Christmas x3

Dear Henny Bells,

You had another eventful holiday season.

*We put up our tree and got it all lit up only to decorate it with about 10 plastic ornaments and your three special ones.  

It was still quite festive without needing to jumping up every five minutes to grab something from your hands or to find the more expensive or heirloom ornaments became colorful shards to pick from my feet.  I loved most trying to get the camera set up to take a family photo.  You have grown to love my remote shutter trigger, once you retro designed it by swiftly pulling out and bending off the antenna you were shooting away.  I have about 20 photos like the one below, each with slightly different expressions.  There are a couple of funny photos where you are clearly waiting to see what is going to happen when you push it.

* You really took pleasure in trying to sing happy birthday to baby Jesus.  We have a small Nativity Scene from Bolivia (I think).  It consists of a donkey, a cow, a little box, baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  Daddy and I have put it out each year of our 11 year marriage.  This year baby Jesus got to travel away from his manger, his mother Mary and Joseph safely in your little hands.  He did little dances while you exclaimed, "Don't drop it! Don't drop it!  Then you would returned him to his little box.  The cow did not fare as well and found a new home under the couch in three pieces.  Luckily Mother Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the donkey made it back to storage in one piece ready to bring happiness again next year.

*  We did have a white Christmas this year.  Your mouth open like a little bird snowflakes stacked on your taffy tongue.  I pulled you around on the sled a bit too.  Happy in the snow until your glove repellent hands made contact and screams of, "cold, cold, hot,"  passed your vocal chords faster than your breath allowed for it to make the words audible thus you rushed to get back into the house for warmth.  There will be a year where we can play in the snow without your hands stinging...because you'll wear those cute mittens sittin' in your dresser.

*  We also tried our hand at edible play dough this season.  It consists of powdered milk, honey and peanut butter.  It was okay to play with but you enjoyed eating it more.  The recipe made such a large amount that I had to figure out what to do with it.  A million times a day we sit in the kitchen window checkin' out the lives of the squirrels and I had it!  We stuck some of the extra on the tree outside the window.  It clung for a couple days and it gave you something to check on each morning.  Then one afternoon as if we felt the moment had come we drew to the window and watched a squirrel snatch off the dough in one piece and scatter to the limbs of the tree to eat it.  Shocked that we were there to witness it with my camera in hand we both looked at each other with surprised mouths hanging open.  For a few days after the great snatch and run caper you'd tell me the story of how the squirrel ate your cookie dough.  

*  We made sugar cookies.  With our baked goods decorated and ready to eat you threw your hands above your head to celebrate eating time. 

*  In order to make special gifts for Grandpa Tim and Daddy Corey, Brook, Lily, you and I met at the ceramics store.  Your behavior was stellar over all.  While waiting for our buddies to arrive we examined the paint brushes and painted with water on our manila paper.  You took painting Grandpa Tim's plate somewhat seriously.  You started with random strokes and splotches then you told me you wanted some green.  

I squeezed some out for you and you started painting and said, "Tractor!"  Well, you are a brilliant abstract modernest for certain!  Upon picking up our project you pointed to the green squiggle in the corner and told me again, "tractor!"  Lily did a mug for her daddy.  When she wasn't too into painting so you tried to help her.  Not to have her daddy's mug to be painted by some boy her creative juices started flowing and she became her own little maestro of the glaze colors.

*  Your climbing has reached new heights and daring.  Grandpa Tim's presents were delivered about a week before Christmas.  I just left them by the door but you had other plans.  You stacked them up to use as stairs to sit in the unused planter area of the buffet that flanks our fireplace.  As you pulled out old Halloween candy you took the opportunity to taunt me through the Brady Bunchesque screen.

* Santa visited our house a day early so he could beat the on coming cold.  So around 9:30 on the 23rd we woke you up to unwrap your treasures.  It was fun to see you treat each gift with excitement, the two big boy PJ sets, a tent and tunnel, a John Deere tractor, your power toothbrush, books, a Green Lantern t-shirt and a sleeping bag.  You enjoyed taking Dolly into the tent to play on your sleepin' bag.  The excitement tuckered you out quickly and so while you took a mid-day nap Mama and Dahdoo (although you've been calling each other Tantamoose lately) opened our gifts to each other. 

*  On the 25th we awoke early trekking to Columbus to make our rounds.  First it was a traditional morning brunch feast with Grandma LaJean, GG, Aunties Krispie and Carrie.  There was no need to ask GG if she received the Christmas card and packet of pictures we sent her.  It was quickly apparent when we discovered that her adorable little Christmas village had been demoted to mini easels creating a table top shrine dedicated to Henny.  Let's just say your Christmas haul from Krispie and Carrie was so obscene it came with a pre-Christmas phone call warning.  "Uh, Please don't be mad.  As I was wrapping I realized I looked a little bit crazy.  I had to finish up wrapping by just stuffing a bunch of stuff into one box!"  

She really found you some pretty kick arse stuff and I'll try to keep an accurate list but I know it is going to take a lot of brain power...let's see....a little tape recorder w/ two mics, a little train track, two books by Mo Willems, a ton of sweaters, a pair of boots, two pairs of shoes, Crackers matching game, and an awesome tool box to expand your tool obsession.  You may think, "Man, Aunties Krispie and Carrie must be rich!"  Nope, just smart and persistent Value Village/Value World thrift store shoppers.  

Grandma LaJean bought you a cool ring toss game that we've already played with Dahdoo, a car transportation truck with a little guy driving we named Lou, and a super cool tools puzzle.  GG gave you a little dog with antlers and cash.  The talented Auntie Krispie played us a couple songs on her banjo, one of your favorite instruments to pick out in songs.  

 

Then we all tried to find the pickle on the tree for the surprise gift.  With little effort Krispie was this years victor happy with the Star Wars Trouble game.  Of course we also listened to the traditional Christmas album and then some Sufjan Stevens.  I went looking for you to find you in front of the stereo swaying back and forth to the music.  Such a sweet ending to a wonderful afternoon.

*Around 3:30 we packed up our first load of goodies and quickly made the 6 miles to Bahboo and Grandma P's.  We unwrapped our gifts immediately and in quick fashion.  The excitement wasn't hidden on your face when you opened Bahboo and Grandma P's presents...a cool front loader that works, a bunch of musical instruments and a dump truck!  

 Grandma also made sure she had blueberries stocked up which your swift grubbers snatched when I opened the fridge to get out the milk.  You didn't mind that you knocked them all over the place.  You sat your butt down on the edge of the fridge and ate them anyway.  We had a nice dinner of ham, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, and green bean casserole.  Lovely!

* Again this year we listened to the first message from J, your birth mom, asking us to be your parents.  Thursday, December 25th, 2009 at 5:35.  Then we texted her a Merry Christmas! and told her how much we love her.

*Finally, we are rounding out the season by making thank you card art.  You are in love with art time.  Mommy cuts and places glue and you choose paper, stickers, stamps and markers to decorate your creations.  I think we've come up with some pretty cute things.  You have been requesting art time which I am very happy to oblige.  

A long post but a summary of our busy season.  Looking forward to next year but happy for a break!

Love, Mama   

An Awesome Autumn Alphabet Adventure [17 of 26] Q is for Quality Time with Henny's Friends

Dear Peepsthelonius,
Just as the leaves made a huge drop from their branches Mama Brook invited us over for a crunchy afternoon of play outside.  An ethereal glow beamed golden and warm.  Gold light, amber leaves, and soft halos around the babies' hair; the day was perfect.  The kind of light us mommy's dream of because it is kind to our features and skin.  We first met indoors where Brook was fixing up some English muffin pizzas and butternut squash.  It was so good! Mama hasn't a clue how to make butternut squash but I was in love with it and we did start making the English muffin pizzas at home with mini pepperonis.  After eating you, Lil, Sylvie, Etienne, Brook, Heather and myself went outside.  So, of course I brought along my camera, which I had a big nightmare about it breaking last night, and we made our way to visit the little chicks.  I thought you'd be really excited about the chicks but you wanted even more to explore their new camper, however, days later you would see little chicks in books or on TV and state, "Lily's chickens!"  The twins crawled their way through the carpet of leaves and much like you did last year Etienne loved shoving them into his mouth.  Heck, this year, you still did it but more for comedic effect than the love of the taste and texture.  Lily showed you her fence, pumpkins and faucet.  Sylvie tried to wrangle out of her hooded sweater and cracked herself up when she fell backwards.  We all ended up sitting out on the lawn playing for several hours.  It was a beautiful day.  It was wonderful to share friendship and to watch your friendships grow.  As we were leaving we found you and Lily by the cars and you were both missing a single shoe with your sock all stretched out off of your foot.  I wondered what was in the air that day.  I know you slept a long while after we made it back home.  I hope that the spring time brings many more of such outings.  Mama loves those mamas and babies so much, we've all been on this adventure together the last couple of years, it is only right that we are able to find time to share it.  

Q is for Quality Time with Henny's Friends

Love, Mama

An Awesome Autumn Alphabet Adventure [16 of 26] P is for the Perils of (grand)Parents in a Pit!

Dear Henry, 
Anxious to share all of our fun and inexpensive activities we find in Bloomington with Bahboo and Grandma P we took them along to the gymnastics center with us.  We also met up with Heather, Phillipe, Etienne and Sylvie too.  So we took you over to the pit and you jumped into it several times, piled up the blocks with Bahboo outside of the pit, ran around and basically tried to show off your skills to your grandparents.  I saw Bahboo and Grandma P eyeballing the pit.  I could almost hear them thinking aloud how comfy and fun it looks.  I sent out a warning about how difficult it can be to get out of that sinkhole of foam blocks and random lost band aids.  However about 10 minutes later there they were.  Climbing in. Slowly sifting to the bottom of the foam blocks and fighting to keep afloat amongst the kids deftly jumpin' in and climbing out around them.  Grandma P was even hidden for a minute under the blocks and scared a kid that jumped near here when her hands and head finally came up for air.  After bonking them over the heads a few time you wanted out to play with other things.  There were your two grandparents, stuck, whining and struggling to get out of the pit.  "Why didn't you tell me us it would be so hard to get out," they yammered.  Bahboo got out first then Grandma P followed with a little bit of hoisting and that was the end of them for the next two days.  They went home that evening and I called to see how they were doing and they both exclaimed that the pit had whooped their butts.  That's what grandkids are for right?

P is for the Perils of (Grand)Parents in a Pit 

Love, Mama

PS  Here are a couple of photos of the twins hanging out watching the parachute.

Christmas Preparations

Dear Peep A Claus, 

The preparations for Christmas this year have gone smoothly.  Santa sent word that your behaviors the last 12 months have been over all great so that means presents are on their way.  Yes, that means we aren't counting the recent episode at the post office.  Mama and Daddy have finished their shopping for each other.  Every year the labels we stick to one another's packages are almost as important as the present inside.  Our tree is decorated mostly at the top as you are in love with taking the ornaments off and on.  So the only decorations this year are plastic shiny silver snowflakes from Aunt Judy (been gone a year today), a snowman handcrafted by you, and our couple of special ornaments.  JMom would be proud to see the angel holding onto a heart that reads, "believe!" front and center.  

 She gave it to you last year.  Mama asked you tonight what you wanted Santa to bring you.  At first you said a sucker and followed up with drums.  Thatta boy!  I wanted to post some photos tonight.  The holidays can make us miss those we love and can't be with for whatever pile of reasons but it doesn't mean we aren't thinking of them.  After all, it was Dec. 25th at 5:35 pm three Christmas' ago that we received the best present ever, a call from J, your birthmom, telling us that she believed that we are your parents.  On Christmas!  Our family grew that night in all directions.  We love her and are thinking of her.

We are grateful to be together with most of our immediate family this year.  We will get to be with Uncle Gary and Cousin Tony, Grandma P and Bahboo, Aunt Krispie, GG Hazel, Grandma LaJean.  That is happiness. 

Love, Mama

An Awesome Autumn Alphabet Adventure [15 of 26] O is for Oh, Oh! Ho Ho has Suckers!

Dear Henny, 
Finally, I am to the letter O!  I have been slacking in the last week keeping the post flowing.  I don't think anyone has noticed so I will just pick things right back up where I left off.
Last weekend we took you to see Santa Claus at Greenwood Park Mall! That's right!  You saw Santa Claus.  My guess is that we were more excited than you were, until you saw the huge box of suckers.  You waved at Santa when we drew closer but you saw that sucker box and you may as well have said, "Santa Who?"  You twisted and pointed exclaiming, "SUCKERS! SUCKERS!"  Your turn came and you walked toward Santa and made a quick turn to his sucker box grabbing a yellow one just as Santa lifts you to his lap.  The only thing on your mind was that sucker!  With the long lines I tried to hurry you along.  You fumbled yellow sucker and I had to reach quickly for a red.  You were happy.  The photos the place took were bad, not even funny bad just bad, so we didn't buy them.  Mommy was happy that Santa allowed his visitors to take whatever photos they 

 wanted.  You can tell in Mommy's photos that you were really not that into it.  Daddy took video with his cell phone.  You were eating your sucker so you were happy and I got to fire off a couple of shots so I was happy.  Win, Win.  You recounted the experience later by saying, "Lap, Santa, sucker, bite it, eat it, drop it."

 O is for OH, OH! Suckers!  

Love, Mama

An Awesome Autumn Alphabet Adventure [14 of 26] N is for Naughty, Naughty, NO! NO! What the Heck are You Doing Now Henny?! and Your Favorite Video Right Now.

Dear Henny, 
Good gawd!  Since birth, rolling over the first day, you've been a physical phenom.  You started crawling right around 5 months, pulling up a couple of months later and walking completely on your own the day before 10 months.  I'm bragging a little but all this early strength can cause some problems.  For instance, you have recently been on a climbing jag.  You are so stealth about it too.  One minute we are playing in the living room and by the time I drag my old bones up to follow you to the kitchen, you've shimmied up the bar stool and are standing on the kitchen counter or sitting there with your feet in the sink acting like you're doing dishes.  You also love to sit on the dining room table grab my mouse roller ball and throw it or stand up and try to swing from the light fixture, seriously.   You s-t-r-e-t-c-h your arms above your head standing on your tip toes and smile at me.  You know you should not be doing this!  When I pull you down you say, "naughty, naughty!"  Huh?!  I haven't said naughty to you more than once or twice your whole life.  Where did you get that?  It is true but where did you get that word from?  But hey, if it fits.  This weekend we thought you were hiding behind the Christmas tree but I found you sitting on the record shelves discovering all of the crap you've been throwing back there for the last year.  Pointing and trying to crawl over the shelves head first to dive for a three month old cookie I was in shock.  Not about the three month old cookie, but rather your boldness!  By the way our house is clean in most spaces but I've just left the crap back there to accumulate, until now.  I had to remove your motivation!  So the letter N is for....

  Naughty, Naughty, NO! NO! What the Heck are You Doing Now Henny?!

In addition to watching Lily in action, some afternoons we will dig up fun You Tube videos to watch.  Babies giggling, chimpanzees, Koko the gorilla, and music videos.  You have your favorites requests.  "Elmo A, B, Cs,"  "Frog, banjo, rainbow, Debbie," and most recently, "Elmo, bed, sleepin', guitar, milk, milk."  It features the letter N and the rockin' out part gets your head moving swiftly from side to side, up and down and all around surrounded by chuckles. 

N is for the letter N with Elmo and Ricky Gervais

An Awesome Autumn Alphabet Adventure [13 of 26] M is for Marshmallows, Molkky and HayMarket Riot visit

Dear Henny, 
At 10 days old you went to your first punk rock show.  Some may say that is a little young but thankfully it was at a recording studio and you and I sat in the recording booth protecting your teeny ears from sounds that might have just blown your mind grapes.  I was able to adjust the volume to protect you.  The band you saw, Haymarket Riot from Chicago, have been friends of ours for a decade now and we all have a lot of mutual love and respect.  They were so happy on that first visit to meet you and give you cuddles and gifts.  This visit, a year and 6 months later, you didn't get to go to the show but you did get to hang out.  Their show was very late at the Bishop and so we started a little fire in the back yard, threw acorns at each other, played some Molky and roasted marshmallows.  You really tried to play Molkky and had no problem shoving marshmallows in your mouth.  Chris Daly, Daddy and I exchanged parenting stories and had a good visit.  I think they were surprised at how big you've gotten.  We were happy to see our friends and to congratulate our friend Fred on his recent marriage.  Remember Henry how great it can be to maintain friendships with good people over time and distance.   It is always rewarding.

M is for Marshmallows, Molkky and HayMarket Riot Visit

Love, Mama