Good Mornings

Dear Henry, 
If you sleep past when Daddy leaves for work and I am in the other room I have to listen carefully for the backdoor opening or one of the three patio doors sliding open.  We are working on you being sure to ask permission before going outside but since you took your birthday money and bought your own raised garden bed you've got work to tend to in the A.M.  
A few mornings ago I rush around the house looking for you, calling your name, and sinking feelings of panic sink in as I come out of the bathroom to find your empty bicycle blanket draped across the bed.  Finally, I hear the familiar sound of the hose coming on in the back yard.  I sneak out the back door to watch what your doing.  You were watering grass and the seeds we planted. Suddenly you discover the carrots of sprouted and you shout, "Buds! Signs of spring!"  It was wonderful to share this with you.  I am so proud of you that you remember everyday to water your plants.  

 You are a regular Farmer Hank.  Now if I can only get you to eat the carrots after they grow!
Love, Mama

Your First Everest

Dear Peep, 
We've been aware that you're a physical strong man since you rolled over your first day, sat up and crawled early and  walked before 10 months.  The last few weeks you've been keen on scaling dangerous things like our fireplace, a rock wall at the park or the stone in the front of the house.  We decided to take you to the indoor rock climbing place in town, Hoosier Heights.  You took to it quickly and Ms. Barbara, who also happens to be a teacher at your school was VERY excited that you came and showed you the ropes.  She said you were very good and most little guys don't get very far and you are a natural.   You were so excited.  As we were leaving a man who just finished climbing too asked you if you had a fun time.... your response, "Yeah! I got pretty high but I didn't get all the way to the top this time.  Could you climb to the top and see if there are monkeys up there?"  I told him maybe there were monkeys up there...You were talking dude talk.  

It was cool!  You seemed so in your element and and made me see what a big and capable boy you're becoming.  We were really proud.  You seemed really pumped after and as Daddy pulled out of the parking lot you barked from the back, "I NEED ICE CREAM IMMEDIATELY!" 

After chocolate ice cream

We love seeing you grow and learn!
Love, Mama

Hanging Out

Dear Peep, 
It is terrific that spring is bring us opportunities to hang out more with friends.  Daddy is pretty much back to himself and building energy by eating better, taking the weekends easy, taking vitamins and working a slightly modified work schedule.  We haven't gone much outside of town yet but hopefully soon we can get over to Grandma LaJean's (who has been through her own ups and downs with a hip replacement and blood clot scares) and GG's.  Bahboo and Grandma P will be back from their two week trip to Florida soon and will be anxious to gobble you up for a little while too.  So for now we are enjoying the gentle ease into normality again by starting up our usual schedule of friend hang outs last week.  
We meet Mike, Megan and Devo at the park to play and fly your kite.  It was a lot of fun and you boys did a great job playing together.   I know you had been missing your buddy so you were happy.  You got a little aggressive at times trying to wrrrrrrrrastle with an unsuspecting Devo, but you were pooped in the end and that is all parents of a 3 year old could wish. 

Thursday we had Abe come over and you were a sensational friend.  You did everything you could to take care of him and keep him happy.  Daddy and I were really proud of you!  Gentle, loving and thoughtful you will make a great big brother! 

Sunday we had the Sisk-Williams crew over to roast some hot dogs at our fire pit. (I can't find the pictures!) We had a nice visit and you enjoyed having kids to build a fire with.   It was great getting back into things this week and reconnecting with our friends.  I love seeing you grow in your interactions too.  More fun times ahead!
Love, Mama

Spring Adventures!

Dear Peep, 
You're becoming a creative mind in your own right, dreaming up adventures.  Last summer I found a power wheels car at a garage sale for 15 bucks.  We enjoy taking it around the neighborhood and exploring.  At the start of last week I was showing you the signs of spring popping out all around us.  You enjoyed this so much you announced after our yard work was done we should go on a "SPRING ADVENTURE!"  So we did.  You heeded this would be a long adventure so we better pack a lunch of sunshine sandwiches, a granola bar and some lime aide.  Alright, a sunshine sandwich is one of my less inspired creations.  One day as I was rushing to get you ready for school I was making you a pbj.  I always cut them with a cookie cutter, making them a fun shape to eat.  Well, I didn't have time to get the stool, crawl up into the cabinet and get the cookie cutters down so I took a ring from our bullet mugs and cut a plain ole circle.  You said, "What is this one going to be Mommy?"  I said, "UH, oh this one is a sunshine sandwich...see the cutter is yellow like the sun!"  You bought it and have been asking for them since.

We packed our lunch, took a basket, some clippers to collect buds, you put on your ball cap and we were off.  We drove around stopping at each unique bud; commenting, collecting and moving to the next.  I love your expressive nature and glamored over the yellow of the daffodils and sighed at the beautiful day. 

Finally, we pulled into the round about around the corner and settled in for some lunch.  We enjoyed ourselves immensely.  You pointed out all of the birds singing as a sign of spring, but wished they would take turns.  Moments like this, the snap shots in time...I dreamed of spontaneously terrific things like this as we worked toward being parents.  I put my arm around you and we laughed and smiled at each other as peanut butter hung from the corners of your grin.  

Time to move on.  We powered back up and went home.  As we got our things out and parked the "car" you exclaimed, "We sure did have and adventure finding sings of spring!"   We sure did!  Here is to many more. 
Love, Mama

These Are the Days To Hold On To

Dear Hensry, 
This week I found a baseball cap at the top of my closet with the words Butch's Place scripted across the front, a dive bar in Bahboo's hometown of Michigan City, IN.  I asked if you would like to wear it and with an emphatic, "YES!" you took ownership.  Daddy said, "Hey Butch!"  You said, "I'm not Butch! It just comes from a place called Butch's.  That's Bahboo!"  After a few adjustments to tighten it up on your head you asked, "Is my hair sticking out the back?  Bahboo's hair always sticks out the back."  You were satisfied when I confirmed it was.  Later in the day you kept taking it off and leaving it places just so you could feign importance to run and get it, "OH! The sun is in my eyes, I need to get my hat!  Oh! I am a little cold, I need to go get my hat."  In the evening I put the hat on you so Daddy could see it when he got home. You protested that I put it on front to back because Bahboo is certainly a back to front ball capper, hence the rooster tail results.  When we came in from working outside yesterday you told me that you were going to keep it on the corner of your easel cousin Wendy bought for you so it is quick to recover.  I'll be honest, I've been moving it to see if you would noticed.  Duh!  Of course you've noticed.  It is securely hanging there now.  

On the way to the zoo you were quietly riding in the back and after a period of time you asked, "Is this hat a gift from Bahboo?  Do I have to give it back?"  I wasn't sure why you were asking.  I mean, we were on the way to the zoo... I thought maybe you were considering flinging it to the Kudus again as you did my favorite stocking cap back in the fall.  

Nope, you just really wanted to keep it.  I can tell it makes you feel close to your Bahboo.  You are so observant.  I am glad you want to be like him.  He is a good one and he sure does love you.
Love, Mama

Spring Cleaning the Sandbox

Dear Henny, 

Already you have a stellar work ethic.  The first really nice weekend and you want to get work done.  You help me clean the garage and then announced that you needed to work on your sandbox.  We literally had to PULL you out of it while you demanded, "I am not done with my project yet!  I have to finish."  Sorry about that one.  I am certain you get this from Mama.  If I am not yet done with something I keep going and going, unlike your more reasonable Daddy that would take more time the next day to complete it rested and fed.  After a rinse in the sink you went straight to the bath.  I love your tenacity.  

We can't wait to put you to work have your enthusiastic help this summer, when there is always plenty to do.  You have been staying after me to get the chainsaw out to cut up a large limb that fell last week by our kitchen window.  When I tell you maybe later you tell me you'll just go get it done yourself!  We adore our workin' buddy.

Love, Mama

I'll be Yoda, You Be the Emperor

Dear Henry, 

What I saw out the dinning room window

This afternoon you and Daddy played for quite some time on the back using the posts of our lawn ring toss game as light sabers.  

 

 Switching off between Yoda and the Emperor, good and bad you must have had a good time.  Later, I fell asleep on the couch while our brownies were cooking and awoke to you challenging Daddy to a light saber duel on the back deck. "Come on, I'll be Yoda." Sweet!  You found your "real" light saber and Daddy found a paint roller handle.   

Daddy must have worn you out because when I went out to check on you both you were sitting in the chair saying, "Noooooooo, time not to fight."  You and Daddy living the dream.  Cheers to more imaginative Star Wars play in our future.   Love, Mama

March 9th, 2012 Birthday number 3 weekend!

Dear Peep!
You're three! 3 . . . amazing!
For your number 3...
   we had an amazing party with Devo again (photos to come)

   you and I had lunch with JoJo and played at the library for a while.

   we had your picture taken at Walmart with the traditional cheesy seasonal backdrop
   we baked banana bread 

   we explored the Chinese grocery story, you asked the clerk the names of every vegetable! 
   we met Daddy at the park to fly your first kite (note to self $1 store kite doesn't make it a value)
   we had cheeseburgers, your request but you ended up ordering a hot dog
   we came home and watched some George.
   we went to the mall to pet the puppies, buy you some rain boots and to eat Jelly Bellies
   you took a bath

  I woke up to find you on Daddy's office floor filling your mouth with Jelly Bellies

    we went to a car wash (you had been asking to do this all week.  
      You said you'd really like to do over the part where all the rainbow colors fall on the windows.)
   we did work (cleaned the garage) you love doing work.
   we flew our new $10 dollar kite from Hobby Lobby and you flew it on your own/w Daddy's help

   we bought ice cream at chocolate moose, your first chocolate dipped torch cone of the season

Henry has been loving the markers cousin wendy bought him...his face has never been so colorful!

now you're watching George again.  
Fun fit for a crazy little toddler dude.
We love you big guy!
Mama

Friends, Friends, Come Out to Play!

Dear Hensry, 
We are so fortunate!  Seriously!  For all sorts of reasons, simple and beyond.  Today I was reminded once again for the good fortune we were dealt when we decided on adoption at about the same moment as five other families in our town.  I would never have imagined I would have found such great friends that I really enjoy spending time with despite/because of our diverse interests and personalities.  It was clearly meant to be, as are each of our tots running around together and playing meant to be in our families.  We try to get together at least once a week and if it is a good week we make it more.  A couple of weeks ago we went to the Children's Museum together, last week we enjoyed Brook and Lily's large yard and animals, and today we owned Olcott Park.  I seriously love these women and kids.  I never feel judged and always feel like I have a mommy team back up.  Which is good because today you fell about 6-7 feet from the top of the jungle gym and Mommy Heather was on it!  
It was a suburb way to spend a new springs VERY windy day.  This time the kids pooped out way before the moms.  I love that you have a fun play group to grow up with.  I love that I have a fun play group too.  I look forward to many more fun play dates with the kids and moms.



Love, Mama

Crift Craft We Were Making a Mask!

Dear Craft Master Peep, 
I really enjoy when something laying around turns us into creative buddies.  On Daddy's first days home we found another box and whipped it into shape after a Curious George episode where they made hats out of recycled material.  I loaded the island up with all kinds of crap and we got to work.  You really wanted to use some ginger ale bottles so we cut them up to see what we could do with them.  After a few minutes of consulting we cut the tops off and taped them to the box.  You had the grand idea of painting on it and putting pom poms and pipe cleaners in the see through green bottles to give it more life.  Daddy helped throw in ideas but he was still pretty worn out from all of the hospital time.  The last couple of weeks we've played with your super cool hat quite a bit.  The way light shines through the bottles to showcase the squiggly pipe cleaners and colorful pom poms make this project special.
I love when a project develops out of thin air, it easily eats up about an hour and a half where you are completely immersed and focused; an excellent way to work on your attention span which can actually be quite great for an almost 3 year old. 
 Here are the results.

I can't wait for our next impromptu project.
Love, Mama