Pray not to miss THIS!

Last year I told you about one of my favorite friends and moms who gave me some of the best advise regarding motherhood that I have heard. She told me what an experienced mom and friend had told her. Pray not to miss it, she told me. Pray at night when I was up feeding all alone in the early days to not miss the sweetness of a hungry newborn that can only be nurtured by his mother. Pray, in the wee hours of the morning when the little one decides to start the day early, not to miss the play time in our pajamas as the sun come up. And, yesterday I found myself praying not to miss this sweet and fading time with just Brooks. Trust me, there are many times throughout the day that I dream about the free time I used to have to do exactly as I pleased. Goodness, what in the world did I do with my time? What did I think about in the car when I wasn't singing songs about frogs and farm animals to a one year old? But yesterday was one of those perfect mommy-baby days where somehow I was truly able to be in the moment and soak in our precious time together...just the two of us.
Brooks and I ventured to the duck pond behind Christ the King Cathedral on Peachtree. We chased the ducks. I chased Brooks who just wanted to swim with the ducks and then we waved goodbye for about 12 minutes since this is the little man's latest trick. Dear God, help me not to miss this moment as Brooks reaches up for my hand without looking...knowing that my hand is there when he needs it to get through his wobbly steps. Allow me to be fully present right here in the 96 degree weather with a stomach that I can't see over. Seriously, God, help me to capture this moment and stow it away.





After a short nap Brooks took me on a date to Chastain Park for the Chastain Chill. Every Tuesday afternoon in the summer a one man band plays great tunes and we were one of several mommy-kiddo pairs that packed our pic-nic yesterday and enjoyed the park, a lurking thunder shower, and some easy summer tunes. At one point (after stealing another 14 month olds goldfish and sippy cup) Brooks climbed into my lap and grabbed my hand and started playing with my fingers unknowingly as we listened to a little Eagles tune on the guitar. Oh God, please allow me to be fully present in this exact moment. Block my mind from going anywhere else but right here, with Brooks, and no phone, and nobody else.

(I'll never get tired of these hints of curls in the back of Brooks' hair. The poor boy can't walk from the house to the car without turning red from the heat and losing any sort of structure to his hair. I love a hot and happy little boy!)


(The best photo you can get when you are on a date with a one year old)

God who loves me so much more than I can begin to comprehend (and this is so evidenced by this sweet time with Brooks and this disguised gift of a new baby on the way) please help me to remember exactly what Brooks sounded like the 20 minutes or so before his afternoon nap. He has been babbling to himself now for nearly 30 minutes but I know that is his way of easing into sleep. Oh gosh, how I adore those little boy sounds all in a row. People have said that Brooks is reserved and cautious. I can see that but he certainly has his moments and I love that they are when he is all alone, happy from the day, and ready for a little relaxation. I really don't care if he never falls asleep when I get to sit downstairs and hear the little man talk through his thoughts from the day.

Lastly, how I pray that I won't ever miss the perfect taste of my daily half sweet-half unsweet, $1.08 iced tea with lemon from Micky D's. Husband, it isn't my ebay habits you need to fret over. It is my daily indulgence. And I wonder why this baby moves all night long???? It's called LARGE TEA, mama! Oh yes, back to the blog at hand....God, I pray that I don't miss even those somersaults that Brooks' brother does all night long. Literally....all night long. (Oh don't worry little baby.....I won't ever forget this behavior and you certainly do not give me time to miss these movements. Thank you.)

Uh oh, baby, we won!

I have a weird addiction to contests. I discovered ebay this past Spring as I was stroller hunting for a stroller to handle the two kiddos. I also don't read directions or follow rules necessarily. So I started bidding on items that I wanted. Whether I really wanted them or just sort of thought it'd be cool to have a new Tory Burch tote or unique pair of Nike 360's - I bid on things. After all, all you are doing is hitting SUBMIT and who knows what that means or if these items really exist. Don't hate me. I am sure if you are an ebayer for life and you have actually found a way to profit from this huge mecca of crazy people who sell and buy anything......I'm talking anything.....porcelain figurines to bolts for a door to designer handbags to husbands (yes, I've seen this) then you hate that I would take this platform so lightly.

Well, as it goes, i have never won a thing. And though I never really really wanted to win meaning I had to pay for the fleeting object of my affection - I came home one day in a hissy over my losing streak. I turned to the all-wise-one, the one who is calm and steady and would never submit a bid on a whim to anything, the one who often thinks my stunts are crazy and a little too dramatic.....and I asked him for answers. He tells me that I will never win unless I am the last bidder. You see, I was bidding and then 5 minutes later losing so going back to bid again - 6 times in a row only to end up frustrated all the while the price of any said object had now tripled. Well, husbands news was actually fuel for me. If I'll never win then I'll just keep bidding on things because it makes me feel something that I crave feeling. I can't tell you what it is exactly because it may be a little petrifying to you and to me......I think I just like the control of being able to pick and choose items that I want/need and then forgetting about them. I don't know. It's weird. Anyway, I've now probably bid on a 100 items that I never thought twice about after my initial bid.

Until Monday night.

We are watching the bachelorette as every married couple should do because it will make you really grateful for your normal, non song writing on the whim, non tatooing his arm out of love husband. 7 minutes til 10pm and I have a little freak out. I sort of recall hitting SUMBIT on a new double jogging stroller that you know I have been eyeing for months now and begging anyone who wants to be generous for no reason to purchase on our behalf. No such luck there but it doesn't matter because in ebay world - I own about 11 of these strollers.....I just never actually see them or pay for them. Until Monday. I quickly logged on to ebay and saw the most thrilling and terrifying thing I may have ever seen. YOU ARE CURRENTLY THE HIGH BIDDER. Yes, and a clock with red flashing numbers slowly ticking it's way to "0". Oh &^*%, oh &#&^@&^%, oh no, I exclaimed! "Honey, sugar, sweetheart.....I think we are about to be the owners of a new double stroller." Sweet, how much is it, darling wife?

Uh oh, baby inside of me, we just won you a stroller! The clock hit 0 and instantly I got a pretty cool email telling me I had won. I shrieked and jumped up and down. I NEVER win. What a good feeling! Then, following the first joy-giving email i get one right away asking for payment for my winnings. What? How do you win and have to pay? Of course I turned to the same constant, wise, steady husband and asked him how I won when he said that I would never win. I trusted him. Once again - he lead me down a dangerous path and I trusted him. (Of course this is all his fault, right?)

Anyway, I am still the winner and I have still yet to pay. I will today but in the mean time I literally am finding things to cash in to pay for my premature purchase of a double stroller, really several months before we will need one. I know we will get great use out of the double stroller as we use our single stroller almost every single day for a walk around the neighborhood and though I think the thought of pushing 100 lbs around the hills of our neighborhood sounds less than appetizing - the thought of the cellulite on the back of my legs is more un-appetizing and therefore I will stare at our new "win" every day until I can get out and start melting away these extra pounds of yogurt, mochi, and late night "2nd dinners."

And until I actually submit the payment for the overpriced stroller - I do feel like quite a winner! I don't feel as good as bringing home the cheese on wheels from the garage sale last week because that was actually a steal but I do feel good. I mean, honey, husband, handsome stud - I did save us money by spending it because it wasn't full price as you may have expected I would pay for a shiny, new stroller. You can thank me later. I know you will thank me come the fall when my daily walks with two little ones and a tractor for a stroller begins to melt away my yummy baby weight and any baby blues that might have resulted from sitting in a house all day without a cool double stroller.

You're welcome, husband.

I'll take a cup of those, please

If you've journeyed along side of us for even a short amount of time you will know my obsession, no infatuation, no.....about my "disease" called Mochi-itis. It began last year on one of our many walks from the condo down Peachtree to wherever our hearts would lead. 9 times out of 10 it lead us to the hip fro-yo shop at the Terminus building. Who doesn't love to exercise their way to the ice-cream store? This fascination grew for the little heavenly mochi pieces that typically adorn a heaping bowl of yogurt but unfortunately our 6 month stint in Savannah left us craving our favorite little snack nightly. For such a touristy town, you would expect fro-you shops on every corner but we weren't able to find one that carried our beloved topping. Alas, we move back to our home sweet home and we have waited for nearly 4 months now for Yoforia to open around the corner. I have driven by everyday noting the progress of the build and for the longest while there was little to no activity. All of a sudden on my daily drive by Friday I notice several cute little girls in bright green shirts waving passer-bys and stalkers like myself into the newly-wide-open doors! Hooooooraaaaay! I partly wanted to boycott the local establishment because they had kept me in such agony for so long....taunting me with news of their opening and then worse, hanging a gleaming sign with no indication of an opening day. But I am not that stubborn. At the end of the day - mochi always wins.

So the good and bad news is that this little gem of a store on Dresden Road is S-E-L-F-S-E-R-V-I-C-E. Say it out loud, people.....SELF SERVICE! Oh goodness, I LOVE the control this puts in my little yogurt craving hands. I love to spoon my own toppings and if I want I love to add just 2 M$M's.....just because I can! So my new haven opened Friday and, yes, we have been thrice. One of my trips I did the unthinkable. I pretty much got a cup of mochi with a topping of yogurt. I hope the bright green colored workers notice my beach ball of a belly when ringing up my crazy concoction. I am sure, were I not 33 weeks pregnant that I wouldn't so boldly steal half of the mochi from the topping bar but you just don't mess with a waddling lady and her attached-to-her-leg-one-year-old.

I would love to tell you about the rest of the weekend because as it is one of our last few unbooked weekends as a family of 3 - it really was quite splendid. But as I said earlier, the mochi has taken over and that is the only memory that prevails from the weekend. Now I am sitting here trying to plot my next journey. Maybe I should walk the mile this time and partake in my little indulgence. Then it's a wash, right? Or maybe we could have a yogurt lunch today? I'll add some strawberries and mango for a little nutrients for the little growing one inside. Perfect. Done.

A few other things we have been up to this past week aside from turning into a big, plump mochi ball......
1) Brooks visited with his first love, Ella. She was wooed by Brooks' wheels and not by his moves. If we could have sent the Crazy Coupe back to Nantucket with her - we would have......she loved it much more than seeing her (much shorter)predestined boyfriend.

2) We also had a fun time playing with our buddy, Caleb, twice this past week! Caleb is three weeks older but he reminds me of Brooks' older mentor.....always learning, always on the go, always exploring. I love seeing these two together because their personalities are so different but they love to play and swim together! (P.S. - grandmas.....Brooks has asked for a Radio Flyer wagon with a canopy ever since this inaugural ride in Caleb's-caddy)

3) Friday night we went to a neighborhood pool with our precious neighbors and their THREE girls! I feel a little dorky telling you it was the most fun I have had in a long time. It was everything a Friday night should be....laid back, full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cold adult drinks for those not a big as a house (which was only me), and fun conversation with an adorable family! I'd never thought about how fun it would be to have neighbors that you love and that are in the same stage of life as you. Every night when their three girls are down and Brooks is finally quiet we seem to meet in the street to throw the ball to our first children, the dogs. I hope they don't think I am stalking them but I really look forward to this adult time every night!

4)We had dinner with many of our favorite friends this last weekend....and of course we went to get yogurt afterwards.....duh!

5)Oh, and how could I forget - I bought a 3 X 3 foot piece of cheese on wheels.

The end.

Yes, the above picture was my find at a local garage sale and i can't tell you the pride I feel even today over my not-so-little "find." Yes, we are supposed to be cleaning out and making room for a baby but how could I not bring this thing home? There were 8 people waiting in a line to see if I would actually pick up my purchase, just hoping they may be able to get their hands on it for their little ones at home. Nope. I don't care if I ever go to a garage sale again.....this was the coolest (atleast in this moment) garage sale item that has ever graced a garage sale and I feel like the winner that I am for finding this one of a kind school bus. Amos is scared of it, Brad thinks I am nuts, and Brooks likes to climb on it like a chair but I KNOW there will come a day when my whole family will thank me for being so frugal and so thoughtful as I roam the streets of Buckhead on my Saturday mornings just looking for things to clutter our house. Your welcome, family.

We need a little more excitement than this

Thank you to my 4 faithful readers for casting your opinion on our 2nd child. Seriously, we appreciate your apparent interest as this little gymnast in my belly has certainly already been afflicted with the 2nd child syndrome and there is nothing I can do to keep if from happening

Dear little one,
You are set to rock our world in less than two months. I can tell that you know the time is drawing near as you turn once every time we mention you (properly calling you Baby #2 still) and you turn twice every time I mention your brother or say his name. I say his name quite often throughout the day as that is just the stage we are in so I know you are developing some strong quadriceps and calf muscles. I hope you give me such movement at the mention of your big brothers name because you can't wait to get out and learn from him and entertain him here in about 8 months ( I am really hoping for this as I am about done entertaining these days.....I'll get a second wind, don't worry!) I do hope that is the reason for all the fuss rather than any jealous feelings that may have already developed.

Yes, you are the 2nd child and yes, we just did this whole she-bang a year ago but I promise you this - I don't remember anything! Therefore, every whimper and funny noise will be new again. The shock of a newborn diaper (yucko) and the smell of spit up don't even come to mind when I mention them. Once again, every single thing will be new to us again! I honestly couldn't begin to recall what we do with a newborn in the first 8 weeks. How much fun are we going to have relearning with you? We'll even have your 14 month old brother to help out by bringing you shoes I am sure because he likes everyone's shoes. He will also throw your 12-14 dirty diapers a day (I do remember that fact) in the diaper genie and anything else that he deems as dirty. He has gotten amazingly good at this lately. Oh, and he loves to find the hidden bottles that I rehide every evening.....he is an expert at locating bottles so you will never go hungry, little one.

On a more serious note, I know we don't seem to dote over you just yet but I promise it doesn't mean that there will be any lack of love once you make your appearance. You probably don't even know the difference but I go to bed guilty almost every night because of the lack of "hooplah" that has come your way. It's not just your dad and I but really, everyone else that knows you are coming. I can see how 2nd children have a hard task from day one - to pave their own way. Your brother steals so much of the show these days as he is into everything and learns a new trick everyday. People in the mall or the grocery usually make no comment about your home - my growing belly - but rather, take to playing with the curious one year old that will always be your big brother and best friend. I promise you, booger, when you are here - our hearts will melt for you in the very same way but in a very different way as well. Other mama's of more than one kid tell me that my heart will expand and I will love you like I have never loved anyone before because it will be a different kind of love - but the same in a sense. Did I just confuse you?

Anyway, yes, we have yet to decide on the perfect name and no, we have not washed any newborn clothes or even put together a crib but that has no bearing on the fact that we know you are perfect for our family. Your dad and I believe that everything in life happens for a reason, and, sweet boy, though right now I feel like an emotional, exhausted, confused mama of two-to-be, I know that my heart is just getting ready to expand to allow plenty of room for you. I promise (and now I am in tears again)! Your birth will truly be one of the biggest tests of my faith that I have ever experienced as I do not feel adequate to be a mother again right now. I feel out of control and I lack confidence in my ability to handle what is about to happen. Fortunately, for you, I knew several years ago that the same God who thought of you, and is growing you now, and has a plan for you - even as you grow - stole my heart when He asked me to follow Him. As you'll learn so quickly, it is often not the easiest to follow Him, especially when nothing in your life seems to be as you thought it might be but I have learned that those are the times when He is doing something so big and beautiful. Your brother was just as much a surprise to us (like I said, you'll learn - we are a little unplanned around here) and ever since the moment he joined our family of two and a dog I couldn't imagine life without him. I trust in God's crazy plan for me and though I may seem unshaky in there - as I know you hear the tears and the yawns - I am certain that God knew what He was doing when he formed you. He knew your life - all 3.5 lbs of it so far - would effect me even from the moment you were made. You haven't even shown us your hair color yet but you have already caused me to seek comfort in our God like I never have before. Thank you, sweet boy.

I'm reading these words out loud to you now so you can hear them and keep them close to your forming heart. These next several weeks are so pivotal for us all. You are fattening up so you can be happy and warm when you get out of there. Dad is getting his look-good-naked workouts in as he says he'll probably not get to go to the gym for 8 months once you come. He is so crazy! Brooks and I are enjoying our seemingly easy days right now and trying to get a little bit of color on our cheeks because tan and fat is always cuter than super-white and fat and yes, baby, you have made me large in places that have never been large! Amos is going through a little withdrawal but he'll be fine once he sees how much fun it is to chase two boys around!

Enjoy your last 7 weeks! Mom's little home for you is not going to be occupied for a very very long time so make sure you soak it all up! These may be your first and last McDonald's snack sized McFlurry's because once you come we are all on the look-good-naked diet!

Truly,
Mom

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Convicting

Ironically, I read this quote on a distant friend's facebook status update. Needless to say, I couldn't turn the computer on the rest of the day. The baby is asleep early today so I am off to enjoy the back deck and some much anticipated quiet time to myself. Thank you, friend, for the perfect little nudge yesterday.

One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time
John Piper

Happy 29th and 2nd Fathers Day to the dad's in our lives!

It's only 11am and we have already celebrated my dad with a low country boil with the WHOLE family (big deal around here) and some family game time (which is always entertaining). More so, we have enjoyed a morning of quiet as Mr. Brooks stayed quietly in his bed until nearly 8:30 - Brad says this was the best Father's Day gift he could imagine and we have had an inaugural-Dad's day walk around the neighborhood...this was Brad's idea - not mine! At this rate, we will all be in bed by 7:30 tonight but it is all worth it....to have two men in my life who are wonderful examples of daddy's to me and Brooks!

So, no sappy post here but rather, a few of my favorite memories from years past.....

This Father


made me the most happy on my wedding day nearly 3 years ago when he told me how proud he was that I was marrying such an honorable man. I couldn't look at him at all during his toast the night of the rehearsal because I think I knew how he felt and I also knew that if he tried to express it we'd both just end up a teary mess. He held it together more than I but I will never ever forget the way he made me feel on that special day. Maybe he was just happy to finally have me off the payroll but I am pretty sure it was much more than that! What a perfect memory!

This same man also made my childhood sublime. I guess I consider childhood as the years we lived in Tampa, Florida until I was almost 11. Every weekend was spent learning to fish on the boat or enjoying a pic-nic on a secluded island that only boaters could access. On the rare weekend we weren't out fishing on Tampa Bay we were exploring the many theme parks in Orlando. I can't even count the trips to Sea World and Disney World in our 5 years of living in Florida. My dad would get us all in the Spaceship Earth (you know, the Epcot Ball) and he could repeat every word the commentator would say through out the ride. I have yet to go back to Disney and at times I don't think I want to because I have such a magical feeling from our many many trips as a family almost 20 years ago. I'm afraid everything wouldn't be as big or as bright but I do hope to one day give the same experience to our kiddos. Though I just can't comprehend how my dad was able to give us such sweet childhood memories, maintain a more than 35 year marriage and work a very demanding job....and there were 4 of us, not 2! Kudos to you daddy....

And that very same man also is an amazing "Big". That's right, after only a year of filling the role as a grandad he seems to have it down. I can only imagine the fun the boys will have chasing "Big" on the golf course or better yet, trying to run over him in a game of basketball (because in his mid-50's he still plays EVERY Sunday!) I love whenever I am at the house and Big and Brooks sneak away outside for some man time. I am not sure what they talk about but Brooks seems to come back more confident and happy after each trip.

Now on to this dad......



Wow, I really couldn't begin to write a sweet post about how much I have enjoyed watching you become a father. I am so humbled when I think about the example you have set in only a year. This dad is patient, thoughtful, selfless, generous, and never complains about all that is on his plate right now. Most of all, he is easy going and he makes loving him very easy. I never knew I could feel so proud to hear the little man exclaim "da-da-da-da" every afternoon when Brad comes in the door. He claps his hands, opens his arms and gives a little shreak before clumsily running over to Brad's knees. I could replay this scene over and over again all day long and it would never get old and never stop making me smile. I love watching the boys bond in their own-very-non-mommy-bonding way.....they wrestle on the bed before bath time and it is my 2nd favorite time of each day. Then, Brooks gets his daddy's full attention everyinight when he sings him songs on the way up to bed and prays with him. Brad always comes down several minutes later than what I would expect and he is always secretive about the conversations they had before bed. It excites me to get to watch Brad be a dad to two boys this year! If only they can watch him and take note of the way he treats people, stress, difficult situations, and a cold beer or two - and they will truly be what a classic gentleman should be. Brad, these two boys are so lucky to have you to look up to. I know the responsibility seems great at times but I can already see the reward is far greater.

My favorite memories with you include our countless walks around Historic Brookhaven sometimes with tears, sometimes with ice cream, most times with a furry dog, sometimes with a baby and sometimes with a baby and a baby growing. I love this time to get to talk and dream together and I hope no matter how many little people come our way that we always will make the time to dream together and to pursue eachother. I do believe that the best thing you can give your kiddos as a father, is a solid relationship with your wife. It is so rare these days for kids to have a selfless partnership in marriage to look up to.

P.S. - I am happy to say that you are officially my favorite person to walk with! Not many people join these ranks as I have been known to burn some wholes in some shoes on a leisurely walk but you truly are the only man I know that can make power-walking look so dang good!

Happy Father's Day, daddy, and Brad!