MollyMadonna.com

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one!!!

Well, Hanker Tanker, it is finally here. Your big day arrived this morning with the sunshine and a sleepy little you peeking up at us from your crib. You are officially one, and with that, no longer creeping towards the monumental day we’ve all made it out to be. Do you feel any differently today than yesterday? I kind of hope that you feel exactly the same–simply well-loved and cozy and safe and adored.

I do hope that you felt celebrated today, even though the big event in honor of this milestone won’t be here for a few more days. Then, I’ll be so tickled to watch as you take delight in all of the kiddos running around the house, the decorations here and there, the sugary sweet cake set before you for all kinds of smashing and eating up. I know you’re not going to remember it later, but we will all be celebrating YOU. Beyond that, we’ll be honoring a most remarkable year–the way that you’ve changed all of our hearts and how it’s truly taken a village to raise you since day one. Sure, dad and I have done a lot of the heavy lifting ;), but the people who are coming (traveling, even) to see you on Saturday have all been a hugely important part of your life and who you’re becoming. We are SO grateful, we couldn’t even describe it if we tried.

Today on Facebook (is it still around as you read this, however many years later?), nearly 100 people took the time to tell your daddy and I that you are loved, and to wish you a happy birthday or to add their cheer to the day. You have only been on this earth for 12 months, HD, but you are so, so, so, so loved. I think about that and I look at today and I am just blown away. If people love you that much, and we as your parents love you even more, then how incredibly much must God love you!?! I know that today brings Him great delight, as it does me–to see you thriving and joyful and healthy and growing so beautifully before our eyes.

I want you to know that when I sat down to write to you tonight, I knew it would never be possible to articulate all that I want to say to you about this past year–especially in one blog entry. Suffice it to say that I am overwhelmed by all that you add to my world. Hopefully, if you look back on the past year of my entries to you, you’ll know a little something about just what an impact you’ve had on me. I think sometimes we underestimate the power of a young person, but I would have to be crazy to deny the ways that God has used you to change the world in one year’s time. I would grasp every moment all over again if I could.

Henry, to date you are a resilient, determined, peaceful, friendly, intuitive, sensitive, social, careful-but-adventurous, worshipful, cuddly, radiant, gentle, and inquisitive little being. You are learning at lightening speed (which is normal for your age, but still captivates me all the time:). You have a soft and good heart. You electrify a room. You are magnetic wherever we go.

And as far as other things go? Your third tooth made its appearance yesterday–the top middle left of the bunch, and just a tiny, glimmering white sliver, but it’s there. no matter that you only have two whole teeth at your disposal at mealtimes; you eat everything we give you as if you haven’t seen food in a week. (Don’t worry, you’ve never missed a meal;) You are still crawling speedily wherever you want to go, or cruising at a scary pace along all furniture, walls, doors, and the like. You aren’t quite ready to walk yet, but so close! Another few weeks, and you’ll be terribly hard to catch, I’m certain. You love to drop things and see what happens. You chase after the dog with reckless abandon (he runs away for now, but I’m sure that will change.) You almost always have a matchbox car or something with wheels in your hand. You still LOVE to read more than most other activities, which brings me joy. Your introspection is curious at this age, and I watch you closely to try and determine what’s going on as you process (no luck yet, but it’s still fun). You like your sleep, but you also embrace the day. You get excited about the words “car,” “milk,” “Kruger,” “Daddy,” “Mommy,” “hungry,” and “go,” among others. But if I’m being totally honest, “car” probably outweighs the rest 10:1. You are a boy after your daddy’s heart.

As your mama, I am so humbled to watch you as you grow, realizing on a regular basis that I am responsible for you, what you learn, how you begin to understand the world. It’s no small task, and one I do not take the least bit lightly. You are just as much a gift as you are a responsibility, and I rarely ever mind to meet your needs. You have taught me a lifetime about self-sacrifice and joyful servanthood. How can I ever thank you enough?

So, Little Man-er, this is really it. The start of your second year and a landmark anniversary of the very best day of our lives. I love you an indescribable amount. The Lord bless you and keep you, Henry David. The Lord lift his countenance upon you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace, precious one. Happy, Happy Birthday!

all the love in the world,

your mama

 

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two…

It’s Tuesday evening, Henry, and we just put you down to sleep for the very last night until you turn one. I’ve been saying it all this time when people ask how old you are, “He was born in April…He’ll be one next month…He’ll be one next week…He turns one tomorrow…” but now it’s suddenly real. I choked up a tiny bit saying goodnight to you tonight–not because I’m really sad that you’re having a birthday, but just because there is so much beauty that I attach to this past year with you, it’s hard to see it close. I know that your second year will be marvelous, too. It’s simply tricky for me to imagine anything topping your first.

I still beam with joy when people remark what a sweet boy you are. They don’t even have to know you, or to see you for more than a few minutes, to know it’s true. You just have something about you that makes me take a step back in awe and wonder. I know, you’re mine. And that helps 😉 But really, God gave us a tiny miracle in you. Don’t ever forget that we feel that way, ok?

For now, I’m off to work on more birthday party preparations and to eventually (shhh, don’t tell!) wrap a few presents for you to open tomorrow (and maybe a few more for the weekend;) I can’t wait to celebrate you with people we love this Saturday. An entire year of life with you in it has been the very best thing. So here we go, sweet baby. Two…

more than you’ll ever know,

mommy

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three…

It’s early Monday morning (or late Sunday night;), and all I can think about is how my little babe turns one in just a blink. It was only 363 364 (leap year) days ago on an early Monday morning that we were all working hard to welcome a baby–our baby, into the world. We didn’t know if we’d be parents to a boy or a girl, but the moment he arrived we knew for certain he was Henry. A little life began, and ours changed forever. Still, quite nearly a year later, I am taken with the journey.

Henry David, I want you to know that as your first birthday rounds the corner, you are being celebrated in a BIG way (and not just because your mama loves to throw a party…although I do!) There’s all kinds of pomp and circumstance in little and big things headed your way, and I hope that you’ll feel all kinds of loved and adored on this, your birthday week (of course, I hope you always do). We’re in the home stretch now, buddy. I’m counting down until the clock strikes Wednesday, April 25, and then we’re going to shout from the rooftops just how amazing we think you are and how vastly you’ve changed our lives in just a year’s time. Heck, I’d shout it from the rooftops any old day of the week, but on Wednesday, I have the. most. perfect. excuse. You, sweet boy, are going to be ONE!

So here’s the start of the formal countdown to your big day and all of the celebrating that will ensue. THREE…

oh how i love you, love you, love you,

mommy

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movie review: Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men

Usually when Jason and I squeeze in a movie over the weekend, it takes the form of a Redbox rental we missed in the theaters. Not so last night, when we cozied up in the living room to watch the latest Veggie Tales release: Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men. I know…it seems a little strange that we would land on a kid’s movie for our weekend entertainment, but Henry’s not quite old enough to share his opinion, and I needed a little company on the couch. This well-quipped and highly enjoyable film arrived in our mailbox a few days ago for review*, and I can honestly say it was a pleasure to watch. I don’t always laugh out loud during a movie–in fact, it’s probably more the exception than the rule, but this had us both cracking up! Perhaps its something about vegetables posing as classic characters and being tongue-in-cheek funny that does the trick. 🙂 No matter. Robin Good grew on me from the minute it began.

“So what’s the story?” you ask. In Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men, Robin Good and crew set out in the town of Bethlingham to help the poor by fundraising from the rich. All is well until the Sheriff of Bethlingham, by order of the greedy (and hungry) Prince John, halts the merry men’s efforts and gathers the ham they’ve worked so hard to fund. Without anything to show for their hard work, the merry men go rogue, leaving Robin Good on his own, and setting out to steal from the rich instead. Things don’t go so well for the suddenly Not-So-Merry men when Prince John’s guards capture them for stealing hams within Bethlingham’s walls. All the while, Robin Good is left to his own devices as he tries to bargain with the Prince on the poor’s behalf. Alone and frustrated after his friends have deserted him, Robin Good learns the important lesson that no hurt is too big for God. He puts his new understanding to good use as he sets out to rescue his friends and to restore hope to the town of Bethlingham once and for all.

In light of the plethora of challenging material we encounter in the media daily, Veggie Tales has forged on in the world of children’s entertainment to provide–not only appropriate and encouraging material, but quality stories and well-crafted characters that will delight the whole family. Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry men is no exception. As a bonus to an already great show, Jason and I thoroughly enjoyed the included short, “Lenny and the Lost Birthday,” featuring Junior Asparagus:) Just when it seems as though everyone has forgotten his special day, Lenny learns an important lesson about Leap Year and how the calendar changes once every four years.

Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men is now available for purchase in stores and online here, as well as on Amazon. If you’re in the mood for something to brighten up the DVD player, all the while encouraging your children to understand more clearly how God loves and cares for their every hurt, this would make a great purchase!

happy viewing,

mm

*Disclosure: Big Idea Entertainment did supply me with a copy of this DVD in exchange for my review. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions stated here are my own. Cheers!

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11!

Inquisitive Henry David,

Today you are 11 months old. Not quite a whole year, and a far cry from the babe we brought home last April 25th. You are changing so much, and still, some aspects of you become more and more obviously “Henry” every day. You have a whole arsenal of trademarks, HD–expressions galore that make us smile and wonder, remarkable car and truck noises, and a voracious appetite for books and anything with wheels.

This month, your curiosity is what strikes me the most as we turn the corner on the last leg of your very first year. You point at absolutely everything, then look either satisfied and delighted at knowing it’s name and purpose, or thoughtful and studious as you ask to see what object has grasped your attention. You furrow your little brow and turn as if to say, “What is it, Mom?!” at least a hundred times a day.

“Reading” and window watching are your top favorite activities, along with standing guard at your nursery gate. Nothing gets by you unless you are bone weary at the end of the day, and even then, I struggle to keep you from noticing every last sound and distraction as you have your last feeding before bedtime.

My child, you are strong. Physically strong and determined to get wherever you are going, and otherwise–as you seek your own answers, solutions, outcomes and consequences on a daily basis. I don’t worry much about you. I mean, as your mother, of course I worry–for your safety, your health, your heart, and your budding relationship with God. But I don’t worry about you. Even with only 11 months under our belts together, I am totally confident that you will be the one reminding me to keep it together some days. You’re sharp as a tack. I have no doubt I’ll be on my toes for the next number of years with you. And that’s a very good thing.

Perhaps it’s a first born thing, but you are one of the most calculating little ones I know. I can understand a little now why I’ve been teased a time or two about coming out of the womb a mini adult. You are a little boy, of course, and you like little boy things–sand, trucks, dogs, splashing with vigor in the bathtub. But you are cautious. From my vantage point, your little man wheels are spinning all day long and taking everything in. You turn pages of a book like it’s the most important task on earth. I cannot love you enough for this, or for how you study and take pause and study some more. Watching you is like learning an entirely new language and falling more in love with the culture behind it every day. As I get to know more of who you are becoming, I am increasingly aware of just how much I love being your mama. Proud doesn’t even cover it.

Between months 10 and 11, you have grown wildly independent. It’s only a matter of time before you are stepping–then running, everywhere you want to go. In the meantime, your two bottom teeth have finally made an appearance, shining up that gummy smile as if to say, “Here we are, world! What do you have for us!?” You have discovered your belly button (and mine, and daddy’s), and they perplex you in an adorable way. The Belly Button Book has helped us to hone in on your latest development–somehow, the “belly b’s” of cartoon hippos really clear up that mysterious little bump in the center of your tummy. You are also learning to tell us where your heart, hair, and ears are, adding to your repertoire of eyes, nose, mouth, and feet (but belly button is still by far my favorite–especially when you use both hands to tell me where it is ;). You’ve parked on the syllables ca-, da-, ma-, ba-, and ga- for a time, and you typically throw in some gibberish for good measure. And yet, every once in a while, you just get down to it and say the name of whatever it is you’d like to discuss. I love your little deep voice and how you get so serious when you have something important to say.

Now we’re counting down on birthday numero uno, and this mama is not yet ready to put a party hat on your head and admit that an entire year has gone by. Sometimes the days are long, yes, but the weeks and months disappear as if it were nothing. I love you as my toddler and I miss you as my infant all at the same time. No matter though, in the long run. You are still–as you’ve been from day one, my little bug. No walking, running, talking, chomping, pointing, or coming into your own will ever change that. I’m getting excited as I plan your party and scheme of ways to celebrate incredible little you. Get ready, Hanker Tanker. Here comes April!

love you right up to the moon. and back.

mommy