Peep Peep in the Movies: Take 3

Dear Henry, 

Rear Window is another of Papa's faves.

Love, Mommy

Eatin' Bits with Grandma La Jean

Dear Henry, 

You've started mashing foods in your minature mandible.  
You seem to love it... carrots, peas, and chunks of bananas.

I think Grandma Lajean likes it too.
Or maybe she just really likes you!
Ya think?


Love, Mama

A Stitch in Time

Dear Peep,

On Thursday your aforementioned surgery was performed. Things turned out good but Mommy must tell you the story because you will see just how much your Daddy loves you.

Luckily your time to be in Indianapolis was not until 11:15. It was nice to not be in a rush to get us all ready to leave during the early hours, however it meant that you didn't get to have a bottle until really late in the day. Mommy was afraid you'd be so hangry (so hungry that you're angry), as well as in pain, that you wouldn't be able to relax after your surgery. What a silly thought. I'm talking about you here! You swing with the situation so you were doing okay.

The night before your surgery Mommy handmade you a doll to hold as you went into surgery. I wanted it to look a little like you so I used blue and green threads for the eyes and cut the hair to have the little side curl that snakes its way into your bangs everyday. It turned out pretty wonky. The neck was REALLY long, the feet didn't match, and the arms stuck straight out and puckered as they came into the body. Other than those defects, for my first doll it came out fairly cute. When Mommy and Daddy laid you on the bed that morning and presented you with your doll buddy you gave a little chuckle and a huge smile came across your face. Totally worth the time spent making it just for that moment alone. So we load your doll buddy into the car with the rest of your gear and got moving.

We arrived a bit early. Daddy and Mommy could hardly breathe waiting for your name to be called. Oblivious to the pain and transformation you were about to undergo, you spent the wait crawling around on the floor wrestling doll buddy and trying to lick Daddy's tires. Daddy gave you his neck pillow to keep you comfortable.

"Henry Thompson? Henry Thompson?"

Mommy stood up and started to feel a little dizzy. We walked you back to the prep area. It had a rocking chair on a large rug, some toys, a TV and VCR, a bed and a wallpaper border of frolicking zoo animals. We were instructed to change you into a dinky little hospital gown and footies with non-skid bottoms. Non-skid? In that size?  Really? Seems a little useless but at this point I think you were starting to know that something was up. We held you for a while and a nurse came in and said, "Okay, ready to go?" I said, "Yeah, I guess." She kept standing there.  I'm squeezing you and realized she meant right now she was going to take you. Mommy took a deep breath and blinked quickly to hold it together. I took you near Daddy and he was all red and looked like I needed to punch him in the stomach to remind him to quit holding his breath or he was going to turn blue and pass out. Daddy and Mommy avoided eye contact and loved on you in until it was clear I must hand you over to the nurse along with dolly buddy and your sock monkey blanket J picked out for you when you were born.

Daddy and I sighed and decided that we would follow you around the corner until you were out of sight. Oh, how hard this was! You were smiling and flirting in that little dinky hospital gown and your wonky doll buddy was hanging out with you.  I couldn't let images seep in of you being put under. Daddy and Mommy gave each other a big hug and turned to leave as we were directed to the waiting room.

Passing time...Daddy and Mommy brought books to read but Daddy couldn't even begin one word. I put his Kindle on his lap but he never got beyond the screen saver. He was so worried for you Peep Peep. Daddy sat and stared at the wall the whole time with lips tense and shoulders fixed in one bunch of flexed muscles. Every time the door opened from the operating area we would jump to see if it was our turn to find out how our loved one was doing. Mommy on the other hand immersed herself in a book and the time passed quickly.

Then the door opened and Dr. R stepped over to us and for the 50th time that day we held our breath.  Daddy barely got out a "How is he?" Things went swimmingly and we would be able to go back to see you shortly in the recovery room. We got on our phones to call your anxious grandparents and J to give them the news that you were out of surgery and doing good.

Nearly on tip toes, we entered the recovery room to see you, fearful of the condition you might be in, to find you crying like a kitty cat that had its tail stepped on. You had an IV in your little foot, secured with a brown mummy-like wrapping. Your face had remnants of tape goo all across it. It had gathered black lint and junk making it look as if I don't bathe you. (It is now two days later and I still can't get it all off of your face. Your ear looks extra hairy.) You couldn't open your eyes just yet.  I held you tight and let Daddy kiss all over your little fuzz head. You started to thrash and cry from the confusion of being sedated.

Mommy was sure your belly was super hungry and a bottle would calm you but the nurse suggested we first give you some water to make sure you didn't get sick. You weren't having it and about 20 minutes later she gave the okay for you to eat. We moved you around holding you, laying you down, standing you up, and leaving you alone and you just couldn't get soothed. Daddy and Mommy even held you close and sang Row, Row, Row your Boat softly in your ear hoping you would merrily, merrily drift off to a restful sleep. It was the bottle that finally calmed you. Mommy knew it would. While you sucked on your bottle Daddy put his hand by your side and you reached out to hold his hand. OH MY! It was almost too much for Mommy! When you ate and didn't get sick the nurse decided it would be okay to remove your IV.  You got really excited because she let you wrestle with the tubing for as long as you wanted. In true Henry form you were torn between cries and smiles. Nothing can zap the cheer out of ol' Peep Peep. After receiving instructions from the doctor concerning your at home care we loaded you into the car seat and trekked back home.

You were wimpy for the afternoon and again went into kitty cat whines. Daddy thought it seemed like you were calmer when he rode you around on his lap so he was pacing back and forth with you in the house. He told me he was going to go outside with you for a bit. A few minutes later I looked out the window to see Papa riding you back and forth in front of the house and talking to you. I grabbed my camera and headed out.

You were calm and asleep displaying jazz hands. That night when we prepared you for bed Daddy was giving you love and he said one of the sweetest things I've ever heard anybody ever say. He said, "Peep Peep, it was an honor taking care of you today."   That is love.

Love, Mommy

A Change is Gonna Come

Dear Henry, 

I just can't believe what you've been up to.  You started crawling about 5-6 weeks ago and now have 6 teeth making an appearance, which is amazing in itself because you are just 7 months today.  Last week I am cleaning dishes in the kitchen while I hear from the bedroom Daddy's astonished voice, "Mommy! Mommy!  Come here!  Quick!  You've got to see this!"  Well, Daddy had you in the pack'n'play and you had decided to pull yourself up and over the side to try and crawl out onto Daddy's lap!  So dangerous!  

Therefore, immediately, after I marveled at your he-man strength and took a couple of shots, Mommy moved that pack'n'play down to the bottom level.  

You were clearly unsure about this development and rolled around and smooshed your face against the nylon mesh sides making' your mug all Picassoesque.  You know, is your lip your brow or is it the corner of your nose kind of thing.  

In a couple of days you acclimated to this change after raging around in your baby cage but have now transferred your pull-up skills to Daddy's feet and other objects.  In trying to creep your way over the top of your toy basket to retrieve your Glockenspiel your fat belly became stuck halfway over and I had to rescue you.  You couldn't go forward or backward!  Your efforts were so concentrated when I came behind you and put my hands on your waist to help you out I startled you.  Being persistent, you went right back at it all over again. 

Your new semi-standing position is helping you bring to light new worlds to lick, bite and screech at.  Mommy has to keep an eye on that taffy tongue brush that seems to want to paint the dirtiest or most dangerous of surfaces such as: terrazzo floors, Daddy's tires, electric cords, my camera lens, cart handles, any paper you can get your hands on or your stroller wheels.

So happy to see you grow up, so sad to know there is a day you will start your own life and throw ole Mommy to the curb.

Love, 
Mommy

Fall Means Playin' in the Crinkly Leaves

Dear Henry, 

Who would have thought that Fall is your season!  You love the crinklin' leaves and the squirrels and chipmonks outside of the living room window.  You sit in your bouncy seat and hop hop hop while you watch outside the window.  You don't seem to mind the chill in the air or a warm stocking cap on your head.  You are extra cuddly in a warm hoodie and little jeans.  Our friend Mason used to point out that you were so tiny your pants were square; as wide as you were tall... now you've stretched out and your pants are little rectangles.  

 

Above are a couple of you playing in the leaves and walking around the yard with Grandpa Tim.

Love, Mama

Plumped Finger Pollock

Dear Baby Artist, 

Finger painting is your thing.  You throw your chubby sausage fingers around like an expert mixing, smearing and blending colors.  So much fun!

 I can't wait until we do it again, but sweets maybe you could avoid trying to eat the paper when you're finished.

Love, Mama

J and the Boys

Dear Henry, 

It was time to give J another visit!  We drove over in the afternoon this past Thursday the notion of fall lingering on the trees and in the double wagon pumpkin truck we were stuck behind for 10 minutes.  

We arrived and Tommy and Uriah jumped to see us.  Tommy grabbed you immediately and wanted to give you big warm hugs.  You seemed to like it at first but then I think you weren't too certain about the level of tight his hugs can entail.  

We played on the floor, danced a little, read a book and ate some pizza.  The boys showed us their new kitty cats, Manfred and Big Manfred and J gave you lots of cuddles.  Mommy and J had a good conversation about the past 7 months and how proud we are that we've developed such a good relationship and how much love we have for you, my little Peep Peep.  We aren't sure if the boys understand their connection to you just yet but J says when she tells them Mommy is coming over Tommy will ask her, "is she bringin' that baby too?" 

While playing you gave a big smile and J discovered ANOTHER tooth pushin' through on the bottom next to your first two!  That makes three teeth coming in at one time!  Your top two have been giving you quite a hassle and a couple of times you let out some pretty mighty shrieks. 


J and Mommy tried to get a photo of the three of you boys together but we could not get you all to cooperate in the same frame. (Sorry JMom, we tried!)


The next day we were to go to Ohio for Daddy's cousin Amy's baby shower, she is having twin girls in January, so we left around 4:30. 

Mommy looks for another visit in a few weeks.
I'm grateful for the connection and I know someday it will be as important to you.

Love, 
Mommy,