Random Mornings

September 29, 2010 Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

You know there are some things I really like about early mornings. Like

…the smell of coffee.

…the mist over the football field at school.

…Annabelle’s disheveled hair.

…sunrise when it’s all orange and pink and gold.

…the quiet and stillness before everyone and everything really wakes up and gets going.

But I’m getting worn out greeting every morning before the crack of dawn. I’m sure everyone on our connector flight to Charlotte at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning is just going to love that our baby is a morning person. Not only is she an early riser, she’s one of those annoyingly chipper morning people who want to play and laugh and engage in activities generally reserved for late afternoon. Or at least post-coffee.

Joshua blames me because I don’t see the point in letting her “cry it out” when I have to get up in thirty minutes anyway (and by have to I really mean should because it will give me more time to enjoy the things on that list above).

I blame him. I have good reason for this. He’s always been a morning person. You know, one of those who likes to get to work early to get everything done before they’re even on the clock kind of people. He has passed this trait down to Annabelle who sweetly gets up each morning and gets dressed and comes to play with Amelia who also, apparently, has this……gift. Yeah, that’s a nice way to put it.

Thank goodness for Madelynne. At least I have one child who knows the value of sleeping in.

After all, those morning things are good but the rest of the day has benefits, too. We’ll see if I stay awake to enjoy it.

madelynne · motherhood

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

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.

30 Blog Challenge · features · motherhood

Why It’s Random

September 6, 2010 Lindsey P. Brackett8 Comments

Since this week I’m honored to be the featured blogger over at Completely Eclipsed I’m making some time to share with all you fellow bloggers and readers a little bit of my heart.

I chose to name my blog Random Acts of Brackett because I was trying to be witty and because I thought this would be a good place to keep all our scattered family updated on what’s going on with the fascinating Brackett girls. But over the past six months since I first posted about all the random things our friends did to help us welcome Amelia, this blog has become so much more than an update. And so much more random.

You might get to read about how my girls handle the emotional upheaval of big school. Or what funny story they’ve told me recently. Or how my oldest is planning to run away.

You might hear about Amelia’s growth, progress, and general cuteness. Actually, plan to hear about that. I’m trying to actually do a good job of documenting the growth of at least one of my children.

You might see some pictures and get some insight into my crazy extended family, and if you actually know me, that might help you understand me better.

You might hear about what I’m reading or teaching or telling my middle school students, because as much as I would love to stay home, right now I’m trying to balance my real kids with about a hundred others who also need guidance and direction and love.

But mostly what you’re going to get if you visit this blog is some transparency. I’ve been married for eight years. It only gets harder. I have three kids. One was easy, but three is kicking my butt. Life is not always what I planned, or what I wanted, dreamed, expected.

It’s more. It’s a story that’s still being written and sometimes we get mired down in all that randomness and forget that it is those things, those crazy chaotic moments, that make everything worth it.

If it wasn’t for the chaos I wouldn’t know the peace. The simplicity of my daughters’ laughter, my baby’s smile would be lost on me if I wasn’t so appreciative of all the random acts that make my life.

Thanks for reading. I hope it only gets better.

30 Blog Challenge · motherhood

Letting Go

September 1, 2010 Lindsey P. Brackett6 Comments

I have come to the realization that if I am going to make it as a busy working-outside-the-home mom of three, I’ve got to let some things go. Like using real plates for dinner every night. I mean the Dixie Ultra I got on sale with a coupon are cute and functional and NOT in my sink right now.

For that matter, I’ve let go of feeling like I HAVE to make dinner every night. Tonight we had leftovers jazzed up with a new box of Rice-a-Roni. Sometimes we have sandwiches (and sometimes they’re even grilled!) Often we have breakfast (pigs in a blanket are a food group). When things are really hectic, cereal is the go-to meal. And that is okie-dokie, especially with four year olds.

I’m learning to let go of my crazy worries that really aren’t worth my time. Who cares if I’m not always invited to go somewhere? Who cares if Madelynne’s socks don’t match her outfit? Who cares if I don’t iron Joshua’s shirt but hang it up and figure it’ll get wrinkled when he gets in the truck anyway? Who cares if I grocery shop without coupons?

Okay, I admit, I’m having a really hard time with the last one. I mean, once you pay less than $2 a box for Kellogg’s cereal and $5 a pack for Pampers there’s no going back.

So, other than that I’m doing pretty good with the letting go. Just call before you come to my house because neatness was let go about six months ago and is on furlough until further notice.