Worth Repeating / 02

September

9/1

Mommy: "Do you want to jump on Mommy?"
Emerson: "No. When the baby comes, then jump on Mommy...."
Mommy: "Do you want to jump on Daddy?"
Emerson: "No."
Mommy: "Do you want to jump on Royal?"
Emerson: "No...he's a little too big."

9/5

"Talk about.... Roh-Rah. You're a goooodddd runner...because...you can't run at Hobby Lobby."

"I love you so much, Roh-Rah. You the best dog in the world."

9/6

"That is gooooddd macaroni for my tummy. My tummy says 'oh, tank you, oh, tank you!'"

9/7

Jumping into Daddy's arms from a balance beam on the playground:
"I did it, I did it! I KNEW me could do it!"

"Aye, aye, Daddy!"

9/16

"God make my bed."

9/18

"Apple juice, sleep...that rhymes!"

9/19

"You make good pancakes, Mommy. (kiss for Mommy) That was a pancake kiss!"

Emerson's rendition of her nightly lullaby, with the lyrics "lullaby and goodnight, thy mother's delight....":
"Lullaby and goodnight, my mother's close-by...."

Looking for the Hornet mascot at football game: 
"Where is dat silly cricket...?" 
And then, "where is dat Jimminy Cricket....?"

9/23

Trying to sit on Mommy's lap with pregnant belly:
Mommy:"My tummy makes things a bit tricky!"
Emerson: "My tummy is...easier."

After following a bug on the road:
"The bug...moved a lil bit...and I...smushed him."

9/25

Mommy: "You are so special. There is no one just like you. Is your baby sister going to be just like you?"
Emerson: "I guess we'll have to see...."

9/26

Mommy: "Emerson, you're so cool."
Emerson: "I am...?"

Getting in and out of bed at bedtime:
Emerson: "My covers came off...."
Mommy: "Your sheet comes off when you sit up and get out of bed."
Emerson: "...So, that's why...."

9/28

Mommy: "Do you want Mommy or Daddy to read the book?"
Emerson: "Daddy. He's a good reader."

9/29

"I love spending time with you."


October

10/2

During early labor:
Mommy: "Mommy's tummy is hurting." 
Emerson: "I'll rub it for you. ... That feel better?"

10/6

Listening to a song on the radio:
"Uh-oh! This is my jam!"

10/7

Mommy: "Why did you get out of bed?"
Emerson: "Because me wanted to...."
Mommy: "Why did you want to?"
Emerson: "Because...I have to tell the tooth. I was running around, out of bed. I will never do that again. The...end. Big girls don't do that!"

10/13

Daddy: "Let's go watch The Three Musketeers! 'All for one, and one for...'"
Emerson: "...two!"

10/14

"Did you know, me your daughter?"

10/15

"I love her. Thanks, baby, for coming to our house."

10/18

After coming to the nursery very early in the morning, waking up Mommy from sleeping in the recliner overnight:
"I want you to go get a giant pickle and come back and read the Spot book in the baby's room. Can you do that plan?"

Playing with Play-Dough:
Emerson: "I made a 'hole' pizza!"
Mommy: "Is it made with love?"
Emerson: "It's made with play-dough, Mommy! It's not for real."

Having a conversation with herself:
"What's that?"
"A book, clapping."
"Can I have it?"
"Nope!"

10/?

"It's okay, Brennan. Mommy takes good care of you."

10/23

Talking to the iPhone:
Siri: "I'm sorry. That isn't available without service."
Emerson: "Well, I was just playing with it."

10/24

Mommy: "Brennan has a dirty diaper."
Emerson: "Oh. That's a bummer."

Mommy: "You need to settle down. Be gentle and calm."
Emerson: "Gentle! That's what me going to be!"

10/28

Mommy: "Did Brennan wake you up?"
Emerson: "Yeah. She cries a lot. Do you know, she poops a lot, too?"

"She poops a lot. ... Is she pooping now?"

Playing with Daddy, searching for a watch for their costume:
Daddy: "Where is it?!"
Emerson: "Calm down, Daddy. Calm down. I believe it's in the closet!"

10/30

Giving Mommy Halloween costume suggestions:
"You can be a cat, or a dog, if you want to be real. Or, just be Mommy. Orrrrr...nothin'."


November

11/1

Emerson: "Do you want a bean 'prout?"
Mommy: "Yes, please."
Emerson: "No, first use your manners...."
Mommy: "May I please have a bean sprout?"
Emerson: "Okay. You may."

11/11

Cupping Mommy's breast while Brennan nurses:
"I'll hold it for you. So it doesn't spill."

"I just want to clean up a lil' bit."

11/13

Kissing Daddy goodnight:
Daddy: "Is it scratchy?"
Emerson: "Yeah. You need to mow your face."

11/14

"I'm just living the dream."

11/18

Mommy's doctor: "Do you know what presents you want for Christmas?"
Emerson: "No.... But, we will sing Christmas carols and see lights and have costumes!"

Listening to the radio in the van:
Mommy: "This song is about how God is always with us, and He is our friend."
Emerson: "Is that God singing?"

11/20

"You're part of our family, and we love you very much. Just the way you are! I'll draw you. ... There's you, Brennan!"

11/21

"Did you know we can have fun time, Brennan? And roar? Roarrrrr! And play together all day? Tag, you're it!"

11/22

"Rah Rah...you make me laugh."

11/26

Mommy: "B is for...ball, and Brennan, and Bobby!"
Emerson: "Buh, buh...bathtub! Buh, buh...bubbles! Buh, buh...turkey!"

11/29

"Brennan tooted! I thought it was a motorcycle, but it was just Brennan...tooting."

Brennan: Two Months

December 2, 2014

• At your two-month (plus one day) doctor's appointment, you weighed 13 pounds, 6 ounces...only 4 ounces more than Emerson did at her two-month appointment! That's amazing to me. You are 1' 11.5", and growing perfectly healthily. What a blessing. 
• You are still wearing size 0-3 month clothing, though the day is fast-approaching when I'll need to suck it up and put you into the 6 month size. Your pajamas especially are getting a bit snug, but I'm having a hard time with the idea of putting away these tiny clothes again....
• We haven't started using cloth diapers yet. You're still wearing size 1 disposables.
• You're beginning to really suck on your fingers, slobbering all over your little hands. 
• When something gets your attention or you're startled somehow, you raise your eyebrows so high and your eyes get wide. I just love those little eyebrows of yours!
• You have such a pitiful pout when you're sad...your lips purse and you just look truly pitiful. Pitiful and adorable, that is.
• You seem so much more content than last month. Happy to just be, and really seeming to be settling into life in this big world. Between a happier digestive system and improved eyesight, things are really improving for you!
• You seem to enjoy "snacking" though the day at this point, versus having big meals. Our nursing sessions are rather short...too many other things to focus on, it seems.
• We've still been primarily sleeping on the couch, or in Mommy and Daddy's bed (with no pillows...or blankets...or Daddy....), but you're doing a great job sleeping. You've only been waking up once or twice during the night to nurse (usually around 12:30 a.m.  and 4:30 a.m.), and you fall back to sleep quickly. We're moving toward putting you in the crib to sleep at nighttime...it's a process, we've learned! And, you'll be ready when you're ready.
• Thankfully, you are now much more accepting of being in your car seat than you were. You don't cry during even a short drive these days, and we appreciate that!
• You really prefer to be held, or sitting up to watch the action around you. You want to move around if held, but you're more willing than you used to be to just lay still...so long as you can be a part of things! Fair enough! 
• Being on your changing table has always seemed to make you happy. You just like that spot, and we seem to get some of your happiest expressions when you're up there.
• We put you in the bassinet and roll half of it under the kitchen table at dinnertime. You can see the light above the table and look up at Emerson, sitting in her high chair next to you. We all get to be together as a family around the table, and it makes me so excited for the days when you'll be in a seat of your own, joining in our discussion.
• You watch your sister, and frequently follow her with your eyes. You know she's a good time! She's going to teach you a lot...and she is so ready to play with you! I love watching you two together. 
• You've begun to smile! And, what a precious smile it is! We still have to work for it quite a bit, usually rubbing your lips with our fingers or playing with your cheeks to get a grin...but we're happy to do so. You melt our hearts!

You're growing so, so fast, and this time I get to hold you close,

cuddling and snuggling with you, is precious to me. 

You are cherished, and a perfect fit for our family. 

I love you more each day, Brennan. Truly.

Missing Jim

To anyone that knows me well, it's no surprise that I am a big fan of Jim Brickman. Ever since I was introduced to his piano music as a middle-schooler (let's face it, probably not his key demographic), I have been a fan...a "Brickmaniac", if you will. (Ha! I just made that up...& I don't think I'll say it again. It is quite awful.) His music played at my wedding, and in the delivery rooms when Emerson and Brennan were born, and listening to his music never ceases to be such an immediately calming, soothing experience for me. So, when I heard over the summer that he was coming to Springfield for another Christmas concert, I was thrilled. (Seeing his Christmas tour a couple of years ago was such a fun way to celebrate the holiday, and I have anticipated him coming back to town since then!) I knew I would have a two-month-old at home by the time early-December rolled around, but I told myself that it was do-able. That, one way or another, I'd be in attendance. And, frankly, looking forward to the occasion was an encouragement for many weeks...an outing that I knew would be a rejuvenating, relaxing one for me during a time when I knew I'd need one.

But, when tickets went on sale in August (on my birthday, no less), I didn't buy them. And, the twenty other times I checked the website, selecting my ideal seats and getting excited about the event, something stopped me from ever making the purchase.

I think I knew in the back of my mind that it wouldn't be particularly feasible. And, I was right. Here we are, the day of the concert, and I still don't have tickets. I won't be going. The reality is that the timing is wrong; the girls need me in the evenings, and leaving them for the concert would not be in the best interest of the family. I know that staying with them is what I need to do, and because being "Mom" is my greatest joy, it's what (deep down!) I want to do, too.

But, in all honesty, I am truly sad to be missing out. Seriously, I'm really, really, bummed. It doesn't help my attitude that I have family members that will be going. I'm happy for them (because really, everyone needs Jim Brickman in their life), but I'm jealous. I'm downright green with envy, as embarrassing as that is to admit. Although it's not a quality I'm proud of, it's the truth. I wanted so badly to get out of the house, to have some peaceful time, doing something that would be special to me. 

But, as I reflected this morning about my bad attitude, I realized that my desire to do this, for ME, goes against everything this season (& this life) is about. It isn't about me. It's about giving, and serving, and loving others before myself. Motherhood certainly teaches that lesson again and again.

(With that said, I think there's a lot of value in the concept of taking care of yourself as a mom so you can better serve your family. And, really, going to this concert was less about having a fun Christmas outing, and more about doing something that would benefit my mental health. This definitely would've fit the bill...but I'll figure out something else to serve that purpose. Not that I'm in poor mental health.... You get it.)

I so want to be focused on the right things during this season of Advent. And, if missing a concert is what the Lord is using to reveal an area of sin (that is, too high an emphasis on self-desire), then so be it.

My mom is right. "There will be more Jim Brickman concerts." (Though it'll probably be a couple of years...and who knows what family life will look like then. But, here I go getting all Grinch-y again. I'll stop.) Life goes on. This event just wasn't meant to be.

So! I'm moving on to 'Plan B'. Tonight, I think we'll get the girls dressed in cozy pajamas and load up in the van with mugs of hot chocolate. And then, as we drive around town looking at Christmas lights, you'd better believe we'll be listening to a few of Mr. Brickman's Christmas CD's.

It won't be the same as being at Hammons Hall.... It could be even better. Actually, because I'll be with the ones I love the most, it absolutely will be.

I like to think that's what Jim would want.