Random Acts of…Growing Pains

April 20, 2010September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

With the exception of myself who is hopefully shrinking back down to better-than-pre-pregnancy size, there’s been a lot of growing in our house lately.

Madelynne is getting so tall that her shorts and skirts are rapidly becoming less than dress code worthy. I had Jill cut her hair too, a cute little stacked bob that’s longer in front to please her daddy but less work to comb which pleases mommy. She’s getting just so grown-up!

I don’t like it.

Belle is finally outgrowing 3T clothes (good thing since she’s four!) and lately she’s been climbing in our bed in the middle of the night to complain that her legs hurt. Today, however, she’s exhibiting more than usual stubborness, so she’ll probably be complaining soon that her bottom hurts.

I really don’t like it.

And Amelia went yesterday for her two month check up. Two months? How can that be? It’s gone by so fast. I’m torn between the desire to get these next 5 weeks that I have to be at work over with so I can come back home and the wish I could keep her little forever. Then I remember that as she gets bigger she’ll start to sleep through the night.

Nope, still don’t like it.

Here’s the stats on our little one who’s grown the most:

10 lb, 10 oz. (that’s a gain of 3 lb, 7 oz)

22 in (no way she was really 21 in the hospital)

38 cm of a “somewhat unusual” head.

Yes, that’s right. She apparently has an extra soft spot which is contributing to a slightly pointed back skull. Thank goodness is covered up by all that hair! Our pediatrician thinks it’s fine though. His actual words? “Well, that’s just her head.”

And that’s just my baby. Hopefully for a long time yet.

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Random Acts of….Home

April 13, 2010September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett4 Comments

There’s a For Sale sign in my yard. With my agent’s name and number and everything. So, it’s official. We’re FOR SALE.

I dream of the call where Kathy says, “We got an offer. Asking price. Close immediately.” And of course we say yes, yes, yes! and pack up and move on to a new phase in our lives that may or may not include pink countertops and hardwood floors. (Hoping for one, can do without the other.)

But, let’s be realistic. Or maybe not. I mean, after all, we’ve done the house-on-the-market-forever deal so it’s our turn to get a little bit of luck, right? If only life worked that way and you really were rewarded good for bad in even doses. But so often (to modify a Little Dreamer’s phrase) you “get what you get and shouldn’t pitch a fit.”

So, I’m going to hold onto Hope (literally because it’s Amelia’s name and so fitting for right now in our lives) and make peace with understanding that the sale will happen when it happens and God’s timing on it will be as perfect as He desires it to be.

In the meantime, our agent asked me to list all the things I like about our house, so the other night at our dinner date, Joshua and I did just that. I think we were both surprised by how long our list was.

We love our backyard. It’s a great space for the kids to play and it’s fairly level with enough woods to make Joshua happy.

I love our hardwood floors. If I had my way there would be no carpet in any house I own, ever. Wood has so much personality AND is easier to clean when juice gets spilled. Ours are wide planks of honey gold and make our house unique. In fact, it was what I fell in love with when we first saw the place.

We love that even though it’s small, we have 4 bedrooms. Until Amelia, we actually had an office AND a guest room which seems like a luxury.

I love my big tub. It has jets which I can take or leave, but it’s huge enough for me at 9 months pregnant! The girls love it too. It’s like a mini-pool. I love my kitchen sink for almost the same reasons, except I don’t fit in it. But Amelia does. It’s deep and cast iron and can hold a LOT of dirty dishes.

We love our location. And that’s something no amount of HGTV can change. This end of the county is fantastically rural and charming, but still captures the small town suburb feel. There are lots of friends nearby, the church and my school are both 5 minutes away, and we are just that closer to other NE Georgia places I love like Unicoi, Hiawassee, and Anna Ruby Falls.

It is a great little house for a little family. But our family is growing and then there’s extended family and new friends and the girls want an inside pet…..It’s time for more. Square footage that is. I’m not sure any house can top the friendships that we’ve found and the memories we’ve made on this little road in northeast Georgia.

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Random Acts of…Baby Belle

March 18, 2010September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett3 Comments

Well, she’s not the baby anymore, but my sweet middle child is turning 4 tomorrow, so I thought I’d take a few moments to tell you some endearing things about our Belle.

~She’s “Baby Belle” because her big sister was only 18 months old when she was born and couldn’t say her whole name but kept hearing everyone talk about “Baby Annabelle.” It wasn’t long before she’d shortened it and even her nickname-hating daddy caved to calling her Baby Belle.

~Belle’s middle name is Faith because she was born at a time when a lot of our life seemed very unsteady. She was our tangible example of faith that God would continue to care for and provide for our every need.

~She’s the most stubborn child I’ve ever known, and since I teach middle school, that’s saying a lot. Joshua blames this on his dad’s father, saying that no one but Annabelle is as stubborn as his Grandpa was. Here’s an example: She sat at her Mimi’s kitchen table for an entire day one time because she refused to say, “Please, may I get down.” I don’t think Deanne expected the tenaciousness when telling her she wasn’t getting down until she asked. Ahh…be careful what punishment you promise the Annabelle. She truly believes she can outlast you.

~She is my cuddle-Belle. Before another little person was demanding Mommy’s arms in the middle of the night, Annabelle had the monopoly. Madelynne has never really been one to get up during the night; she may fight sleep, but when she’s out, she’s out. Not Belle. She loves to sleep (and will put herself down for naps), but when she wants to cuddle with Mommy, time of day, or night, has no bounds.

~When you ask her a question, she scrunches up her face and taps her head and says, “Think, think, think.” It’s adorable even if she does it because she’s copying a similar phase Madelynne when through last year.

~Today when I was at her school providing birthday cupcakes for snack time, her teacher was telling me things about her. Ms. Marie: She’s very good at managing…you know telling the other children what to do next. Me: She’s bossy. We know. So’s her sister.

~Another school conversation occurring while Ms. Marie is admiring her birthday outfit that is pink and ruffly and very girly (thanks, Kim Reed at http://www.msprissypants.blogspot.com). Ms. Marie: She’s very, um– Me: Prissy. And she is! This is my child who doesn’t like to be dirty or wet and will shriek if her hands are sticky. Then there’s Madelynne….oh, that’s another post.

No matter what random acts she may perform, she’s still our Baby Belle. And no matter what she thinks, 4 years old is NOT all grown up! Mommy’s not ready to face a future of big school, prom dresses, and demands for a personal cell phone. Thank goodness most of those things are a long way off, no matter how time may fly.

I love you Annabelle Faith Brackett! Happy Birthday!