The Lost Post that was Not Posted Until Now.

Dear Peep, 
I started this post two months ago.  I was so consumed with love for you when writing it I couldn't finish it.  I have yet to post of the things I mention below...time whittles on whether or not I get around to a post.  When I miss getting up big ones I feel down as f I am failing the record.   Perhaps a few sappy posts about absolutely nothing are important too.
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I want to make posts tonight of events and experiences that you've had lately, like our Foldenauer family reunion, Ariya Rose (Jim and Nissy's baby girl! born a couple of months ago), the county and state fairs, going swimming at the reservoir with Lily and Brook, not to mention that I have yet to finish documenting our St. Louis trip nor have I completed my alphabet posts.....but alas, tonight I won't take care of any of those posts because I have other things on my mind.  

The couple of weeks before the summer cools down and fall colors itself in I always feel nostalgic.  This year I am thinking of how the coming of September marks the halfway mark that we get to spend our days together in their entirety.  Don't get me wrong, this is not a tally to freedom but a tally of the inevitable, kindergarten.  Perhaps you have forgotten the YEARS (7.5) that we waited and dreamed of you being with us...I mean we practically conjured a child into fruition with our extensive imaginative stories of "when we have a little Henry he will do this and we will be all like that and then we will..."  The magnitude of the trust and the choice by your birth parents for Daddy and I to be your parents is never far from my soul, coupled with the years of wait and wonder, every day is a present and a reminder that someday you will be grown up and living your own life.  These sweet first years before expectations, self consciousness and life have yet to murky your view of your parents and yourself are swiftly ticking by.  Tonight I was working to calm you before bedtime and we made our way to youtube to listen to some soothing lullabies.  

The last month or so your sweetness and need for me have intensified.  You've become gentle and more expressive about your love for Mommy and Daddy.  Tonight I was overwhelmed.  It started with the first video we watched.  A pretty rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star set to a video of an owl that flies high into the night to meet a star, as they meet they gaze at each other and reach out to touch the other's hand.  In turn, you reached out to touch my hand.

  Your eyes rolled back as El Condor Pasa played and your once little body has inflated and filled my lap completely now, with poking elbows and drooling mouth.  Where did all that bone and muscle come from?  It really is as if each new turn I loose you only to get the opportunity to know another little boy that stretches out your skin, is funnier than the last, and thoughtful.  I mentioned before there are a pile of Henry's in my heart.  It's true.  There is baby Henry that peed all down my shirt after his first bath, strong baby that pushed the bowling pin (5 weeks)  

over with his head over and over again, one year old Henry walking and talking(10 months), and 2 and a half year old Henry that talks, sings and devours books.  I love them all, though one does not follow the other as time marches on.  So today I will savor the simple fun we had walking to the IU student Union to play pinball and air hockey, eating popcorn samples, hiding out in the old phone booths eating frozen yogurt with rainbow sprinkles and when finished you asked me to fly you through the building as fast as I could.  I am pretty sure most of that Henry will be gone by 13, but the love we are building and the spirit of fun and happiness will only grow. 
Love,
Mama

20 Teeth All Snug in Your Head

Dear Teep,
You survived your first dental appointment like a tot toothie trooper.  No problem!  I think it helped that I told you that J recommended this dentist because Tommy and Uriah really liked them.  We waited a while in the waiting room, painted in a giant mural with hidden treasures we spent our time searching through to find them all.  The nurse called us back and you marched back without reserve.  This room had a farm mural.  You told me a little story about the horse, then the cow and the little chicks and in no time Dr. Tammy came in.  She made buddies with you right off the bat by handing you a little tooth mirror but when it got time to count your teeth and give them a quick look over you were more comfortable sittin' on Mama's lap then the elevated chair.  

The best part for you was getting the goodie bag with the little flossers.  Thank goodness too!  You are constantly taking ours and trying to floss your chicklets then tossing them this way and that.  I find them everywhere.  You are also now allowed to use fluoride toothpaste too!  As we left you were given two tokens to get a prize out of the machines by the check out desk. You thought that was pretty cool.  So for Henry, the dentist was no sweat!
Love, Mama

2 year 6 month Doctor Visit

Dear Peep, 
Went to the doctor this week and waited over an hour.  In an office for babies and toddlers!?@  Cruel!  You did the best you could...you hung off my leg, ate my arm with a shark finger puppet,  rolled around on the doctor's chair and climbed up and down, up and down off of the table.  Then you shot to my lap the moment he came in to look you over.  Your speech and such is way over the 2.5 range...your head is 55, you weigh 30.75 lbs and you're just under 36 inches tall.  You were able to snarf up the flu vaccine.  You've graduated from the bucket scale to the standing scale and from measuring your height stretched out and struggling on a piece of paper to the sliding stick attached to the scale.  

Our boy is gettin' big! Small milestones that often go unmentioned but another reminder that you're growing up and every moment is fleeting.  I still try to catch them all to add to the pile of Henry's in my heart. 
Love, Mama

Labor Day! All Fun for the Thompsons!

Dear Henry, 
Sometimes the best days just fall into our laps.  Just as we were heading out the door last Sunday to go grocery shopping Mama received a text from Mama Brook, "Free bouncy houses until 4 at our park."  Whattttt!!!! Free bouncy houses.  We diverted our shopping plans to Smithville.  They have a labor day festival at a local church.  Live music, food, face painting, car show and yes, FREE bouncy houses.  You and Lily jumped around the bouncy houses for quite some time until our hungry tummys lead us to brave the long lines for food.  We had some great hot dogs then grabbed a bag of popcorn to eat while taking in the cars.  We are not typically car show frequenters but this was a really high quality gathering with music and interestingly beautiful cars from all eras.  Daddy was most excited by the DeLorean!  It is a stainless steel marvel.  

Everything about it was cool.  After the cars we tried to wait in line to get your face painted but the wait was long so we opted for the no line painting across the way, less elaborate but just as fun for you.  You even took your turn at painting Daddy's face a little robot silver.  

You fearlessly rode your first merry go round ride....pushed expertly fast by an ex-military strong man you spun quickly!  A bigger boy next to you kept making sure you were okay.  You liked it a lot but as you jumped off it was clear the world was still spinning as you stumbled about.  

A couple more jumps in the bouncy house and it was clear nap time was imminent so we returned home.  We were all so tired but had a wonderful family day together.

Love, Mama

JoJo! A visit was due!

Dear Peep,
After a summer of garage sales Mama had amassed a small pile of clothes for Tommy to wear to school and since his first day had passed I decided it was time to get on over to pay JoJo a visit.  You were excited but bummed to not see the two boys there.  We ate at a buffet in town and stuffed our faces.  Then we went to play on the little playground at their apartment complex where you asked JoJo to push you really high.  You are starting to get little pieces of your adoption story together.  On the way there you were playing with your microphone and grabbed the cord and said, "Hey, Mama! This is the cord I was attached to JoJo with?!" 

 It was a nice visit and you were happy to paint her finger nails and hold her hand to the mailbox.  Open adoption is still feeling pretty perfect for us.
Love, Mama