Henry’s First Birthday!

We survived his First Trip Around the Sun!! 🤣 Celebrating our Sunshine boy Henry, getting all the Feels reflecting on a daily Year of Miracles. Turns out the 2lb 9oz preemie is a bold, unstoppable force with a huge smile and sense of humor. His feeding tube hasn’t stopped him from talking, getting into everything, and trying to walk!

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

Psalm 28:7

---

For his birthday he got:

• His first balloon
• A play yard gate thingy to provide a YES Space
• Shoes for when he wants to have adventures outside
• New snacks to work on solids
• The Wind in the Willows illustrated book

To my darling boy on your birthday—A year ago I could not have imagined this journey or how I got so lucky being your Mom. You are made of some tough stuff! And you have showed me that I can be tough for you, too. I am more tired than I’ve ever been in my life, but I’ve also felt and done more than I’ve ever tried in my life thanks to you. Loving you, caring for you, fighting for you, looking into your eyes, and being around you has brought me a deep and fulfilling connection with you, our family, our friends, and our God. You have literally been my full-time job these many months… my world. I am so proud of how you have grown and all the wonderful ways you have my heart. Happy Birthday, dearest.

12 Months

He weighs 17lbs 6.49oz now. What an active baby! He is interested in touching everything and putting his mouth on all inedible items. Some of his favorites: the dog bowls and cage, the knobs on top his dresser, cables of any sort, disassembling the door stoppers and zooming off with the plastic piece, sucking on the floor vents, opening the kitchen cabinets, and exploring the medicine caddy in our room. We ordered outlet covers and magnetic childproofing locks for the lower cabinets.

The latest development to strike fear into our hearts? He lifted his leg while furniture cruising on the industrial bookshelf, so he’ll likely be climbing it soon. We can’t stop this boy from going where he pleases—he’s so quick and can wriggle out of any hold. Diaper changes and tube replacements are a multiple person job now.

We keep coming up with things for him to play with because he moves on quickly. My favorite is watching L tell him stories using his stuffies, and when W makes him laugh just with his funny faces or noises.

He is using his voice, shouting and even screaming to express himself. We’ve never had a screamer before! Henry has been trying out trilling, a rolling sound he makes with his lips and it is hilarious! Sometimes it evolves into a spitting fit.

He learned to shake his head “No”! Even when I tried to teach him how to nod his head “Yes” he still shakes “No”. 😂

He says “Mama” and “Dada” regularly, and I may not be his favorite for long. Jer’s eyes light up that our baby recognizes him and loves him. The two are very cozy with each other these days. Jer says that spending time with Baby Henry has been the highlight of his summer.

Baby is a lot of work, but man he is SO fun!!! It’s not fair to have this much cuteness in one person.

Happy Birthday, cutie!