Dear Peep,
We stayed over at Bahboo's and Grandma P's a few weekends ago to hang out and run around the yard. You love this. You ride the tractor with your grandparents, follow Roxy the beagle around, roll in the grass like a dog, help pick up sticks, explore every inch of every blade of grass and every log on the log pile, see froggies, ride in the wagon, run and frolic, frolic and run, roast marshmallows as big as your head at the burning pile, and just have an all around grand little boy time. You run till exhaustion and eat like a giant. It is fun to share this with you.
Love, Mama
Dear Peep,
You have a thing for Bahboo right now mostly because he makes great animal noises with you. You stick close especially when he talks elephant.
Just about like with any kid he has ever come in contact with you're instant best friends, but he has a special twinkle in his eye for you. Like Jonny and Tony before him you take his necklace and stick in in his mouth over and over so you can see what funny way he'll propel it towards you next. You bring him books, he takes you for tractor and wagon rides and you watch him work, trying to help out when you can. I think you really like that he feeds you cheezies until your fingers and lips are coated that bright probably not even safe to eat orange color. These are all the things Mama did growing up. I'm grateful you get to know Bahboo too.
Love, Mama
Dear Henry,
If you remember late this past summer we helped Grandma P and Crappaw take down their 33 year old wallpaper in the hallway??? The ceremony of tearing sparked happiness in Grandma P and she tore town the 20 year old wallpaper in the kitchen and now they have decided to paint. (I know Grandma P, you loved that paper.) Mommy went to help them paint and you and Grandma P played. As we were leaving Crappaw was teasin' you and trying to give you a big kiss. Apparently that kiss goodbye was a little too big for you because you were pulling your little head back as best as you can to get away from those big lips. We've all been there Henry. Crappaw just wants to show ya some love. It was really funny to see ya try to get away from it. Look at your little shoulders all hunched up.
Love, Mommy
Dear Henry,
Last week we ventured to Grandma P's to meet up with your Great Aunt Clare-cee and cousin Wendy. We decided to go to lunch at Zaharako's or The Greeks. Zaharako's
is an old soda fountain that was established in 1900 and until a couple of years ago when Lew, a descendant of the original family 
died, was still operated by the family. At Lew's death a Columbus community member bought and restored the shop. Zaharako's had been featured in National Geographic, TV, been used in catalog shoots, and at one point the Smithsonian made an offer to transfer the whole thing to its museum of American History. The shop was in dire need of cleaning the woodwork, painting and restoration of the fountain and marble bar and fixing the roof and skylights. Zaharako's is a place that Mommy and Daddy went to so often Lew took the time to sit down with us and chat when we came in. There was and is a little ice cream table for bitty butts like yours that Mommy sat in, Grandma P sat in, and even Great Grandma Merge sat in. Great Aunt Judy would take Mommy, Uncle Gary and Cousin Ricky on the bus there to get a sarsaparilla and a gom sandwich. The place is full of history.
There is a book by Thomas Wolfe titled, "You Can't Go Home Again." If you grew up in Columbus and had Mr. Lindsey as an English teacher he would often use that phrase. It is very true in many ways. Much like the post about Daddy reading to you it was a moment in time and if you try to repeat it you'll be disappointed. Mommy knows this and it explains my need to photograph everything, to mark 
ourselves in a particular place and time. The new Zaharako's is beautiful. I don't want to discount the hard work the owner and community members did to keep things true to the early 1900's. But.... I missed Daddy and Mommy's old hang out. It is there but it isn't. The old red plastic letter menu, the lack of light, the yellowed robin's egg blue paint, the mishmash of generations of additions are gone. I miss the sort of working Welte Orchestion in which you could hear the bellows filling and puffing in and out again and every gear and lever moving as it played its song. The place is now light and bright, sparkling and exciting, with a short menu that is brought to your table and lacks cottage cheese or soup. The Welte is restored and pristine playing flawlessly and 
loudly further throwing off the rhythm of a the entire place.
Henry, that is precisely what time does. It makes things settle in and relax. The creaks, peels and grit give it character and love. Mommy would dream about going with Daddy to meet Lew, have a chocolate soda or Green River and in some odd way breathe the same air and have you contribute to the provenance and the generations of grit and wear that the place had cultivated. It is gone to you as is the old Common's indoor playground. Then again Columbus is not your home, you will be a Bloomington boy, not a Columbus boy. There are many reasons this makes me happy, even if, those cherished nuggets of our childhood are lost to you. ALL of that being said.... you get the opportunity to enjoy this new place that catches the eye upfront. The new generations will love the place for new reasons and this is okay. I don't know how much longer the building could have hung around without the work being put into it. We didn't stay and eat. We left due a little to the uncomfortable new shoes fit of the place and a little of Great Aunt Clare-Cee bringing up the Mexican place 10 times.
We left Zaharako's had lunch at the Mexican place and went back to Grandma P's. Cousin Wendy cuddled on you and about jumped out of her skin with excitement when she discovered that you too are a big thumb sucker. "Winky" had a long love affair with her thumb and still has a line on her nose that marks the spot she hooked her index finger around it.
Crappaw measured you again. You are growing still but not enough to fit your shorts. Crappaw
wanted to make you a belt out of one of Grandma P's old belt. It was black fake croc pattern, patten finish with a big gold buckle. I got ya out of that one, you owe me Hank!
On our way home we stopped to check on Great Grandma Hazel. She was starting to do a bit better. Then we surprised Grandma La Jean at a local restaurant. Everyone there was very excited to meet you as they have been reading about you here. Great Grandma Anne was there too and snapped a photo to prove to the ladies at work that she actually was able to see you in person.
Mommy looks forward to passing onto you a love for history and unique places. I hope that you, Daddy and I discover many cool place new to us all.
I love you,
Mama
Dear Henry,
We had a great long week with Papa. He had this past Monday off, took Tuesday, worked two days, then had Friday and the weekend off. It was super to have Daddy around with us. You have now become accustomed to taking your bath in the little tub from cousin Johnny; kickin' your little feet as Daddy pours water over your chest.
Friday we went to the police station to get our fingerprints so we could send off our final paper work as your adoption will finalize in the courts June 25th! The court date doesn't really change anything except we will be able to get a social security number for you and get your second birth certificate with your name on it, Henry John Carl Thompson. People often ask about your name...Henry doesn't really have any history for our family but Daddy really liked it and so did I. We talked about our imaginary Henry for YEARS! Now you're really here! Daddy's maternal grandpa Meyer's name and Mommy's paternal grandpa Foldenauer's name was Carl so that is where that came from. When we met J she told us about her family's tradition of naming just about everyone a name that starts with J. So we instantly thought John would be appropriate to honor your birthfamily and to honor your Daddy's paternal grandfather John as well.
We went home to be greeted by Crappaw, Grandma P and Cousin Johnny. Johnny loved playing with you this time and with 
only a slight protest at the use of his tub, he was all about Henry. You really interacted with him this time and when you launched yourself toward him from Grandma P's arms he was shocked and surprised. After and hour or so he decided he really wanted to hold you so Mommy stacked a bunch of pillows up around him and put you in his arms and he was super gentle and whispered to
you, "ki, ki, ki, ki." Two sweet boys! I had to kiss you both. Then while Crappaw and Mommy were taking the pool cover off you hung out on Daddy's lap and watched Cousin Johnny avoid touching a frog we caught. Grandma P tried to show him it was okay to touch, and actually even kissed the frog's sticky green back! I wouldn't advise that in the future Henry but trying new things is always important, within reason.
Crappaw, Grandma P and Johnny returned to Columbus and we attended the 2009 Aurora Alternative High School graduation at the Buskirk Chumley Theater where Mommy had some of her old students graduating. Mommy felt very touched being at graduation this year because in a way she graduated too! The next time Mommy is teaching she will likely be in her 40's! I'm only 34 right now but we will likely have another little boy or girl in a few years and I get the joy of being home with the two of you. Until you start school Mommy doesn't start school... It was a nice affair and you looked super sweet and studly in your vest that Mommy's good friend Mindy Summers sent you way back when you were first born. Everyone commented on your good looks and sweet smile. How could they not? Check out this 
cute picture Mommy's teacher friend Barb took of you!Saturday we got going early-ish to stroll through the Farmer's Market. Great fun! We felt very social and were able to show you off. Auntie Kristin and Auntie Carrie were there and fawned all over you. Auntie Kristin, however, was feeling the jitters of her first roller derby bout and had a hard time relaxing. We visited with an old high school friend, Brad Baute, and saw some of our neighbors. By the time the van came to pick us up you were sacked out and sweaty.
Daddy and I came back home and washed you up so you could cool down and relax. The three of us took a little nap then got ready for the Bleeding Heartland Roller Girls debut bout. It was our first and it was a lot of fun! We were able to stay through Auntie Kristin's, (or "Betty Wreckognize") bout and she kicked butt for her first time. She was stealthy and sneaky! We wanted Auntie Betty to feel lots of support so we made you a t-shirt that says, "Betty Rox." You wore your little crocheted skate booties and people looked at you like royalty. It was REALLY loud in there but you didn't seem phased and took the time to look around as much as possible.
Sunday we just hung out and after discovering that our cable service has a whole karaoke channel, Daddy and I sang songs all night. You really responded to a few punk rock numbers, which of course made us happy.
You seem to be changing so quickly right now. Whenever Daddy sees something new in you, like when you crisply stated, "HOLA" this weekend, he says, "Grow up Henry but not too quickly." It is really happy times seeing you everyday know us a little more and developing love us too. We are so grateful and humbled by the experience and responsibility.
Love, Mommy
Dear Henry,
Last week Crappaw and Grandma P came over to help Mommy get the grass cut and to clean the fall leaves off of the pool cover. Grandma P watched you inside, occasionally coming to the window to taunt me with your cute little face at the window. We ate at a local joint called The Cloverleaf. Great food!
Crappaw held on to you most of lunch, even making Grandma P cut his roast beef Manhattan so he didn't have to put you down. It is good to be loved!
They love you!
Me too!
Love, Mommy
