Thursday, May 27, 2010

Henry Be Shoppin'

Dear Henry, 
As a little girl I stayed home with my mommy too, your Grandma P.  One of our "things" was to go to the grocery store and she would pack up my little fisher price shopping cart so I could shop too.  As I grew a little older she would tell me something to get and with her close by I would find it and put it in my little cart.  Last week we went over to Grandma P's and she and Crappaw were cleaning out the attic.  One of the found treasures was my little shopping cart...something Daddy and I were just talking about a few days before.  We brought it home with us and gave it a test drive in front of the house.  You seemed to enjoy pushing it so that night when we went to the grocery I loaded it up in my car.  You made your first 
pass through the grocery and seemed to love it, especially when I put something new into it.  One would have thought there was a celebrity in the grocery the way heads were turning, fingers were pointing and oooh's and aaaah's were released.  It was a weird feeling for me.  I have to say part of me felt little again watching you with my little cart.  I thought of the fun I had being home with my mommy.  See Peep, I can remember being that little girl and thinking how great my mommy is and that I can't wait to be a mommy too. I hope that you someday think on the speck of years we get to spend our entire days and nights together with happiness and contentment.  As for this 30 minutes in the grocery, it was one of the most exciting days of my life. 
Love, Mama

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Playin' at Crappaw's and Grandma P's

Dear Henry, 
A visit to the grandparent's compound always proves to be a lot of fun for you, for Mommy it turns my two hands to six.  I can hear you articulate "gwamama" for both Crappaw and 
Grandma P, which nobody loves too much.  This past visit Crappaw took you on a tractor ride, gave you a shoulder ride, you played with some of Mommy's old toys, you surveyed the yard, went in the hot tub, and played in the water hose.  I'm not sure what else we could have jammed into a day.  Crappaw was clearly worn our and was all but pleading with you to take a little nap...but you're a go go go kind of kid and a nap doesn't usually happen very easily with so much to do.
Here are some pictures to remember it by.  I had a hard time choosing my favorites so I just posted them all.
 Love, Mommy 

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Book Worm

Dear Henry, 
Before I was mom I was Miss. Foldenauer, Mrs. Thompson or Mrs. T, and then Lisa while teaching roughly 925 students (plus all of the ones that I subbed for) over 10 years.  I loved teaching but we dreamed of having kids.  One thing I observed as a teacher and experienced in my own life that made all the difference was not only an ability to read but a love of reading.  Mommy has great memories of sitting with Crappaw and Grandma P reading in front of the fireplace or being surrounded by books in my bed, drifting to sleep dreaming of the stories and pictures I had just immersed myself in.  Even as a teenager Uncle Gary and I read through out the summer.  I still love to read and usually have at least two books going at any one time.  When Daddy and I knew you were coming we talked about how important reading is to us.  As a teacher I know how it can keep you engaged, develop your imagination and keep your skills progressing and as a person I know it can enrich your sense of the world and others.  So when people looked at me like I was crazy because at three weeks you had your first library visit signing up for you first library card I didn't flinch.  At 1 year 2 months you love reading.  You can sit through books with longer stories already, sometimes 2 or three.  You bring books to me and hop up in my lap with such excitement you usually bonk your head to mine.  
Most times you'll return a book to the shelf after reading it.  You even enjoy spending 20 minutes or more sitting on my lap reading through the National Geographic with me.  You get REALLY excited over the pictures and will point out the things you know, such as dog, water, and babies.  Often you choose books over toys.  You're our little book worm and I love it.  The other day you ran off and I went to find you and there you were...reading in the window light.
Love, Mama

Friday, May 21, 2010

Buddy Hang Outs

Dear Henry, 
After Ruby Doobie Doobie's 4th birthday at the gymnastic center you took your buddy Devo to try it out with you.  You've been back a couple of times in fact!  You love it, but Devo couldn't stop giggling and shouting.  It was a fun time watchin' ya crawl around the foam, not to mention it is a good work out for the Mommies.

You've also returned to Wonder Lab with Devo.  As always, the water was the highlight for the kidos and for the parents we love smooshin' your tiny bodies into the board with all of the straws to create hilarious impressions of you (a la Han Solo in carbonite).  I couldn't stop laughing at Devo's, his mouth open and arms stretched up.  You seem to know each other now and will play next to each other and hand off objects to each other, or sometimes I could more accurately say take objects from each other.  Daddy Michael says this is good! It is one step closer to playing together. hahaha.
A few days later we went to the mall to play look at the puppies and to ride on the little cars they have there. (It was raining)  You two sat next to each other on the horse and the cars like old pals.  Nice!
You boys are so much fun.
 Love you!
Mommy

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Super Peep

Dear Super Peep, 
You are dynamic in a cape.  You seem to want to whisk around, go faster and higher with it around your neck.  You have been very curious since day one but after mastering your legs you've become a consummate explorer.  On a recent walk you found a walking stick, per usual.  You took the walking stick, as many perusers before you, perching at the sidewalk's edge to probe into the grass to determine its depth or to flip over a pine cone stranded on the cement.  I imagine great adventures playing out in your head, your cape bringing you a heap of courage to tackle the great plains deep grasses discerning if a 
 rattler lay in wait for your juicy flesh, creeping through a dangerous jungle or perhaps prodding at a stream to uncover hidden treasure.  
You run, dodge and skitter out of our reach time and again.  We have to really hustle to keep up with you now in order to monitor each thing you pick up to weigh if it is save or dangerous for your eyes, mouth, or stomach. 
Alas, as we make it around the last corner till home your energy reserves empty and Daddy shuttles you the last half block to the familiar cozy of your bed for a nap before dinner.  You're so much fun.


Love, Mommy

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Puddles

Dear Henry, 
It is clear.  You love water.  You find the smallest bits to play in with great fervor.  You splash it, tap dance in it, soak yourself, sputter, slurp it, pour it, poke it, smack it, and don't mind if water wallops you in the face.   Water will be a reoccurring theme in the next few posts.  I liked this one from the playground last week.
 Love, Mommy

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Child Labor Laws; All Babies Should Work!

Dear Henry, 
In recent weeks you've become my working buddy.  I mentioned in a previous post how I must challenge myself to give you tasks to do.  I have good reasons other than being lazy.  Four reasons...1.  You love it when I give you tasks to do.  2.  It builds trust between us (if I ask you to do something it must mean I think you're a capable little dude.)  3.  You're my buddy and I love you beside me.  4.  YOU CAN!  Why should I pick the blocks up for the 20th time today when you can? 

So big work duties this week?  I have you carry your own diaper when we go to the library in your very own stylish vintage Star Wars back pack.  Mommy bought this at a garage sale for a buck to give Daddy about 14 years ago.  Little did I know that our little boy would carry it one day... well actually we must have known as we kept it in pristine condition.  I rewarded you with a muffin from Bloomington Bagel.  Although I haven't posted about it I must mention that you LOVE muffins almost as much as that sticky stinky thumb you suck.
I also have you dusting.  You LOVE dusting.  Oh my god do you love dusting!  I use a long duster and you have a short one following behind me making sure I don't miss anything.  When I said that we are all done it wasn't enough.  You started dusting the floor.  Right on Hen!  I love a workin' buddy that shows initiative.  
Love, Mommy

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mother' Day

Dear Henry,
I'm yo mama!  Happy mudder's day to me!
How fortunate I am!
Love, your mather

Friday, May 7, 2010

Birthmother's Day

Saturday is Birthmother's Day (here are couple of links to explain.)  Birthmother's Day was created by a group of Seattle women who have placed children for adoption as a way to remember, acknowledge, educate about all members of the adoption triad.  Not all birthmothers were given the opportunity to choose an open adoption...open adoption can be considered anything from knowing the adoptive parent's first names, choosing the adoptive parents, getting photos and letter updates, to frequent visits, and full name and address disclosure.  For our family it feels right to be in each other's lives.  Time may pass and spread between visits, calls or e-mails but the bond doesn't dissipate.  Our lives just move forward.
The months leading up to your birth and those precious fleeting moments at the hospital where it was just the four of us were so intimate and life altering.  We all quickly decided that you are something special.  When J says things like she believes that you are an angel God sent to her to make us parents,  it is humbling.  For the most part the details of your story we keep private, not because there is shame involved quite the opposite.  
We want it to be something special for us to share with you in the same intimate way in which we grew to know J and met you.  It will be your choice what you want to tell people.  It took an enormous amount of trust for J to place you with us.  It is a ginormous honor to be chosen to be your family and trusted to do our best to provide, protect and love your precious soul with the world before you.  Love is powerful.  
There are days when I look at you and I feel reduced to dust by the weight of love I feel for you.  An example of this, tonight after our walk Daddy and I sat by the curb in front of our house watching you work your baby legs up and down the curb,little grunts huffing out from with in your froggy belly.  You worked really hard to climb the curb, to turn around and to sit down like me.  You let out a subtle sigh and rested your hands on your knees with a shoulder shrug quite pleased with yourself.  Only about 20 seconds in the entirety of your life but Daddy and I were melted.  Again, in a simple glance to each other our happiness of finally becoming parents and thus our gratitude to J was communicated and reiterated.  We love being a mom and dad, more importantly we LOVE being your mom and dad.
We love you so completely.  
 
Love, 
Mama

A Day at the Park


Dear Henry, Our good friend Mommy Heather invited us to the park for Sylvie and Etienne's first swing. We met over at Cascades Park.  You wereclearly happy to run around and to swing.  Sylvie was the first up in the swing while Etienne slept in the stroller.  Then Etienne woke up!  Mommy Heather being the nice mom that she is gave them each their own turn first.  Then,  thankfully, the babies fit back to back in a single swing so Mommy Heather was able to push them.  Just fitting in one swing was not the only logistic to figure out for the twins...but who got face time with their mom became a game of switch-a-roo. 

Mommy Heather would make funny faces with one while the other was trying to figure out

where she went, then just as one would start to whine she'd jump to the other side! Back and forth... You just took it in stride and wanted me to push you higher.  It was a fun time.  The moms were able to chit chat and the babies all got to play and get some fresh air. 

Then I received a call from J.  She was in town visiting Daddy's office to get a new social security card because she and IB got MARRIED over the weekend.  We are so happy for her.  She hopes to have a more grand soiree in October but they woke up one morning and couldn't
wait another day so they went to the courthouse to make it official.    
I told her that we were hanging out at the park and if they didn't have many errands we would love to see her before they went home.  She texted back that she'd love to meet us!  So we hung out at the park with Heather and the babies and just as the babies rounded out their final minute of swinging and Hungryburgh called J, IB and their friend showed up. With you in my arms as J and I ran towards each other and gave
the tightest hug and a peck on the cheek.  It had been about 3 months since our last visit.  She pulled back to get a good look at ya and you touched her nose with a big smile.  Touching people's noses seems to be your newest greeting and J loved it as much as we do.   
She marveled at your curls and remarked how the color was totally her natural color. 
When I found out they had never been back to the waterfall at Cascades we went on a short hike to see it.  The dudes enjoyed exploring around while we helped you play in the water.  
 On the way back you showed J how you can pick flowers and smell them.  
It was such a nice warm visit we had a great time getting to play outdoors together.  The marriage isn't the only news in J's live... Just this week I answered another exciting call from J.  She had some questions...drumroll...her FASFA form came back with enough grant money to go to a local college to attend nursing classes.  WAHOOO!  There are a few hoops to jump through still but the ball is rolling for classes in late May or starting in the fall.  We are so proud of her and she has a lot to be proud of herself.  Less then two minutes after our visit you conked out in the back seat.  I had to go  the grocery and when I arrived and started to get you out I lifted your head to find zipper marks from your hoodie and drool rollin' down to your chin.  The sign of a good day!
Love, 
Mama