"Granparents are easy"

Hey B,



Well, I'm counting down the days. Only 7 1/2 days until pops! comes to town. I can't wait and I am so excited. I understand that my man B has really been up to a lot lately. You've already enjoyed your first major league baseball game, although I understand that you were more fascinated with the popcorn machine. Your daddy tells me that he caught you actually climbing your high chair. Now, that sounds like you are becoming a little dareangel ( I just can't use that other word when referring to you). Just be careful. I also understand that you have learned to clap and I saw it on the video. Your daddy called today and let me hear you laughing at something he was doing. You were laughing uncontrollably and it was so funny. It kept a smile on pops! face all day. I also hear that you got to spend Memorial Day with your great grandparents.

Pops! I really like this toy. I need it.

I understand that there is this certain toy that you played with at your friends house that really fascinated you. I know you have figured this out yet, but grandparents are real easy. Pops! will see what he can do about getting you that really special toy when he gets out to California. I sure wouldn't want my grandson NOT to have something that was so important. Some people might think that this is spoiling you. They may be right but that's our business. Just you and me. And that's the way it ought to be. But you already have me wrapped around your little finger. I'll explain that to you when I see you. But be sure you don't let mommy and daddy read this. ;) Sometimes it is better just to keep certain things between us.

Remember,

pops! loves you.

Play Ball!!!

Hey B,



I've really been busy and haven't been able to email. But my little buddy, in two weeks you and I will be having a grand old time. I can't wait to see you. I hear that you have really learned a lot of new things. I understand that you are getting very close to learning to talk. At least you are trying to repeat sounds that mommy and daddy make. Get daddy to practice pops! with you and maybe by the time I get out there I can finish teaching you to say pops!



I also hear that you have learned to play ball. So you have learned to roll the ball to mommy and daddy!!! Now, that is exciting. I guess by now your daddy has gone out and bought you a glove and a bat. I can't wait to play ball with my little buddy.



I hope to be leaving work soon. I get to see Jadda. Now that is the highlight of my week. I'll see you soon. And remember pops! loves you.



pops!

Jadda Jing

I love my Jadda!!!

Hey B,

Pops! is getting ready to leave work and head home. For most people that might be a short drive home but for me it is 2 1/2 hours. I leave home on Monday and go back home on Friday. But this isn't really about the drive but why Fridays are so much fun. I get to see Jadda. My bride-your Jadda. What a wonderful person!!! As you get older you'll appreciate how cool your grandmather(Jadda) is. Not many of your friends will be able to talk about grandmothers who can do backbends, but your Jadda can.

I bet your Jadda can't do this!!!

Also, not many of your friends can talk about how their grandmother goes outside and CLIMBS trees with them, but you can. I have come home from work before and couldn't find your Jadda because she was outside in a tree. Crazy? Not really, just a really cool Jadda. She is the best. I know, I've lived with her for thirty years and there is NO ONE like her. I consider myself very lucky and blessed. She indeed is the love of my life.

Your Jadda even has a song about herself called "Jadda Jing". Now, how cool is that. Get your daddy to find it and play it for you on the internet. I guess that is enough bragging on your Jadda but she is simply the best.

And remember,

Pops! loves you.

Strawberry fields...

Hey B,

I really have loved all the pics and the posts on the blog the last few days. It really looks like you and mommy and daddy really had a good time at the zoo. I guess when you saw the monkeys you probably thought about your daddy and what a monkey he is sometimes. Did you see any one monkey that really looked alot like your daddy? I heard that after your trip to the zoo that you slept for three hours. I guess all that new stuff wore you out.

Oh, man look at that-it's huge !!!


The pics of you and daddy playing with the piano were really good. I love piano music and wished I could play it. Maybe as you get older you'll learn to play the piano in addition to learning how to hurdle and run fast. Your daddy already talks about how quick you are and that you are already showing signs of being a future track star. Remember-daddys will be daddys!!! We tend to live our lives through our kids. Get used to it-it's really not that bad. Has your daddy already started to time you with the stop watch? Get ready, it's coming.

The Piano Man... I mean baby



When I talk with your daddy, it is obvious that he is really proud of you and loves you so much. I can see it in his and your mommy's face in the pics. And if you play it just right, you'll have them where you want them, if you already don't. I'll help you out with that when I see you in THREE weeks.


Your daddy asked me what I wanted to do when I come out and really just hanging out with you and them is good enough. I can't wait to see all your new tricks. And maybe you'll learn a few more with me ;0).


When I saw the pic of you eating the strawberry, I thought about taking you to Clanton when you come here this summer. We can go there and pick our own peaches. Then we can go home and peel them, put sugar on them and then pour them on top of vanilla ice cream and you won't believe how good that is. Peaches and ice cream are probably one of my favorite things-especially if they are fresh picked. We we go to Clanton we'll go by where Jadda and pops! used to live. We lived there when your daddy and mommy were at Samford University.

B's Strawberry Face



Well, enough rambling but I really am excited about seeing my little buddy soon.


Remember, pops! loves you,











pops!

Uncle Wookie did it !!!!!

Uncle Wookie and B

Hey B,





I hope you had a great day celebrating mothers day with your mommy. I bet you and daddy really tried to make it a special day for mommy. Jadda hasn't been feeling to good so we have just kind of taken it easy on Mother's day, but I did get Jadda a present for Mother's day. Just remember, you can never go wrong with jewelry for the women in your life-you'll learn that soon enough.





Jadda and I spent yesterday getting Uncle Wookie moved from Auburn. He is now a graduate!!! And he has certainly overcome a lot of obstacles to get this degree. I'm really proud of your Uncle Wookie. He may have taken the hard road but he has done it and I guess you can say that he has "done it his way." And in about two months he will be living just a few miles from you. Uncle Wookie will be your eccentric uncle, something that he probably relishes. He is a really a good guy and you'll probably enjoy being around him-just be careful that he doesn't get you in trouble with mommy and daddy. But I think your daddy has already discussed the rules with him-but Henson guys have always been known to bend the rules a little. But I think Uncle Wookie will do just fine. I really think he is looking forward to getting to know you. Uncle Wookie will be the one who always tries to sneak you the "forbidden junk food" and ruin your dinner.





Pops! is beginning to count down the days until I see you. I think we are down to twenty five days. I can't wait!!!





Remember, pops! loves you and I'll see you soon,





pops!

Memories of State...

Hey B,

This time of year really has some fond memories for your old pops! It was this time of year when your daddy was in high school that the state track meet was held. Actually, it was always the first weekend in May. I try to go to some of the state track meets to see if your daddy's state records hold up but this year it was in Gulf Shores and that was too far to go. But old pops! eagerly got up Sunday morning to get the results. Your daddy still holds the 4A state record in the 300m hurdles and his relay teams of the 4x400m and 4x800 meter still stand today. So B, you can see that I am really proud of your daddy and when you can really understand all this you will be also.

One day maybe your daddy will tell you about the year he pulled a boneheaded stunt at his prom the week before state and wound up pulling his hamstring. That story is one that he'll never live down as long as I live. And the story seems to get bigger every year. It has something to do with him trying to do the splits on the dance floor at his prom, or at least that is his story. I really don't want to imagine what the "true" story might be. That is kind of freaky for a dad to think about. But regardless, this time of year hold special memories for old pops!

I sure one day your daddy will look back at certain times of the year that relate to things that hold special memories for him about 'ol B. One of the few benefits of getting older is memories.
And old pops! has some doozies of memories that relate to your daddy. I'll start filling you in on some of them so you have some leverage with your daddy one day.

See you in a month!!!!

I love you,

pops! (the instigator)

Just you and me kid!!!!

Hey B,

I was thinking about you this morning and my trip out to California in a few weeks. The plans have been made and I can't wait. I really look forward to having a few days to catch up on all the new things that you have learned to do and maybe even teach you a new trick or two.

I guess you might be walking by the time that I get there. How is the standing alone thing coming? I know it is kind of scary to do that but when you master the standing alone thing and walking there will even be a newer and bigger world out there. You'll be amazed at how many new things you'll discover ( and get into). You'll hear that no word even more.

I just wanted you to know that I think mommy and daddy are going to let you and me go solo one night-maybe. I think we can handle it, don't you? It'll be just you and me kid. I sure mommy and daddy will be a little nervous living you alone with pops! and that is perfectly normal. I remember when Uncle Wookie and your daddy were little and when Jadda and I would leave them with someone else, we spent our time wondering what they were doing. Usually that separation is worse on the parents than it is on the kid. Sometimes I think growing up is harder on mommy and daddy than it is for the kid. But anyway, I am excited about seeing you. Be good or at least be cute doing whatever you do.

Remember, just you and me kid.

I love you,

pops!