Two Months of Henry
My boy who was RAMEN-t to be,
Something that I’ve been thinking about this week is how my heart has always wanted you, even when I didn’t realize it. Adoption has been on my heart for at least five years now: I’d notice families, the word would pop out at me on tv or a book, I’d think about what our family would look like through it. It was something I thought about almost daily, whether I meant to or not. When we thought our family was complete at two kids, it ramped up even more. God really was working on my heart, but do you know what I think is really cool? That whole time, for at least five years, it wasn’t simply adoption that was on my heart-it was you. God knew all along you’d join our family, so all along, I wasn’t dreaming and praying for any baby, I was dreaming and praying for you. Now that you’re here, it makes perfect sense because I love you the absolute biggest a heart can love. God prepped me way ahead of time for you; I’ve loved you for longer than you’ve been here and I'll love you forever.
Growth:
You are growing more quickly than I can keep up! I’ll think I have a grip on you being a baby and I look up, and you’re fluffier or doing something new. You don’t super love tummy time but you don’t hate it, but you’re actually very strong. Your head control is really great to be so small. My favorite way you’ve grown this month is that you’ve started smiling around 6 weeks and it is my favorite thing to look at! You stare for a minute to decide if something is funny and then your whole face smiles. We spend a good portion of our days trying to make you smile, and Sully especially gets the biggest kick out of it.
As of your appointment today, you are in the 22nd percentile for weight and 72nd for height. You're a tall guy!
Milk:
You’ve been a great eater from the start. You eat four ounces every three hours in the day and around the same amount every four hours at night. While I am glad I got the experience to pump for your siblings, I'm so thankful for formula and the ease it provides in our day. I mix a pitcher of it each morning and night, prepping 9 bottles at a time so we're never without one for you if you're hungry. Using formula makes so much more time for snuggling and playing in the day than pumping did.
Sleep:
Daytime sleep is consistent if we put you in the carrier. You’ll wake up, eat, and then play for about an hour. If we put you in the Ergo Baby right then, you fall right asleep but otherwise, you just stay awake and then get yourself too tired. We wear you a good portion of the day. Every once in a while, you'll fall asleep on your own in the little safe area we made for you on the couch. You look like a precious old man with your hand on your belly lightly snoring.
Nighttime sleep is actually not terrible though! You were sleeping three hour stretches but then went down to two. We pieced together that you weren’t getting a full bottle in at night because you’re falling asleep so once we made sure your belly was full, you’ve been sleeping four hours, sometimes a little more. We’re so thankful! (Now if we can just get your sister to stop waking up in the 4s.) We moved you your room last night, and you slept so well! We loved having you in our room, but we are all sleeping better in our own spaces.
Favorite moments:
Your smiles are a true highlight!
Night time: Sully and Eloise share a room, and it’s made bed time a little more simple. We all pile into Sully’s bottom bunk and read books and sing songs. Sometimes you’re awake for it and just hang out with us smiling and watching the story. It’s the sweetest end to the day!
Part of my favorite part of this month is just a feeling. My heart feels so thankful and happy, and when I look around at the five of us, I know we’re right where we should be. Life is busy but so much fun.
Two months and a million to go. I love you, little sketti.
Love,
Mom
