Tuesday, January 05, 2010

midway between two and three

It was 30 months ago today that we welcomed this little one in to our world.

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Does it really seem like 2.5 years ago?

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"The days are long, but the years are short."

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Too short. So I am drinking it all up.

The best I can.

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Even on those days when bedtime can't come soon enough...

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Each day with my little Henry is a beautiful gift. He is so adorable and cuddly and lovable and funny. His sweetness certainly helps to offset the fact that he is the largest handful IMAGINABLE. I'm not sure if it's because there is only one of him - but holy cow - this child keeps us running.

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Perhaps the reason I don't remember such chaos with the triplets when they were his age is because we very rarely went out and there were still baby gates everywhere.

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It's certainly hard to believe that when the triplets were Henry's age, I was six months pregnant. I really have no idea how I survived that...

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Some of the things I want to sear in to my memory about this age...

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The way that my toddler carries around a small character from one of the Pixar movies everywhere he goes. His siblings had blankets and bunnies for their loveys. Alas, Henry has two-inch tall plastic figurines that he positively adores.

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I want to remember the way that he will strip off all of his clothes and run around the house, free as a jay bird. He is fully potty trained, when he is in the buff. But as soon as you put a single stitch of clothing on him, all bets are off. I can't help but think how much money I'd be saving if I just let him run around naked everywhere.

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I absolutely need to remember his sweet little voice when he bursts in to song. "Frosty the Snowman" and "You've Got a Friend in Me" are his two current favorites. I also love the way he will saunter up and ask, "What you doing?" and when we direct the same question at him he'll smile and say, "Nuffin!"

If he wants for you to accompany him somewhere, he'll grab your hand and say, "Come on, Cowboy!" And I don't ever want to forget his means of getting my attention by shouting, "MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY WOOK AT ME!"

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While we are trying to wean him off of his pacifier, he will drag chairs from all over the house and climb around looking for his "bucky". Which is making him a little bucky. Hence the reason we are doing our best to get rid of it.

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But that "bucky" really does pacify him and considering his aunt and uncle recently equated his cries to a pterodactyl, sometimes I'm willing to do just about anything for peace and quiet. For what it's worth, I loved my orthodontic braces. That I wore for four whole years because I thucked my thumb until I thwas 13. (Notice toenails that snag can cause a great deal of stress when you're two.)

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Henry's favorite foods at the moment are pizza and strawberries.

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He also enjoys Cheerios, bananas, sausage, edamame, and yogurt. And pizza, pizza and pizza. Since I've stopped nursing so much (shh don't tell my mother) Henry can put away a 12-inch pizza by himself. Although he was born at 10 pounds and managed to stay above the 90th percentile until he was 18 months old, between 18 months and 24 months of age, he slipped to the 30th percentile. But the little dude is on his way back up the growth charts and comfortably fits in to 3T clothing.

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Henry is a bona fide part of the group. He fits quite well in to our family. He has both of his parents wrapped snugly around his pudgy finger. He loves his siblings and they love him. He doesn't however, love sleep. Unless, his big brother is sleeping next to him.

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It warms my heart when he holds his outstretched arms to me and asks, "Mama. Hold You." I'm fairly certain he will say this because whenever I will pick him up, I'll whisper in his ear, "Of course I'll hold you, my sweet, sweet baby." And then I'll look in to his gorgeous eyes and get lost in the swirly kaleidoscope of blue.

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He IS my baby.

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Something tells me he'll always be my baby.

(Noni, we miss you. Please come see us soon.)

20 comments:

  1. ahhh. . . I'm wiping a tear . . . .

    especially the "Mama Hold You" part . . . . Tucker would say that to me too. And when he was mad or frustrated or something I'd ask him "Mama Hold You?" and he'd sometimes look at me all Tee'd off and yell "NO HOLD YOU!"

    Yours in the insanity of it all . .
    Jessica

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  2. those eyes get me. every. single. time.

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  3. What a sweet post, and great pics!
    Time really does go by tooooooo fast!

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  4. Sweet Henry! What a treasure!
    LOVE this post! <3
    Happy New Year!

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  5. my almost three year old say 'I want to hold you!' too.... it gets me every time. Sweet update!

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  6. This is absolutely the sweetest post Jen -- fighting back some tears here, and wondering what it would be like to have just one more : ) Which we won't, but it's sweet to think of when I read your words and see pics of your gorgeous little guy : )

    Have a wonderful day!
    Jeremi

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  7. He is such a pistol. I can't believe he is already 2.5 too. Austin will be FIVE this year. (My heart just stopped beating.)

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  8. Our little guy is a month off Henry and we too are perfectly naked toliet trained. I like to think brillant too- if I could poop and keep playing why not?

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  9. I love your blog and have been reading it for a long time. All your kiddos are adorable but there is something about Henry's eyes. the girls will be chasing him someday.

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  10. I love the Henry posts that you do! They are so sweet!! And Henry does have absolutely gorgeous eyes. Love them!

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  11. Ahhhhhhhh! What a special boy. Thanks for sharing. You'll be so glad you wrote this all down. I too don't want to forget anything..well maybe not anything!

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  12. How sweet...you get me every time with those Henry post. In the eyes...yep in the eyes. He is adorable just like the others.

    What is it about being potty trained in the nude. My 21 month old grandson has been totally trained for three months...until you put clothes on him and then all bets are off. If you learn how to remedy that situations please let me know. It is not quite the weather for going nude these days.
    Kathy

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  13. a beautiful baby.thanks for sharing ur days with us.and he has gorgeous eyes!

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  14. Awww. Love this post. I've always had a crush on your little Henry. I remember when he was littler, he reminded me so much of my firstborn "Monkey" (exactly two months younger than Henry), thus my crush.

    He is a doll. And I completely "get" the days being long, but the years being short. *sigh*

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  15. Awe. Haven't been here in a while and so glad I came to see sweet Henry. :-) Personally I think it has something to do with his birthday - and the alignment of the stars ;-) Brian, my July 4th baby (whose now 7!) continues to cuddle, give hugs and hold my hand to help me cross the street.;-) (or maybe we are just really good Mother's from really good stock.............. nah. It's the stars.) Love, Marg.

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  16. I love the "mama hold ewe" I get from Chase... so stinkin sweet! He really is a doll and he looks the exact same from birth to now... no mistaking that kid ;~)

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  17. He is so FLIPPIN' cute!

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  18. I think it is amazing how Gracie has changed. Of course, Henry has grown, but look at the change in my Gracie?
    MOM

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  19. Ah Henry is not only a miracle, but a charmer and has THE MOST beautiful blue eyes. You, Charlie and the Trips are blessed to have him in your life wild streak and all.

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