tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52875608713278805932024-03-05T06:08:46.497-06:00Not Just Me, EmilyEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-65300778447984175332018-08-14T20:28:00.000-05:002018-08-14T20:28:50.143-05:00A Letter to Emerson: The Night Before KindergartenDear Emerson Blair,<br />
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Tomorrow morning, you start school. Kindergarten! You are, without a doubt, "ready", in every sense of the word. I am confident in your confidence, in your wisdom, in YOU.<br />
<br />
This will be a new chapter for our family, for me, and most certainly, for you. Emerson, every season with you has been a joy; this newest adventure will be no different. Still, I am all too aware that with the opening of that classroom door tomorrow, there is one behind us closing. You sense that change, and with a wisdom beyond your years (as I've become accustomed to you having), seem to grasp the emotion that comes with that. This is all so very bittersweet, for both of (...for all of...) us.<br />
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Lately, I've been looking at a photo on the fridge of you and me at your 9-month doctor appointment. And, although I remember the absolute happiness that came with that season of your life, I can't help but think about what a stranger that baby girl in the photograph seems to be, compared to the six-year-old I know now. Baby Emerson was a lot of fun (and, oh, I have always marveled at you!), but what I didn't know then was how incredible you are now. I didn't know what it would feel like to listen to you pretend to be "Andy" and "Barney" in the backyard with Brennan, to watch you silently draw an "abstract" piece of art, or gently push Easton in the swing...to see you "play chase" with your daddy, or to hear you sing the "Doxology". You are a treasure...and not yet even all God has designed you to be. Wow. What a thought....<br />
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Part of me wants to keep you here at home with me, so I won't have to miss you, and so I can keep you safe. But, the truth is, it wasn't Daddy or me that ever really has. No, since the moment you were created, God has guided and guarded your every step...from before you even began taking them! I'm not now "sharing" you with the world, because you aren't mine to share. You belong to Him; you are His precious child. So, even though tomorrow I won't be holding your hand, I know the One who holds you so securely in His.<br />
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I just have a feeling that, in a few years, I'll look back at your first school picture, remembering how special it was knowing and loving six-year-old you...but thinking, too, how the child pictured there seems to be, somehow, a stranger. What will I know about you then that I haven't yet learned?! Oh, how exciting it is...how exciting it will be...to find out!<br />
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Emerson, welcome to Kindergarten! You are going to shine. Precious, you already do.<br />
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And, I will never stop marveling at you.<br />
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Love,<br />
Mommy<br />
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P.S. Our Olive Garden date this week was so much fun. Let's do it again soon, okay?<br />
<br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-18175008169516465412017-08-22T17:23:00.002-05:002017-08-22T17:23:38.898-05:00Easton: Three Months<b><i>August 14th, 2017</i></b><br />
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<li>This is your first "monthly" update. These past three months have been the most beautiful sort of blur, with many (many, many, many) special moments for our family of five that I truly hope to be able to remember. But, honestly? Having a bit of quiet time in the evenings, holding you, Littlest One, has been far more preferable than writing it all down. I don't regret that.</li>
<li>At your two-month appointment, you weighed 13 lbs. 11 oz. (78th percentile) and were in the 99th percentile for height. You're perfectly healthy and strong, and you handled your shots like a champ. Your sisters were there for moral support.</li>
<li>You are still primarily wearing size 0-3 month clothing. Your footed-pajamas especially are getting tight, and it's time to move on. But, you've had the most precious summer wardrobe, and moving on to bigger clothes means you're growing up. It was bound to happen, but part of me is just not ready to size-up as a result. There. I said it.</li>
<li>You are an incredible sleeper. You have slept through the night for a couple of weeks now, falling asleep on my chest around 8:30 p.m., transferring to your bed (in our bed) easily, and sleeping soundly until 7:00 a.m.-ish. Even then, you'll frequently nurse and then go to sleep again for a while. I attribute your sound nighttime sleeping to your not being able to sleep for long stretches during the day. Your sisters just don't allow it, really. Whatever the case, I'm grateful.</li>
<li>You still have the deepest, sea-blue eyes. There have been little circles of hair on your bed, so I know there's been some loss. The new hair coming in is certainly blonder, though. All of a sudden, around 10 weeks, there was a definite change in hair color.</li>
<li>You have begun to give smiles more and more willingly, and it's getting quite easy to get you to giggle. You especially love the "<i>ooh, stinky stinky!</i>" game I've played with your (not-at-all stinky) toes lately.</li>
<li>For the first week or so of your life, you didn't enjoy diaper changes, fussing quite often. Now, however, you rather enjoy them, and usually give a big smile as soon as the diaper comes off. The disposable diapers...because I just haven't taken on the cloth diaper routine this go-around. Yet. (Yet...?)</li>
<li>You have always seemed to enjoy sucking your fists (particularly the left), and have begun holding your hands. </li>
<li>Whether they bring comfort or are just a fun toy, you really enjoy slobbering all over them!</li>
<li>Bath time is pleasant for you, but you neither seem to overly enjoy it or dislike it. Your response is fairly neutral. Perhaps it's the pink hand-me-down bathtub that you're adverse to....</li>
<li>You have noticed your toys when we offer them, and seem to be considering taking an interest. You've held "Sophie the Giraffe" a couple of times, but it doesn't seem intentional quite yet.</li>
<li>You are highly entertained by your sisters. (Join the club!) It's as if you know they're a good time and have a lot to teach you. I suspect you've learned quite a bit already.</li>
<li>Emerson and Brennan love you so much. They love to hold you, and both of them felt like really big girls when you were big enough (and they were trustworthy enough) to hold you sitting upright. You are their favorite "toy", and watching them tell you "good morning" at the start of each day and "goodnight" at day's end are some of my favorite moments each day. Your sisters have decided that having a baby brother is pretty wonderful! (<i>"Hi, Eass-on! Hiii, big guyyy!</i>" -Brennan)</li>
<li>Almost everyone says you look like Daddy. I don't see it just yet, but it's believable. I have seen so much of Emerson in you since the beginning. Time will tell! You are definitely a handsome little boy, though.</li>
<li>You were a trooper on our long drive to Florida, and are usually so patient riding in the car. </li>
<li>I couldn't have asked for a smoother transition to having three children. I like to say that you have "eased us in", and truly, you have been so easygoing and pleasant and flexible and...easy! You love to be talked to and interacted with, but you don't demand it. You are patient and, for the most part, even your complaining is polite. It's as though you know that there is lots going on around you and you are content to wait your turn. All of this just makes you all the more endearing and I (we) cannot get enough of you.</li>
<li>Seriously. Cannot get enough of you. I am entirely smitten. I love your sisters. <i>Deeply</i> and <i>wholeheartedly</i> and...differently. <i>No less, to be sure, but differently.</i> I can't explain it, and I certainly don't understand it. But, I'm fascinated by what knowing and loving you has done to me. Because, Easton, you've just done something to my heart that is incredible. Perhaps it's because you're a son...probably it's because you're <i>you</i>. But, I love you, sweet baby boy of mine.</li>
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<i>Easton Robert, I am so grateful that the Lord entrusted you to me. </i></div>
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<i>I had no idea that I needed to know you so badly. </i></div>
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<i>God surely has incredible plans for your life, Easton. </i></div>
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<i>I am thankful beyond measure that you were part of His plan for mine.</i></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-79459036002938074482017-04-27T21:25:00.000-05:002017-04-27T21:25:15.970-05:00On Baby Number ThreeThe very fact that this is the first baby-related blog post I've written during this pregnancy, and it comes just shy of a mere two weeks from my due date, ought to give ample evidence of one of the key differences between this pregnancy and my previous two.<br />
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That being, there has just been so much less time to focus on it! Part of that is intentional...for having done this twice before, I've largely known what to expect when I'm expecting, what my body is doing, what's fascinating/normal/annoying, etc., and the need to document it all has just not existed in the same way as it previously has. I do not take for granted in the slightest, however, the miracle I am taking part in and the gift I am experiencing in carrying this baby. I just now know from a little experience that the "real" fun and memory-making comes once the little one joins our family. Raising the babies that are already here has taken most of my attention over the past many months, and rightly so, I think.<br />
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The other part of my lack of documentation is not intentional, I'm afraid, and to a degree, I do regret not having written more and photographed more and journaled more. (I have kept a pregnancy journal again this time, though! There was that one entry!) As it turns out, raising those aforementioned babies that are already here has taken most of my attention...and energy...and time...and energy...(did I mention energy?)...throughout this pregnancy. Truth be told, I am banking somewhat on the possibility that, since this newest member of the family is a boy, perhaps he won't have such strong feelings once he's grown in knowing every detail of his mother's pregnancy journey. In my mind, a little boy won't care as much about those things as his older sisters could. I could be wrong, though, and this may be my first lesson in figuring out how to parent boys as compared to parenting little girls.<br />
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In any case, here we are, anxiously awaiting our son's arrival that could happen, really, any time now.... Emerson was three days early; Brennan was born a full week before her anticipated due date. I've heard from more than one friend about how each subsequent child seems to come earlier and earlier; I'm trying to mentally-prepare myself for that possibility. I'm really just hoping to make it to May.... In some ways, his near-arrival has snuck up on me. I've mentioned to a few friends that I think we're going to get to the hospital and wonder how we ended up there! Bringing a baby into the world is always a somewhat surreal experience, I've decided. This time, perhaps even more so!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">On being a boy.</span></b> I'll be honest. My initial reaction to opening the envelope and reading "BOY" on the card was not an especially positive one. Bobby and I opened the envelope at midnight on New Year's Eve, and in hindsight, having such an emotional moment at a time when we were both weary was perhaps not the best idea. Lesson learned. Anyway, I was not immediately overwhelmed with joy. In fact, though I'd said I didn't care either way, I don't think it was until that moment that I realized that I <i>did</i> actually have strong feelings about having another girl. Three sisters. We'd both expected that it would be another girl, given my symptoms and our general "feeling". But, we were wrong. Bobby was happy, though I don't think he even got to savor the moment of learning he was having a son due to concern over the state of my mental health in that moment. I'm not proud of it, but that's what happened.<br />
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The next morning was Sunday, and we were still the only ones who knew the gender of the baby. I was struggling to wrap my head around the news, and "grieving" (though I know that's too strong a word) the little girl I thought we would have. But, tears (of the positive emotional variety) came to my eyes as we worshipped and sang songs with such lyrics as "...sovereign over every step...", "...You are perfect in all of Your ways to us...", and "it is well, it is well, with my soul". And, in that moment, it was.<br />
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Having a baby boy wasn't what I expected or thought I needed. But, in the days since then, I have grown to not only accept, but quite <i>like</i> the idea of having a little boy in our family. The Lord knows what dynamics our family needs now, and in the years to come, and I'm thankful that He is the One designing our family.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">On being "ready".</span> </b>People often ask if I'm "ready" for the baby to be born, and it feels as though it's often implied that "ready" means "get this over with" or be finished with the pregnancy. And, in that sense, no, I'm not. I'm not miserably uncomfortable or desperate, and quite honestly, I find this last-stage of pregnancy to be one of my favorites. If I'm going to be pregnant, I might as well <i>look</i> good and pregnant, and there's something about the final preparations and excitement and suspense (and what I'm considering to be nesting-related adrenaline and energy!) that makes it fun. So, am I in a hurry for him to be here? No. It'll happen when it happens. Although I am certainly excited to meet the little guy! Am I ready mentally and emotionally? I think so. As much as one can be, I'd say. The hospital bag is packed, the laundry is all caught-up, and the house is tidy. Now...we wait!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">On my physical condition.</span> </b>There were the weeks and weeks of morning sickness and weariness and general exhaustion...the gory details of which have largely faded from memory. That's probably for the best, anyway, and really just indicative of the temporary nature of such things. "This too shall pass" holds true, and though miserable in the midst of it, it really doesn't last forever. Life goes on. Really, one of the biggest struggles I remember facing during those early weeks of pregnancy this go-around was the mental anxiety of wondering what in the world I'd done, knowing that I was too exhausted to feel like I was taking care of the girls particularly well.... Thoughts of "<i>I'm too tired and lazy to handle two children...what was I thinking imagining that I can handle another baby?!</i>" crept into my mind frequently. I was forgetting in my weariness, of course, that when I'm firing on all cylinders, feeling healthy and NOT in the early stages of pregnancy, I am absolutely up to the challenge. But, that feeling was defeating and difficult...but, it too passed.<br />
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The largest physical complaint of this pregnancy, though, is definitely the lower-back/rear end/hip (truly, I can't even place it or figure out exactly what hurts) pain that shows up at the end of each day. It really is brutal, and unlike anything I dealt with previously. I don't know if it's a result of carrying this little guy differently (everyone says that I am), or being that much older (hello, thirty!), or just the result of my body's changes for having done this twice already before. In any case, that has been a challenge. I must create quite the spectacle for Bobby, as he's helplessly watched as I try to get off the couch multiple times each evening, struggling to get upright and slowly shuffling to the bathroom as my back readjusts. It isn't a pretty picture.<br />
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I am looking forward to my postpartum workout routine more so than ever, hopeful that this back trouble is another temporary ailment. I <i>enjoy</i> being pregnant...but I think a lot of the "luster" of the experience has left, and I've been less patient with its unpleasantries this time. I'm reminding myself that I also enjoy <i>not</i> being pregnant...having my body do what I want it to do...and being able to keep up with these girls the way that I want to be able to.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">On feeling confident.</span> </b>I'm so proud of having given birth to both girls naturally, and that has always been the plan for this birth, too. Still, it isn't particularly something I've looked forward to. I wasn't, and am not, fearful, per se...but I wasn't particularly confident about the event until about two weeks ago. Bobby was out of town for the week, and the big trashcan in the garage needed to be emptied into the dumpster outside. As he was away, the task became mine. Quite literally, strange as it sounds, in that moment of hoisting the big black trash bag up and out and into the dumpster, I thought "<i>I can totally do this</i>". "This", of course, referring to giving birth again. Silly, I know. But, it was a physical effort, one that I didn't especially want to do, but it had to be done...and I was capable. It was enough of a reminder of my ability to do something physically-challenging and unpleasant to give me the confidence that I can do hard things. It made me feel empowered and ready for another natural labor and delivery. I can totally do this.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">On sentimentality.</span> </b>Over the past couple of days, I've begun to feel very sentimental about my time with Emerson and Brennan. I remember this happening in the days before Brennan was born, too...just an awareness that the family dynamics we've enjoyed are about to change. That isn't a bad thing, but it is the end of a precious era. I've loved our days as a family of four. Having two daughters is the family structure I know (and love) and it's difficult in a lot of ways to picture anything else. But, just as my concerns over welcoming another little girl into the family after enjoying my time with only Emerson were immediately eased, I know that this little man will fit perfectly into our home, too. Still, I am treasuring these final days at home with my girls...just the three of us. I am so in love with them.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">On the big sisters.</span> </b>Oh, the big sisters. They are so excited. So ready. What joy they have brought to this pregnancy, seeing their enthusiasm and readiness grow as the months have gone by! Honestly, it was their initial excitement over having a baby brother that first helped me embrace the idea of having a boy.<br />
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Emerson largely knows what to expect in having a baby around, and she's confidently embraced the idea of having a baby brother. Lately, she's verbalizing the thought "<i>I wonder what it will be like to have a baby brother....</i>" Brennan can't relate to the idea in the same way, but in watching two cousins grow in the past year, she's been around small babies enough to imagine it. (Although, she has mentioned more than once that she will be the big sister, and I think she may be under the impression that that means that Emerson no longer will be. That may be a harsh reality to face once she figures that out.) She's woken up many mornings, the first words on her lips being "<i>I have a baby bru-vver!</i>" Her little hands often rest on my tummy, and she's enjoyed talking to him often. Emerson has appreciated feeling his movements in my belly, which is fun to share with her.<br />
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Some days it seems as though they're just ready to get the show on the road...enough talking about the baby brother that's supposedly coming! Emerson has shifted to thoughtful curiosity of when this big event will take place, and she's revealing some first-born tendencies that I can relate to, including not liking the surprise element in the timing of it all and wanting to know when and where and what to expect. So much of my thoughts about the new baby involve Brennan's reaction, which is certainly fun to imagine. I know Emerson is a wonderful big sister already.... But, when I stopped to consider Emerson with a baby brother the other day, I was overwhelmed with excitement about that, too. It will be entirely different this time watching her with a new sibling.<br />
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I'm excited to share this experience with them; happy for them to be able to enjoy the gift of another sibling. Their love and enjoyment of each other has grown so much over the past months; I'm thankful they have each other and I know that their bond is going to have such a strong impact on what the weeks ahead look like for our family. Not to mention that the confidence that Emerson's leadership and companionship gives Brennan ought to help with my hospital stay and time away from home.... And, I'm counting on their ever-increasing ability to play happily together being a key factor in a healthy transition for all of us! It's going to be a fun summer, and I'm so looking forward to spending it with them. This is one lucky baby boy to have Emerson and Brennan as his big sisters. Also...I hope he's ready for them!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">On being a mother of three.</span> </b>I joke about my readiness to handle the busyness and action and demand of three children...but, honestly? I feel pretty capable! I'm a good mom, and I don't pretend to have "it" all figured out, but I also feel like I'm pretty good at "this"! And, I'm glad to have that confidence. Homemaking is, I'm quite sure, my calling, and (as I would hope I would have the opportunity to say about any career I could have chosen)...I'm good at it. So, will I feel overwhelmed at times? Have hard days? Think I'm in over my head? Most definitely. But, I'm ready. And capable. And it's going to be great. Three babies in my nest? What an enormous blessing!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-5373897473802668502017-04-25T21:28:00.000-05:002017-04-25T21:28:31.622-05:00Worth Repeating / 11<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 2016</span></b><br />
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12/4</div>
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Emerson, getting Brennan away from manger:</div>
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"Get away! I need some alone time with Jesus!"</div>
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Brennan: "Know vut, Mommy? I yuv you tooow much. Know vut, Daddy? I yuv you tow much. Know vut, Em-sen? I yuv you toe much."</div>
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12/5</div>
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Brennan: "My cose on, Mommy?"</div>
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Mommy: "You're ready to put on your clothes? Which ones will you choose?"</div>
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Brennan: "Umm, pity (pretty) ones."</div>
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Brennan, with stethoscope:</div>
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"Docca he-uh, check you up. Fump, fump. Heffy, good."</div>
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<br /></div>
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12/9</div>
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<br /></div>
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Emerson, playing with Mary and Elizabeth paper dolls:</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
"My baby's named John and my baby's named Jesus and they're going to really get to know each other. Oh, what just happened? My baby jumped when he saw you!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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12/13</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "Good dob, mommy! You work toe hard!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "Can (can't) get (forget) fammee (family) hug!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "I love you, Brennan Elizabeth."</div>
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Brennan: "I yuv you, Mommy Izzuhbeff."</div>
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<br /></div>
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12/28</div>
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<br />
Emerson: "I can't wait to meet Jesus someday."</div>
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<br /></div>
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12/29</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "Why baby Je-Yus born?"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "He came to earth to grow up and save the world from our sins!"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "For me?! And, Em-Sen? And, Mommy! And, Daddy! And, Roy-Uh!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">January 2017</span></b><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
1/3</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "You are so lucky, because you'll have a baby sister AND a baby brother!"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "I'm going to be busy...."</div>
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<br /></div>
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1/5</div>
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<br />
Brennan: "My hair es toe yong!" (is so long)</div>
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Mommy: "It's beautiful!"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "Yeah, I know it is!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
1/6</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "What kind of macaroni are we having? Eyebrows or shells?"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "I use my knockers!" (binoculars)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "This is nice! Got the fire goin', having supper, watchin' a movie!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
1/7</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "You're distracting me by making me laugh to keep me from being sad that Daddy's leaving!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
1/15</div>
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<br />
Emerson: "I'm the worst. Just kidding. I'm the sweetest, and the funniest. I make people laugh."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
1/18</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan, upon waking up in the morning:</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
"Baby in your tummy! I have baby bruvver! I cuddle wiff my baby. I love baby toe much."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
1/20</div>
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<br />
Mommy: "Today we get a new president, President Trump...and it's hard, because a lot of people didn't want for him to be elected."</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "Can we pray for him? I think we should pray for him."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy, watching President Obama board the helicopter as President Trump saluted from steps:<br />
"It's their final goodbye, a way to show respect, and say 'okay, your work is done...it's my responsibility now...'"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson:"'...I'll do a good job'..."</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "God doesn't put us on a leash or keep us in a cage..."</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "But, I know where He does keep us. In His hands...."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
1/21</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "It's grown-up time. Mommy and Daddy spend time together."</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "And, hang out?"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "Yes."</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "I hang out wiff you? I have so much fun hanging out wiff Daddy and Mommy."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
1/26</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "Brennan, what is in your mouth?"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "Caw-cuh-it". (chocolate)</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "Brennan, HOW did you get that?"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "Okay. Yemme sow you." (Let me show you.)</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "When you were doing that, was there a little voice in your mind that told you that you weren't supposed to do that?"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: (nodding) "My body ree-wee, reeeeee-wee hun-gee." (really, really hungry)</div>
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<br /></div>
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1/27</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "Brennan, do you need a blanket or your robe?"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "Mm, no, I duss fine." (just fine)</div>
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<br /></div>
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1/29</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br />
Emerson: "I'll have to ask God about that. You can pray about anything! Say anything! One word, two words...anything! God likes to hear you pray!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">February 2017</span></b><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
2/1</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "Dear God, Thank you for Aunt Mimi. I pray that she has a wonderful life in heaven."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "I feel loved. I feel loved every day."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
2/9</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br />
Brennan: "You're toe 'pecial to me."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
2/10</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "I have a really neat question. Is this whole wide world heaven? Because, Jesus lives in our hearts, and so He's making this world good."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
2/17</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "Look at the buds in the tree!"</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "You're really anxious about that, aren't you?"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "Mommy, can I cuddle wiff you? Because, you're my mommy!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
2/21</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "I thought something really silly. What if ---- and I grow up to be really helpful to each other, and we could marry each other. Hahaha. I don't think he knows anything about weddings, though. I don't, either. You have to be a little older. I was just thinking what if we got married...."</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Brennan: "I have baby bruvver. We'll go on walk, wiff stroller. ... I don't want you to push da 'troller wiff me. I do it by myself."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
2/22</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br />
Brennan, working with tool box:</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
"I a worker. You not a worker, I a worker. I not need hepp (help), cause I a worker."</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
2/25</div>
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<br />
Brennan: "I uh big guhl! Becauuuuse, I climb tings!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
2/27</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br />
Emerson, picking her cuticle:</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Mommy: "That's not a good thing to do. I'm not very good at that...."</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Emerson: "I am. I never make it bleed. I'm careful."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-85059132324004408612016-12-01T10:58:00.000-06:002016-12-01T10:58:04.669-06:00Worth Repeating / 10<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>September 2016</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">9/18</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "You know what the worst part of being sick is? ... Not getting to really play with you and Brennan."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "That's the WORST part?!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I'm just really sad for you...."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 2016</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">10/12</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"God's love is like a snake, because it's really long... and it never ends."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">10/15</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Revealing Mommy's pregnancy to Grandma:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Brennan has a surprise for you. It has to do with the lump in mommy's tummy."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I'm so excited that there's a baby in your tummy."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">10/18</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I'm not scheduling it! I don't even have my own calendar!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">10/19</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Can I apologize? I'm sorry for my disobedience. Can I try again?"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Mommy, I have to make my disobedience more comforting to you. I have to make you something."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">10/31</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">With sticky residue on her shoe, dressed up as Cinderella on Halloween:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I don't feel like a princess at all."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">November 2016</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">11/1</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I just keep forgetting that it's November 1st! We haven't had this day in a very long time!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">11/8</span><br />
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Accompanying Mommy to vote in the presidential election:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I can't wait to vote. When I vote, I'm going to vote for someone really special."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Brennan: "Mommy, nank ooo clean my poopy diahpuh."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson, running laps around the couch, on lap 31:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I'm going to do 100 and then if I don't make it, I'll take a break. I'm not going to stop until I do!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">11/26</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I don't really like to make a Christmas list, cause I like to just be surprised at what Santa gives me."</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-43763260136151360042016-11-29T20:10:00.000-06:002016-11-29T20:10:35.785-06:00Worth Repeating / 09<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>June 2016</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">6/1</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Brennan has a stinky diaper. That's her scent-marker, so I know she's around."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">6/2</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "How do you like my art, isn't it nice?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Yes..."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No, you have to be really impressed like 'Oh! Good job, Emerson!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">6/16</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"This is my only dream come true."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">6/23</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Emerson, are we seeing the animals or going to the playground?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Either both. If you want to see some animals and then go to the playground, that's fine with me."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 2016</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/12</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"You look good, Mom! I mean, not AS good as I'm gonna look, but...."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/18</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Looking at an old photo of Daddy:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "What's he wearing?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "That's from a game, called Headbands. You try to guess what's on your head."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I would know really quickly, cause I would say 'card'".</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 2016</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/11</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I'm sorry your head hurts, Mommy. I'll pray for you tonight. ... Brennan doesn't care."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/15</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"It's your anniversary, be niiiiiice."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Do you want to come help me fix supper?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No, cuddling with mama is more important."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/21</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "In 2020...I'll be ready."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "For what?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "The Olympics. What sport could mommy do?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Maybe stunning (?), cause lure really fast. Or, swimming. Cause you like to swim. Or...commercials. You can be in the commercials."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/24</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "That's called the circle of life. When animals die, they're eaten by other creatures."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Well, we don't get eaten, you know where we get to be.... Living with God and Jesus in heaven."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Going behind tree in yard:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Mommy, I'm going to have a moment with God..."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"You're my best friend, Grandma."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I feel badly about what I said. I'm sorry, Mommy...."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/25</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Singing to Mommy at bedtime:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Happy b</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">irthday to you, happy b</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">irthday to you. Your birthday is over, you have to go to sleeeeeep. Happy birthday to you. See? I made it into a lullaby."</span></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-84433141490567420962016-11-28T20:21:00.001-06:002016-11-28T20:21:52.012-06:00Worth Repeating / 08<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>March 2016</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3/12</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I gotta tell you, I slept SO peacefully. Like, I didn't hear nobody. I was so tired."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3/13</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I saw this and I thought of you cause you're da best mommy in da world."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3/18</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Watching Mary Poppins, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"We'll start with raspberry ice, and then some cake and tea....":</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"That's not very healthy. They must be having dessert."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "I am so lucky to be your mommy."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "And I love being your child. But I'm ready to grow up...."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3/23</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Emerson, will you pick up that grape-something off of the floor?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Stem. It's called a stem. Apples have stems...grapes have stems...."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3/24</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Isn't it fun to think about what you might choose to do someday? You might in the band or be the twirler or play a sport or something else!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Well, I really want to do both."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3/29</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"When I was a baby I knew about God, cause I was still in His hands."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3/31</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I really wanted to watch tv before bed, but I got distracted by the iPad!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><b>April 2016</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4/1</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Handing Emerson Cream of Wheat, cautiously warning about temperature:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Careful, it's hot...."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "That's why it's called hot cereal."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4/20</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I'm thinking about Daddy."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You'll feel safer once he's home, won't you?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Yeah." (Smiling, but fighting tears and emotional.) "He's super strong!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4/22</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Someday you may choose to ask Jesus to live in your heart forever."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Well, I think Jesus already lives in my heart."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4/28</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Dear Mommy, I love when you say 'I love you'. Or 'I love you, Brennan'. It doesn't really matter. But don't forget that I was your baby. Love, Emerson"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><b>May 2016</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">5/4</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Interrupting mid-prayer at bedtime:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"And pray about Jesus, that God sent Him to the world, and made it beautiful, and He washed our sins away."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">5/10</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"You're the best mommy in the world. God made you just the way I like you."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">5/16</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"And thank you, God, that you didn't put us on the earth by ourselves, but you gave us Jesus."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Mommy, pray for my disobedience."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">5/22</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Mommy, I love you. And I love when you read the Bible to me."</span></span></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-3892071117654710842016-11-27T20:54:00.000-06:002016-11-27T20:54:33.385-06:00Worth Repeating / 07<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>December 2015</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/1</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"This is what Grandpa was talking about! Joy to the world!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"No, Brennan, no! This is exactly what I didn't want to happen. Now I'm going somewhere that you can't find me."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/3</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I'm not afraid because I trust in God. God, and David, beat the bad guys. He's the good guy. He's the King, of the Lord. He wants to live in our heart."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/4</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Sorry I sleeped in your bed. I just wanted to be with you. I promise, tomorrow I'll sleep in my bed."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/8</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy, feeling envious and lonely (and clearly, dramatic): "I don't have friends or an office party...."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Mom, I'll have a party with you."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/10</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Well, he loves treats but a treat wouldn't fit in a present. Ooh! He could have a bear just like me!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/16</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Mom, why do you work so hard on things? Why do you have so much to do?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/18</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Is it hard work being a mommy?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Yes, but it's the very best kind of work. There's nothing I'd rather do."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Without you, I wouldn't be Emerson. Which, it is. Without you, I wouldn't be here!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/23</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"This is the life. Fresh air, fresh van. I'm happy."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/24</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Dear Je- I'm going to do it a little different.... Dear Jesus, I hope everything goes well in Bethlehem. We love you. In Jesus name, Amen."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/27</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson, having a serious conversation with 'Siri', on Daddy's phone:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I'm not Robert! I'm Emerson. E M E R S O N, Emerson."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Why do giraffes have long necks? Why do elephants have long trunks?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Siri, do you have high heels?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/28</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson, regarding Brennan: "She has more energy than I do!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Yeah, that's what happens when you get older. Now you know how Daddy and I feel!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Yeah. Happy."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">12/30</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Calls Mom to room after bedtime:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Today was a super great day. I just wanted to tell you that."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">January 2016</span></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1/4</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Do you need company or privacy?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Either one."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Well, I'll give you privacy cause I think that's the most kindest thing to do, so...."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1/11</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Mommy, you're just the sweetest mommy I've ever seen. You're not silly. You're not mad. You're just the sweetest mommy ever."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Talking about Heaven before bed....</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Do you go on clouds? Or a rocket ship?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "We don't take a rocket ship. I don't understand it all, either. But, when we die, our soul...part of our heart and our mind...goes to be with God. Let's keep praying.... God, I pray that you'll continue to guide Emerson's heart and mind as she asks questions about You..."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No, I'll pray now.... Lord, we pray that I'll know how to get to heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1/13</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Putting on socks:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"No, I can do it all my myself. Cause I'm the big girl. I make the choices but you make the rules."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1/16</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"My God is so great, so strong and so mighty.... Let's make that our prayer. (Singing at supper table) Amen."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Thank you for making our supper. I don't really like quesadillas, but thank you for making them!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1/30</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "We can cast our burdens on Jesus. That means, give God the things that worry us."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I want to do that right now. About giants, because I worry about them outside, too. Jesus, please help me not worry about giants anymore. Amen. Here you go, Jesus."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Doesn't that feel good?!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson, with a big smile: "Mm-hmm."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">February 2016</span></b></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2/8</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Is it on Neck-flix? I can't really say Neck-flix. It's kind of a hard word for children to say."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2/10</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Did you know that H2O is water?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2/13</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I'm so glad when God made this church."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2/14</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Look at the sky! It looks mysterious."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Yeah. And ominous."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2/18</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Aren't you tired from all that exercise?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No, cause remember God made us to keep going!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2/15</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Brennan, I love you. And you say, 'I love Daddy.' I love you, Brennan."</span></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-70666608769760391852016-06-14T20:39:00.000-05:002016-12-02T14:46:37.970-06:00"My Friends"Emerson ran excitedly to the sandbox at the softball fields. There were a couple of older girls playing there, likely six or seven years old. After introducing herself to them, and asking them to play with her, she looked over at me, giving a confident "thumbs-up". My heart practically burst with pride.<br />
<br />
I watched them play. The group grew throughout the evening as they built castles, chased one another, made "sand angels", and dug in the sand. Emerson was happy and carefree and everything a three year old should be.<br />
<br />
We talked about her time later that evening. Over and over again, she talked about "my friends".<br />
<br />
She could not, I'm quite sure, have told me their names. She knew they were older. She could recount the games they played. It never seemed to dawn on her that she may never see them again, and their relationship would likely never amount to more than the play they shared on that summer evening in June. Nevertheless, they were her "friends".<br />
<br />
I admire her for that. Without knowing anything else about those children, the fact that they played together made them her friends. Why shouldn't they be?<br />
<br />
I find myself, for whatever reason, more inclined to see other people...other women...as competition (in what?), as a threat (to what?), or as a challenge (for what?) than I am apt to see them as potential friends.<br />
<br />
When did that happen? How did that happen? And how in the world do I change that? Because I don't think it's healthy. It's certainly not Christ-like, and it isn't the example I want to set for my girls.<br />
<br />
Then again, on that night, Emerson was the example. She showed love, she demonstrated kindness, and she reminded me that the world is full of "my friends"...most of whom I just haven't met yet.<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-59301273688046247572016-06-14T20:28:00.002-05:002016-06-14T20:28:53.286-05:00Brennan: 18 & 19 Months<i><b>May 2, 2016</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i>Sweet Brennan, I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to sit down and write a monthly update for you. Actually, I have quickly-written notes from several months ago that never made it into blog-form that I will try to decipher in order to recall the details I was trying to capture...but I know I won't be able to remember all of them. It bums me out already that I have not written more specific details of these early months of your life. There is no shortage of photos, though, and I hope the pictures tell the story. The happy, happy story of this life we are getting to enjoy with you. (This age of social media, I tell you! A girl has to pick her medium! There are only so many hours of the day!) Truly, though, I am sorry for not making more of an effort to document these things for you, and for myself. But, grace is greater than guilt, and that is a lesson that your mommy is learning and clinging to.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<ul>
<li>You are currently wearing 18 and 24 month clothing. You would probably fit into some 2T styles, but I just cannot allow it. Not yet.... At your last doctor's appointment, you were in the 85th percentile, I believe, for height and weight. You're just right.</li>
<li>At one point, Emerson was regularly asking for pieces of gum, which she received and you did not. You have associated "gum" with a treat of any kind, and you will frequently reach in the kitchen cabinet and try to pull out "gum-ma" for yourself. You (and your sister...and your mom) really love treats!</li>
<li>You are still waking up at least once in the middle of the night, and for a couple of months upon awakening, you would call to me in a short, disgruntled, and determined tone of voice. "Mommy! Mommy!" As if mad at me for having the audacity to not be in your room when you awoke. The moment I walk through the door, however, you immediately change your tone and greet me with a "hiiiiii! ... hiiiiii!" Cheerful, high-pitched, and pleasant. How can I possibly be frustrated to have been awakened with such a perky greeting?!</li>
<li>You continue to be Emerson's shadow, repeating her movements and following her lead. I am so thankful that she is the example you have to follow. I don't want you to become her, and I don't get the impression that you want to be her, either. It's as if you are determined to be your own person, and you are using all of the resources you have available to you to figure out this thing called "life". You do so love your big sister, though! And, she loves you more than you yet know.</li>
<li>You call Emerson "Eye-yah", and it has become increasingly easy to tell when you are calling her by name, or trying to get her attention. I love that.</li>
<li>You love your books, and consistently choose your "Elmo" search-and-find book, "Bob the Builder" opposites board book ("Baaa, Da Bah-Da!" you sing as you pick it up), "Bobo", and "Duck and Goose". You are so proud to know those books well.</li>
<li>You enjoy television, and are able to ask for "Sophia the First" ("Iii-aww!"), "Zoboo" ("Ah-bo!"), and dear old "Daniel Tiger" ("Die-yah").</li>
<li>Your hair is really starting to grow, and has become increasingly blonde. So beautiful.</li>
<li>You have a "look" and a pout that is quite serious. You furrow your brow and really put on a show. More than anything, I think you're proud to know how to make your face look that way.</li>
<li>When you swing in the backyard, you lean your head back, close your eyes, and make the most delighted face. I can only imagine what you're thinking, but you just radiate joy in that moment, and I love the delight you take in it.</li>
<li>Fighting the car seat has really taken hold in the past month. You have consistently enjoyed riding in the car seat, and even now (once we hold you down and force the seat upon you) you seem to enjoy car rides, but goodness...it's been a willful struggle lately!</li>
<li>"App-uh!" (apple) </li>
<li>"Guy-de? Guy-de?" ("Outside?" OR, a request to nurse on the other side...depending on context.)</li>
<li>You recover quite quickly from frustration or hurt or disappointment.</li>
<li>"Yeah-yeah." ("Thank you!") You are so very polite, and love saying thanks. Actually, until you are acknowledged, you continue to express your gratitude in an increasingly loud manner until you know you have been heard.</li>
<li>"Ah-you." ("Love you.")</li>
<li>"Ah dooo!" ("I do!")</li>
<li>"I knowwww!"</li>
<li>"Doo-se?!" ("Juice?!")</li>
<li>"Ah-bah!" ("Amen!") You love to pray and bow your head at the dinner table, reach for my hand and Emerson's, and wait patiently for the "Amen". Often, you'll clap and cheer once we've concluded. You know it's something special that we're doing, and you are so proud to participate. How much the Lord must smile to see your joy in talking to Him!</li>
<li>You love your yellow blanket! It was on the back of the recliner in your room in the early days of your life, and as we sat there to nurse, it must have unknowingly become a comfort. You now find it at nap time and bedtime and love to cuddle with it as you nurse and when you wake. Adorable.</li>
<li>At bedtime, you generously offer hugs and kisses to Daddy and Emerson, and sometimes Royal, and those genuine end-of-day shows of affection melt my heart.</li>
</ul>
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<i></i><br />
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<i><i>I love you so dearly, Precious. We are making so many treasured memories together, and I am loving every moment of watching you grow. Each season with you has been a blessed one! </i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>You are full of life and personality, confidence and energy. </i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>You have such a special place in this family of ours, and you fit in so perfectly. I hope you always know what a gift you are to me, Brennan Elizabeth, and what a gift you are to this world. I love you.</i></i></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-26969386037457724262016-05-24T22:27:00.000-05:002016-12-05T14:11:48.785-06:00Brennan: 12 Months<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>October 2, 2015</b></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Putting finger in mouth while nursing</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Personality, knowing glances and smiles</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Uh-mmm</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Done, again, woof woof, daddy, squirrel, dog, oww-guide (outside)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Little tantrums</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Playing in Emerson's bed</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Enjoying light switches</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Shoes</span></span></li>
</ul>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-79585263863223371082016-05-24T22:07:00.000-05:002016-05-24T22:07:51.329-05:00Worth Repeating / 06<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>September 2015</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/2</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "We're on the highway!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Actually, this is the low-way."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/3</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Where is the giraffe?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "What about your treasure box...?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "It's right there. That's not hard to find."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/9</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"You're mine."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "What's wrong with Brennan?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "She doesn't want to go to bed...."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Yeah. But I do!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/10</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dear Santa</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I love you.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I want a princess dress just like the big sister on Frozen.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Love, Emerson</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/15</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Asking Emerson to leave Brennan's room:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"But there was llama drama in there. There's llama dramas everywhere.... Only one room has no llama drama so that's why I came in here."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/21</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "That isn't a choice."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Yes it is. It's what I chose. So, it's a choice."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/22</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Daddy, singing: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "And you don't complain!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/23</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"I have a LOT of energy. Like, I have a really full tummy of energy. So I have to get it out by gymnast-icing! And then, I'll never play again."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Grandma, now I want to be a bride... walking down the path... with a baby in my tummy."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Say, 'Emerson will come home in a little while. I will be be back in a little while. I'm going to be back in just a little while, Brennan.'"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/28</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Look, Mom, I'm a flower starting to bloom!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"The squirrel is gathering up food to store in the winter. And we need to store...in our heart. That's what the Bible tells us. To store in our heart!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"I try what I can!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Is God a little God or a big God?"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/29</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Does God have a wand?"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9/30</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"You're tougher than that."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>October 2015</b></span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10/22</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Mom, I'm glad you're putting makeup on, but you're here and Brennan is on the bathroom stool."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10/23</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "I haven't been able to find a ballet class for you yet."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Yeah, so I'll wait till I'm four.... </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Or maybe I could just buy you a new computer so you can find a three year old class."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10/24</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Dad, do you wanna go watch football while we eat our cereal? Cause, you really like football, and I do, too, so maybe we should!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10/26</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy, regarding Daddy's search for a Halloween costume: "They don't have the wig he needs."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Well, he can go to Pinterest."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"God laughs at our jokes."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10/28</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Mom, you know what you are?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "What?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "You're a sweet, loving mom."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>November 2015</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">11/1</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "You won't always be a little girl. You'll grow into a woman."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Yeah! My brain will say 'I've had enough of this!'"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "You know what sounds good? A nap."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Okay. Dad, can you handle us?"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mommy: "Is your banana good?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Emerson: "Yeah. Compliments to the chef."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">11/7</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dear Santa,<br />I want an Elsa doll and an Anna doll and a pink dress, that is all I want.<br />Dear, Emerson<br /><br />11/9</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />Mommy: "You're really working hard on that!"<br />Emerson: "It's what I do.... I'm master piecing."<br /><br />11/12</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Everywhere I go, there is God. All around."<br /><br />11/21</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"It's snowing!!!!!!"<br /><br />"You give me a lot to do. So, next time, you do my job for me."<br /><br />Mommy: "Mommies get tired, too."<br />Emerson: "Sometimes. Not a lot of times."<br /><br />11/29</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />"I was in my room, worshipping Jesus."</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-73264639062294062462016-02-03T19:18:00.001-06:002016-12-05T14:09:48.272-06:00Brennan: 15 & 16 Months<i><b>January 2, 2016</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">More, Royal, mama, up, bye, hello, water, bird, yeah yeah, now</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sleeping in bed, crib, fighting it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Playing with Emerson, watching her like a shadow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spinning lately</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wants to be part of action</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open mouth nodding</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hug "uck"</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hearing M&M jar</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Gone, done</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Blanket to bed, handing me pillow</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Nighttime kisses and bye bye</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Verbalizing Grandma, Grandpa</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Words more identifiable</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Pulling hair</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Growing hair</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">No bows</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Cuddles at church</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Nap unpredictability</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Climbing</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Shyness</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Drawing on Etch-a-Sketch</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Right-handed</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Chalk on wall</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hey, you!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Uh-oh</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Poo poo? Yeah</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Noooo</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Reading "Bobo"</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Giving hugs and kisses</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pointing to face parts</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Voice intonation</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Loves being outside</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hunger comes and goes</span></span></li>
</ul>
<i><b><br /></b></i>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-56361176317465319012016-01-12T14:25:00.000-06:002016-05-24T22:07:26.417-05:00Worth Repeating / 05<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>June 2015</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">6/5</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Mom, you're a good mom, Mom."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Mom, you're a good mom, to figure out what babies like to eat."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You know what I think? I think you'll be a good mommy someday."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: (smile) "And you'll be a good grandma."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">6/8</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I don't really like girls very much but I like boys SO much."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You're doing a good job walking Royal."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Thank you. I just love to walk dogs."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">6/10</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">Emerson</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">: "Why aren't you feeding her?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Well, I'm cutting the chicken and raw chicken has lots of germs, so I don't want to touch her food."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Well, you're not using your uh-ver hand."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">6/12</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Discussing dress shoes:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I put them on to be faaaaaannncy enough, to be fancy for the day."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">Emerson</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">: "I didn't know I would be mommy."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Someday!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "And I didn't know you would be grandma."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Someday!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "But...who will be Emeh-teh?"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">6/18</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "You did not eat much. Do you want some turkey?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Or black beans?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Yeah, that's a great choice! Do you want some b</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">lack beans?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Nope!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">6/29</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Can I have just a little bit of sprinkles now?"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"You're ruining my cake!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Thank you for your hard work for my party."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"And I love you for making my party so special."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">6/30</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Mom, come look at the llama drama. Royal is with the llama drama. He's brave."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"It's fun that we have these stickers. Do you know what's more funner? You."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">6/2</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Am I still three?"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>July 2015</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/2</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "It's Mommy and Daddy's job to help you learn to be obedient."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Okayyyyy. I forgive you."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/3</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"No, don't eat the popcorn. It's only for Daddy and me."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/9</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Let's do it my way."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/14</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"And we have to write a thank-you note for Daddy! Because he is so special to me. Not because he gave me a present, but because he loves me."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/18</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: (regarding Brennan playing nearby) "She's safe, Emerson."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I just don't want her to embarrass herself."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: (regarding cherry tomatoes from the garden) "Don't they taste like candy? It's so neat that God does that!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Thank you, God, for the candy!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/23</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Tomorrow is zoo class day!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "With you?!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Yep!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Oh, that just warms my heart."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/26</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Will you share your pancakes with me?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Yes, babe."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Okay. Because, we share with our friends."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"She was so cute sleeping in her bed!" (talking about Brennan)</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7/27</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Um, Mommy, one more thing. Can you give me a kiss and a hug, because we didn't do that."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I wish we had doughnuts."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Well, maybe in Florida we could have doughnuts."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Well, in Florida, we're going to have fish. So, probably not doughnuts because we're going to have fish."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>August 2015</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/3</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. I'm sleepy."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/4</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Isn't this fun, Rachel?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Aunt Rachel: "Yeah, it is!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "This is what it's all about. Having fun at the beach. This is what it's all about. ... Burying people in sand. This is what it's all about."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/8</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "What music do you want to listen to?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I don't know. Just some of my favorite jams."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/9</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "There's no place like home, is there? I think home is the best, do you?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Yeah. But the beach is the really, really best."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/17</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"De-ah God, thank you for this day and help Daddy to be safe in Car-o-li-na and help me wear my orange and white striped dress and help Daddy come tomorrow, and bless our hearts, Amen."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I just wanted to be snuggle as a bug in there."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/21</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Don't sing that song. I'm tired of it and it's getting in my head."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(Mom chuckles)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "What's so funny?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You. You're cute as a button."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No I'm not."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You're not?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "I love being your mommy."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I love being your Emerson."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/23</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "It's a beautiful day!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "It's rainy and dreary."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Yeah, but it's still beautiful."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "When I'm bigger, I'll have a baby in my tummy."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You have to be much older, and be married to a husband who loves you very, very much."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Maybe Grandpa can marry me."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/27</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Dear Lord, help Isaac to feel better with medicine so he can feel better and play with me and so he can go anywhere, and help Grandma and Grandpa stay safe in Bolivar, and help his mother and father be brave at the hospital, and bless our hearts, Amen."</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "God gives you strength to do all things!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Like to run?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Yep!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "And to jump...for joy!"</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8/28</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"When Daddy gets home, I'm not going to let him go, cause I missed him so much!"</span></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-83351392992531786742016-01-01T19:27:00.003-06:002016-01-01T19:27:59.446-06:00Three. (And a half.)<i>On this, Emerson's three-and-a-half-year-old birthday, it seems like as good a time as any to post the blog that I drafted, yet failed to post, on her actual third birthday. ('As good a time as any', except for when I actually meant for it to be posted, that is. Oh, well.)</i><br />
<br />
Emerson Blair,<br />
<br />
Tomorrow you will be three. THREE. It seems to suit you well. You've been so excited for your birthday, practicing holding up three fingers by pushing two of them down, so proud of yourself for figuring out how to make it happen.<br />
<br />
I don't feel like I documented your time as a two year old very well...not as well as I would've liked, anyway. The truth is, you grew and changed so quickly, it was hard to keep up with everything you did and said. Emerson, "two-year-old you" was a delight. You have blossomed in the past year, and your personality is so beautiful.<br />
<br />
You are growing in your affection, giving hugs and kisses and "I love you mama."<br />
You ask thoughtful, intentional questions.<br />
You are cautious and a study-er, taking time to familiarize yourself with situations and people before jumping in.<br />
You are tender-hearted.<br />
You are so very perceptive to situations and conversations.<br />
Your vocabulary amazes me.<br />
You are a natural big sister. You were from the first moment you met Brennan.<br />
<br />
Right now, you love to pretend.<br />
You love rhyming words and jokes and songs.<br />
You love making up words and being silly.<br />
You love to make your sister laugh (and you make her laugh more than anyone).<br />
You love to dance in your room with your ballet slippers and lullaby CD.<br />
You love to dig for worms in the front flower bed.<br />
You want most of your drinks to have a "lid and a straw", that you want to bend yourself.<br />
You want me to carry you to bed, after you've turned on your music by yourself, and we pray, have a drink of milk and water, and then a lullaby, and then I have to turn on your fan. You are a creature of habit. And, order.<br />
You have your own dance, with your wrist waving by your head, eyes closed, and a little grin.<br />
You love Friday movie night and "Veggie Tales". Our family dance parties have been a lot of fun to the Veggie Tales soundtrack.<br />
<br />
I'm happy that you're growing up. Every year has just been more and more fun, and I cannot wait to get to know three-year-old you.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Mommy<br />
<br />
<i>As it so happens, three-year-old Emerson is incredible. What a happy six months this has been been. The fun continues...!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<i><br /></i>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-87610323821190332542015-10-26T21:45:00.002-05:002016-01-01T19:33:08.101-06:00Worth Repeating / 04<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>March</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>3/3</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I smell something.... Maybe Royal tooted.... Or maybe it's your breath." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Daddy is a good friend."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/6</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Were you supposed to do that? No. But you chose to do it, anyway."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I don't think you should let the sun go down on your anger."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/13</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I wish I had a ring to marry you, Mommy."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/16</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson, to Mommy: </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Daddy is my beeeessttt friend. You are my greatest friend in the whole world!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Mommy do you like when I sing?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "I love when you sing!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Okay. Lalalalala ABC..."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Good thing I ducked down...I only have one head!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "And in the morning when the sun rises comes up, we call it sunrise."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "But, I call it the morning time."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">On a family walk:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Let's run this town!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Daddy will come outside and you go in-gide (inside) okay?" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You just want some time with Daddy?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Yeah, because Daddy is my friend. So, you go hide in-gide."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/19</i></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You're such a sweet big sister."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Thanks, Mom! I call you mom cause you're the best mom in da world."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/20</i></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"We love Brice and Rachel and Joey and Bethany...and we love Malachi! Even when he goed away...."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/23</i></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After telling Emerson about plans to go to the zoo with her Sunday School teacher:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"We're going with the TEA-cher?! ... That gon be fuuunnnn!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/29</i></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Talking about rules for the church service:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "We do not talk."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">(pause)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Do we breathe?:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/30</i></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I listened and callllllmed my body down."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I'm sorry, for ruining the fun we were having."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "How did you ruin it?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "With my energy...."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">To Brennan:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Things are more fun when I'm around."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson, in her car in the driveway, playing Sonic:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"My darlin' would like a strawberry movie (smoothie)". (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">To Mommy) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"You be the roller gater."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Daddy, we're going to solve this plob-lem. Mommy knows eh-zatly (exactly) where things are!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>3/31</i></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh yeah, oh yeah! I'm fancy in this house now!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>April</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">4/3</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Listening to the Curious George song:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Don't sing it with me. And don't smile. And don't say good job."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Why did he borrow a car? Everybody getting new cars!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I'm going to be repectbubble (respectful) when Daddy gets home."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><i><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4/16</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Oh, blubbers."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Tick-tess." (Success.)</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>4/17</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Emerson, do you want to go play at Grandma and Grandpa's house today?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Oh! Yeah! Wiffout youuu?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Right."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Oh, good."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><i><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4/20</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I'm not growing."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Yes you are."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No, I am...am'nt."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Under-dand?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Are you wiff me?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Well...."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Bubb-os" (bubbles)</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>4/21</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I wish Daddy was here."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Me, too. He's such a special part of our family, and we miss people in our family when they're not there."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Right now we miss Daddy...."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>May</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5/4</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Talking about the workers building the deck:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Ohhhhh! That is going to be a lot of work por dem (for them). I think they need another smoovie...slushy."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Mary had a little lamb...if he hollers let him go...little ones to him belong...yes, Jesus loves me."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>5/6</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Since the butter is in there, be careful not to spill it.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I'm always careful, Mom."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><i><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">5/14</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Are you sure you want the whole pear? How about half?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No! Whole!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "I don't think it's very good for you to have the whole thing, how about..."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "No, whole!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Fine."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(minutes later)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "You know? Say, 'what?'"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "What?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "I don't like pears. So, you can have it."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Discussing potty accidents:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "I don't know what to do about this. It keeps happening."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Maybe put some tape on my bum?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>5/15</i></span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Going to McDonald's after disappointing change of plans visiting the science museum:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson, tearfully: "Where is Mr. Donald's house?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Dear Lord, thank you for our food. Amen."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><i><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">5/16</span></i><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I'll take care of Brennan and Mommy when you're gone, Daddy."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"How does it thunder? ... I'm sure it has pipes. It must have pipes."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>5/17</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I can pray.... Thank you, God, for the weather and for the am-uh-muls, to come out of their houses. A-men."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><i><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">5/18</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Grandpa knows how to whistle."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "And Daddy knows how to whistle!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "That's right! But Grandpa is the BEST at whistling."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson:"...But Daddy is the really best."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>5/22</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Mom...you're a good mom."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Aww, thanks, babe. What made you say that?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "You take good care of me!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Someday Brennan will help with the weeds, too!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Mom, she's already a gardener!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Why do you say that?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "She's wearing a hat!"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Mommy, you're my friend."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You're my friend! Will you always be my friend?"</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Yes."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(30 min later)</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "You're not my friend anymore."</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>5/26</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">To Mom, in the bathroom:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Emerson: "Mom, do you need some privacy?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Mommy: "No...."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Emerson: "Okay. I'll keep you company then."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I'm cleaning up our house. Brennan's not helping me. I'll do it my-delf. I'm trying my hardest, bestest to clean."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>5/27</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Can I feed her? Then I would feel like a mommy, too."</span></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-37481469344287227432015-10-02T13:45:00.001-05:002015-10-02T13:45:32.884-05:00Brennan's Birth Story<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, October 1, 2014</span></b></i><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">(7 days until due date)</span></i></b><br />
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Months had passed since I had updated my pregnancy journal. I didn't make nearly as many entries during this pregnancy, and I knew that if I didn't make at least one more entry before the baby arrived, I would regret it. There were no signs of impending labor, no reason to believe that I couldn't make journaling happen the next day...and the later it got in the evening, the more I just wanted to crawl into bed. Still, at 39 weeks pregnant, writing an entry seemed like the right thing to do, so I sat on the floor of the living room, pen in hand.</div>
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<i>"October is here...we are one week (or less!) away from meeting our daughter....and we are all so very excited. It seems entirely surreal, and so very hard to believe that her arrival is so near, and our time as a family of three so short."</i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday, October 2, 2014</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">(6 days until due date)</span></b></i></div>
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I woke up at 6:45 a.m. feeling very definite cramping. I got out of bed and walked up and down the hallway.</div>
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<i>Are these Braxton Hicks contractions? I don't think I've ever really felt those.... Baby isn't due for another week, and Emerson wasn't this early.... What are we dealing with here? What did this storm front bring about?!</i></div>
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I wasn't miserable, but the pain was growing increasingly uncomfortable...and closer and closer to being five minutes apart. I knew subsequent babies had a tendency to come more quickly, but what did that mean...<i>really</i>? Just how soon <i>did</i> I need to be thinking about going to the hospital? </div>
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I had a doctor's appointment already scheduled for 10:15 a.m. My biggest question throughout the morning was whether or not I could hold out until then to see what was going on, or would I be heading to the hospital instead? Bobby and I exchanged texts as the morning continued, both of us wondering where the day was headed.</div>
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I texted my mom at 7:57 a.m. to fill her in on the morning's happenings. The plan had been for Emerson to come with me to my routine doctor's appointment. However, at some point in the morning, as my discomfort and confidence that this could, in fact, be the "real thing" grew, my mom (who had been on her way to babysit my nephew) turned the car around to take care of Emerson here. The contractions had decreased in frequency, but there had been a few that were intense enough that I realized I'd rather leave Emerson at home with Mom.</div>
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I drove myself to my doctor's appointment on the rainy fall morning, and as I neared the office, I began to cry. I was in pain. I was nervous, primarily due to continuing uncertainty for how the soon-to-be big sister would handle my absence during the upcoming hospital stay. I was hormonal and emotional, and the tears continued to fall. </div>
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Sam Hunt's "<i>Leave the Night On</i>" was playing on the radio as I pulled into the parking lot. That was my jam, and it gave me a boost.</div>
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My contractions eased as my exam began (go figure) and had become less frequent. I was about 2.5 cm dilated...a half centimeter improvement from the previous week, and Dr. W said that "<i>it feels like something has changed</i>", that she thought I was in labor, but of course couldn't confirm before my water broke or things became more serious. </div>
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Then, she broke the news that in order for her to deliver my baby, I had to "<i>either deliver before 5:00 p.m. or wait until Monday</i>" because she had to take a red-eye flight to Vegas for the weekend for some sort of technology demonstration. </div>
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<i>Seriously?</i></div>
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I didn't <i>really</i> care. I was more intrigued by the irony of the situation, given that she missed Emerson's birth, too. Honestly, as normal as the pregnancy had been and my previous delivery was, I didn't feel at all strongly that she be the one to deliver my baby. I'm perfectly happy with her as my doctor! But, I knew that life would go on if I delivered with another obstetrician. I'd done it before! She told me all about the two doctors that would be on-call over the weekend. I decided I'd be comfortable with either one.</div>
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"<i>I'll be really surprised if you're still pregnant on Monday.</i>"</div>
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I drove home in a quiet van, trying to soak up the stillness...very aware that moments of solitude like that were about to become all the more rare.</div>
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I touched base with Bobby. I updated Mom, who assured me that she would be "on call" throughout the afternoon, and to let her know if I needed assistance. </div>
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Emerson and I had a restful afternoon. She was precious...loving, understanding...sensitive beyond her two years.</div>
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<i>"Mommy's tummy is hurting."</i></div>
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<i>"I'll rub it for you. ... That feel better?"</i></div>
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For all of Emerson's tender moments over the past months, rubbing my belly and talking to her sister, I realized that I didn't have any of it recorded. So, we made a video. </div>
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I bounced on the exercise ball as the afternoon progressed. Emerson napped for a while. I tried to sleep, too, without success. The contractions weren't all that frequent, but they were intense enough that I realized I didn't want to be alone. Around 2:50 p.m., I was ready for Bobby to come home. He did.</div>
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I began counting contractions using a contraction timer on the phone at 4:26 p.m. At that point, they were coming about 2:45 minutes apart.</div>
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I labored on the couch, changing positions as necessary, moaning with each contraction, trusting my body and the process and the Lord. Bobby and Emerson played in the playroom. She was happily distracted, and Bobby offered to help me, but there was little he could do. His time with Emerson was well-spent. </div>
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The two of them went outside to watch the thunderstorm from the garage. I joined them for a bit, bracing myself against Bobby's truck as contractions were growing in intensity. After a few minutes watching the heavy rain, I realized that I needed to be back on the couch. I was writhing in pain as the contractions came...more frequently, and requiring more focus than before.</div>
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My parents offered to bring pizza by for our supper, recognizing that we were otherwise occupied. Bobby ordered the pizza online at 5:27 p.m., though eating was the furthest thing from my mind. Mom and Dad showed up shortly after; I didn't move from the couch. After dropping off the pizza, they left, and I had another big contraction. </div>
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I threw up over the side of the couch, and I knew: it was time to go to the hospital. </div>
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My parents had barely left before I texted them asking them to return. Of all the scenarios I'd imagined regarding the timing for leaving Emerson, this was exactly the situation I hadn't wanted. Leaving in the evening, before bedtime, late-enough that Bobby wasn't going to be able to make it back to help with the nighttime routine. We'd never been away from her at nighttime. She would be scared. I was, too.</div>
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But, Mom in her "grandmotherly wisdom" showed up with a treasure box-shaped cardboard box, full of old Happy Meal toys and similar trinkets, and dumped them on the living room floor. Emerson was captivated with the "treasure" and with Grandma & Grandpa, and Bobby and I were able to give hugs & kisses and disappear quietly. Leaving her was every bit as difficult as I'd imagined it would be, but things were growing intense enough that I had other things to think about. </div>
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Around 7:00 p.m., I got in the passenger seat of the van, thankful to be on our way. It was dark, and the drive to the hospital was different than the last time...seeing the city lights and evening traffic instead of the early morning calm. I had several contractions, and noted that I didn't remember driving through them when Emerson was born. </div>
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"<i>Leave the Night On</i>" played on the radio again as the hospital came into view.</div>
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We pulled into the hospital, and when I stood up getting out of the van, the contractions intensified again. I was only able to walk a few feet at a time before needing to stop to focus through them. Bobby asked if I needed a wheelchair. Then I insisted that we needed a photo in front of the hospital for posterity.... He thought I was nuts.</div>
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The contractions continued as we walked into the hospital. I braced myself on the side of the elevator and on the hallway railing as we arrived on the 'Labor and Delivery' wing. We passed a family in the waiting area who seemed to have been there a while...they all had that impatient "look", and were flying paper airplanes back and forth to pass the time. </div>
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I leaned against the counter in the Triage area while Bobby got the paperwork we needed. No one seemed to be moving as quickly as I thought they should be. </div>
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"<i>There aren't any rooms open right now</i>", one of the nurses said to another coworker. </div>
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<i>You'd better find one</i>, I thought. It was getting more serious, and I was having a hard time focusing on anything other than the task at hand...that being, working through each contraction...leaning against the wall...hips rocking.... <i>Does this not look like a pressing situation to them?</i></div>
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I had to fill out paperwork of some kind. I scribbled something down, and would love to see what my handwriting on those documents looks like.</div>
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They found a room, I walked back to the Triage unit, and went directly to the bathroom for a urine sample. I realized then that I could probably stop using my contraction timer phone app; the professionals would probably take over the calculation then. At 7:24 p.m., I entered my last contraction into the app: :45 second duration, 1:38 minutes apart.</div>
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In the privacy of the bathroom, I realized that we didn't make it to the hospital at all too soon. I was ready to be taken care of.</div>
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I was examined. I was 7 centimeters. I said something to the tune of "<i>I wasn't messing around.</i>" The nurse reported the (unsurprising) news that my doctor wasn't on-call, but that she'd check to see if she was around. I informed her that she was on her way to Vegas; she didn't really seem to care.</div>
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I was wheeled to a room, and instructed to put on a gown. Ready to be in a bed and getting the show on the road, I decided modesty was of little importance at that point and undressed and dressed myself quickly. A nurse gave me an IV and tried to make conversation. "<i>Have you been here before? You look familiar.</i>" I answered her politely enough, I think...but I knew I wasn't as friendly as I would've otherwise been. I was very much in "the zone" and knew I had work to do.<br />
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Bobby turned on some Jim Brickman music on the computer, and the Royals first ALDS playoff game versus the Angels on the television. I didn't notice any of it.</div>
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"<i>Has she done it naturally before?"</i> I don't think there was time for an epidural at that point, even if I'd wanted one. (I most assuredly did not.) I got the impression that they were trying to see if I knew what I was in for.</div>
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Time seemed to pass very quickly. I remembered from my labor with Emerson that being on my hands and knees was both more comfortable (relatively-speaking...and I do emphasize the "relatively") and productive. I assumed that position pretty much straight away, and it did get "things" moving. </div>
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I'll leave it at that. </div>
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A new nurse came into the room, and I introduced myself in a most vulnerable state. She was so kind, sensitive, and compassionate, and it wasn't until after the birth that I even saw what she looked like. (I was picturing her as a much older woman than she actually was.) She was an encouraging presence. Bobby was, too, but I was so focused in those moments...I really don't even remember talking to him....</div>
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The nurse asked me about my previous delivery at some point. <i>Yes, I did it naturally. ... No, I didn't push very long. ... It took seven minutes last time, can we beat that? </i>She somewhat doubted it.</div>
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An especially-strong contraction came, and with it, a new pressure. I got the nurse's attention. Quickly. She checked me again.</div>
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"<i>Nope, I don't feel anything left...."</i></div>
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She rushed to the door, and I heard her yell "<i>I need an O.B. in here, NOW.</i>"</div>
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I wasn't worried. It wasn't an emergency in the "something is wrong" sense. But, I knew...our baby was coming.</div>
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Within moments, the room was abuzz. The warmer was readied (a stark contrast to Emerson's birth, where the warmer sat prepared...and empty...for hours), and nurses all took their places. It was fascinating, really. It was game time, and everyone had a job to do. </div>
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I met Dr. L, a sweet, friendly woman who seemed to know what she was doing.... She broke my water, and I realized that I'd forgotten entirely about that piece of the process. </div>
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I asked Bobby for my glasses. The tv was turned off. The mirror was positioned. </div>
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I remembered from last time that the work was different now. This is where it got good....</div>
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A few (three, maybe? four?) pushes and five minutes later, we saw our daughter's head. Dark hair, just like her sister. I got a clear look at her tiny face; she was working hard, too! Entirely surreal.... That's <i>her</i>. This is <i>me</i>. This is <i>happening</i>.</div>
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And then, within a matter of moments, I felt the rush of her body leaving mine. Brennan Elizabeth was born at 8:37 p.m., and immediately placed on my chest. We had experienced another miracle, this time every bit as precious as the last. What a gift we were given. <i>Thank you, Lord.</i><br />
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Bobby cut the umbilical cord.</div>
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I was quickly stitched, after a minor tear. I barely noticed. Brennan was still in my arms, nursing readily and resting, wide-eyed and peaceful. It was incredible to already know how to be "mom" this time.... She looked like her big sister, with "<i>a beautiful round head because she came down so quick.</i>" In the busyness of her birth, the instruction to hold off on eye cream and the vitamin K shot was missed, and I was disappointed by that, but what was done was done.<br />
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We called Emerson first. "<i>Brennan Elizabeth is here!</i>" It was precious to hear her voice...happy, but shaky and unsure...it was after her bedtime, and we weren't there. She'd waited up to hear the news. She was in good hands, but hanging up the phone was hard. We sent her a video, showing Brennan nursing and saying 'goodnight' "in person", and she and Grandma sent us a video of her singing "happy birthday" to her new "baby 'tis-ter". It melted my heart, and I was so excited to have our whole family together in the morning.</div>
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Bobby called his family to share the news. They were gathered to watch the baseball game, and as the entire process happened so fast (we'd only been at the hospital for just over an hour!), they didn't even know I'd been in labor. </div>
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The surprise of her birth, being that it was a week earlier than expected, made the entire delivery feel that much more surreal. Of course we knew she was coming, but didn't imagine that it would be that day...so when she was in our arms, it was hard to believe, and seemed very much like an out of body experience. There we were! With our daughter! Another beautiful baby girl. <i>Ours.</i> </div>
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Brennan didn't leave my arms until an hour later when Bobby held her for the first time and she was measured and weighed. (7 lbs. 8 oz., 20 3/4 inches.) She was never out of our sight, and having her with us constantly was a precious experience. </div>
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The nurse filled out our admission paperwork. We hadn't had time to do that beforehand given the rush of the delivery. <i>"Consent to treat?" "Oh, okay.... I suppose so." </i>I was now in a much friendlier state of mind and body, and we had pleasant conversation.</div>
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The nurse brought me a soda. I felt incredible. Proud of what my body had once again naturally done with the Lord's strength. Enjoying the post-delivery adrenaline rush that is like no other.<br />
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I joked with our nurse about the hourly rate for the room and how much we'd saved by being so quick. I held Brennan in my lap as I was wheeled to a recovery room, passing the paper airplane-flying family in the waiting area. I felt proud, and a little guilty, for getting in and getting out with a brand-new baby while they were still waiting. Our nurse congratulated us again and helped us settle into our room.</div>
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Brennan was given her bath in our room. In the minutes we held her, we studied every inch of her face, noting lots of similarities between both of our daughters, & growing more in love with each passing moment.<br />
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Having missed cafeteria hours (and a pizza dinner at home...), Bobby left the hospital in the rain to bring back Burger King. (Tradition!) A burger and fries and more texts to loved ones later, we were all ready to rest. The three of us settled in to sleep, with anxious anticipation for our daughters to meet each other in the morning. It had been a most wondrous day, welcoming Brennan Elizabeth into our world. All was well. </div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-78520708792284113302015-09-10T21:51:00.001-05:002015-09-10T21:51:49.829-05:00I'm Here!Somehow, it is already September, and the fact that I haven't written a blog post since May makes me sad. Particularly because I know that there have been so many blog-able stories and moments and happenings that I haven't documented the way that I would've liked to. But, life keeps happening, we're busy, and at the end of the day...well...I am freakin' exhausted. I don't usually use the word "freakin'"...at least not in my "formal" writing...but, the tired I've experienced lately with two little ones can only be described in such a way. (And, to be very clear, it is THE BEST sort of tired.... But, I'm tired all the same.) Really, though, at the end of the day when the girls are in bed, I just want to BE STILL, and sometimes the idea of trying to sound eloquent or put together any sort of string of intelligent thought amuses me. Ha! It is so often impossibly hard to switch out of jumbled "mommy mode"...to remember that I have a voice...that I AM CAPABLE of organized thought...and to have the energy to do something with it.<br />
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I don't know how some mommies do it, taking care of the children AND blogging thoughtful, focused, meaningful prose during the day. (Maybe their children take long naps? Or, nap at all?) <br />
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I do know there are moms who make it happen. I know this because I often find myself reading their beautiful words while I'm sitting in Brennan's bedroom in the wee hours of the night, desperately trying to stay awake while I nurse her back to sleep...again. I applaud them for it, because they have to be bone tired, too. Right? RIGHT?!?!<br />
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If I made it more of a priority, I could write more often, I'm sure. And, I SHOULD make it a priority, because these are such precious, precious days, and I want to be more intentional about recording this tender time.<br />
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So, I need some sort of game plan here.<br />
I'll get back to you when I figure it out.<br />
Fingers crossed.<br />
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In the meantime, I'm still here! Doing life. Editing the never-ending photos and posting way too many of them on Facebook, writing Sunday School curriculum for the church we found and love, planning a 1st birthday party for the little girl who can't possibly already be this close to being "one"....<br />
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I'm here. Sitting on the couch with Bobby, watching a football game, enjoying a beer, celebrating the end of a Thursday...another day of this beautiful thing called "parenthood" in the books.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-4530221043468526032015-05-31T20:38:00.000-05:002015-05-31T20:38:17.057-05:00Brennan: Seven Months<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i><b>May 2, 2015</b></i><br />
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<li>You are still wearing 6-9 month clothing.</li>
<li>At your 6 month doctor's appointment, you weighed 18 lbs. and 5 ounces. This is only 8 ounces less than Emerson weighed at her 6 month appointment, which amazes me. The similarities between the development of you two is fascinating.</li>
<li>Your hair is getting blonder and blonder, and noticeably longer, too! </li>
<li>You are finally sleeping in your own bed at nighttime! You're ready for bed between 7:30-8:00 p.m., and after nursing in the chair in your room, you fall asleep quite quickly in your bed. You wake up to eat late in the evening and then after that meal, you're back to sleep for a few hours. </li>
<li>Napping in your crib in getting much easier, too. You never sleep for hours on end, but you're more willing to be placed in your crib for snoozes during the day. You still have to be asleep first, though. </li>
<li>You've been taking baths with Emerson and you are both enjoying that time considerably! </li>
<li>You are so strong! From lifting your chest to grabbing at sunglasses to holding onto hands...you've got some muscles!</li>
<li>Making forward motion is so close for you! You are scooting all over the place, and can usually get where you want to go, sooner or later. </li>
<li>You are primarily self-feeding yourself, as you aren't particularly interested in taking food from a spoon. More fun to do it yourself, it seems! I'd forgotten how messy this stage is...and goodness, it really is. Avocados and bananas are by far your favorite foods...probably in large part due to your ability to eat them without help.</li>
<li>Your vocalizing has increased, too. Lots of shrieks and loud squeals to get in on the conversation, and it seems you have a new sound to master daily.</li>
<li>You "cluck" with your tongue often! It's hard to say if you like the way that it feels or sounds, or both, but you click and cluck often and are pleased when we notice!</li>
<li>We put your infant bathtub in the tub so you could share bath time with Emerson, which you both seem delighted in. She enjoys playing with you, and you're happy to have more water to splash. You love any chance to feel like a big girl!</li>
<li>You seem so very aware of everything going on around you. You are watchful and very "present", interacting and participating in your world! Now that you can move a bit more, you are truly content to sit and play and move in your space, and it's nice to have you enjoying your time just "being" with us.</li>
<li>You have two bottom teeth! They both surfaced simultaneously, with fairly little disturbance to your usual patterns. You drooled a bit more and seemed a bit fussy for a couple of days...but otherwise, you handled it like a champ. And, you look quite adorable with them there.</li>
<li>We are taking lots of afternoon walks through the neighborhood, and you and Emerson are both quite happy to be in the double-stroller together. You enjoy relaxing as we walk, and seem to enjoy being outside. We play on the blanket in the backyard, too, and it's fun to see you begin to move around and explore the yard around you.</li>
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<li>You are really trying to get Royal's attention on a regular basis. I'm sorry to say that he usually doesn't give you much attention in return, but you are fascinated in him and so enjoy when he does let you pet him or tug on his fur.</li>
<li>You notice when Daddy comes home and greet him with a smile when he walks in the door at the end of the day. It's special welcome that makes us all smile right back.</li>
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<i>Each day with you is a gift; YOU are a gift. </i></div>
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<i>I hope you always find such joy in learning about your world, delighting in the fun around you.</i></div>
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<i>You certainly do make our lives full of wonder & happiness, </i></div>
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<i>and I'm overwhelmed by my ever-growing love for you.</i></div>
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<i>You are so very treasured, precious Brennan.</i></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-64471745593772718792015-05-23T16:52:00.000-05:002015-05-23T16:52:37.299-05:00Brennan: Six Months<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">April 2, 2015</span></b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFAujPEEko6lzCMXjYjU0vxWKTQGobXjXaTdepuqXF2JJLaVDycOC-uB3U0naG-hAYPJfUxmHXTF4LySt572qBhaXSXuV5nN0BV2Mvm2p6wsQELXkgfVi8cnvTjmiaPzf7cB7l5rgu6o1/s1600/IMG_2146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFAujPEEko6lzCMXjYjU0vxWKTQGobXjXaTdepuqXF2JJLaVDycOC-uB3U0naG-hAYPJfUxmHXTF4LySt572qBhaXSXuV5nN0BV2Mvm2p6wsQELXkgfVi8cnvTjmiaPzf7cB7l5rgu6o1/s400/IMG_2146.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuW_o12KmpHZIB9-4876KojgadmembK_TeyvQ1BQ3nf0gYs1bPA6xAutLqsc6a2nZcvayt_UPoN5kQ-wQm81PcDmC5tiDeOnTxSjhS8MN74i9bcsm8yvufpcmXekLOxgsKKZRnYgGVbYTe/s1600/IMG_2150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuW_o12KmpHZIB9-4876KojgadmembK_TeyvQ1BQ3nf0gYs1bPA6xAutLqsc6a2nZcvayt_UPoN5kQ-wQm81PcDmC5tiDeOnTxSjhS8MN74i9bcsm8yvufpcmXekLOxgsKKZRnYgGVbYTe/s400/IMG_2150.jpg" width="281" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are wearing 6-9 month clothing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You seem to be quite ready for food! It's obvious that you're watching while we eat, curiously eyeing what's on our plates. The general consensus among the family is that you'll eat solid food readily! We shall see! Daddy is out of town this week, but when he gets home, we'll give you that first taste.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are having more awake time during the day. Which could be due to your sleeping so well at nighttime...on account of our togetherness. You and Mommy have been sleeping together on the couch at nighttime for weeks.... It makes nursing when you awaken so very easy, and it lets Daddy get a solid night of sleep. We definitely have some sleep-training work ahead of us, but between Mommy's sleep needs and knowing that any hard crying will wake up your big sister, there's just not been a lot of motivation to make it happen. But, it's been a long pattern of overnighting on the couch together and it has to stop sometime. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are rolling over quite easily, and it's so much fun to see you move! You spin in circles on the ground, positioning yourself to see what's going on around you. There's no sitting still for you!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are beginning to lift your chest off of the ground, and even starting to pull up a knee occasionally. You are bound and determined to keep up with the action around here, and seem to be so ready to be able to move!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You sit with confidence, and have begun to rock forward when you do...you're willing to do whatever it takes to have forward motion!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you are unhappy (and it is becoming quite clear when you are!), you have a seriously high-pitched shriek. It certainly gets our attention...which is most definitely your intention. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have a rash all over your tummy and neck, likely eczema. It doesn't seem to bother you, though it does look so dry. Interestingly, it showed up at just the same time that Emerson's did when she was your age.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are certainly recognizing (and not recognizing) people these days. You smile when Daddy comes home from work, and often greet Grandpa and Grandma with a knowing look, too. Likewise, you know when Mommy is close by or not, and typically show your displeasure when we're apart. (And if I'm being totally honest, I don't mind that a bit.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have been quite anti-church nursery, however, and that's been a bit of a challenge. We'll figure it out, though. Rocking you in the cry room and bouncing in the church hallways has been a joy; we're worshipping together.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You don't have any teeth yet, but I'm watching for them. Could be anytime!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Watching Royal around the house is one of your favorite activities. He makes you smile!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your babbles have noticeably increased, and it feels more and more as though you're really trying to "talk" with us. You want to be heard! (And we are so happy to listen!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You reach for toys that you're interested in, and easily pass them back and forth between your hands. You do love to play!</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqsarH975nt3Tga7Z1aXgxhYlw8JYcYoeoZD4LB9FFTywd6E_ZEzzHzXXn7CZdWGzIHIKD8mFJiEOVXf-SGxD2oClqJ_3C4celxaRKZjvteWZsum4inkPjHr5mKihY5jTVsOfHmvQyICX/s1600/IMG_2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqsarH975nt3Tga7Z1aXgxhYlw8JYcYoeoZD4LB9FFTywd6E_ZEzzHzXXn7CZdWGzIHIKD8mFJiEOVXf-SGxD2oClqJ_3C4celxaRKZjvteWZsum4inkPjHr5mKihY5jTVsOfHmvQyICX/s400/IMG_2157.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Brennan, I delight in you, </i><i>and I'm in awe as I watch you discover & embrace your world. </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are such a joy, and I'm thankful you're mine.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Six months have gone by so quickly.... </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy half-birthday, little one. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you more than words can say.</span></i></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-88170458537567025522015-05-19T21:10:00.001-05:002015-10-26T21:02:05.474-05:00Worth Repeating / 03<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>December</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>12/4</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I want to have a new baby!!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>12/6</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Is Royal a horse?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "No, he not a horse. ... He's a donkey. ... Now he's a dog."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">(After attending a baby shower)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"There's a baby in my tummy. See my belly button? That's the baby. It will get bigger, and grow. ... First me have to be married."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>12/17</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"And Gawwww-dddd is 'da Lowwww-errrrrd."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Goli-aff wanted to hurt God's people."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>12/18</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(Just waking up in bed)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I love my mommy and my daddy."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(After Mommy and Daddy helped Emerson sit up in bed)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Thank you, Mommy and Daddy. You're a great team. You're on the same team."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>12/?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "What's that on your face?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Lotion. It helps my skin."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Holy moly."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>12/25</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(Emerson settling into our bed at 4:11 a.m.)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Turn dat way so I don't feel your face breathing."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "I smile at those pictures."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "When I look at pictures of you, it makes me smile, too!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Aww. That's sweet of you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">(Saying goodnight to Brennan)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Merry first Christmas!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Happy New Year, Brennan."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Do you have that...little...bracelet I gave you?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Always. It's my favorite gift. That was so special."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: (Smiling) "Okay."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>12/28</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "Mommy! Daddy!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Yes, Emerson?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "...What did you say, Mommy?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Daddy, I love you. And I love playing with you! But right now, I have to play with my rock collection."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><b>January</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/1</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br style="color: #222222;" /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(Brennan distracted from her nursing by Emerson)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I don't think she wants to eat. I think she wants to look at me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">1/7</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Do you hear Brennan? She was happy when you were in there with her and now she wonders 'where did my big sister go?'"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "I'm coming, Brennan!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I love you, Mommy. Even when I like you. That will never change."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">(Banging on window to scare squirrels)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "They're not leaving. Hmmm. Why are they not cooperating? Why they not obeyin'? Maybe they just want to keep eating."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/8</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Look, Brennan, we're doing the potty dance!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Brennan say, 'I don't know about this!'"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/9</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Emerson, hand me the napkin so we can wipe your face."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">(Hands Mommy napkin; Mommy wipes Brennan's face.)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "My face, or Brennan's face...?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/10</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "He meant hot chocolate, right?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Yes, did Daddy say cocoa?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Yes. Hot chocolate is hot cocoa. Cocoa IS chocolate!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/14</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Somebody colored in this book. Maybe a boy, or a girl, or Emeteh did...."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/15</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(Fishing for alphabet letters in the bathtub)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"What a fun day to catch fish.... I wish I was a real fisherman."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/16</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(Taking care of doll)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Say, 'can I hold your baby?'"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Can I hold your baby?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "No. She's crying, and I'm da mommy."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">(Swiffering kitchen floor)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Look mama, I'm cleaning this. Say, 'oh I'm so glad you're cleaning that'.'"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/17</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I just woke up this morning and I said to myself 'hmm, maybe I can help'."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Mommy, this is not a big problem, it's just a lil pob-lem."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/19</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "It's going to get cold again."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Oh yeah? Why do you tell me...?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/23</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "When I'm bigger, I'll ride a bussss."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "And where will the bus take you?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "To, a, a gool. And I will ask my fwenns, 'can I draw wiff you?' And day will say 'hmm, maybe you can draw wiff us!' And then we will go to the nuseum, and then I will come home, when I need to come home."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>1/30</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Daddy, she doesn't need to be roughed up! Gentle, daddy. She's just a baby! Have to be fragile. She might break!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><b>February</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>2/3</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emerson: "You make a good supper mommy!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Thanks, baby girl. I love making food for you."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "You're a cooker!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>2/5</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "Did you get Jell-O?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Yeah because you couldn't hear me!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>2/6</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mommy: "You tinkled in the potty? And you pulled your pants up? What a big girl!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "I didn't wipe, mommy. I didn't wipe. I just wiped on my dress."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>2/16</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"The ice was hitting the window last night and that was beary scary. But now, it turned to snow! That isn't scary!"</span></span><br />
<br />
(Looking out the window at the snow that fell overnight)<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Ooh! Let's go out there!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Can we go out now?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"I just want to get dressed for the day."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Awww. Can I go out there??"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>2/17</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(6:48 a.m.)</span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Mommy, can I go outside?" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">(Playing in the snowy yard)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Are you alright?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "No! I'm not alright."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Mommy: "Why are you not alright?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Emerson: "Because I'm cold!"</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-25952856487751779312015-05-12T21:29:00.001-05:002015-05-12T21:29:38.233-05:00Noticed<div>
<i>A forgotten post, drafted last fall...but a pertinent personal reminder, always.</i><br />
<br />
The family excursion to Lowe's had not gone well. I had needed a Saturday outing...to be out of the house for a time...to feel productive. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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And, the errand did--not--go--well. Despite our best parenting efforts...the children won. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I came home tired and grumpy...silent, but visibly frustrated by our discouraging and very non-productive experience out of the house with two small children. I walked from room to room, picking up this & that and tidying here & there. I saw messes that I had no idea when I'd be able to address. My annoyance with the clutter and with the day grew.</div>
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I bent down to pick up a few stray alphabet refrigerator magnets, that I knew had been lying on the kitchen floor for days. </div>
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<i>I'd better get these,</i> I thought<i>. No one else will. </i></div>
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<i>Does anyone else even see the mess? What's the point? Why do I bother? </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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My attitude was poor; my spirit was weary.</div>
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<br /></div>
"Thank you, Mommy."<br />
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<br /></div>
<div>
<i>What did she just say? Surely she can't have noticed. There's no way she's thanking me for this.</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Thank you for what, Emerson?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Thank you, for picking up my magnets off the floor.... You're having a rough day, huh?"</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<i>She noticed. My efforts, my mood.... Oh, wow. ... Wow.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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And then, the tears began. She <b>had</b> seen, and genuinely affirmed me in the most precious way.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By her comment, through the innocent eyes of a child, the Lord was speaking.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">I see you. I notice. And your work matters. </span></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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I heard Him. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I realized that it most certainly did matter. That my work is noticed and appreciated and valued, even when it doesn't feel that way. And that, as much as I value serving my family, I am ultimately working for the Lord.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Col-3-23" id="en-NIV-29541" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"></span><span class="text Col-3-24" id="en-NIV-29542" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span>since you know that you will receive an inheritance<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29542A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29542A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> from the Lord as a reward.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29542B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29542B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Col-3-24" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">It is the Lord Christ you are serving.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Col-3-24" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;"><i>Colossians 3: 23-24</i></span></span></div>
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My attitude changed. I stopped tidying. I tearfully went to her & hugged her & held her. Tightly. </div>
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"I love you, Emerson."</div>
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"I love you more, Mommy."</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Not possible, Little One.... Not possible."</div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-87428843088900031702015-04-20T20:23:00.000-05:002015-04-20T20:23:18.207-05:00All In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">There are days when stay-at-home-motherhood just 'clicks'; I'm engaged in our activities and have the energy and enthusiasm to make it fun. I'm "all in". Last Thursday was one of those days.</span></div>
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>(It is worth noting that these days are often directly-related to my having had a solid night of sleep...or close enough to one...and there being a decent amount of sunshine. Go figure!)</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">On Thursday, the girls and I went to the zoo, and it was so wonderful to get out of the house just for fun. Not running errands with any sense of purpose, not even meeting friends for a play date. Those are good things; outings that I crave and so enjoy. But, the times that the girls and I go out "just for fun", just for us, are rare. Although they will, no doubt, increase as the days become warmer and it gets increasingly easier to be out and about with Brennan. I hope that's the case!</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">But, on that day, I got to just <i>be</i> with my daughters.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>Really be</i> with them.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>Focusing</i> on them.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>Enjoying</i> them.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2qxVdlfTP-1MBLvIRi3opc5Bp8TA54-HATSPspBDuhqJynDVoEig0_iTGRITkjL-jpknpwnsr9F512DRHf71Su9dVozO_4RLEOZY_vH45p2O8NnHN8FZ5hIMwOaR8YtuA1c4OQL7L985/s1600/IMG_5551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2qxVdlfTP-1MBLvIRi3opc5Bp8TA54-HATSPspBDuhqJynDVoEig0_iTGRITkjL-jpknpwnsr9F512DRHf71Su9dVozO_4RLEOZY_vH45p2O8NnHN8FZ5hIMwOaR8YtuA1c4OQL7L985/s1600/IMG_5551.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The three of us are together a lot. But, there are distractions at home...things to do, things to think about: <i>the </i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i><strike>load</strike> loads</i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i> of laundry needing to be done, the photos I should be editing, what dinner prep I can do during lunchtime, even wondering where I last placed my coffee cup, because goodness knows I'm going to need to finish that off....</i> There is a monotony to being here daily, and as unbelievably wonderful as it is to stay home with my children day in and day out, there's a danger in taking this privilege for granted. I realized again last week that, for being with the girls </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">so much, I'm not always intentional about being fully-present with them and focused on my time with Emerson and Brennan.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I want to be.</span><br />
<br style="color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">And, they deserve for me to be. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Motherhood is a calling. It certainly is mine, and I've never questioned if I'm making the right choice to stay home with my girls. But, some days are long & hard and feel every bit like the very real work that it is. But, then there are days like Thursday, that remind me just how much I can <i>delight</i> in this job of mine...just how much I should...and just how precious it is when I truly do.</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-83784298487655354992015-03-31T21:15:00.000-05:002015-03-31T21:15:16.374-05:00Brennan: Five Months<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>March 2, 2015</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span><br />
<ul><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFBjMHy5GFCNieqf2PnH6AhUzKMpUeyCh7VIBiA6OxZ0ZpO92xAu3-gCYiC6dbvn1jZO8GoSWAcUs1gH9THOGUc6odfLYsC9hEgoMQzuekizon7s5M28T6uSu7L-ZoqmzaqKyusJ6Ru97/s1600/IMG_1651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFBjMHy5GFCNieqf2PnH6AhUzKMpUeyCh7VIBiA6OxZ0ZpO92xAu3-gCYiC6dbvn1jZO8GoSWAcUs1gH9THOGUc6odfLYsC9hEgoMQzuekizon7s5M28T6uSu7L-ZoqmzaqKyusJ6Ru97/s1600/IMG_1651.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo8KA17hM343cxRz4177t6aebSWhCN16ApabphGKdULI0nIxVugZACSvyM1JiGdq4wkfTYwO-PteluJZYe7wEUSb87-PwYAnsqViQgQjXUM2eIj7EWflNL-NWFSe2XIdM4MMM5wAFWBti/s1600/IMG_1647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo8KA17hM343cxRz4177t6aebSWhCN16ApabphGKdULI0nIxVugZACSvyM1JiGdq4wkfTYwO-PteluJZYe7wEUSb87-PwYAnsqViQgQjXUM2eIj7EWflNL-NWFSe2XIdM4MMM5wAFWBti/s1600/IMG_1647.jpg" height="400" width="287" /></a>
<li style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are wearing 6 month clothes...though these days are numbered. You're a growing girl!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are rolling over </span>quite<span style="font-family: inherit;"> easily these days, though never front to back. From your back, you can roll over to your tummy with no trouble, but then you decide that you're "stuck" and get frustrated quickly by your inability to turn over again.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The frequency of your eating has definitely declined. You nurse a few times each day, but you're usually able to stretch to a few hours at a time between feedings, and you're </span>definitely<span style="font-family: inherit;"> not spitting-up as much as you were.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You seem to need a late-afternoon snooze to get you through the evening. After that 30-45 minute nap around 4:00 p.m., you're usually able to make it through the activity of the evening until bedtime prep begins around 7:30 p.m.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You've begun noticing </span>toys, really playing with a few favorites these days. Sophie the Giraffe is one of those favorites, and you enjoy the little stuffed tiger, too, and sucking on his nose.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The "Jenny Jump-Up" has been a lot of fun for you! You so enjoy being upright, and really move around quite a bit! We've all noticed that it seems that you get more enjoyment out of it than Emerson did. You </span>really<span style="font-family: inherit;"> get going!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You've started to notice Royal walking around, and have made a few attempts at grabbing his tail. You certainly watch him closely when he's in the vicinity.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You're starting to seem to need Mommy to be close-by. Often, if I walk away, you'll fuss. Interestingly enough, though, if Emerson is close-by, having her around satisfies you, too. She's a comfort for you, that big sister of yours! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your hair is definitely continuing to lighten. It appears you'll be another blonde beauty. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You've begun trying to sit on your own a few times. You enjoy the effort, and only need </span>minimal<span style="font-family: inherit;"> assistance to keep you from falling backwards.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think you look like Daddy, and see the resemblance multiple times a day. I'm </span>curious<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to see how that resemblance changes (grows? weakens?) over time.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are babbling nonstop, enjoying the new sounds of your own voice. You want to talk just like the rest of us do! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chewing on Mommy's chin and nose is a precious habit of yours that I just love. It's as though you're giving kisses, showing affection as you are able. Other times it seems that you're </span>trying<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to tell me that you're hungry...either way, it's cute.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Your eyes seem so bright these days...lit with such happiness and joy at the world and the people around you!</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are definitely watching us eat our food lately, showing interest in this "food" we all enjoy so much. You are getting so close to eating it yourself! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emerson can make you belly laugh like no one else can. It's the most precious sound, and truly, no one else makes you </span>laugh<span style="font-family: inherit;"> so hard. You both get such pleasure out of playing together. She loves to make you laugh, and is so anxious to play with you in other ways. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">You're looking longer lately...probably a growth spurt!</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3jKBhq3OGdVk1vRtV4TU15QH2CeDkFkW6g2ZcZ8mbxGAcPYR9pmSJUNvwTgNVM9EikXSfFiF_fLYp6rtGvh-jp3L4s_tYlMkg3wx-oRJENvxz88y_5A6zj-CM5Xt3Gk_h9o3gbEFGcGf/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3jKBhq3OGdVk1vRtV4TU15QH2CeDkFkW6g2ZcZ8mbxGAcPYR9pmSJUNvwTgNVM9EikXSfFiF_fLYp6rtGvh-jp3L4s_tYlMkg3wx-oRJENvxz88y_5A6zj-CM5Xt3Gk_h9o3gbEFGcGf/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>Brennan, you are the perfect fit for our family...</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>and we love that you are a part of it.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>It brings me such joy to be your mommy. And, I just love watching you grow. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>What will you do next?!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>I love you, precious.</i></span></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287560871327880593.post-6637830349694626802015-02-25T09:16:00.000-06:002015-02-25T09:16:12.347-06:00Brennan: Four Months<i>February 2, 2015</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoUqQBpwvygcnJufJxnNJapOwJoXRrPUx7uCaaJzvxZ1gDcVAV7mLY36EJOr3fNKa5BXYlbNvZp3Ph5-mL0T3bsyGZhjF-H3W3kRKLoxMSusWg5BRESIBe9y8vcqRJfD_sPQ_NY9MbQlF/s1600/IMG_1436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoUqQBpwvygcnJufJxnNJapOwJoXRrPUx7uCaaJzvxZ1gDcVAV7mLY36EJOr3fNKa5BXYlbNvZp3Ph5-mL0T3bsyGZhjF-H3W3kRKLoxMSusWg5BRESIBe9y8vcqRJfD_sPQ_NY9MbQlF/s1600/IMG_1436.jpg" height="400" width="293" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-jKCxqOUiYvqDowBOO-87i3PO2hQEn77ZWk6mwrLgM4zX0HYXMih0kHLzEWEa1tCy2fhYScehHUERQ64BNtUrcuc-R1I-Ou_k2RWtmr1-xyBG8Z85Mxra5qMDFj5Cu9-ZOg_FbR6jtl4/s1600/IMG_1438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-jKCxqOUiYvqDowBOO-87i3PO2hQEn77ZWk6mwrLgM4zX0HYXMih0kHLzEWEa1tCy2fhYScehHUERQ64BNtUrcuc-R1I-Ou_k2RWtmr1-xyBG8Z85Mxra5qMDFj5Cu9-ZOg_FbR6jtl4/s1600/IMG_1438.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8i8iD2reziajTb_pk0fuR4xYXuqJ1-igrjYBpY8-AkASMEmpYj6e-zngQR-LhmnqFxe2113Ym4UGj5PP5KwJdX4EHT83OezRWnmhXHCKH0_8NsG1-7ItDGOH1rt0wU24kLexjnZMAeCh/s1600/IMG_1450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8i8iD2reziajTb_pk0fuR4xYXuqJ1-igrjYBpY8-AkASMEmpYj6e-zngQR-LhmnqFxe2113Ym4UGj5PP5KwJdX4EHT83OezRWnmhXHCKH0_8NsG1-7ItDGOH1rt0wU24kLexjnZMAeCh/s1600/IMG_1450.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You are wearing 6-9 month clothes. I remember Emerson being in so many of these outfits, which is such fun! </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Disposable diapers at nighttime continues to work well for you, with cloth diapers during the day. Unless I'm running behind on laundry, and then it's disposables during the day, too. These things happen.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">At your four month (+ 2 days) doctor's appointment, you weighed 15 lbs, 9 oz. and were 2' 2" long. You are a healthy baby, </span><span style="color: #222222;">growing right</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> on track. When Dr. J </span>walked into the room, he said "well, I've seen that face before!" </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">Clearly, there is a fair amount of resemblance between you and your big sister! You got four shots again this time, but calmed remarkably quickly as soon as I picked you up afterwards. I love being able to comfort you. No fussiness or fever post-vaccines, either!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">You continue to sleep through the night well, though you've woken up early a couple of times lately, at 5:00 a.m. or 6:00 a.m. You are usually able to nurse and go back to sleep on those occasions, but it's enough to throw us off. I still nurse you to sleep on the couch at bedtime, though have learned the hard way that, no matter deeply asleep you may appear, you wake up almost immediately when placed in your crib...if done so before 10:00 p.m. For whatever reason, you're not ready to be in your crib until 10:00 p.m. or later, so we stay up until (at least) then.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">You</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> love being with and around Emerson. </span>You<span style="font-family: inherit;"> so obviously look for her in the room, and regularly perk up with a smile when she comes close. She makes you giggle more than anything else. I love watching your relationship develop, and I love that you're already friends. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You are recognizing people these days. Daddy usually gets a big smile when you see him in the </span><span style="color: #222222;">morning</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> or after work, and you know Grandma and Grandpa, too. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">When I look over your crib in the morning, you are so happy to see me. </span><span style="color: #222222;">You</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> have fresh eyes and a wide smile that makes my heart burst. You are ready to enjoy the day, and I get to help you experience it. What a gift.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You have </span><span style="color: #222222;">begun</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to find toys next to you on the mat, or reach over to grab one on the changing pad. It </span>takes such<span style="font-family: inherit;"> effort to close your fist around one, and slowly bring it to your mouth. But, you're doing it!</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Your favorite "toy" at this point, though, is our fingers. You love to gnaw on our knuckles, and will "chew" for as long as we'll allow it. It must provide some relief on potentially tender gums. Emerson got her first tooth just before turning five months, so we're on the lookout for teething symptoms from you, too. Other than the gnawing and slobbering, nothing yet. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Laying down to nap in your crib is </span><span style="color: #222222;">becoming a more regular thing. You still nurse to sleep, but are more willing to be placed in your crib afterward, where you'll sleep for anywhere from five minutes to thirty or so...usually dependent on the amount of noise and activity going on in the rest of the house. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">You</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> so enjoy time on the changing table, and you really move your arms and legs constantly when you're up there. </span>You<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "talk" and squirm and it seems like it's your "happy place".</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You seem to really want to sit up, </span><span style="color: #222222;">straining</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to lean forward when </span>leaning back on a pillow or up against me. You're not quite there yet, but certainly gaining strength and confidence. You know that's the next step!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">There is a definite ease to your time with Daddy. You </span><span style="color: #222222;">enjoy</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> being </span>together<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and you are </span>comfortable<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and trusting in his arms. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">There is a lot of "cooing" and blowing bubbles going on! You want to communicate and are certainly exploring ways to do that. I love hearing you!</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">You</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> have the cutest bashful smile, especially for Daddy. You see him, smile, and then shyly turn away and nuzzle back toward Mommy. It's precious.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You seem quite easygoing, and relatively low-key. You want to </span><span style="color: #222222;">be a</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> part of things, and you let us know when you're discontent...usually when you aren't as much a part of things as you'd like to be. But, otherwise, you're happy to watch the action and just be around it all.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You giggle when Mommy </span><span style="color: #222222;">nibbles and kisses on your neck. It's become "our thing" and your smiles and happy laugh make me feel so loved right back.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">You</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> have a somewhat high-shrieked voice when you're trying to get our attention...lots of cute little squeals!</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You're really enjoying </span><span style="color: #222222;">bath time</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> lately, turning towards the mirror and smiling at yourself. I'd say being able to sit up a bit better in the tub has impacted that. You are patient as you're washed, quite tolerant of water dribbling in your face, and happy for the change of activity. But, when you're done...you're done. All of a sudden, for whatever reason, you </span>begin<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to fuss, and the fun is over. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finding your toes has been a fun source of entertainment recently, and you seem so proud of yourself. You quickly lift them to your mouth on the changing pad when your diaper is removed, and we have lots of "diaper-free" time on the floor so you can continue to explore. </span></span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxavKi-Z6J1Apa_Nl62WKja_6Y7EZf8ODuYZqctoHqZ0JHYTHzfz68M8OqeGwx8d2AYGUUhIvSKKufacSisvsZ6vrdGQVmr_f8_dUbetpVlcrOU7Ey_8HiSMcP4Nsuo75PDR77qJt39-ka/s1600/IMG_1445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxavKi-Z6J1Apa_Nl62WKja_6Y7EZf8ODuYZqctoHqZ0JHYTHzfz68M8OqeGwx8d2AYGUUhIvSKKufacSisvsZ6vrdGQVmr_f8_dUbetpVlcrOU7Ey_8HiSMcP4Nsuo75PDR77qJt39-ka/s1600/IMG_1445.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><i>Brennan, you make all of us smile...and smile...and smile. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><i>Watching you grow is nothing short of incredible.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><i>I'm grateful for the gift of you, precious. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><i>I love you with all of my ever-growing heart.</i></span></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03951123164130773793noreply@blogger.com0