Dear Henrik,

The other night I was thinking about how many things you are doing now. You are such a busy boy, and you are learning and growing so fast.

Some days I want to just stop the clock and savor the moment.

You have started talking, little by little. You say, "uh uh" to mean yes, and you say it for everything! You have just started learning how to hold your spoon or fork and feed yourself. You're doing such a good job! You know how to tell mommy when you don't want to nap: take out your binky, give it to me, and point to the basket where it gets put away after you sleep! You go to bed really well; I'm so grateful. It makes life so much easier on mom.

Your sisters absolutely adore you. They have so much fun playing with you. The other night you even pushed Mierae in the doll stroller. I couldn't believe how strong you are, readjusting and turning the stroller where you wanted it to go. You could have played that game all night, except that Mierae's weight made the stroller bow in the back and collapse! So Jolie decided to push you in it instead.

You learn lots of things from them, like how to put a headband in your hair, all by yourself. You want to play with all of their toys, which makes Mierae really upset. We had to block off a section of the living room so Mierae could leave her Polly Pockets out without you getting into them. :) But you love your balls and cars!

Mommy had a hard time with you the other day. I laid you down to change your diaper one afternoon and as soon as I opened it, you squirted me! That hasn't happened in a long time! After I got your new diaper on, I went upstairs to change my clothes. Jolie came running up a minute later and said you had spilled cereal all over the kitchen floor. When I came down to see, it was worse than I thought! As I was trying to clean that up, and ignore the incessant calls on my cell phone, you climbed up on the computer chair and drew pencil all over my computer screen and keyboard! When I came to get you down and tried to start erasing the damage, you went walking on all the cereal still on the floor in the kitchen and dragged it onto the living room carpet. It was finally at that point that I put you to bed. :) You keep me on my toes!

You love to be outside, playing, walking, riding in the stroller. But you do not like to be strapped down in your carseat! We're in big trouble come this summer when we'll be driving to Utah and back.

You've had your hair cut twice, but the second time Daddy took most of it off! You look so much more grown up. You love the clippers--you just giggled and giggled when they vibrated on your head.

One of the things I love most about you is that you love to come and hug me. You are so sweet and affectionate. You'll give your sisters hugs and lay your head on their shoulders as they hold you. I love it so much! I will never tire of your sweet embraces.

Love,

Mommy