our trip to June Lake last summer, I've had mini van envy. These babies are awesome -- doors that spring open at the touch of a button, ample room for lots of kids, dvd players that lower from the ceiling (pant, pant, pant). But I digress.

For all that I'd built it up in my mind, the trip didn't take us more than 40 minutes, even with a little bit of traffic. And the view when we got there (the museum is located in Fort Baker at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge) was absolutely stunning!

The kids and I LOVED the museum. There was a toddler play space, an art room, a hands-on naturalists' exhibit, a train and crab-fishing room, and endless amazing outdoor spaces with lots of things to do and explore. I really appreciated the depth of thought that went into the design of this museum. It is the perfect place for kids, and we will be heading back there soon.

Anyone up for a road trip? Anyone have a mini van?

Three College Roommates and Their Offspring

My Little Leprachauns

Max's Trip to the ER: A Reprisal

As if a massive shiner wasn't enough for one week, Max also landed himself in the emergency room on Sunday with a suspected broken arm. Because honestly, what else would we want to do on the most gorgeous afternoon of the year but hang out in the Kaiser Oakland waiting room?!

The incident itself was pretty mundane -- he fell off a bench and landed on his elbow. What wasn't run of the mill, however, was the thirty minutes of agonized screaming that followed the fall. Scott and I went back and forth -- should we or shouldn't we take him in? It's so hard to get a straight answer out of a 3 1/2 year old in pain.

Mommy: "Does it hurt inside or just on the scrape?"
Max: "AHHHHHHHH!!!! It hurts!!!!"
Mommy: Does it hurt as much as when you first fell or is it feeling better?"
Max: "AHHHHHHHH!!!! It hurts!!!!"

Poor little guy.

:-(

Ultimately, we decided to play it safe and we headed for the ER. As luck would have it, almost immediately following his entrance into the hospital, Max stopped screaming and started looking around with great interest. The nice triage nurses gave him funny stickers. The blood pressure cuff was pretty damn interesting and man oh man -- those x-rays were so cool! (thanks, technician Malcolm for your great bedside manner and for showing Max the "pictures" when you were done).

As you've probably guessed by now, the arm was not broken. Scott and I felt a little foolish, but the doctor was really nice about it and said that it is always better to bring him in than to wonder. As much as people might malign Kaiser Permanente, I have to say that we've had a great experience with them over the past year and half through many doctors visits and two trips to the ER. Everyone was really nice to us and things went pretty quickly.

I kept looking over my shoulder, of course, and waiting for social services to show up and ask me why my kid had a black eye and an injured arm. Luckily, we squeaked by without an interrogation.

Now if I can just keep my kids from injuring themselves (Max stepped on a giant thorn in the backyard today) and causing havoc in public places (Henry shattered glass soda bottles at the grocery store -- "Clean up on aisle three!" ) I just might make it through the toddler/preschooler years with my sanity intact.

It's a good thing they're so stinkin' cute...

Krusi Park Strikes Again

Henry, Mick, and Max Before "The Incident"

Max After Taking a Dump Truck to the Face

Two

I sorta forgot what "two" was like. It must be some kind of mother amnesia, like forgetting the pain of childbirth and deciding it's a good idea to have a second baby. Honestly, you'd think I'd never forget moments like Max deliberately breaking eggs all over the floor or throwing an epic tantrum at the doctor's office. And yet, dealing with a largely rational three-year-old and a sweet, snuggly one-year-old, I was somehow lulled into a false sense of competence. "I can handle this," I'd think to myself, "What's the big deal? I've totally got this mothering thing down."

If there's one lesson to parenting, however, it's that you should never get too complacent. Just when you think you've got a handle on things, some kid throws up, or attacks the cat, or swears in public, or floods the bathroom at preschool, or asks you how babies get out of your stomach, or (in the case of young Henry) starts pitching fits, beating up his brother, and climbing out of his crib.

Yes, indeed. Henry is a few weeks shy of two years old, and boy does it show.

The tantrums are "interesting." Sometimes he just gets so mad that all he can do is drop to the floor and wail like his life was ending. I mean who wouldn't react this way if mean old mom said something as offensive as, "No. You can't have another banana."

Then there's the violence. Henry has suddenly realized that he doesn't just have to take the sh*t that Max deals out. He, too, can be an aggressor. In fact, much like the last Bush administration, Henry seems to favor a preemptive-strike approach -- sneaking up on Max when he is involved in a book or a puzzle and wacking him on the head with a shovel or plastic power tool. "Ha! Take that, Brother," he seems to say, "I just want you to know who you're dealing with here just IN CASE you later decide you want to attack me." Obviously, I have to discipline this sort of behavior, but part of me can't help but be proud that Henry is coming into his own as a little boy and learning that he's not powerless. (note to my readers -- what's "ok" for a two-year-old is not "ok" for our nation's government!).

As for climbing out of his crib, I guess it was just a matter of time. He's done it three times now. After the first incident, I was in shock when he showed up downstairs when he was supposed to be napping. I told Scott that maybe it was a "fluke" occurrence, but it turns out that kids don't really unlearn these sorts of things. He's done it two more times, but each time it has been when he's ready to get up after a full sleep. I guess I can't really complain about that. The complaints will start if he decides, like his older brother once did, to run around the house for hours when he is supposed to be GOING to bed. Dear God, those were dark months. I guess I better dig the baby gate back out of the garage...

It's not all bad, of course. Henry is talking more and more and making us laugh with his observations about the world, and he is still affectionate and cuddly. He and Max are good buddies most of the time, and it warms my heart to see the two of them climbing together at the park or building pillow forts in the living room. And then there are the unexpected potty-training advances. Honestly, I hadn't even begun to really think about potty training yet and I still don't think we're ready for a full-frontal attack so to speak, but Henry has started taking some initiative on his own. Each night before the boys get in the tub, Max always pees in the toilet. Henry has started saying, "Henry go potty, too!" and he drags the stool over to the toilet and stands next to Max. This tableau of two naked boys at the toilet was adorable in its own right, but then Henry started sadly announcing, "Not working" as he stared down at his penis. So funny! But wouldn't you know it, a few times recently, the stars have aligned and things did work out right down there! Mommy, Max, and Henry have all been excited to see him successfully pee in the toilet on two separate occasions. Mommy, of course, has started dreaming of a time when she shall no longer have to change anyone's diaper or wipe anyone's butt.

Ahhhhh....what a glorious day that will be...

Purim

The Gerber family had a great time celebrating Purim this year! For the uninitiated, Purim is a Jewish holiday celebrating the occasion when wily Queen Esther and her Uncle Mordechai saved the Jews of Persia from a really nasty guy named Haman. The holiday is defined by frivolity and celebration. Kids dress up; adults get drunk; and, being a Jewish holiday, good food is made, shared, and consumed.

Max helped me make amazing Orange-Chocolate Hamantaschen cookies which we folded into the shape of a triangle to remind us of Haman's triangular hat.




The boys broke out some old Halloween costumes to wear to the Rock and Roll Purim celebration at the synagogue.




The service was really good fun for everyone -- lots of silly songs (Rabbi Bloom and a congregant dressed as King Achashverosh and Queen Esther and performed a rousing rendition of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You, Babe" renamed "I Like Jews, Babe" for this particular occasion). The boys enjoyed shaking their groggers (noise makers) whenever Haman's name was mentioned. Henry may have had more fun than anyone. He danced with me in the aisles and enthusiastically yelled "Boo, Haman!" at both appropriate and inappropriate moments.


We're looking forward to our next big holiday, Passover, which falls just after Henry's birthday in a few weeks. Whoo! March is going to be a busy month...