Beach Bums

Yesterday we took everybody down to the beach for a walk. We feed the seagulls and Braxton had a good time chasing them away. It was quite chilly and really windy. I had to be quick but I got some really cute pictures of the kids! Mckinley wasn't quite sure what to think.

Christmas

Our 3rd day of our Christmas adventure and we can't believe how different things are at the beach in December vs July. We love that we can go do things and aren't fighting a crowd anywhere. We took Braxton to the aquarium yesterday and he's been asking about piranhas all day! (Why didn't he see their teeth?)

Today we went swimming in the in door pool. Mckinley LOVED it! She looked absolutely adorable in her bathing suit but she was like a fish kicking and splashing about!

Twas the Night Before Christmas....

As I sit and type this I am listening to the ocean crash behind me. Because we can't all be together this Christmas we decided to do something totally different. We left this afternoon and came to spend Christmas and the week at the beach. Dad and Allyson left at 6:30 this morning and by the time we got here the tree was up and cookies had just come out of the oven.

Mckinley is asleep and Braxton has just come up from sprinkling his reindeer food on the lawn. We're excited. Merry Christmas!

Look Who's Talking Now

Here are my babies. Not a fabulous picture but their together. I really think they love one another. Brax and I left before Mckinley woke up yesterday and when we got home last night she was asleep on the couch. Tonight he just couldn't get enough of her. And she loved it! I'm looking forward to being with them both in another week or so. She has the sweetest personality and will smile and "talk" all the time.
Brax's buddy at school just turned 5 last week so a lot of conversations lately have been about age. Every time he asks "when am I going to be 5?" I respond with "Never. I want you to be 4 forever!". Yesterday, very early in the morning, on our way to meet dad for the drop off out of nowhere he said "Mama I'm going to be 5 soon. And it's ok because 5 is just a little bit bigger than 4". (and imagine him taking his index finger and his thumb showing me just a little).

Another First

We have a tradition in our family. Every Thanksgiving we go around the table and before we say the blessing we say what were thankful for. It never fails that year after year I always say the same thing. My family. Look at these pictures. We had dinner at Aunt Lisa's like so many years past. Braxton had a great time with baby Zoie (who's a trip!) and Mckinley was loved on by her Grandaddy and Aunt. Again, I am reminded of how lucky I am. I am so fortunate to have a husband that I love and love being married too. I am reminded everyday of how lucky I am to have healthy children.
Last night we had dinner at church followed by a special service and since Brandon was helping
prepare the food, the kids and I drove out by ourselves. Mckinley does NOT particularly enjoy the car seat. She can handle it better if I'm sitting in the back with her but last night she screamed the entire ride and Braxton was sitting on the other side of the car singing "Humpty Dumpty" (but his always comes out sounding like Huuuunty Dunty). She's screaming, he's singing. And I'm up front chuckling. My children are healthy. They scream, they cry, and they sing.
I am so thankful!

What I'll Miss.....

On Monday I return to work. I had my baby girl almost 8 1/2 weeks ago and I can NOT believe that it's time.
Ever since I had Braxton I've said that I'm a better mother because I work. Not only does work help my family financially but I get to be "me" for a couple of hours and my children have space to be who they are. They get to play with other children and interact with other adults. Not to mention spend time with their grandparents! I honestly think we're all better. But over the past 2 months I've spent some quality time with my babies and this time I really took time to take it all in. I didn't fret over things like laundry or about unloading the dishwasher. I knew it would be OK if I spent ALL day in my pajamas and I found myself laughing at some of the things that made me cry when Braxton was born. I've realized how fast time goes by and that each and every day truly is a gift. In the motions of the day, I paused to look at my sleeping babies and realized that both of them were no longer "just mine". Life has for sure changed around here.
My return to work is bitter-sweet. I know I'll never have this time back. I have so enjoyed taking my little boy to school, picking him up, rocking my daughter for as long a she wants, resting on the couch with her on my chest and listening to her breathe, smelling her breath as she yawns, and stepping back and watching the two of them interact, smile, and love another. It's the little things..
As I make my way back to the classroom where 22 children that don't belong to me will greet me on Monday I'll have my 2 children on my mind. I'll miss them terribly. Think about me....thank goodness it's a short week!!

The Latest

Halloween was different this year. I had class and although my professor said we could miss I had already missed two for having Mckinley and felt like it would be more "responsible" of me to go. I thought about Brax all night. Ever since he's been born we've been home and have gotten a picture of him in the candy bowl. We had to start the same tradition with her.
I decided Brax was too big to sit in it with the baby and plus he'd squash the peanut butter cups! Brax helped me put her in the bowl. We had to lay her down and Brax began putting candy on top of her. She didn't make a sound. Poor girl. She must take after her mama and will probably love sweets as she gets older!
I'm still not sure why my photos won't rotate so I couldn't include one of the two of them (Brax sat beside the bowl!). I did want to include a picture of Braxton's "rilla" that he drew this morning. It's so cute. It even has hair on the top of his head! I remember drawing like this when I was a kid. Why do kids never seem to want to draw a neck or body?

My Little Babies

This time around at the hospital I had some really good nurses. They were personable and during their shift I felt like some good conversation took place between us . One of the nurses I had the day after Mckinley was born asked how "Big Brother" was. I told her that he wouldn't have much to do with me or the baby and that I hoped he'd come around. She told me that the same thing had happened when her children were born and now they were best friends. Although I'm very close with my own siblings, I asked her what she did to see that that would happen. She said she simply told them all the time that they were best friends. They grew up hearing it and believed it.
Braxton has continued to do really well with the baby. I started telling him that they would be best friends one day. He keeps asking when we can teach her to crawl, what he'll do when she plays with his cars, and that when she starts talking he wants her to call him "BB" (?).
We were in the car earlier this week and he was talking about his friends and I asked who his best friend was. He said "Mckinley"(!)
As you can see, it does appear that way!

Very Special

(I can't rotate the top one for some reason. I'll keep working on it!)
Braxton has REALLY come around. He loves helping and is constantly wanting to touch. I think I've already started saying the phrase I'll say most often for the next 15 years or so; Leave her alone! It was as if one day he just woke up and realized she's not going anywhere. He's been so sweet.
Last week, however, Braxton woke up and was feeling a little neglected. I felt terrible and so guilty. Brandon told me to pick him up form school and spend the afternoon with him. We went to get ice cream, Monkey Joes, and to have a snack afterwards at Chick Fil A (he was "starving"). I told him we'd have to eat there because I can't eat in the car. Here's how the conversation went.
B-Why can't we eat in the car? Daddy does.
Me- Well I can't eat and drive.
B-Why not?
Me- I'm just not that special.
B- Why are you not special?
Me- I am special. I meant that that's one thing I can't do.
B- Am I special?
Me- VERY special.
B- Is daddy special?
Me- VERY special.
B- Is Baby Sister special?
Me- VERY special.
B- Why is Baby Sister VERY special?

Already a Fan

To hear the story correctly, it starts off with a 4 year old little boy who finds himself a big brother to a little girl. That's when all the trouble began!
That's what my big brother wrote in his 1st grade autobiography that we found years ago. I think about him saying that and I laugh.
I remember playing with my big brother and wanting so bad to be included. He had the best tree house ever and on the outside he posted a sign that said "No Girls Allowed". This wouldn't have been so bad except that almost all the neighborhood friends he played with were girls. It should have just said, "No Sisters Allowed". He was always so much fun and regardless of how many times he'd pinch our shoulders, push our pinkies back, or how hard he tried to "ignore" us, I still could never get enough.
I find myself many years later wandering if history is again about to repeat itself. My little boy is now a 4 year old that has found himself a big brother to a little girl too. This afternoon she had just woken up and it was time for me to get him up so I took her with me. As I sat there and looked at both of my babies, I began to have visions of all the fun that they would have together, the memories that they'd make together, and of all of the times they'd need each other with the ups and downs in life and have one another. I began to hope that out of all of my memories of growing up with my big brother she gets just as many to experience too with hers. I laid her in his bed and thought about my big brother. I realized that no matter how far away someone is there as close a you want them to be.
A sibling is much more than someone you grow up with. It's a friend that you always have. I want my children to grow up to be friends. Of all the things that we can provide, I think it's the best gift I could ever give my children!

Introducing Our Daughter

Here is proof that no matter how well you think things are planned, anything can happen. I woke up on Tuesday morning, one day before my planned c-section, at 2am having contractions. I "thought" I knew what was happening but as I moved from the bed to the couch I kept telling myself that if I ignored them they would just go away. I had one more day of work to get through and it was cousin Zoie's first birthday! After 30 minutes of timed contractions every 10 minutes I woke Brandon up and told him I thought I was in labor. We called the doctor and were told to wait another hour. We went ahead and took showers and finished packing our bags. I woke Braxton up and he was up and we were gone by 3:30. We dropped him off at Maw Maw's, went by Dad's to drop his bags off for the next few days, and were walking through the front entrance of CMC by 4:30. They admitted me at 4:55am and at 7:16am we heard the cries of our baby girl for the first time.

Mckinley Grace was born weighing in at 7lbs, 14ozs, and was 19 3/4inches long. (Big Brother weighed 7lbs, 15 ozs, and was 20 inches long.) We had discussed names that we liked but hadn't decided on anything for sure. After she was born while in the operating room someone asked Brandon what her name was and he responded by saying "This is Mckinley Grace." (Braxton picked her middle name)

Mckinley and Daddy are doing fabulous. Big Brother is adjusting. Last night's visit was much better than Tuesday night's. Hopefully, he'll want to hold her tonight.

"Tuesday's child is full of grace". We feel so blessed.

School Days

My little man had his first day of preschool last week. This year, because of Baby Sister's arrival, he will be going 5 days a week. It's been an adjustment for us all but he loves it. I am so thankful that Braxton has been able to spend so much time with all of his grandparents. I hope he remembers his time at his Maw Maw's and the time he gets with his Grandaddy when he's older. Not a lot of children are that fortunate. And not all parents are that fortunate. I've said since he was born that I have never worried about him while I work. I would listen to stories that others would tell about their kids in daycare and I would just count my blessings.
Tonight we were looking at some of his work he brought home and it looked as if he had drawn a bunch of"lines". Brandon and I were complementing him on how straight they were and he said, "No, No those are ones!"
He also went to choir practice at church for the first time this Wednesday. He really enjoyed that. I'll let you know when he sings in big church!! That will be something to see.

Big Brother Bear

I had heard years ago from a friend about getting a recordable device from The Build-A-Bear Workshop to record the heartbeat of the baby at a doctors appointment. I have been wanting to do this for this pregnancy but kept putting it off. We went last weekend to get the recorder after realizing we only had 2 more appointments if we wanted to do it.
We took Braxton to the mall this morning to make his bear. Baby Sister's heart beat is tucked safely in the foot. It was really a cute experience (Done it. Need to no more) and he had a great time watching the process of being stuffed and giving it a "bath". When it came time to pick a name, for the birth certificate of course, he decided on Busch! We talked him out of that and he settled on a very original name: Big Brother Bear.
We have one more weekend. It's so hard to believe she'll be here in less than 2 weeks.

Drum Roll, Please

Here you have it. Baby Sister's room is now ready. I've been doing laundry all weekend just washing 0-3 month clothes, blankets, cloths, and bibs. We're really excited with how it turned out. I was even able to rock my Baby Boy in the new rocker this morning. I told him that when it came I would rock him in it before she had a chance!

THIS is what little girls are made of....

B-day is quickly approaching. We still have no furniture (hopefully this changes today around 3) and as you can see I have EVERYTHING still to wash, organize, and put away. I had to just look at what we have around us now. Pink, purple, hair bows, and dresses. We're so excited. I have to finish picking up Big Brother some things for his goodie bag this weekend. He keeps asking "When is baby sister gonna be here?" The other day he threw his hands up and said "You said after the beach!" But it's now September and she'll be here very soon. If all goes well we'll have her in our arms on September 21.
The other night I sat with him on the couch and started asking him his thoughts on some names. I told him three and he told me the one he liked best. So I said, "Alright, ________ and Braxton it is" (We're still undecided so we're not saying anything yet). He said "Yea. No, how bout Braxton and Sweet Pea!" So for the time being we have a Sweet Pea.

Just Like a Pro

Yesterday was the sibling class at the hospital. It was to help older siblings feel more at ease about "where mommy is" and it went over what will happen when the baby is born and when they come visit the new baby at the hospital. We took "Busch 2" and one of the first things the nurse did was talk about how they weigh and measure the new baby. All of the kids had a chance to put their stuffed animals on the scale. Busch 2 weighed 12.5 ounces and was 17 inches long. She went over how to hold the baby (sitting down) and went into some discussion about the soft spot. He even got a diaper to bring home and to practice putting on and taking off of Busch 2. Brax really listened and just looked around the room. Afterwards she took us down to the nursery and showed us the new babies. There was a banner over the nursery window that said "Class of 2029". You can see part of it in one of the pictures. It was really cute even though I think because of the recent change in the cut off date she'll be class of 2030!
Afterwards we went back downstairs and all of the kids were given a certificate. It was a cute class. Brax definitely felt like a Big Brother and in the car on the way home asked if he could change into his Big Brother shirt when he got home!!

Showered with Love

The past two weekends have been busy. The day after we arrived home from the beach my childhood friend Stacy and her mom threw a shower. I had many close friends there and the food was great. We received a lot of great gifts for our baby girl and Big Brother walked away with somethings too. It was almost surreal opening pink and purple things.
Last Sunday I had a shower at my good friend Tina's house. Family and church friends attended. I had representation from my mom's family, my dad's family, and Brandon's family. It was great having everyone together for such a special time. I know that everyone is going to love this little girl.
We're down to about 3 1/2 weeks and we still have so much to do. Work wise I've gotten a lot done but I still have things that I have to do before I will be able to relax about not being there. And around here....we still don't have any furniture. We have gotten the car seats, bassinet, bouncer, and all the little things out and in her room on one side. The other side is filled with clothes and other accessories waiting for a permanent home.
I go back to the doctor this week and begin going every week from then on. I have my surgery scheduled. I suppose I'll start packing my bag soon. It's hard to believe it's almost time!!

Last One

Alright, really forget how lousy I look in this picture. Look at my little family. Two of the gorgeous men I have in my life. We always take a family shot while we're at the beach. We waited a bit too late this year and had to settle for what we could get. As we were walking in I couldn't help but think that the next time we're there we'll be a family of four.

We're Here!!

After months of planning, preparing, and WAITING we have arrived for our annual family vacation. We decided to do things a little different this year and that was before we realized that I would be 7 1/2 months pregnant when we got here. We are staying right on the beach. The walk to the ocean is literally downstairs and we can walk out on our balcony and see and smell the ocean anytime we want! Braxton has known nothing but walking a bit and crossing the street to get to the ocean. He's loved being right here and first thing he asked to do when we got up this morning was to "see the ocean".

Yesterday we were down by the waters edge. It was just Braxton and I, and as I sat in the chair by the water's edge (that is the way to do it) andc watched him play I couldn't help but think about how this is our last little bit of being just a family of 3. In a few weeks, changes are going to take place and as much as I'm excited about them and as much as I think about holding our baby girl it makes me a little sentimental about giving up "these" days. Braxton has changed so much since we were here last. He loves playing in the ocean and is venturing to do things (all under a watchful eye) that he would not have done last year. I'm trying to savor these moments. I realize everyday that they are precious!