Motherhood…Unprepared

One thing I’ve experienced in a capacity greater than I ever thought possible with Henry is joy. We all experience joy in our relationships with our children, but I’ve never seen a child experience joy the way Henry does. It’s on a whole other level. When he’s happy, truly happy, he lights up. His whole face goes into overdrive. Literally - he smiles so infectiously, his whole face disappears. Here are some pictures I’ve captured over the years.

Is there anything, anywhere happier or more filled with joy than this face? i think, without a doubt, the answer is a resounding no. Henry’s face has the ability to express unbounded joy unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s as if his whole face explodes with it. His happiness is visceral & palpable. He can barely contain it. His smile is a wonderful boost to an often downtrodden mood. It’s so very, very cool. And that’s the way he is in many areas of his life.

There is simply no way any literary definition of this word could even begin to capture how “joy” has been embodied by Henry. I see it every day - enjoyable activities become an exercise in joy unlike anything ever before seen. His whole body vibrates, his eyes go wide with excitement and he roars. A totally exuberant, ear-piercing roar that is all-encompassing. What’s super cool is that so many things can elicit this response from him. Music of any kind, something yummy at mealtime, the chance to dance, Elmo, The Wiggles, Cherub Wings and, most especially, bathtime. As soon as he hears the bathtub faucet turn on, he shouts “BAAATH!!!” and does everything he can to get to the tub. When he gets in, he totally freaks out. He grabs at the stream of water with both hands, squealing with delight as the water sprays him in the face. He splashes the water as hard as he can with both hands - roaring & squealing the whole time. He brings his face down to the water line - I’m assuming in an effort to better see it - and then is surprised when he accidentally gets a mouthful. He giggles with glee when the Spongebob cup of water gets poured over his head - especially when Steven does it. It’s amazing to watch & I’m so blessed to be able to experience joy through Henry’s eyes. Truly amazing and truly, wickedly cool. Don’t lose it, Henry. It makes you unique & YOU.