Month fifty-three

Dear Henry,

What a great month, Bean! I have so many favorites from the past month I'm not sure where to begin, so I guess I'll just jump in. First, you created this game in the hallway where you run, throw the ball, and run faster to catch the ball before it gets to the other end of the hallway. There are four quarters to this game and you rest between each quarter (a quarter is comprised of one run down and back and resting involves lying in my lap for a few seconds to catch your breath). What really is awesome about it is that you talk trash to the ball as you run. "I'm going to get you ball!" This is almost always followed by a maniacal laugh. Love it!

Your favorite words this month are No and Why? I am beginning to dislike these words but try to tell myself they signify both your growing independence and your natural curiosity. I'm not entirely sure this is working because, well, by the end of a very long day I just don't have anymore explanations in me. Clearly my knowledge base is not what it should be to explain everything that exists in the world and beyond to the satisfaction of your growing mind. I'll start taking Gingko biloba.

We had the pleasure of watching a family friend's baby this past month and while he was here you spent much of the time admiring and playing with him. You spent the rest of the time trying to convince me we should keep him. You were certain his parents would not miss him and that they could just get another baby and call him by the same name. I hate to break it to you, kid, but I don't think you're going to have any siblings. If this means we have to let you have more sleepovers, we're okay with that. But another baby? I mean, we love you but we're not crazy.

Need I say more than Vegetable Lunch? Per your request, we created a new lunch option at the condo and it is all vegetables, all the time. I was quite impressed not only when you requested it, but also with what we were able to pull together - corn, peas, carrots, radishes, broccoli, cucumbers, and spinach. I can't guarantee we'll always have those exact veggies on hand but I will definitely work to ensure we have lots available for those times when you specifically request them. Speaking of vegetables, you tried rutabaga. Rutabaga, son! We made bean pot dinner, another vegetable heavy dish, and we asked you to try it and you did. Congrats on your introduction to another member of the root family.

I have to hand it to you, Hen. You were super brave this month. You flew to the Mexico! traveling  without the presence of either parent onto not one but two planes for a very long day of travel. After I left, you counted the days until you got to see me on your fingers. I can picture in my head the way you would do this using your hands and calling out the number with each finger you extended. You got some much-needed quality time with your pops. He even suggested I go away more often so you two can hang out. Before I left, we practiced how you would breathe with snorkeling gear on whenever we were in the car (apparently there is something about being strapped in a car seat that makes you want to practice breathing techniques). After I left, papa picked up by the snorkeling gear and we learned that even the toddler size was too big for preschooler heads. But they were packed and carried on down to the Mexico! so that kids that visit the casa in the future can use them to see all the awesome sea creatures. This letter would not be complete if I failed to mention that you found and held sea urchins. They were tiny, black, spiny and sort of cute. (But poisonous, too, I learned later.) Oh, and every day we were there we enjoyed a tasty frozen treat from the community market, usually picked up after we finished swimming or hanging out at the beach so we could enjoy it on our walk back to the casa. It is no wonder you did not want to leave. Treats and sea creatures, that's a way to live, my son.

As hard as parenting sometimes seems to be, it is the most amazing thing I have ever done. No company party could come close to how much fun we can have hunting for snails or building x-wing fighters out of Legos. Dude, we totally introduced you to Star Wars, too. Did I not tell you how awesome this past month was?

Love,
Mama