Henry LOVED to be with people...held...played with...talked to. As a newborn, he was NOT a fan of being on his own. He did sleep in his crib at night starting at about a month and a half, but other than that he wanted to be with someone. When he was still tiny, he would last in the MamaRoo for maybe a minute or two, and the same for his playpen. I worried all summer that I was spoiling him, and that he would be a mess when he went to daycare. I found out later that once he got to daycare he was still spoiled and loved, and held! My favorite thing to do that summer was snuggle Henry, and I'm glad that I did so, and didn't worry about spoiling him or loving him too much. Is it even possible to love a baby too much??
Henry was one of the most laid-back babies I have known. He was content to hang out at home, go out to dinner, go shopping, fly on an airplane. Nothing seemed to faze him. Traveling with him (other than the ridiculous amount of stuff you need to travel with an infant) was a breeze. Oh, and except for his explosive diaper upon take off. We spent a few days in Florida with family, and he got passed around to many people and never put up a fuss. He napped, ate, and played just like he did at home. He LOVED the warm ocean water and the pool.
Henry was also a laid back baby when it came to sleeping through the night. Starting by probably two or three months, he was sleeping through the night (for the most part.) And on the nights he woke up, all it took was a little quality snuggle time before he settled back down.
No one got Henry giggling like his daddy. Whether it was making funny faces, talking in silly voices, blowing raspberries...his daddy knew how to make him not only smile but giggle. Henry's biggest smiles came from playing with Daddy.
Even when Henry got sick, he kept smiling. Looking back, he must have felt like absolute CRAP, but he kept on smiling. He didn't cry when he got shots, he didn't fuss much when he needed breathing treatments, and even getting IVs didn't seem to faze him. That strength and spirit is what inspires me...to keep on keeping on...to find the good in the world...to smile through the tears. If my baby boy could smile through leukemia, then I can certainly smile through whatever life throws at me.
Sorry for the long-winded post...once I get to talking about my kids I can go on and on! Happy birthday eve, sweet Henry. We will celebrate you tomorrow, at your blood drive Saturday, and every day that we walk this earth. I love you sweet boy!
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