Who's Da Birfday Boy? Who's Da Birfday Boy? Its YOU, Its YOU, You're Da Birfday Boy

Dear Henry, 
You've made it an entire year and we didn't kill you!  All appendages, fingers and toes remain intact.  Sickness wise you've only had one ear infection and the croup, which lasted a relatively short time compared to the health professional's estimates.  In the plus column we've even managed to nurture an addition of 17.5 lbs, an extension of 8.5 inches in body length, a toupee-ish mound of hair, and 8 teeth with 3 molars surfacing like volcanic islands as I type.  Your skills astound us.  With very capable walking legs, the worlds quietest hand claps, exuberant waves and a bag full of new words you wield with happy pleasure your bright eyed and entertaining.  Your vocabulary consists regularly of dog, no, shoe, stop, don't, Mommy, Mama, Dada, Daddy, fish, moo, cheese, cute, banana, more, stuck, duck, spoon, bye bye, up, down, I did not, oh!, done, dirt, GO!, yep, Jo or Jo Jo (for J) and some others I've forgotten.  You select books and hand them to me so your hands are free to climb your warm body onto my lap.  You love to shake maracas, beat on drums, hold your stuffed animals like they are your babies showering them with kisses and smiles, and you love to eat.  In fact, you're exactly as we dreamed of all of those years that sometimes we question if our dreams were so passionate and powerful that we magically made you appear.

So, what did we do to celebrate the big 1!!!  We had friends and family gather at Max's Place in Bloomington for pizza, cake and conversation.  It was a really special time to be with both of our families, our support group friends, and our Bloomington friends....

I know Henry! You're like, "What about J and the boys?"  Well, Mommy really screwed that up.  While your birthday is actually March 9th, your get together was February 27th because of Crappaw's new hip installation on March 3rd.  I had been texting and e-mailing J over the last month and saying how much we would love to have her there blah blah blah.  J had sent Mommy an e-mail getting directions and info and said, "It's March 27th right?"  Sigh.  Mommy didn't catch that she said MARCH and kept sending her things saying, "See You the 27th!"   Boo to Mommy and if you want to give me a swift kick in the shins then I understand...the day of and hour before after Mommy texted to J, "I can't wait to see you tonight," she texted saying, "I don't think we can come. We thought it was March 27th."  Double sigh!  I'm sorry to you and to her, as she expressed excitement about joining us all.  She wished us a great time anyway and Mommy sucked it up.  

This didn't overshadow the evening...you had 55 guests! Yep! That is A LOT for such a little boy but you're already super special to everyone.  I'm sure you can guess what your theme was...did you guess robots?!  Of course you did, and you are correct.  Mommy had bargain shopped Target when you were a month old stocking up on robot gift bags, plates and napkins for a buck each! Score!  We had a cake designed with a robot and orange and blue icing.  

 White icing would have been too boring for a cool dude like yourself.  Daddy and Grandpa Tim made all of the guests a 1" robot button with "Henry's 1st Birthday, 03-09-09"  printed on the edges.  They look sharp!  We ordered a bunch of pizzas, guests arrive and voila! a party!  Your friends and family are very generous and talented...it was the best crop of gifts 

 Mommy has ever witnessed.  From personalized towels, super cool books, stylish hats, a jack in the box sock monkey, hand painted robot picture frame, homemade biscuits, a vintage pull snoopy, your own little lawn chair, a game mat, blocks, puzzles, a little lap desk, Alphabet Care Bear, a crazy rolling cat, a stuffed fat cell and platelet, handmade stuffed monster pillow, handmade stained glass robot and a trunk with hand drawn pictures and handmade sea life with a magnet fishing pole. 
The highlight was by far singing happy birthday and seeing you eat your cake.  I'm pretty certain all attendees would agree.  We sat you in your booster seat at the end of the table and put the little smash cake in front of you with candles blazing.  

Doug had to keep moving the cake back inch by inch as your arm stretched GO! GO! Gadget style in an attempt to get more icing on your finger.  Like a little paint brush your finger first picked up the blue icing and you swiped it across your face making you look like the Joker.  Peter and I could not stop laughing!  After JD and Max helped you blow out your candles you broke loose with fist fulls of icing  and cake.  You were still not feeling 100% but you wouldn't have known it.  You shared bites with those around you.  Just as I was wondering how long before I should stop you I heard Lori say, "Oh man I can't wait until he throws that up."  I looked at your face and you stopped for a split second and had that look on your face like the kid on Stand By Me right before the barf-o-rama.  Mommy called off your cake eating as you heaved in another breath to prepare for another fist full.  

Cousin Wendy grabbed you and we hauled you off to the bathroom for clean up.  

It took 4 of us to get you clean.  Your face had a mask of now green brown icing.  We showed you how you looked in the mirror and after a few seconds you realized it was you and an astonished expression popped onto your face.

It was a lot of fun to have a first party for you Peep.  I know you won't remember the details but you little souls will remember the feelings of love for you that day.  

 Grandpa Tim drove all the way up from Florida, people came from Columbus and Indianapolis.  

 Jmom posted on facebook a "happy birthday Henry" and J posted one on myspace.  Uncle Gary and Auntie Michele wanted to come but needed to be here for Crappaw's surgery a few days later, but they brought lots of clothes and toys for you to choose from.  Love everywhere for you.  On your actual birthday, March 9th, the three of us had a quiet birthday at home.  
What a wonderful way to celebrate!
Love, Mommy