Dear Henry,

You’re two weeks into your second year. Happy  (belated) Birthday! Don’t worry, we celebrated right on time. I’m just late writing your letter. I’m not sure why I put it off. At first I was a little sad your first year was over, but in these two weeks I’m remembering how much I love age 1 and I’m excited for all that is to come. I also wanted to take you to the doctor to get a good update on all your stats. Plus, how can I be sad? This first year with you has been so wonderful and full of memories. Daddy and I can’t believe we’ve been the parents of two for a year.

Little man, you are 20 lbs. 12 oz., in the 17% percentile. You’re 29 1/2 inches long, in the 38th percentile. That noggin reigns supreme at 19 1/4 inches, in the 97th percentile. You’re smaller than I would have guessed you’d be at your first birthday because of your rapid growth as a young infant, but you are right on track and the doctors say you are doing great.

You know how to walk. You either take two steps and then plop back down on your tush and crawl, or you unsteadily walk across the room, then plop on your tush and crawl some more. I think you know how fast you can crawl, so you just do that because you get where you are going faster. There is an exception to that. When you get behind your new Thomas The Train you are off! It doesn’t stop at Thomas. You push your sister’s old Wheely Bug around the house, her doll strollers and your new Mega Blocks truck. You run into our legs, get stuck in the door and scream for help. You are a determined little guy. We love it.

What we don’t love is all the bumps, bruises and scrapes you are suddenly acquiring with all your unsteady movement. You have a cut by your right eye from falling into the kitchen cabinets while pulling yourself up. This is just before family pictures this weekend, naturally. Of course, right before your Baby Dedication at church you banged your head in the bathtub and got a bruise on your left eye. Sweet baby! Please be careful! You have your mama on edge. I’m constantly chasing you and scooping you up to save you from yourself! Don’t hurt that handsome little face!

You are eating everything now. We try to give you as many of the same foods we eat everyday.  You are SO MESSY! If we’re at home, I don’t bother with a bib. You rip it off. We just strip you down. Henry, it is not unusual to give you multiple baths in a day after eating or pooping. The broom and the vacuum are always nearby when you eat, son. We have also taken a scrub brush to your high chair in recent weeks to clean caked-on food.

You love your Daddy and get so excited when he comes home. You watch your big sister and love to play with whatever she’s playing with. You two are learning to share. You still love to snuggle with me while nursing, just a few times a day. You love when I sing little songs for you and play peek-a-boo.

Henry, we play this little game, where I open the door and “surprise” you when you lay down for a nap or for bed. You giggle heartily and sleepily before falling asleep. The sound of your laughter is one of the best sounds in our house. You make our family whole. Your giggles make our hearts whole. Thank you for the privilege of being your mother. Thank you for a great first year. I love you, my sweet, sweet boy.

Love,

Mama