La, La, La, La, La, La, La Means I Love You!

Dear Henry,

The mornings with you are precious. I hope Mommy and Daddy never lose the memories of your warm body in pj's with feet and dinosaurs.


Good Morning Buster,

Love, Mama

Video killed the Blogosphere star

Not really Henry, I just couldn't think of a catchy title for your first video blog entry.



I hope this works!

Love, Daddy.

Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. Personality Has Arrived!

Dear Henry,

Sometime last week your personality found its way into your body. Not that you were a lifeless lump, boring and limp until last week but all at once it was as if a lightening bolt zapped you into animation. I have already mentioned the incident with the paintbrushes and water... this was just the impetus to all of the new changes. Perhaps you are meant to be a famous painter and the brushes in your hands and the hope of a canvas was an awakening for you to find your purpose. You babble and talk like it is a race to get everything out, you're playing with toys now and go after them, you can crawl about six inches, you can sit by yourself for at least 14 seconds, you decided yesterday to roll over from your back to your belly and haven't stopped, you are blowing spit soaked raspberries, you said Mama aloud and in sign language!!!!, with some reliability you crudely sign and say I love you and you are growin' out of your 3 month clothes. You were getting SO hungry even after many 8 oz bottles in a day we've started to give you cereal about once a day. Somehow you knew exactly what to do the first time. The second cereal time was with Grandma P. When some would get on your chin she would scoop it up with her finger and you would go at her finger like a feral dog! No worries Fido, there will always be enough food for you. You have honed a sense of humor and smile like you've won the lotto and enjoy making up games and laughing at yourself. The games are not really sophisticated but they certainly show you're thinking and are aware of the world. For instance, today I was riding in the back of the van with you and you grabbed my index finger and started putting it in your mouth, sucking on it twice, you then took it out, looked at it, look at me, you would smile and then laugh. You did this over and over again until you decided to switch to my middle finger. You give me these silly little grins that make you look like Porky Pig or the Piggly Wiggly mascot. It is almost too much to take when you laugh and giggle with all of your body making your shoulders scrunch up into your jowls while wrinklin' your little pug nose.


This past week you had your first experiences in a swimming pool and hot tub. You are so open to new experiences and so you didn't even wince in the water.




You floated around and babbled with Great Auntie Glo, Crappaw and Mommy like your big secret is that you're amphibian and it feels nice to return to the water once again. You didn't cry to get out, you didn't freak if water moved around you or you got a little on your face. I know someday this might change, especially as you develop an awareness that there are things to fear but, for now, I like this consistent trait of Henry. It makes it so pleasant to be around you, for Mommy and Daddy and for others. This easy goin' thing also means your opportunities will be broader because Mommy and Daddy will lack anxiety over taking you to new activities. It is a relief to not have to walk on egg shells filled with worry about what might set you off.

We just love you more and more and more and more and more every day. So does everyone else. Your sweetness diffuses into the air like a sugary cotton candy perfume and I'm drawn to you. It is hard not to snatch you out of the bed at night and cuddle you up. Daddy has to convince me to leave you alone so you can get rest, but I don't want to!

Another emerging part of your worldly awareness is the increase in your fear. You still hold it together, keepin' true to your cool as cucumber self but a sharp noise you can't see and your face frowns. You look to Daddy or Mommy for some reassurance. If you can't quite make out if you're in the clear right away you might let out a mighty 20 second howl then you suck it up and calm down on your own. Sometimes you'll even be stuck between being scared but keepin' the smile on your face. A frown smile war takes over your expression until you get the okay from us. This is way too cute when you do this and we jump to make it all better so you don't have to lose that sloppy pink smile. Last night I laid you in your room to start your sleep and I turned off the light and I could see the ambient light from the hall gleamin' in your peepers. Your expression was a priceless beam of "uh, uh, Mommy I don't know about this dark thing," and, "aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh, boy am I tired and this bed feels good." When your expression returned to calm I said, "I love you Peep Peep," and left you to your dreams. I came to check on you less than 5 minutes later and you were down for the count with your arms surrendered above your head.

I can't wait for what tomorrow brings from you. But stay tuned Henry, I'm sure Mommy will share it here and trust me when I say these first months will be much easier for you to read about than the teen years.

Did I mention you also have finger toes like Mommy?

Ble ble ble ble that's all folks,
Love Mommy

Waking the Baby Lyuba, Sleep the Baby Henry

Dear Henry,

This April Mommy received in the mail the May 2009 issue of National Geographic, a gift that Grandma La Jean subscribes to for me every year. The issue featured a story about a baby mammoth, named Lyuba. She was found nearly completely intact after laying in an icy river bed for nearly 40,000 years pickled by the microbes in the water. Mommy was WAY excited to read the article but had a hard time finding enough time to read it. The issue would sit on Mommy's side table and I would long to read the article and make promises to myself, "yes, in fact, tonight would be the night." Slowly Lyuba's story would unfold to me. I would quickly flip to see the photos one day, the next day read the captions, and then finally I found the time and focus to read the article. Since Mommy has read this story I can't get it out of my thoughts!

I can't get out of my head that she was the first healthy baby mammoth found. "Well, if she was so healthy how did Lyuba die," you ask? Well, you know it isn't going to be good.

She was likely near the water and became stuck in the mud and sucked mud into her baby trunk that she couldn't get out. She violently flailed and likely even broke part of her face trying to get the mud out. I'll leave that part right there... It makes me feel teary and it is the thing of my nightmares. Since reading this story Mommy checks on you more frequently through the night, especially if you had a bottle near bed time.

The second part of Lyuba's story makes it even more gut wrenching to think of her mommy. The day Lyuba died her mommy had gone about doing everything important to keep her alive and healthy, as she had every day the entire month that summed up to be hear life. Scientists know this because her stomach was full of milk and feces. Okay to us, poop does not sound like an appealing part of the diet but for Lyuba's mommy it was essential to preparing her baby's stomach for an herbivore lifestyle. They also knew Lyuba's health was consistent because of the thick fat hump they could see at the back of her neck. Now, this part made me really tear up and feel sad. I looked over at you laying on the floor and thought my Henry has a nice fat hump on his neck too!


At that moment I really felt for Lyuba's mommy. She was just a mammoth mommy trying to help her baby live a healthy happy life and tragedy struck. I know, as your mommy, I have to watch out for you carefully and not get lax about keepin' you in my line of sight at all times. I would never want anything to happen to our baby Henry. Who would have thought I would have such feelings for a mammoth and her mommy that lived 40,000 years ago! I can't lie, I check your little fat hump daily to make sure it is still there. It is cute but can get smelly if I don't constantly clean the lint and milk residue out of it.

I tell ya Henry, your Mommy is a little nerdy but I have a big heart and I don't care if a mommy was a mammoth mommy or a penguin mommy (I will spare you my feelings about the story of the mommy and daddy penguins that lose their egg on the long journey to get their baby hatched) they are all mommies like your Mommy and only want their babies to thrive and grow up to be parents too.

All those sad parts aside, I hope that some day you have a love for history and archeology too. I have so much I want to share with you.

Love your, Woolly Momma

Daddy's first Daddy's Day!

Dear Henry,

Another special day with you. Big deal right? Every post Mommy makes she says something about it being a very special day. Well, I just can't help it Henry. Every day since you came along has been a little more special and today is no exception. Today is Papa's first Father's Day! We started off the day by going to church together. You were a little gentleman as always in your little checked button up and blue overalls. When Mommy went for communion you came too and Father Bob gave you a blessing and to repay him for the gesture you threw out a huge giggly smile to him. Daddy held you most of the time cozily in the crook of his arm. Toward the end of mass Father Bob gave recognition and a blessing prayer to all of the fathers and Mommy's eyes were a tad misty; partly because this was Daddy's first Father's Day and partly for the grey-haired wrinkly men present alone with their wives because their babies were off having their own lives and party for those who are still waiting for their first day. Those old men had their first Father's Day long ago, just as you will have your first someday far ahead. Mommy felt so proud to be there with her two guys. I am pretty certain Daddy was proud to be with us.

So... for your first Father's Day you honored Daddy three ways....

1. On Friday we had fresh warm cookies from Baked! delivered to Daddy at work as a surprise. We also went to have lunch with him.

2. On Wednesday we were sneaky and went to Latest Glaze and made Daddy his first Daddy mug, complete with your footprint. You LOVED this. I took your Bumbo to sit you in so you could be a part of the painting process.

I gave you two big fluffy brushes, which you enjoyed wielding around. At one point I looked up at you to smile at your loud coo's and your face was super wet! I thought, "Man! You're really droolin' up a storm!"

I wiped your face dry and went back to painting. Then I figured out why your face was so wet! You had discovered in less then five mintues that you could dip your brush in the clean bowl of
water next to you and paint all over your face. You were in love with this but Mommy did not know if this was such a good idea and when I moved the bowl away you were not phased. You stretched your lil' arms out and over and dipped that brush anyway and went to touchin' it on your toes and legs. It was cool because it was the first really independent meaningful action I've seen you take. It served a purpose with a clear cause and effect. You have a brain that is rapidly developing so I'm not sure why this shocks me so much. In that moment of laughing at you a sad lil' twist found it's way in. You're growin' up already?

So, we were painting Daddy's mug...Mommy chose a bright blue on the outside a medium green on the inside, dark brown letters, a greenish teal footprint, and greenish blue stars. We marked the inside bottom with a heart and all of our first initials. We unsuccessfully tried to ad a footprint on the inside but as soon as I stuck your foot down in the mug you started wigglin' it around. There turned out one big toe mark and a chaos of brown. I think it will look lovely, even with the dancing foot inside! We have to pick it up on Monday. That was the quickest firing time they had. It was fun doing this with you and we will definitely do it again.

3. The last thing we did was put a Father's Day ad in the local newspaper letting Daddy know that we love him. It is super cute and Daddy was touched that his Leetha and Taquito thought to honor him in the official record so.

Now Daddy is nappin' out back while listening to his I Pod and you're hanging out on your blanket with your duckies. Mommy is going to have some cream of wheat before going to a parallel parking contest at the Greek's. Too bad Daddy doesn't have his van yet to drive. He is the best parallel parker I've ever seen. One smooth move into the spot! One smooth move out.

I love you,
Mommy

Everything is Just Duckie!

Dear Henry,

Mommy has a couple of posts this weekend that are just because we were goofin' around together taking photos. Last weekend we had dinner per invite at Grandma P's and Crappaw's. Grandma P got out a little rubber duckie and you LOVED THAT DUCKIE (a post to be added later). The next day while playing at home Mommy remembered that some nice people from Daddy's work gave you a big rubber duckie with baby duckies that ride on the back. So cute!
I put you in a yellow duckie outfit, laid you on the duckie blanket Great Auntie Linda Lou made you and you went to work. You kicked about, shouted all kinds of commands at those baby ducks, and went after them with gusto.

In the above photo you can even see a little motion blur your sweet baby legs kickin'. You pushed them around the blanket with your hands, tried to gnaw at their bills and then just got so plain tired you laid your head down right there and fell fast asleep. I love watching you play and wear yourself out. It is what a growin' boy should have the opportunity to do every single day!

Mommy and Daddy made note this week that your eyelashes are really growing and on closer inspection of the above photo they are starting to resemble the long wisps of the duckie on the right. I know Mommy's friend Barbie is going to love these couple of duckies posts because rubber duckies are one of her favorite things.

Henry, you're one of my favorite things.

I QUACK Love you,
Mama duck

High Chair is Right!

Dear Henry,

Mommy cleaned the garage out last week and decided to bring the high chair that Uncle Gary and Aunt Michelle loaned you into the kitchen. Cousin Johnny wasn't super happy about the high chair leaving his house but he got over it when he realized he didn't want to sit in it like a baby does. Not to worry Henry, it is perfectly natural for a baby to sit in a high chair...and you are still a baby.

Case in point....
I wanted to see where you are in terms of fitting the high chair and on a scale of 1-10... 10 being, "super fit! but tomorrow you might grow out of it," you made it in at a 1.5. I give you the .5 because you could see over the food tray. It will be a fun high chair once you fit because of its four casters it will be easy for Daddy and Mommy to push your little butt around to wherever we choose to put you. Of course I added a couple of photos for the growth records.

Love you Peep Peep,
Mommy

G_GREAT! E_EGADS! D_DANG!

Dear Henry,

Today we were in Indy so Daddy could get the measurements laid out for his new driving system in his new van and I received the most exciting call!

If you remember many weeks ago we took J to sign up for the GED? Well, today I got a call around 2:00. It was J! She was beside herself with excitement and she shouted into the phone, "I got my GED results back and I PASSED!!! I PASSED!!! and I passed with good scores!"

She read out the document in a very official tone and told me how she just could not believe she finally had it completed!

I told her how proud I am of her and how I am so excited I am near tears. I told Daddy and he was super happy too. J was very nervous about the test and even called Mommy halfway through for a quick Social Studies study session.

Education is so important to Mommy and Daddy, as well as the rest of the world. The pursuit of learning and knowledge are far more important than grades or book smarts, but our world requires us to demonstrate that we have a certain level of knowledge in order to get considered for even basic jobs. The more education or training you have the more likely you are to be your own boss during the work day. You also up the chances of doing something you are really passionate about. J has dreams for her future and earning her GED is many steps closer towards the realization of those dreams.

We are so proud of her and excited because this is something she has wanted for herself for so long. I had to spread the good news too and mark the day in your lil' blog history for you.

Love you, Mommy

PS and here is a photo of you and Daddy :)

Indiana IAC Annual Picnic

Dear Henry,

Sunday we all attended our first Independent Adoption Center Picnic. Daddy and Mommy were really excited about taking you.


When we were trying to get you here through the doctor, year after year passed and the clinic would have a picnic that we were not invited to. NOW, We have you and we were invited to this picnic. There were other parents who found their babies through adoption, those still waiting for theirs to arrive as well as many birth family members. Our Bloomington support group all came too. J and the boys wanted to come too but we didn't hear back from J until two days later. Mommy was worried. She had to get a kidney stone blasted! She wasn't able to call us. We have plans to all attend next year though.





There were lots of extremely good lookin' families there. Your buddy Lily was there too. I didn't hold you much that day because you were passed around like a hot potato. The heat was really zappin' you and Lily out so you were pretty docile and allowed everyone a good cuddle.

A man came with some animals. At first I didn't think we would go take a look but all the kids were squealing so much I could not resist. The man had a bag and pulling a snake out and on kids said, "I want to go home." At the end of his presentation the animal man allowed all of the kids to come and pet the animals. I took you over to pet the bunnies, hedge hog and the snake. You liked the hedge hog and twinkled your fingers in his bristly hairs. The animal man took one look at you and commented on how handsome you are and called you a "sweet little nugget." I agreed and told him you were so sweet it was hard not to eat you sometimes.

We went back to the shelter to visit with the others for a while and met a couple of cool guys from Cincinnati that are just starting out their journey. They thought you were super handsome and enjoyed getting to hold you. They switched back and forth with you and Lily and it started to rain REALLY hard so we decided this was our cue to get out of the park before we got soaked. We said our see ya later's and headed over to Columbus for dinner at Grandma P's and Crappaw's and a visit to Grandma La Jean's and Great Grandma Hazel's.










It sure was great getting to go to our first picnic and Mommy looks forward to many more with my little peep peep.

Love,
Mommy

VAN-tastic

Dear Henry,

When you were just five weeks old we had a little accident about a mile away from Crappaw's and Grandma P's. I have photos but I'll spare you. Well, because our van was older and the repair cost out weighed the van's worth we had to purchase a new van. There are only two styles that would work for Daddy's tall stature so we settled on a Honda Odyssey.

It is going to be a sweet ride for you to grow up in. Daddy got a moon roof and leather seats. It is very grown up. We are excited to go on more visits. This will also mean that soon we will be able to go and meet J Mom, your birth grandmother, who has been waiting VERY patiently for us to get our transportation back. Here are a few photos from when we last saw the van at Superior Van and Mobility.

So just a couple of more weeks and the new van will be home. For now we have a rental.

Love,
Mommy