The End of the Beginning

April 26, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett5 Comments

My baby crawled into bed with me today. The baby whose world is about to be completely different. The baby who is about to learn how to truly share mommy and share toys and share space and share love.

She woke up from her nap and couldn’t find me. I heard her pitter-patter feet on the hardwoods and then a moment later she was using her daddy’s side of the quilt to haul herself up beside me, whimpering a bit because she wasn’t quite awake and mommy hadn’t immediately been there.

Almost every afternoon I lift her from her crib turned toddler bed and buckle her into her carseat to fetch her sissies from school. Almost every afternoon I’m right where she expects me to be. And today when she finally discovered I was resting, she crawled up beside me, tucked her head under my chin and went back to sleep, all heavy limbs and soft breathing and swirly hair tickling my nose.

I love her so much.

I love her sisters, too, but she was different. We expected her and anticipated her and savored her, sure she was the very last.

I cried the first time she walked and again when she finally nursed for the last time. For the past few days (and probably for the few remaining) every time I rock her, I wonder if it’s the last time it’s just the two of us on these sleepy afternoons.

Today I held her close and marveled at how perfectly and wonderfully made she is and thanked God that He has taught me to appreciate these moments.

So I will be ready for the ones to come.

amelia · Home · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · madelynne · Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10: What I Do All Day

April 24, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

I’m a little bit already on a blog hiatus. It’s because when I sit up, like in this computer chair, this baby protests. He protests lying down, too, but he tolerates it more between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. than he does between 1 and 3 a.m., so I’ve been doing a lot more napping. But I’ve got a few posts tucked in my head for moments I want to remember before I’m a mother of four and one of them is this Top 10.

Awhile back, I wrote about my “done list”. It’s much better than a “to-do” list because it’s a list of all I’ve actually accomplished in that day and makes me feel a little more justified about being home with my toddler (the fact that I think I need justification is a whole other post I’ve got rolling around and will get to at some point). Often, my husband will ask, “What did you and Amelia do today?” Never in a sarcastic way that implies he can’t believe the house is a wreck and dinner’s not ready, but in a curious, he’d really like to know kind of way. So here’s a bit of insight into my daily grind with one. I’m sure there will be an addendum to this once I’m home with toddler, newborn, and big sisters on summer vacation.

One.

I try to keep the house neat and organized.

See how she’s sorting books?

Two.

When I can’t keep up with #1, I bring in reinforcements.

i.e. We babysit for our friends in exchange for free labor.

Two year olds are excellent at dusting with the baby wipes they pull out by the handful.

Three.

I plan a lot of meals that appeal to my family.

Like chocolate.

And homemade pizza.

Four.

I clip coupons and plan grocery trips that require bribery with suckers.

Five.

I appraise a lot of really fine art.

Six.

I enforce rules.

Such as “no eating off the floor because I’d rather clean the couch.”

Seven.

I make incredible Food Network worthy lunches.

Then I coerce picky toddlers into eating.

Eight.

I referee these three hoodlums.

Nine.

I listen to great stories about school.

As in, who moved their card (not Annabelle)

the “copper” snake on the playground

and why lunch was no good today.

Ten.

As CEO of a small, but productive, company, I revel everyday in the fact that this is my personal assistant.

Is she ready to take on more job responsibility as a big sister?
I sure hope so!

Top Ten Tuesday at Many Little Blessings

amelia · birthdays · family · gardening · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · joshua · Photos · spring

Months in Photos

April 4, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett2 Comments

I gave up on my 365 project because I can’t remember on which days I took certain pictures.And I would hate to lie to myself.Instead I discovered A Month in Photos over atsimple as that
And of course, I’m already behind.But here’s February and Marchso now I’m all caught up.

In Februarywe celebrated Amelia’s 2nd birthday with a Pooh partyand my 32nd with birthday brownieswe did some acts of love and ate fondue for Valentine’s Joshua started a new job so he got a cake, toowe made a banner out of birthday cardsand ate popsicles on the porchBelle had a tonsillectomyand two ER visitsone for stitches in her chinFor such a short month, we sure were busy!

I can’t believe March is overand spring is here and soon we’ll be a family of six.We’ve been enjoying springKayden taught Amelia to shoot some hoopsBelle turned six and had a Hello Kitty party at the park despite the rainLeah Kate turned one and we celebrated with the BarksdalesI shopped the consignment saleand thank goodness, otherwise they’d be nakedJoshua planted the garden with lots of helpwell, sort of help anywaywe’ve already had an Easter celebration at churchand are trying out crazy hats because it’s already hot!
Maybe our April collage will feature a sweet baby boy….

amelia · favorite things · joshua

Favorite Spring Things

March 30, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett5 Comments

We’re reveling in spring around here. Except it’s 80 degrees and climbing so spring feels a bit summer like, except in the mornings when it’s still below 50 and my girls are shivering in their short sleeves and flip-flops.

That’s why they wear funny hats.

Okay, not really. Really they just like to pose for pictures.

Sometimes.

Amelia’s really into hide and seek right now. As in, I’ll hide my face from you and you can’t see that I’m eating a Lalaloopsy toy. Again.

Gus’s name is long. I don’t love it. But I love all the people we’ve named him for, except I never met Joshua’s grandfather’s father (who was Augustus). I do love Harmon (Joshua’s grandfather) and he’s excited to have a Gus again. I love my grandaddy too. He’s the Deforrest and he told me not to saddle this child with that name. Ah, well. Maybe he’ll be a big-shot lawyer who needs four names. Or a missionary in Africa who is glad Gus is easy to say and spell.

Aunt Calley made this banner by the way. Isn’t she creative?

She also had a bike accident with Amelia who’s had a rough boo-boo week. And in Calley’s defense she was injured worse.

Amelia also hung out with Mimi yesterday and somehow sliced her heel open. It’s worse than the minor arm scrapes from biking.

But don’t worry, she’ll still tell you what to do and how to do it. Sassafrass of a two year old.

Have I mentioned she loves men? We are in T-R-O-U-B-L-E. This is my friend Tiff’s husband, Daniel. He’s one of those great dads who sits in the little chairs during the preschool puppet show so that Amelia and his own girl, Violet, will behave.

‘Course Amelia’s got a pretty good daddy, too.

He helped her get crafty during the preschool Easter celebration Wednesday night.

This is my favorite Friday picture.

Have a blessed weekend and a beautiful Friday!

amelia · motherhood

And Then She Was Two

February 20, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett3 Comments

Dear Amelia,
Two years ago you made a sudden appearance surprising nurses and my midwife and me with your quickness. Only a couple of hours before I had told your Marmie not to hurry because you certainly weren’t. How wrong I was! And how wrong were so many who thought surely you would be the first baby boy Brackett.

But you made us a family of five and ushered Daddy into that unofficial “three girls” club. Men shook his hand and told him to find a man cave when you all became teenagers. I pulled out all the saved baby girl clothes, the pink crocheted blankets, the bows to tame the wild mane of dark hair you have always had.

And now you are two. It’s hard to believe so much has changed in so short an amount of time. You (and your sissy monsters) have grown and developed and everyday become more of the person God wants you to be. I pray for your safety, your development, your sensitive feelings. I need to bow my knees more often and thank God for your sweetness, your presence, your sticky hugs and butterfly kisses.

Your smile that makes my world go ’round.

I thought you’d always be my baby. And you will. My baby girl, my baby we asked for from the Lord. How I love you. How I miss you being so small and snuggly in the Bjorn tucked away safe against my chest. How I love you being two with your infectious laughter, lispy “yesh”, great love of Winnie the Pooh and horses and puppies. How I love being with you everyday, listening to you sing as you color, sharing your favorite peanut butter and jelly, cuddling with you before naptime.

Maybe sometimes you think I don’t love the Llama Llama books as much as you. And maybe sometimes I beg you to lay down quickly so I can rest this body that’s bringing you a brother soon. There are times when I can’t watch anymore Pooh Bear or I get frustrated with you or you are too defiant and have to be reprimanded.