We're officially one day away from your second birthday - just barely, it's 1:57 a.m. - and I can't sleep. I'm so excited! Not because I never saw us successfully parenting you this far but because there are so many great and wonderful things in store for you. I can and probably will tell you this a million times before I die, you are an incredible little person and I can't believe I am so lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of your life. Every day, even the occasional rough one, is better than all the other days I had to myself before you were born. So, on the one hand, thank you. On the other, don't screw this up. These tremendously good feelings might just convince us to buy you a car when you turn 16.
The truth is I can't believe you're almost two. Two. TWO! Two. Years. Old. Egads! When did time start moving so quickly? I know. I know. I sound old. Judging by the high count of gray hairs on my head, of which you are mostly responsible for, I am old. But still, I never would have thought that an entire year could pass as fast as this last one. You have kept us hopping, bean. From all of the jumping, jumping, running, and jumping to the first successful pee in the potty it has been one long Henryfest of accomplishments, including but not limited to the following: going for your first solo ride down the big red slide at Sellwood Park, making it through a full-length movie at the theatre (Cloudy with a Side of Meatballs), tasting Japanese food cart yakisoba and liking it, learning numbers 1 through 10 (minus the offensive number 4), and enjoying your first train ride at The Flower Farm. 
The truth is I can't believe you're almost two. Two. TWO! Two. Years. Old. Egads! When did time start moving so quickly? I know. I know. I sound old. Judging by the high count of gray hairs on my head, of which you are mostly responsible for, I am old. But still, I never would have thought that an entire year could pass as fast as this last one. You have kept us hopping, bean. From all of the jumping, jumping, running, and jumping to the first successful pee in the potty it has been one long Henryfest of accomplishments, including but not limited to the following: going for your first solo ride down the big red slide at Sellwood Park, making it through a full-length movie at the theatre (Cloudy with a Side of Meatballs), tasting Japanese food cart yakisoba and liking it, learning numbers 1 through 10 (minus the offensive number 4), and enjoying your first train ride at The Flower Farm. 
On the vocabulary and speech front, you are progressing with aplomb. The other day you were leaving the house with pops and you turned to me and said, "Come. Mama." Ordinarily this wouldn't be noteworthy but this command is usually directed at Beauty the wonder dog (or as you like to call her, Bea) so it was a bit surprising when you figured out that you could demand and get obedience from your parents. The balance of power just shifted in your favor, kid. You have a rather charming pause between words when you speak two or three of them consecutively. I often hear "Milk. Please. Mama," when you're a bit parched. And probably somewhere in the vicinity of nine times out of ten you follow that up with a "Thank. You. Mama," after you've satisfied your thirst. You have picked up several Spanish words and I can point to something and say "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" in my bad French and you'll tell me. 
Mini tantrums, perhaps best expressed as glimpses of what's to come, are occurring more frequently, but you're also much more generous with kisses and hugs. As your pops noted, your very prim and proper quick pecks on the lips have transitioned into the traditional sloppy baby smooches so sometimes being on the receiving end means we have to towel off. I have no qualms about letting you experience a meltdown but I hesitate to let you go off in a public place so we tend to wrap things up pretty quickly when I sense a time of unease is upon us. Most annoying is the rather unfortunate placement of a neighbor's basketball downstairs because a. you know it's there and want to play with it EVERY TIME we're in the garage; 2. you will enter a period of potential tantrum if you don't get to play with it EVERY TIME we're in the garage; and C) do you realize how often we go in and out of the parking garage? A lot. 
Since baking is important we've started working on the fundamentals of rolling out pie dough. As my sous chef you also help with mixing ingredients and trying whatever comes out of the kitchen. Frosting is a current favorite. (We made a trial batch of cupcakes for your upcoming birthday and had your friends over to taste test the goods.) You continue to impress with your vegetable consumption as well. The other night you enjoyed several hearty bites of spinach that had been sautéed with a dash of salt and a splash of lemon juice. My favorite is that each bite was met with an "mmmmm" of appreciation. Food is good, son. And you have been busy eating it. Not only are you a taller tot than you were last month (as evidenced by your nearing-flood-preparedness-stage pants) but also you feel a lot heavier. I know that feeling will probably only translate into a one to two pounds gain but that'll be the first weight you've put on in many, many months so it will be a most welcome one to two pounds. I'll invite those new pounds over for dinner and serve 'em frosting if you can get them to bring their friends.
Did I mention you now request pie? Happy second birthday, bean. You just keep getting cooler.
Love,
Mom
Mini tantrums, perhaps best expressed as glimpses of what's to come, are occurring more frequently, but you're also much more generous with kisses and hugs. As your pops noted, your very prim and proper quick pecks on the lips have transitioned into the traditional sloppy baby smooches so sometimes being on the receiving end means we have to towel off. I have no qualms about letting you experience a meltdown but I hesitate to let you go off in a public place so we tend to wrap things up pretty quickly when I sense a time of unease is upon us. Most annoying is the rather unfortunate placement of a neighbor's basketball downstairs because a. you know it's there and want to play with it EVERY TIME we're in the garage; 2. you will enter a period of potential tantrum if you don't get to play with it EVERY TIME we're in the garage; and C) do you realize how often we go in and out of the parking garage? A lot. 
Since baking is important we've started working on the fundamentals of rolling out pie dough. As my sous chef you also help with mixing ingredients and trying whatever comes out of the kitchen. Frosting is a current favorite. (We made a trial batch of cupcakes for your upcoming birthday and had your friends over to taste test the goods.) You continue to impress with your vegetable consumption as well. The other night you enjoyed several hearty bites of spinach that had been sautéed with a dash of salt and a splash of lemon juice. My favorite is that each bite was met with an "mmmmm" of appreciation. Food is good, son. And you have been busy eating it. Not only are you a taller tot than you were last month (as evidenced by your nearing-flood-preparedness-stage pants) but also you feel a lot heavier. I know that feeling will probably only translate into a one to two pounds gain but that'll be the first weight you've put on in many, many months so it will be a most welcome one to two pounds. I'll invite those new pounds over for dinner and serve 'em frosting if you can get them to bring their friends.
Did I mention you now request pie? Happy second birthday, bean. You just keep getting cooler.Love,
Mom
3 comments:
Happy Birthday Henry and congratulations to mom and dad too!
Happy early birthday, Henry! We need to find a time that we can stop by to drop a little somethin' somethin' off to the not-so-young youngster. I'll be in touch via email once the craziness of the party is all a distant memory. Have fun!
I just love these :)
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