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
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
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.
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
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
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
