Henry-
First off I want to tell you how proud I am of all you have accomplished this year. I can't believe that YOU my little boy have grown so much. You have been through so many hard things in your short life, and you always have a brilliant smile on your face. Except when making your angry face, I LOVE your angry face but even when you do that it warps into a smile in moments.
You started off your second year by learning to walk. Your first sure footed steps were to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland! I cried and your dad was so very proud of you. The doctors had told us that you may not ever be strong enough to walk without braces and a walker but you showed them. In addition to beginning to walk at two, you also really started to pick up sign language. You love to show off and are great at getting your point across. You are amazing!
Then you lost your best friend, he was mine too. I know you miss him, I do too but I know that he lives in you. You have his eyes, his smile, his sharp mind, his mischevious nature, his ability to make anyone fall in love with you, and his good heart. Today while you were walking to the bus I couldn't help but think of how proud your daddy would have been of you.
You had three surgeries in June (you had your tonsils and adnoids out, and something called a supraglotoplasty) and I was afraid I was going to loose you, and came pretty close to in fact. You had a rough go but once you healed you began to soar! You started to make sounds I had never heard come out of your mouth before and you tried to talk! You are slowly finding your voice and I am so excited to see how much more you will talk this coming year!
You became a big brother in August and although you weren't so sure about Silas in the beginning you are now very protective of him. Whenever we get out of the car you very quickly remind me to get "EYE" (Si). You love your brother and are very good to help me with anything I need for him.
You got to begin preschool at the University in October and you loved it. Lil' Aggies has been great for you. You also got your iPad and although you can do pretty much anything you want with it we are both learning how to use your "speak for yourself" app.
You have had pneumonia twice already since November and have been feeling a little off, but you're improving and starting to finally feel better.
Now here we are to your birthday. You went to your first day of school at Canyon Elementary in their special needs preschool. THEY LOVED YOU! Your teacher Miss Jamie told me how adorable you looked and how friendly you were with everyone. You were such a big boy to ride the bus to school and you were so very proud of yourself carting your backpack behind you, its nearly as big as you are but you love it.
Your laughter and smile fill my heart with joy. I can't help but give in when you sign please and ask to watch your favorite movies, Mary Poppins has been in near constant rotation along with Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones. You love music and will dance in your carseat when Luke Bryan comes on. You are so independent and smart. You have been eating oranges like there is no tomorrow lately and Mimi has had them in a basket on the counter, you went into the pantry and pulled out the step stool so you could get to them. You adore Papa and he is the first person you ask for when you wake up, after you have checked on Si of course. You love to tease Grace and when she is gone you miss her desperately.
Three is going to be a big year for you! I can hardly wait to see you being potty trained (very soon I hope) and I am so looking forward to hearing you talk more!
I love you my dear, sweet, boy from that brief moment I got to hold you before they whisked you away I knew I would never be the same again. You have changed my life, my world and you have brought joy to so many. I love you so very much and your father loves you too, I know he wishes he was still here with you, you were the light of his life!
Love.
Mom
