Its All White...: mini milestones...

Amazing how 5 weeks have flown by… and amazing how life with two babies (Jayme is still our baby girl) can create such an incredibly different family dynamic! Over the course of sleepless days and nights, I have realized how grown up our baby girl has become, and while it is bitter-sweet, we are cherishing every day with our two precious babies.

On a side note, this morning I found myself watching a live broadcast of a fallen officer’s funeral…I was brought to tears as I watched his grieving widow stand in front of thousands to talk about how she will deeply miss those “ordinary days” and their weekends that were simply family time and Sunday morning breakfast… I know I couldn’t have been the only mother/wife watching her speak with such strength that only God can give a person in such a tragic situation, as I dared to think about how precious it is that I was able to kiss my hubby good-bye before leaving for work, to be woken by hungry babies who don’t need caffeine to be in a good mood or start their day (I need to work on this and become like them!), to just simply go through the motions of an “ordinary day” as my role of a stay at home mommy and to be so grateful that we are all tucked safe and sound in bed each night as a family of four… with no one missing…. I simply cannot imagine or begin to imagine life being any other way. I realized in that tear-filled moment that I was once again given a reminder of how precious each waking moment is, and how days will quickly turn into weeks, then months, then years… and I want to hold on to the sweet ordinary moments that fill up our time… There have been so many little moments that I have wanted to remember or capture, but courtesy of sleepless nights with a newborn, I have let moments turn into days gone by.

A little note (or not so little) about the past few months:

Dear Jayme,

The words that come out of your little mouth (and the complexity of some of your sentences and vocabulary) blow your daddy’s and my mind every single day! It is as if you went to school overnight and woke up a little girl who is trying to outgrow each stage faster and faster. Some of the memorable quotes I can recall most:

“mommy, go bye-bye, close the door please and feed baby maffew” (you are lil miss independent when it comes to going to the bathroom)

“good night baby maffew, sweet dreams. I’ll be back to check on you. God-bess”

“I took a shower with tacey, I all clean now, I go to bed?”

“mommy, call missy, I play with Audrey and Waylon tomorrow?”

“I call Riley now? Happy birthday Riley? I sing, have cake, and presents, and play?”

“I want peanut butter balls and blueberries please”

“I don’t want pirates, I watch Mickey Mouse clubhouse and have hot oatmeal please?”

My love for you has grown in a way I cannot explain, but maybe one day you will understand when you become a mother. From the moment you came in to meet your baby brother with such pride beaming from your little face, to the first time you held him, and every single morning and night when you beg to hold him and smell him, and when you hear him cry off in the distance and instantly become his second mother who needs to comfort him (no matter who is holding him), and your eagerness to help throw away dirty diapers, fetch clean ones, or “help mommy”- you have a sweetness about your role as big sister that melts my mommy heart. Daddy and I have also noticed with being a big sister comes some jealousy… when your baby Matthew cries and the attention immediately turns to him, you pretend cry and insist one of us hold you also. You still love to be rocked before bed, and you insist that we check in on you… you may not realize it now, but not a single night goes by that I don’t check on you and tuck you in with a kiss and a prayer before I go to bed (and sometimes throughout the night when I am up feeding your brother). You love to sing and talk on the phone and take pictures- when the moment strikes you, you will use your imagination and any readily available toy or remote or object as a pretend microphone, telephone, or camera… and you insist daily that I take your picture with you holding your baby Matthew. You love to hum the night-night song to your baby brother when you hold him. You love your big backyard and riding your big girl bike, and on several occasions your daddy and I have found you just sitting in your stroller taking in the quiet of the day by yourself (precious!) You love books and reading, and more recently you love to pretend to read to us (you have “Good Night Moon” memorized”). You love to play blocks with daddy or grampa after dinner. You love to be a pretend mommy with your bitty baby doll, and if I am wearing your brother in the carrier, you drop whatever you are doing to find your “backpack” and carry your baby too. You love to help in the kitchen and I let you break eggs and stir ingredients (a little messy, but sweet memories are worth it). You are your mommy’s (and daddy’s) girl when it comes to chocolate… you love it. You love Chick-fil-a and Toy Story picnic dinners. You love coloring and are learning how to use your scissors. You love other kids and beg to go to school nearly every day (soon enough). You are not a fan of having your tangles brushed, nap time, the word “no”, loud noises outside, the dark (since we moved this is a new fear), or mac n’ cheese. I’m sure I could write a novel about how much you have grown in the course of several months, but these are the major highlights. Each day you never cease to amaze me (and your daddy), and we are thoroughly enjoying watching you blossom into a spirited little girl who has a mind of her own and is desperate to find her way into big girl shoes. I pray you stay “little” just a little while longer, as I know that soon you will be 3, and then 4, and then 16… I love you my sweet girl.

My dear sweet Matthew,

From the moment you were laid on my chest after birth, and every day since then, you have been mama’s boy… It didn’t take long before your daddy and I realized that sometimes your cries had nothing to do with being hungry, cold, wet, or tired… you simply just want your mama’s embrace. I’m not sure which one of us loves to snuggle more, but either way, I am soaking it in because its just a matter of time before it becomes “not cool” for your mama to hold or hug you ;-) You are so mellow and easy going- when your needs are met- but your daddy and I kid that you are our “high maintenance baby”… you love to be held, but sometimes enough is enough and you just want to be left alone to be laid on your side, other times over the shoulder, other times worn in the carrier, and you prefer our bed over any other sleep surface (next to mama’s arms). Turns out you have reflux and after being fed we have to hold you upright for at least 30 minutes or else everything comes right back up (I don’t mind since I love snuggling you anyway ;-) You love to be wrapped up in your soft muslin swaddle blankets as long as hour arms are free (and you love to have your burp cloth or blanket snuggled up to your face). You love your sister and having your feet rubbed (specifically by her or your daddy). You don’t like to be left alone (unless its on your terms), having a wet/soiled diaper, or when I have chocolate (such a bummer when I realized that is likely what makes you throw-up). You have the sweetest little coo’s (I know every baby does it, but something about your constant sounds-like-a-squeaky-door-hinge-coos-when-you-are-sleeping melt my heart). Your little cry is anything but little… for such a sweet quiet boy, you sure let us know when you are anything but happy with this scream-like cry that will get anyone’s attention! I know your little smiles are probably gas related or unintentional at this point, but when you chuckle and smile in your sleep or give us a big grin while awake, I can’t help but think you are the happiest little boy. It’s only been a month since you have been a part of our little world, but we are all excited to watch you and your little personality grow as the days and weeks progress. Your daddy and I are so grateful and blessed to call you our son.

Now for some pictures of our first month as a family of four!