Henry's First day of First

 First grade, that time in grade school where you really start to establish memories and friendships, blossom as a reader, and make your mommy gulp at the realization you're growing into a big wonderful boy.  

I held onto him as long and hard as I could.  For six wonderful years this boys has been mainly under the care of our home.  We chose the path of two day a week preschool and half day kindergarten, both of which were the perfect fit for our homebody Henry.  I'm so thankful for every ounce of time I have been able to eek out with him, but now there's no turning back.  It's been a bit hard to swallow him being away from me more than he's with me in a day, but if he has to go I'm thankful it's at a school where I feel so comfortable with.  Trinity has been such a blessing to our family so far and I am excited for him to begin this new chapter.  He has already felt like such a big boy, eating lunch at school, going to chapel with the older kids, and seeing all of his friends in other classes on the playground too.  

Just as we suspected, ML missed him something fierce but honestly she did better than expected.  Other than wanting me to pack her lunch just like his, asking me if he was eating lunch at the same time she was and not wanting to have a treat if he wasn't having one too her days have been pretty normal.  

For the most part, we met that first day with a smile and anticipation of all the fun in store for him this year.  Two nights before, after I had tucked him into bed he came down the stairs and grabbed me for a hug with tears in his eyes and blanky in his hand. 

 "I'm nervous about the first day" 

   "But I'm not going to be with you ALL day mommy!"

 "I'll miss you."

 Just place my heart in a puddle why don't ya?  I assured him it would be fun, full of new exciting things, and that I would be thinking about him and praying for him all day long. 

 "You will?" he asked.  

I will.....and I did.  

and ya know what?  we both survived with flying colors.  

 Though our days are flying by and my first born is getting, well....big; I can still see a baby boy peek out and wink at me if I look hard enough.  Oh and apparently this is an instinctual first day of school dance ingrained deep into his DNA.

 

 Sweet Henry my love I could truly eat you up, I love you so.  

 The morning went smooth as his excitement built, and then came goodbye.  A hug from me, and one from his dad and I saw those big brown eyes begin to blink at a rapid pace.  Teary eyed but smiling big we grinned at each other and I told him it would all be great.  I had it all together the rest of the day....unless I thought about that moment.  

 We passed the time on that first day by making some homemade chocolate chip cookies to have warm and waiting for our big school boy.  It's a tradition my mom started when I was a kindergartner, and she carried it through all the way to college.  Finding little ways to celebrate that first day makes it sting a little less.  It also helped this loving little sister to feel like she was doing something her Henry would love. 

So we heard all about his first day goodness over cookies and I may have hugged and kissed him a few dozen times.  "Oh you just don't know how much we missed you!" I said.  

"Like so much you had tears in your throat?"  

"Yes, there were tears."  

"Really??!  I had tears too when you said goodbye today but I made myself get them to go away."  

On Friday he shared with me that his belly hurt him at school.  I asked him if it was before lunch or after and he replied, "No, it's every time I think about you my belly goes gggrgggerrggggg, but if I stop thinking about you it goes away."
Melt my heart on the floor!
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, the smiles brighter, and the freckles more unique.  You are a treasure to be held my sweet Henry and I'm thankful for every moment I get to watch you grow this year.  

Ten months of knowing heaven on earth - RPC

Another month older wahhhoooo andI'm that much closer to driving!!!!!!

 OHHHHHh I mean crawling.... but still, I'm so close to freedom I can taste it!

WHOOaH What do you mean I can't crawl to the pool?  We'll see about that guys, I'm ready for some new found freedom and my own means of conveyance.

Not that I don't appreciate everything you guys have done for me; I mean I understand how hard it must be to cook dinner, blow dry your hair, and go to the bathroom holding a baby for 10 months.  I see what you're doing and it hasn't gone unnoticed.  

Ten whole months, how can it be!!?  We have enjoyed you more with each passing day and are grasping onto your days as tightly as we can.  Your continued calm demeanor and joyful personality have put a smile on our faces more times than we could count.  

You love to take a bite of shoulders and anything else you can sink your 8 teeth into, yet we still aren't eating foods.  Well, other than the peel of this apple you were happy to munch on.  :)

Ten months brought us:
A lot more laughs, smiles, cuddles, and waves were seen from our sweet baby boy.  He has always been entertained by Mallie Lynn and Henry and they are forever eager to give him an abundance of attention.  We have been given glimpses of the three of them playing together lately as Ford really started to take notice of their every move.  Henry throwing a ball for him or Mallie Lynn dancing can cause him to erupt into clapping and squealing.  On the brink of mobility, he's about to turn his siblings worlds upside down.  There have already been towers knocked over, cars chewed on, and tears because our little man has had his eyes on them.  (more where that came from)

Loves:  playing ball and especially dunking on his little basketball goal, rolling cars and trucks on the floor, knocking over blocks.  DADDY makes him soon excited and as soon as he hears his voice or sees his face he can't contain himself, arms and legs start moving and don't stop until he picks him up.

Eat: Still nursing every 3 hours as a general rule but sometimes it's two and every once in a while we can stretch it to 4.

Sleep: same story different month. Every three hours we nurse, and throw the itchiness of ezcema into the mix and we have the sleep patterns of a newborn.

Milestones:  Grabbing a ball and dunking it!  (In a baby goal)  It's his new favorite game and he's quite good at it.  He started picking up small pieces of food and putting them in his mouth on his own though he still won't have more than one or two bites.  He is starting to reach and rock forward into the crawling position but gets pretty content laying on his belly afterwards.  He has found a new game in laying his head down and popping it up to surprise us.  He also loves to read books now more than ever and likes to "read along".

My heart can hardly take how close we are to loving you an entire year but your the baby of the family, and forever a baby in my heart.  We love you so much sweet Rutherford.  Ford, you are adored.