Houdini

Dear Peep, 
Tonight your two cousins Jonny (5) and Tony (15) are staying over.  You are so excited that they are hanging out for a couple of days.  The first hour we were home you ran around the house chasing Jonny while yelling his name.  Little by little however, I saw little signs from you today that you needed Mama a little more after some attention competition crept into your territory.  You needed Mama to get you up from your nap.  You threw a major out of the blue fit at dinner and ...drum roll please!....YOU CLIMBED OUT OF YOUR CRIB FOR THE FIRST TIME!  Your bed time routine has been a snap since about 5 weeks.  We do our thing, you lay down, cuddle your blankets and you go to sleep.  Tonight, with Jonny asleep next to your crib in the big boy bed you apparently felt restless.  Mommy, Daddy and cousin Tony were in the basement watching a movie when about 20 minutes after we put you down I hear feet pattering....bam, bam, bam, bam down the stairs.  I don't see Jonny's head as he comes into the basement room.  Huh?  Then I see a bright shiny face smiling at me quite proud of himself and it is Henry!  What the heck.  I ask you if Jonny got you out of your crib. "He's upstairs."  Ok, so how did you get down here?  I go upstairs looking for Jonny only to find him asleep in your big boy bed sawin' logs.  Mama gives you an incredulous look!  What!?! You got out of bed yourself and came all the way down stairs on your own?!  What the hell am I supposed to do now?  I put you back to bed and for 15 consecutive times you get your buns right back out and are at my heals before I can even walk to the living room.  Finally, I try the Super Nanny method of sitting quietly in the room and inching my way out.  It worked!  But what is going to happen tomorrow night?  I started to think about why it happened tonight.  I thought about your previous unusual outbursts and thought perhaps you were having an escape response.  You were worrying about Jonny sleepin' in your bed and the attention the other two boys may be getting so you needed that extra attention and this was enough motivation to get ya out.  Whatever the reason I am a little freaked out not knowing what the next few weeks will bring.  Plus, there is a little burning spot in my heart between the place my baby used to hold and the place this new big boy is to inhabit.  You won't stop growing and learning so I had better get used to it.  We love you peep.
Love, Mama

JoJo, T and Jmom Get a Thompson Visit

Dear Peep, 

I am forever grateful for the on-going  relationship we work on having with JoJo, your birth mom.  Not everyone gets to have such a unique and close relationship...even some children who join their families through adoption like yourself.  Sometimes adoptions are closed, or sort of open...Every time we have a visit I appreciate the honesty, friendship, bond and happiness it brings to see JoJo and the boys.  Even as JoJo's life is currently under construction and going through some heavy changes our relationship stays positive and happy.  Some people don't understand our desire for openness and contact, but then they haven't met JoJo, and they weren't placed with the special honor of a loving and caring for such a handsome, smart baby that turned out to be you either, so it could be hard to understand I suppose.  How could we not do everything for you?  How could we not give you the gift of knowing about all parts of yourself?  We are all family.  I love that JoJo sees us grow as a family, that we share moments together.  She has seen (and laughed at me) that I can handle you calmly when ya throw a fit in the middle of the restaurant and scream.  She has enjoyed you telling her you want to hold her hand or to sit by her  only to swipe her fries.  We also saw Jmom on this visit (JoJo's mom)...what is better than surprising someone to tears of happiness just by showing our little faces at her work.  

She immediately retrieved cookies for you and Tommy and nearly got hit by a car rushing across the parking lot!  She was so respectful of the space you might need to ease into the situation.  Let me tell ya, it took a great deal of restraint to not just snuggle on ya.  That shows a lot of caring and concern for you.  I appreciated as she introduced us to others at her work (they all already know about you) she said, "This is my daughter J and her boy T and this is our adopted daughter Lisa and she adopted J's son Henry.  This is Henry! She is Henry's mom."   

We had to stop her in her exuberance and laugh.  No need to over complicated it...we are family.  For something that was so hard for her, she had been so supportive and loving to us.  We have created together some unspoken limits and boundaries mostly to protect the positivity of our relationship.  All families have to do this at one time or another with each other.  Henry, our open adoption has taught us the value and importance of making our actions reflect our promises.  Doing so has made all of our lives richer.
I love you my sweet boy, 
Mama

St. Louis! Good Friends, Good Fun

Dear Peep, 
Summer 2011 Road Trip!  After a little bit of planning we were on the road to St. Louis, Missouri!  Mike, Megan and Devo were meeting us in the heart of the wonderful St. Louis Zoo!  July has shaped up to be one hot mother of a month so with a little spray fan to keep us cool, tons of snacks and a lot of enthusiasm we met up at the carousel.  The zoo has done an excellent job of making sure most areas are very wheelchair accessible. Daddy joined us on the carousel and you found your elephant and Devo a wild ass, just be glad that isn't what you're called!!!  You really enjoyed yourself next to your blond buddy.  You both had to flatten a penny and then off we were to ride the train.  Daddy sat in front of us and Devo, Mike and Megan behind us until Devo needed some "more Henry."  I loved how you kept your hand firmly on my right leg, much like last September when we rode the water taxi in Chicago.  What could be better!  An orangutan hiding under a blanket, squirting passersby in the outdoor water fountains,  talking about the giraffes, eating some "Frog Spit," getting close with a snake, coolin' off with the penguins,  brushing goats, and sitting in a hippo's mouth.   We covered that zoo top to bottom!  (Feel free to look at all of the photos from our adventure in the slide show below.)

Unfortunately the beasts were smarter than the people and many were staying cool indoors.  It didn't matter.  You had a blast.  We really enjoyed watching you little fellas with the goats.  You were both so gentle and thought it was funny when the goats kept walking under Daddy's legs and especially when the large one bit the map out of my back pocket and took off!  Devo was a little goat whisperer.  He would make his goat sound and all the goats would check in with a ehhhhhhhehehehe.  The last time we went to St. Louis Daddy and I had such a wonderful time together, but we were dreaming of you.  That's right, we talked about you as we walked through the zoo one day with us enjoying the animals and the sights.  I wrote about our last trip here http://www.lisaandsteven.com/  Look in the what's new section.  Dreams do come true.  

Love, Mama

You Ain't From These Parts

Dear Sweet Bear,
Your verbal skills for 2 years 4 months are over the top.  You love to do word plays or tell little stories.  Sometimes you're a little poet.
Yesterday on the way back from an exuberant trip to St. Louis we did our traditional stop in a small town, Greenup, IL.  Greenup, the sight of  Pank's Pizza, the Candy Kitchen, and Abe Lincoln's first statements negative to slavery.  A 1.7 square mile town of 1, 532, as we entered Pank's Pizza for dinner it was clear we were not likely going to be welcomed as number 1,533, 1,534, and 1,535.  Laser beam eyes traced our path as we sat down to order.  Growing up I was stared at a lot.  Maybe I dressed a wee unconventional, but I really didn't think so, or maybe it was my Polish honker?... but ask my mom, my clothing choices were the bane of her existence.  Everywhere we went, "Why are people staring at you."  How am I to know?  Does it have to be such a negative thing?  So for the most part I can block out poppin' eyes until it gets really intense as this experience in Greenup was.  At the end of our meal a woman that was sitting to our left, reading a book alone enjoying her mean came to us, bent down and told us that she was an elementary principal and she wanted to tell us that we had such a nice boy!  He was eating his dinner so nicely and she really like hearing him say his please and thank you's!!!  Wow!  Good thing she didn't see you flinging your water bottle across the grass at the Arch a couple of hours earlier screaming!  She may have concluded a different opinion.  I have to remember sometimes that people aren't always staring to be rude or to pry, sometimes it is just because they think we're interesting and might like to get to know us!  Maybe we just didn't know the secrete town head bob or something.  
After Pank's (which was delicious) we went to the historic Candy Kitchen.  Daddy had a chocolate soda, good but not like Lou's at Zaharako's in Columbus, and you wanted a scoop of homemade butter pecan ice cream.  You professed its yumminess.  While reading the Candy Kitchen's brochure you started "reading it out loud" and graced us with a lovely and poignant poem to round out our trip.

"Ice cream"

"How I eat ice cream?"

"Its all gone."

 -Henry John Carl Thompson   July 17, 2011

I know! It is brillant.  Perhaps you were inspired by the spirit of Mr. Lincoln to really express yourself.  Who knows?!  It is possible? Right?

Screaming, "I LOVE ICE CREAM!"

Love, Mama 

Grandpa Tim Gives a Lesson on (un)Safe Usage of Power Tools

Dear Henny, 
Let me start by prefacing the subsequent post by noting that if Grandpa Tim didn't know me well he wouldn't have put power tools in your little baby hands near your little baby eyes.  He knows that I've taught you the name of many tools and how they are used but some of them you have yet to put into action...like, say a cordless drill?  Grandpa Tim on a recent visit grabbed a couple of pieces of scrap wood from his barndo-minium project and set about to give you some first hand cordless drill experience.  You were so excited!  You were so intense with your selection on where the board needed a new hole...specifically you wanted the corners drilled off.  A dangerous venture but Grandpa Tim guided you through it.  Funny how in the picture you guys make the same work face.  Daddy makes that face too.  I did "draw the line" when he handed you a compass.  Yes! a metal pointy ended compass!  to a boy with waving arms and quick legs.  Well, he is a Purdue graduate so, ya know....

Ok, maybe this positioning wasn't such a safe choice, but the boy had to see!

No worries though, he quickly rethought that one. Of course, I am joking because I know Grandpa Tim reads our little blog.  I had no worries.  You were in safe hands.   After all this hard work you needed a drink from the hose, of course!  You love your Grandpa Tim.  

Just the other day you admired how your shirt pocket was like Grandpa Tim's shirt pocket.  You wanted something to put in your shirt pocket too, "Just like Grandpa Tim!"  It is sad we won't be able to go to Florida for our summer visit because some yahoo u turned into out new van!  Hopefully winter will bring us south!
Love, Mama

Rolls and Snugglin'

Dear Henny Bear, 
Mama and you are still trying to bake new things from time to time.
A couple of weeks ago we tried some cinnamon rolls.  We really enjoyed making the dough, watching it rise over a couple of hours and cutting it into slices.  Following each step of the recipe spot on, five minutes of kneading and it didn't make them taste very good.  I did enjoy how you placed the ball of dough you kneaded on top of mine to rise together in the big orange bowl.  You kept peeking at it from the side.  Then you became sleepy and cuddled next to Daddy for a bit, your eyes drifting off while happily suckin' on that stinky thumb of yours.
It may be simple, but I feel like I live a good life.

 Love, Mama

Shawk an' Awe! Shawk an' Awe!

Dear Peep!
This 4th of July weekend celebration was one to remember.  

 We started out at Bahboo's and Grandma P's where all of Mommy's lady cousins, Uncle David and Aunt Lea, Aunt Clarice, and baby Jack were there along with JD, Kolsen and Jonny,  You had a great time running around and playing but weren't ready to go swimming just yet.  After the rest of the crew went out to Ogilville to Uncle David and Aunt Lea's (with Aunt Clarice next door) to prepare for fireworks we waited for our buddies Mike, Megan and Devo to make it to Columbus.  With Devo excited to swim, you got in by his side.  Bahboo pulled Devo and his parents by tractor across the pool in a tube.  

Such fun but you weren't willing to give it a try this time.  You happily played in the hot tub for quite a while with Devo.  Before we left Bahboo gave the little dudes a short tractor ride. Our tummies started yellin', "EAT!"  So we left Bahboo and Grandma P at home to rest, they'd been watching Jonny (5) for a week while Uncle Gary visited Aunt Michele and were beat!  

We made it down 25th Street and pulled into our spot at Becker's Root Beer Stand.  This isn't a first for you but for the Emmetts it was.  I turned around to get food to you and Jonny in the back and you both were O-U-T after a long day of running and playing!  They were excited about the little rootbeer mugs, as were you and cousin Jonny.  You love to giggle at the exuberant belches the root beer produces.  After eating we continued out to Ogilville for an evening of family and fireworks.  

I should mention like many families that combination can cause for an "exciting" fireworks show.  I should have known when Wendy and Nash went to buy the fireworks and she had the 6ft long package set across the cart, swung around a corner and knocked out an entire display of red wine at Sam's Club that it was going to be one of those kind of nights.  

While the big guns were being set up Megan and Mama lit the sparklers for the kids to play with.  You all loved swinging them around, with the assistance of my hand on yours because your excitement made your arm fly around haplessly.  

JD and Matt came to make their annoncement that the light show was ready to commence.  We took our seats and JD proceeded to promise a display of, "Shawk an' Awe! Shawk an' Awe!"   few moments later the first couple of fountains blast into the sky and my heart starts to beat faster as it feels rather close...for such big plumes of sparks!  Then about the third thrust clearly something went wrong as a rocket launches straight to the left hitting a back hoe nearby with a bing_and a sparky loud explosion, and another shoots next door in front of Aunt Claricee's kitchen window.  HOLY COW!  I couldn't stop laughing, you begged for your blankets from the van, Jonny came to cuddle on my lap and Daddy backed up.  Kyra was shoutin' how she felt like she was dreaming, Mike thought he was witnessing battle and we all were stuck to our chairs not knowing where the next would land.  In the midst of the chaos you and Devo were screaming repeatedly, "Shawk an' awe!"   Luckily on the first set nobody was hurt and it turns out even Sam's Club fireworks can put off a might percussive blast that can knock the whole rocket unit to its side.  After some adjustments, the rest entertained us without a hitch and was one of the best displays ever!  We really enjoyed laughing with family and friends but our little dudes were getting sleepy.  We watched Kolsen show off his Michael Jackson-esque moves, applauded loudly and headed back to the van.  What a lot of laughs.  

We are so fortunate to have such a great family.  Too bad everyone couldn't make it, but there are more fireworks out there and more 4th of July's. It made it all the more fun experiencing it with our Peep.  "Shawk an' awe!"
Love, Mama