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July 11, 2021


To my Rainbow Baby, Henry,


Today, you are five months old! In the past month, we’ve celebrated some big anniversaries on our journey to bring you into our family. On June 19th, we marked one year from when we found out our embryo transfer had been successful and I was pregnant!! I can still remember the swirl of emotions like it was yesterday- so joyful at the miracle God had granted us, and yet so fearful that it would all be taken away just like it was before. On Tuesday, we will celebrate one year from when we got to see you and hear your heartbeat for the first time! My heart is so full as I look back on my pregnancy with you here in my arms, reading you the letter I wrote you each week as I remember these milestones. It’s hard to believe that a whole year has past since I wrote those words, and I can already tell that next year, when I’m reading you these letters about your first year, I will feel even more emotional about all that God has done for us!


We’ve had another busy month, continuing to enjoy summer vacation. I can hardly believe I only have a few weeks left until my big return to work for a full school year. A few weeks ago, you went to church for the first time, and you were a little angel!! You sat in your car seat and looked all around the Fellowship Hall, watched Mommy and Gammaw sing praise and worship songs, and then fell asleep during the sermon (sorry, Pastor Steve!). You were very skeptical about all the people who wanted to say hi, but you didn’t fuss until you let us know it was time to leave. We took you again on the 4th of July, and this time you got out of your seat to dance with Mommy during worship, and you received your first blessing during Communion from Pastor Steve. My heart is so full to be bringing you to church and beginning your upbringing in the faith. I am so grateful to finally be giving back to God all that I promised when I was praying for you, little boy. I ask God to make me strong and wise in Him so that I can lead you in the right way.



We celebrated Daddy’s first Father’s Day, and it was much more pleasant than Mother’s Day! You were so pleasant and happy hanging out all day- no tears or screaming like we had in May!! The next day, you and I got in the car with Gammaw and Pup Pup and headed to Virginia to join the Loud Family for our annual vacation at Massenutten. You had an awesome time!! You got snuggles with all your Great Aunties, went out shopping a couple days, and had your first swim in the pool, which you LOVED!! Everytime I sat you on the wall, you would scoot your little bum forward to get back in the water!! Mommy had such a blast swimming with you and I can’t wait to get a few more swims in before I have to go back to work.



Daddy joined us in Virginia later in the week and we left Massenutten early to drive out to Maryland to see Gram, Pops and Aunt Ashley, and for you to meet the Miller branch of the family. You got to meet your Great Grandma Elise, and we were thrilled to have four generations of Millers in one room! You also got to meet Great Aunt Jan, Great Uncle Steven, your first cousins once removed- Adam, Leah, and Ed- and your second cousin, Nora. You were pretty fussy by the end of the visit, which we think was because you were ready to be back home in Ohio. When we got back to our house, your face just lit up!! It was so cute to see you excited for all your toys.



We also started physical therapy a few weeks ago. We’ve noticed since you were born that you prefer to turn your head to look to the right, and that turning to the left is a little bit harder for you. At your 4 month doctor’s appointment, the pediatrician referred us to physical therapy to help you get the muscles on the left side a bit more stretched out and strong so that you can turn your head both ways a little better. We’ve had several sessions so far, and you are doing great! You’ve already made lots of progress in stretching and strengthening the muscles, and we’ve been doing lots of play-exercising at home to make sure you keep progressing. We should be having your session next week!



Right now, we are in the middle of the last leg of your tour to meet all of our family. We drove into Pittsburgh yesterday to attend a picnic fundraiser for a family member, and you got to see the Loud Family again and meet some other extended family members and friends. Today, we’re going to your second cousin Andrew’s high school graduation party, where I’m sure you will continue to get lots of love! Andrew is the same age difference from you as Mommy is from him- Andrew was born the summer after I graduated from high school! That was half my life ago!! Then tomorrow, Mommy and Gammaw are taking you to Shamokin to meet your Great Auntie Susie and your honorary Mimi Sheryl and her family. Gammaw is so excited for her family to meet you!




I have so loved all this time we’ve had together this summer, my boy. You are getting so big, changing so much and learning new things everyday. You’re finding your voice and all the funny sounds it can make, working hard to relearn rolling to your back from your tummy, and are so close to rolling back to belly, too! You love to stand and look around at anything and everything, and you're getting stronger to be able to sit up on your own. It’s so bittersweet for me- I love seeing you learn and grow, but each milestone is another step away from you being my little baby.




I pray that, over the next month, God gives me peace and joy as you continue to grow- that I cherish each moment as they fly by and as you get bigger and develop even more. As we get closer to your half birthday (seriously?!), I pray that God grants me peace to fully head back to work. He has blessed you with so much time to hang out with and learn from Gammaw and I’m so grateful that God has given her the ability to watch you everyday. But I am going to be so sad to be leaving you all week long and I know it will make it seem like you’re growing even faster when I’m not around all day long. I ask God to continue to bless our family, help us to enjoy you as you wonder at the world, and make the stressful times few and far between. Let’s enjoy this last month of summer, little man! It’s going to be over before we know it!


I love you, little Rainbow Henry.


Love, Mommy



 

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