The Line Up and More Henry

In case you were wondering, there are several reasons why we don't send out Christmas cards. (Besides my slackerness...) One, because when I say, "Go stand by the Christmas tree so I can take a picture," they all go line up, suspect-like, against the very blank white wall that is, technically, by the Christmas tree, but not near enough for anything but the shadow of the tree to actually be in the picture with them...



Next, because they all have their statements to make, none of which are, "I can smile nicely like a happy-at-Christmas child." (Calvin: "I just lost a tooth." Henry: "I love my newest talking plush." Charlie: "Heh. I dare you to say I'm not cute.")



And finally, which probably doesn't need mentioned because of it's obviousness, but it is that our pajama / cute Christmas attire is severely lacking. Namely, in long enough tops and actual pants.



(Charlie's aunt does rock, though.)

Ah well. Maybe someday.

I ended my last post with Henry, but I have more to say...

I've been obsessing about Henry lately - partly because I think he and I are in the same boat adjustment-wise, and partly because in general I'm always worried that he is getting middle-child-ed and needs a little extra TLC.

His behavior has been quite out of control very frequently since we moved and I want to figure out what I can do. It's been tricky! Lately, though, I feel like we might be turning the corner (knock on wood...)and things are getting better. But even if that's not true, he luckily still comes up with loveable things to keep me glad to be his mom.

He told me last night: "I just wanted to love on you all day, Mom. Can I sit on your lap?"

A little while ago he got hurt and started crying pretty hard and when I asked him what happened, he said, "Calvin...he thought I was, like, an hour away from the door...but I was only an inch away! And he pushed it shut, real hard, so the doorknob hit me right in the head!!!!" (Incidentally, he never wants Calvin to get in trouble. He always softens what Calvin did or makes an explanation like this one.)

Tonight he fell asleep too late for a nap and too early for bed and then woke up and wanted snuggled. He was coughing, coughing, coughing and I asked him about three or four times if he was sure he didn't want any cough medicine. (FYI, getting him to swallow cough medicine without a stainy spew incident is tricky and since the medicine isn't a cure, I let him choose these days. We've been fighting the fight for a week and a half. I'm done. He prefers incessant hacking over yicky syrup. What can I do?) Anyway, I asked again if he was sure he didn't want any cough medicine and he said, "I'm sure, Mom. But why is the humidifier not set up?" Ahem. I'll get on that right away, sir.

He was exactly 4 1/2 years old yesterday. I don't really have any fun traditions for half birthdays, but he got a kick out of it when I told him that after today, he was closer to five than four. And I told him that next time he has a half birthday, we'll have half a cake and sing half a song. He said, "No. I don't want half. I want the middle. It's in the middle of my birthdays and I'm the middle boy. So I want the middle of the cake and you can sing the middle of the song."

That's my boy, taking his half out of the middle.

He's going to be just fine.