If in any given day you are tired of me taking your photo all you need to do is simply say, "Mama, give me a break." 
Dear Henry,
You look around with a look of understanding, you grab things, laugh, respond, "talk", smile, follow, snuggle back, sit for seconds unassisted, and use your hands to swat. You are starting 
to show your developing ability to problem solve and make decisions about where you want to be, see and do. I can tell sometimes you are a little bored and think of a silly song to sing to you or read you a book.
Elmer's Day. A book Mommy chose because you have a great grandpa Elmer. Daddy opened the book and started to read to you. You became enthused and kicked your legs. After a couple of pages you started to actually touch around the page and engage in the whole thing. You cooed and smiled at times, all the while a pretty stream of light fit for a Renaissance painting flitted through the window and threw glossy twinkles in the eyes of my two boys, birds were singing and the heavens opened up to spread love and world peace to all... well, something like that... anyway... my chicken parm kicked butt and you and Daddy had some good bonding time. It was a sweet time.
Crappaw tried to get you to crawl some. You seemed pretty happy up on his mountain of a chest. They love you and so do I.
Makin' memories and family, Love,
We walked around the market and bought some cheese then came back to our house. Later, we went to dinner at the hibachi grill. It was delicious, but you were scared at the chef clankin' around the spatulas. You were just on the edge of sleep and he started cookin' and clank, clank, chick, clank. You wailed until he stopped, you don't like sharp sounds like that.
I'm so glad that you were able to spend some quality time with Grandma LaJean, she sure does love you.
You loved it! You could see, you could kick your lil' legs and bat around your wild arms and hands. Your signal to get out is turning your head back and forth quickly trying to look behind you to see my eyes. I was glad to have you more physically connected to me again and was able to get some house work done, the both of two worlds. Then Saturday at the Farmer's Market you were in again and were fine. Yesterday at the library Mommy could tell you enjoyed it because you were looking around at everything frantically trying to fill your growing brain to full before you passed out again. After about an hour I think you were saturated and you shut down, falling asleep with your head in the crook of my arm. The carrier made it easier for you to look and for me to hold you when you were dreaming about all the wonderful books you might want to read someday. Now, that is a day I can't wait for!
It was so nice to see her. She was the flower girl in Grandma P and Crappaw's wedding! I know that was a LONG time ago...(sorry Grandma P and Crappaw) When Mommy was a little girl she really looked up to Janie/ Jane Anne. She was a little older and Mommy thought she was SO movie starlet pretty, really cool, super nice and uber creative. I remember going to her graduation, then to an exhibit of some of her art work, and to her wedding which I thought was one of the most fun times I had had up to that point in my life. I even remember the day after her boy Issac was born. It was close to Mommy's birthday in 1995, I think. There was almost a tornado that day! He was born in the same hospital that you were. I also remember when they were brought together with their second boy, Joey, who made it all the way from Korea! See Henry, our family grows in lots of different ways. Birth with a tornado, from across the world, or in a small town nearby; our family finds each other. I suppose it is kind of like how Mommy and Daddy found each other. I'm glad that Cousin Janie found our number again and gave us a call. Even though we don't see each other often I know how important family is to her, as it is to me and I hope someday it will be for you too. We don't have to see everyone everyday to know that they love us and think about us. Much like we know your birth family thinks and cares about you, Mommy and Daddy!
Dear Henry,
had to have the lady tell us, "the babies count." !!!! Of course the babies count! You and Lily waited patiently for a table and as you can see from the photos your "be cool and play hard to get" was not keeping the lady's attention. You look at a loss as to what you should do. No worries, you'll learn to be more social I am certain, especially once you learn to talk. Honestly, I would probably be a little quiet and low key too if I had a wet diaper. We had a great lunch and some decadent cheesecake, Mommy had lemon raspberry and Mommy Brook had banana. YEOW! It was good!
They thought you were getting really big and growing quickly and they thought Lily was a beauty, of course. Kim and Kathy were there with you and J the day after you were born and supported us all in this process. They were training a new counselor for the North Carolina office and were happy to take a break to see the babies. I showed you your photos on the wall, our old birth mother letter, you wrestling sock monkey, and your name on the list of about 54 adoptions completed by the IAC so far in 2009.
back some things Lily was too big to wear even before she was able to wear them. The two of you sat side by side in the cart and were chill through out the store. Mommy Brook was looking to buy a book for Lily and found the one she was looking for which happens to be your special book, "On the Night You Were Born." This is the book that Mommy and Daddy try to read to you once a week, but we can't make it to the end without barrels of tears in tow. We headed home and to our delight Daddy was getting in at the exact same time.
We can't wait to spend more time with Lily and Brook. How fortunate we are to have good friends...Those Rieman women are sweet!
Love, Mommy