Cyan! I Am Glad to Meet You

Dear Henry, 
My lil dude so expressive and dare I say colorful?!  For a couple of years you have been quite fascinated with unusual color names. Chartreuse, Indigo, crimson and cyan, to name a few.  You settle on a solid love of all things cyan, quizzing people to answer to what they think your favorite color to be.  Your school has an ample supply of individuals and expressive appearances.  This is one of the many reasons we love it so much, growing up where differences were frowned on, or at least constantly questioned.  One of the trends at your school is stripes of hair colors or full headed green heads or purple dos.  This is the year you wanted to do yours.  We held off through the year and as summer hit we said let's do it.  You are pretty sensory sensitive and I worried the process would drive you nuts and we would abandon our efforts to a vibrant cyan mid lightening process and end up with a brassy orange.  We talked about this and you promised to hold it together long enough to get through so we proceeded through steps 1. cutting and step 2. bleaching.  

You were so excited about the initial results you delayed the coloring part, admitting that there had been a lot going on around your head and you needed a breather.  You made it through the first round by talking to yourself, asking lots of questions and giving a blow by blow of what you were feeling.  Nervous energy was never more cute. 

We also allowed Hazel to do a little stripe in her hair. Barely there, a pretty "little caramel stripe" she called it.  So, here we are a week later and you are ready for the dye.  We prep, get you outside and slather on this bright blue stuff.  

You handled it amazingly but we had to rinse it outside in the cold hose.  After much hooting and hollering you followed up rinsing off in a warm shower and we dried the finished product...a gorgeous poof of cyan cotton candy perched on your head.  

You feel you look very cool.  We think so, too.  You were more than amenable to pictures.  I will post them all here for future looksies.  

I posted on facebook and apologized to your grandparents whom all understand your personal drive to self expression but are a bit reserved for such a brightly screaming statement.  No worries, they will see how happy you are an melt.

I love you buddy.  This was fun doing this for you.

Love, Mama

Hot Pocket

Dear Hazel,  
Grandpa Tim and Trish couldn't make it to your party but they sent you fifty bucks to spend as you'd like! You were going to die without some pink boots and a fancy dress from Goodwill, a hoppy frog toy thing from Target, a shiny star shaped bag, kitty cat shaped lip gloss, and several packs of bubble gum and other treats you were pining for.  You were one happy girl!  You had to model it for me.  Happy birthday!
Love, Mama 

Last Day, First Day

Dear Henry, 

The growing is good, it means you're alive and thriving but it can have a way of twisting my guts up and giving me a sad little twinge that this thing where we are buddies is getting closer and closer to you building independent friendships and needing me less.  7. You're seven now.  You ended the first grade year well, at a start of third grade reading level and on point with math skills.  

Though we haven't found the right stories to create a passion for reading non-fiction, I am appreciating your passion for reading wacky, weird facts of the real world or scouring over books gathering stats and the habits and body peculiarities of natures creatures.  I'm not sure you show any sort of motivation to show your teachers or classmates the inspiring levels of knowledge and thinking skills you have but we enjoy your knowledge and learning from your independent studies.  One great example you hold on to with steal strength is the time you told us that pigeons give their babies milk.  Daddy and I were major doubters even after you continued to explain, figuring you must have something wrong there.  We gave our arguments that birds aren't mammals, they don't have breasts, they don't have hair, are you sure about that buddy?  I launched a google search and sure enough...pigeons do feed their young a milk like nutrient rich secretion they make in their crop.  You told us.  It only took us a couple of more times to understand that you know exactly what you are talking about.  Your 5th grade reading buddy told me she also tries to get you to read stories but you stick to any and all nonfiction, but she has learned a lot.  This year, 2nd grade started up on August 8th.  You made your sign for your first day picture, we bought supplies, chose and laid out your clothes for day 1.  Without a hitch you went to bed and got up and got ready to head off to school.  I appreciate that, I mean REALLY appreciate that ease at which you get going in the mornings, such maturity there. 

Daddy, Hazel and I took you in for your first day, our school encourages it, another thing to be grateful for.  Your school. The best fit for you and I feel sad for all of the families on the waiting list with such hope that they could get in, and we are there!  You found your cubby, scoped out your sitting spots on the floor and founds some friends to dig into some activities with.  The chime rings calling all the 1st and 2nd graders to their circle spots and the wet eyed parents leave to allow the first day of learning to ensue.  It doesn't pass me that I was chosen to do this.  

I was chosen to have this moment with you, with Daddy. That at one time I didn't think I would have a first day with my little buddy, of any sort.  I am grateful for how we became your parents because it creates a deep gratitude for the smallest of moments.  I love you buddy, and will miss you while you're gone during the day, but am certain you are in safe hearts and minds. 

Love, Mama 

Eye Can See Clearly Now the Fuzz is Gone! All Obstacles Get Out of My Way

Dear Babes, 
I've mentioned before that I have you participate in experiements at IU.  I signed you both up for a couple at IU Optometry, they give ya cool stuff after and a free extensive eye exam.  We already knew Hazel has a very tiny, non-invasive, static cataract, we thought she may need glasses and with some developmental concerns (some muscle weakness, not reaching out, problem solving, motor things) they felt it was time to outfit her with some sweet pink specs. 

Little did we know, suspect or expect but Henry, you needed glasses too!  When the doctor dilated your eyes you were pretty annoyed that one of them was so blurry!  I kept telling you it was just the dilating making the blurry but after your exam it was clear that you had one +1.25 eye and one +.25 eye and needed glasses for close up work.  

You both have been wearing them like old pros and haven't messed with them at all.  When we put yours on Hazellie, you reached, stared, picked and clapped and smiled for a good half hour after.

I am really proud of you both, seemingly adjusting without any issues.  You both look TOO cool.  I'm glad you've joined the four eye club.   Love, Mama

Henry Loves a Theme

Dear Peep, 
You sure do love a theme.  Your school has been having themes each week.  You get very excited about this and go all out.  Last week was camping week.  You were REALLY excited about this, gathering up your things the night before.  I had put out some clothes the night before and when I told you to go and get them you I heard a rolling thunder of steps directed toward me coming from the hall.
"MOMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE!  I can't wear those clothes!  They are not camping clothes.  Camping close have to be blank and dark."  Uh, okay, so I went to your room with you and we picked together.  This is what we came up with, along with a lantern, sleeping bag, boots and ball cap.  You also brought out your book Gisby and the stuffed dude that goes with it, as well as another book about camping. You rushed me along to get you to school and you were full of such energy.  We get to your classroom and we talk to the teacher about your excitement and you share your books with her and she says, "Oh, you should have gotten here earlier.  We are cleaning up the tents now."  Your shoulders slumped and you went back to the cubby and put your hat in and took off your vest.  I had no idea that the themed stuff was in the morning.  I thought it was all day.  I do wish, however, that you at least got a little 'way to go kid' speech from the teacher.  She seemed to be a little stretched thin that day so I'll give her a pass.  Daddy not wanting you disappointed sent me a text to give to you letting you know when he got home the two of you would camp out in the basement and watch a movie together and eat hotdogs and beans.  This pumped you back up and for two hours prior to Daddy's arrival home every five minutes all I heard were, "Is it time for Daddy to get home now?"  That's love.
Today you created your own theme, checker board clothes (orange and white checker board shirt, sweaterhoodie, pants, and shoe laces).  You picked out this look head to toe, asked me to take your picture on your great grandpa's chair.  

I asked you what you're doing in the first photo you said, "I'm trying to look cool."  Lawd help us!
Love, Mama  

Baby Girl's Clothes

Dear Hazel, 
Your aunties did not leave you out at Christmas.  They added many nice pieces to your wardrobe, it just took longer to get most of them in a picture than Henry.  Here ya are.  Pretty baby lady!

Pretty Owl Barrette and Sweater

This cute sweater even has arm patches

Cool Girl Sweater

Hi! Was your first word :)

Turtle Dove

Ok, this is the best I could get, you had a feva, but you're gettin' better!

Love, Mama