Henry turns 1

It is hardly believable to think that an entire year has passed since Henry came into the world.  The funny thing about a third child is you have less time to pause and reflect on how fast he's growing up. It just happens in the blink of an eye. As the third, he is required to just go with the flow and routine of what is already happening. Moving into a new house, bringing sisters back and forth to school, travelling around to various activities, etc. Suddenly the tiny baby who just sleeps in the car seat and nurses constantly is a walking little boy who is so much more capable of interacting with the world around him. He knows what humour is, is beginning to understand language and routine, and doesn't understand why he can't do everything he wants to do, no matter how dangerous it is.  He sees what we do and tries to imitate. Walking down stairs, plugging something into an outlet...basically trying to be big. He's also gone from a helpless infant who doesn't know his family to one who knows that mommy and daddy are always there for comfort and to rescue him from falls and bumps and keep him warm and protected. He can count on his sisters to make him laugh and to lead the way.

What must it be like to come into a family with 2 older sisters and a huge dog? I think the stimulation is never ending.  Henry knows that all of the tiniest toys are in the girls room, and therefore that is the room he makes a beeline for every time we are upstairs.  He now loves to play outside since the weather has warmed up (a bit). Just don't take away his favourite outdoor toy--the rusty old paintbrush. He knows where the best things in the kitchen are...under the sink--soap,  the bottles in the spice drawer, and of course, the dirt in the plant behind his high chair.  Crawl down the hall toward the mudroom and you can play with the water in Scout's bowl.  All fun things to discover.  It is amazing to think that all of these things he has fully discovered on his own.

Putting him to bed on the last night of being under 1 is bittersweet.  It's so cliche, but our little guy is just growing up so fast.  At the same sense, there are so many more things for him to discover, and he's really getting to be so much fun.  He'll start to talk soon, and walk faster, play at the park, splash in the pool, and grow into the toddler stage.  I have to remember that the girls were once that age and I felt the same way but I never wish to go back in time.  Every age is a good age....it's just hard to say goodbye to the baby stage.

So to little Hen Hen, I wish you the very best birthday.  We love you so much.

A picture of a picture, but just so cute.