Mini take of Brooks having conversations

This side of heaven

Don't you just love and hate these days? The kind that are so good, so perfect, so enjoyable, so full of everything splendid - family, breathtaking blue skies and 70 degree weather, giggly-chubby babies, food you've thought about and drooled over for months, and no agenda! I am writing this now so I can fully embrace and savor this wonderful Saturday before I put myself to bed. I never knew the weekends could be so fun once offspring enter the family makeup but they are just so entertaining! As Brad and I drove home from a long day in Athens for the G-day game tonight the little bulldawg was just talking and singing in the back of the car - as if to agree with our happy sentiments about our splendid Saturday in our favorite place. I'll post this video tomorrow when I can but it was just so classic - Brooks babbling away in pure contentment!

Anyway, I hate these days because I know they must end and I know I can't stay right in that moment - with Brad, my favorite friend, and Brooks, my favorite little friend - just as happy as 3 larks. These days make me long for heaven and they assure me that I was made for another world where giggles last a lifetime and I can eat all the creamy-grits I want....for every meal! Where family's enjoy endless conversation and time together because there is nowhere better to be. I long for these perfect days but for many of them in a row. My heart and tummy are so full right now of all the good feelings so thank you for letting me share them. I just felt too selfish to go to bed and not share some of my euphoria.

Thank you, God, for this day together with my family of 3.5 and my bigger family. Thank you for a slow pace as we strolled around campus enjoying the colors and the landscape - your perfect creation! Thank you for being so real to us today in the form of a smiling 10.5 month old boy. We are grateful and humbled by the way we felt Your infinite love today.

Brooks hot "wheels" around campus.
Gooooo Dawgs! Or gooooo band! I love dancing to the band.
My mommy's silly.

Weekend in photos

Per the post below, Easter weekend was a 10. It was an 11, really. It was so perfect and I am still full of mac and cheese and lovely memories. Here are some pictures from our pic-nic at the park Saturday night along with a few shots from Easter Sunday. Can you believe (I'm sure you can) that the same mom that forgets shoes on their baby also forgot to get an actual picture with her whole family all dressed up on our first Easter? She did. She forgot. We may dress up this week in our seer sucker and pink just for the photo. We just may......
Brooks and his double dates on the pic-nic blanket.


College buddies and their babies. Things have changed slightly I'd say....
Brooks checking out his chick and measuring cups the Easter bunny brought him. Yes, he is in his Christmas pajama bottoms. That's how we do things around here. And didn't you always get measuring cups from the Easter bunny?

Isn't my great-Nana beautiful? I am so lucky!
Brooks being Brooks.

And, just in case you need a funny friend in your life....This is my funny friend and her AMAZING April Fool's Day joke that I so happily got to partake in - all because of my urine! I love my friends!

The shopping monster

We had such a wonderful Easter weekend. It truly was so perfect in so many ways. The weather was exquisite. We were able to spend time with my entire family. We ate amazingly yummy food. The Easter celebration that has spanned the last few weeks at church was just so filling and rejuvenating. I can tell even in the last few days that both Brad and I actually have taken to heart the messages of Easter this year. Don't you love that! When you can tangibly see and feel the grace and joy abounding in a home that might have once harbored even the slightest bit of sarcasm or hostility. Brooks loves Easter eggs and he has enjoyed hiding them from himself and then bursting into laughter when he finds them for the last few weeks now. His down south grand-bunny sent him the cutest Easter/Spring outfits and he just had to wear all of them so he insisted on changing his clothes 3 times each day this weekend. His grand-bunny here gave him a shopping cart.

The men of the family were a little concerned about gender identification when he opened his new shopping cart but I assured them that he would learn to shop at Home Depot and not the grocery store. At first I wasn't sure if Brooks was really ready to really move the way this shopping cart makes him move but after -oh, an hour - Brooks is addicted! And we have created a monster. All day long I follow a step behind him as he pushes his man cart around our little house. He runs into the couch and the dining room table and he gets really mad that they won't move out of his way. I turn him to then stroll into the other room - he bumps into the fridge and stomps his foot. Dang fridge....it'll get you every time! Today when Brooks and I were for real shopping for a birthday present for one of his friends the store had a mini shopping cart too. Well, my half dressed, dirty knee'd baby pushed his man cart all over the store. He left in a raging fit that the fun was over and with genuine grocery store feet since his mother didn't care to put shoes on him this morning. This afternoon I had to hide the cart because I was just too exhausted to follow behind him for the remainder of the afternoon.

I hate to tell you all of this and then not show you the proof in video of our baby's shopping abilities but for some reason I can't upload right now. I leave you with visions of his two front/bottom teeth. I knew they were there and would make their debut soon enough. I don't want him to get anymore teeth or start to pull away from his shopping cart to actually walk on his own! Where is the time going???? I am just so grateful to be home with this little monkey everyday to see his every little move. As tiring and monotonous as I may at times relay our days - this truly is the greatest blessing I've known. Thank you, Mr. Brad, for working so hard (and getting up extra early to try to have any "free" time outside of work) so that we can spend our days together! I promise we'll make you happy for the rest of your life! And - we'll be the fastest grocery shoppers you've ever known!
Me and my man cart.
Teeth! Look closely, there are two chompers peeking through! Look harder - they're there!
Cheese!

The greatest Good Friday pictures

We enjoyed our first Easter egg hunt today and a fun play group. And, yes, Brooks is happily sleeping now and mama is worn out! His dad has some shoes just like Brooks that he'll wear to church tonight. How cute!

He died so that we might live....

And on days like today we are living to the fullest! [Now if only I could do that every day despite the weather or circumstances!} I hope you have enjoyed a meaningful and reflective Holy Week. We certainly have and we are so anxious about Brooks' first Easter and this opportunity to tell him about His Savior that died for even his little sins. Brad and I have a date to Good Friday service tonight at our church. I have to be honest, I know what happened on this day but I've always found it a little odd that is called "Good Friday" when it represents such brutality and the death of someone so innocent. I am no biblical scholar so if you have any background please weigh in (husband, please??? I know you have some answers for me). Needless to say, my heart is so anxious for some reason - I think it is the weather and the flowers budding and the anticipation of a Risen Savior on Sunday and time with ALL of my family! (Even the busy doctor will be in town!) I almost feel hypocritical saying that Jesus' death and resurrection mean more to me this year - that sounds kind of childish but it's real. The world has thrown alot at us this year including the birth of a new life in our family and another one on the way but through it all I am assured, especially this Holiday season, that our God reigns. There is hope in a broken world because of Christ's death and resurrection and I am thankful that this time of year that message seems to be all around us. Happy Easter weekend! Enjoy the sunshine, the died eggs, the conversation with family and friends, the once yearly Easter candy and the hope that is offered to us all!