I Can’t Believe She’s Six

September 19, 2010September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett2 Comments

Dear Madelynne,

I really, really can’t believe you’re already six. How can that be? How can you have gone from Amelia’s size to taller than half of me in such short time? And where did all that time go because it seems just yesterday your Mimi was prying you out of my arms when I left you for the first time. Now you’re six and a big kindergarten girl who excels at reading and writing and aggravating Annabelle.

Sometimes I miss those sweetest first days when it was just you and me. When you were all I had ever wanted, every prayer and dream come true. A baby girl with her daddy’s long eyelashes and the sweetest smile. When you were born and the doctor said girl I couldn’t believe it…I didn’t want a boy for my first experience. I only wanted you.

You’ve put up with a lot, big baby girl. It’s tough being the oldest, I know. It’s even tougher to be the oldest of girls vying for attention from an overworked Mommy. I hope I’ve given you more these past few months. It’s so special that you’re old enough now to get excited some of the same things I loved as a little girl like Laura Ingalls and Ramona Quimby.

But as exciting as this new phase of life is for all of us, promise me you won’t grow up too fast. Be my little girl for a while and enjoy it. You may be a sassy six, but you’re a sweet six and I want to keep you that way for as long as I can.

Love you,
Mommy

Thankful Thursday

September 17, 2010September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett4 Comments

This week’s random (and late) list of things to be thankful for includes…

1) Coffee. At this point I really don’t care if it’s Starbucks or McDonald’s or Folger’s or whatever Karen makes in the teacher break room. Somehow after I became a mom of two I developed an addiction. It’s getting worse, I’m sure. But I’m also sure it’s completely pyschological because the other day I drank decaf and it worked just as well.

2) The Exersaucer. I don’t know what brilliant person (probably a mom) came up with the concept of this contraption, but I am oh-so-thankful that the Tinsley boys’ exersaucer didn’t sell at the Children’s Sale so it could live in my den and entertain my baby at this too early hour of the morning when it’s too late to get her back to sleep and too early for me to be entertaining.

3) Leftovers. That’s right. We had clean-out-the-fridge for dinner last night and it was the first meal we’ve had all week that the girls haven’t complained about. Monday they didn’t eat their Happy Meals. Tuesday was london broil and potatoes au gratin and ended with Annabelle getting a spanking because she chewed up her meat but refused to swallow. WNS was taco salad and my girls are not fans. They wouldn’t even eat the banana pudding. But Thursday….we had turkey sausage and leftover potatoes and leftover corn and…it’s all gone now.

amelia

Random Acts of….Amelia

September 15, 2010 Lindsey P. Brackett2 Comments

Millie Moo has a big update coming soon, but I felt the need to share with you faithful followers of all the randomness just a couple of quick things that for me are even more interesting than the movie being filmed at my school or the fact that Starbucks is coming to our local (and only) grocery store.

She’s a singer. She used to think she was a NASCAR race car and would “rev her engine” before going to sleep. Now she sings nonsense sound and syllables that I’m sure are the next work of great musical art.

Now once she puts herself to sleep, if we’re lucky she’ll stay that way until about 3 a.m. That’s when Daddy has to go convince her that the paci is as good as mommy and she’s not going to starve to death before 5:30 a.m.

At 5:30 she’s my sweet cuddle bug (which reminds me so much of Belle). This morning after nursing, she was lying on my chest with her head against mine shaking it back and forth. I thought she was saying, “Oh, no, Mommy. I love you more.” But really she was saying, “Oh, no, Mommy! I’m about to-“

That’s right. Right in my mouth. Luckily it was closed.

And that’s life with Amelia who spits up to let me know she loves me.

30 Blog Challenge · Manic Monday

Manic Monday

September 14, 2010 Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

So lately I haven’t been saying nice things about Mondays. But today wasn’t too bad. It was manic alright. I mean, there’s nothing like having to wave at your boss when you pull into the parking lot 10 minutes late on Monday morning.

But in my defense I was giving my baby extra kisses and prepping her Mimi that as of last night, Amelia is mobile. On all fours. Across the floor. Off the carpet and onto the hardwoods. Making a beeline for anything in her path that looks remotely edible (and apparently when you’re a baby everything looks deliciously edible).

But the Monday mania is over and the day has wound down and we’re watching You’ve Got Mail which I don’t think I’ve seen in at least five years and now I have the sudden urge to buy pumpkins and read Pride and Prejudice and get some coffee.

But if I drink coffee I’ll be up until Amelia gets up again and as any good mom knows, when the baby is sleeping so should you be.

30 Blog Challenge · motherhood · reflections

Reflections from a Third Time Mom: Part 1

September 12, 2010 Lindsey P. Brackett2 Comments

I’ve been planning this post for awhile at the urging of some special people in my life who are about to become first time mothers this winter. But I’ve decided it will take more than one post capture all the things I know now that I wish I had known back when it was my first time. Just know, I don’t claim to have all the answers or know all the facts.

Lately I can’t even remember myself how to do some of these mothering things.

Like how often I should feed Amelia formula vs. solids vs. nursing now that’s she’s six months old and tries to match the insatiable appetites of her sissy monsters.

But there’s some things I do know, and some things I wish I had done differently, and some mistakes I made as well as milestones we’ve achieved.

The “we” is for us–Joshua and me. Because parenting is more than a one person job. Which is something I’m still working on everyday and what I have learned the most as a mom.

I don’t like admitting I can’t handle it all, but the truth is it’s okay to ask for help.

For some reason most of us moms get it in our head that we’re the only ones who know how to take care of that sweet little bundle of joy that’s been crying for 12 hours straight. That’s not true. What is true is that no one can love that baby like you do, but anyone can change a diaper or give a bottle. Just like anyone can wash your dishes, fold your laundry, or cook you dinner. No, it may not be done your way, but that’s not the point. The point is, it’s done.

Sure if you want something done right (i.e. your way) you have to do it yourself. But if you want it done so you can have more time to sit on the couch and cuddle with your baby while watching HGTV and eating Oreos, you let someone else do it.