Lots of Personality

While Barrett doesn't say funny things like his big sis at this point, that doesn't mean he is lacking in personality.  The only thing he is lacking is words.  Mr. B has no shortage of character, and I mean that in the worst Dennis the Menace kind of way.  He has his charm, but he also has that toddler temper.  Here are some of my favorite and not-so-favorite ways he expressed his personality.

Charming:  When Barrett waves, he puts his head above his head and waves by bending his fingers.  Everyone that sees him do it can't help but smile and wave back. 

Alarming:  Barrett doesn't particularly like walking places; he prefers to be carried.  When I do try to make him walk, he usually refuses to hold my hand and wants to walk where he wants to walk.

Charming:  Despite his recent haircut, Barrett's wispy hair continues to have a mind of its own.  I am sure the winter static will make that even worse.  Hats might be this boy's best friend.

Alarming:  Barrett still throws a fit every day when I drop him off at school.  I thought it was just moving to a new room, but it's been over 3 months, and it hasn't gotten any easier.  Some days are better than others, and the crying never lasts more than a couple of minutes.

Charming:  Barrett has a newfound love of music.  I sing to him when I am getting him ready, and when I finish the song he says "yaaaaay" and claps his hands.  He also hums to himself; I love it when he does that.  I just start humming right along.  Occasionally, he'll decide to sing to himself.  It really sounds like mumbling, but I know he is singing because he says "yaaaaay" when he is done, just like he does when I sing.

Alarming:  Barrett slobbers like crazy.  It must be a boy thing, because my brother did the same thing.  He is up to 7 teeth though, so I hope the slobbering ends soon!

 

Charming:  Barrett loves his "lovies" as I call them.  They are little fleece blankets that he carries around.  He has 2 at home and 1 at school.  Audrey took to her blanket, but I don't ever remember her being as attached to hers as Barrett is to his lovies.

Alarming:  When Barrett throws a fit, he doesn't hold anything back.  Big alligator tears roll down his face, he screams at the top of his lungs, and he often lays on the floor.  He doesn't seem to have a preference for laying on his stomach or his back.  I guess it is just however he lands. 

Charming:  Barrett wants to walk fast and run, but his little legs just aren't quite long enough yet.  When he is determined to pick up the pace, his stance gets wider and his arms work just as hard as his legs.  Since he often carries his two lovies in his hands, the lovies flail out to the sides while he pumps his arms and moves his little legs as fast as he can.  I call it his Frankenstein walk. 

Ballerina Mommy

Audrey's teachers sent this photo of her today with the following description.  I am curious to see whether her dreams come true.

"We wanted to share this picture with you because we think it is absolutely adorable. Audrey has been taking care of her "baby" by rocking it to sleep and feeding it while cuddling with it in her arms. She told us she wants to be a "ballerina mommy" when she grows up."

Thanks to Ms. Hillary and Ms. Kristin for sharing!

Ode to Expectant Moms

Last weekend, I was surrounded by friends of mine that are awaiting the birth of a child.  For some, it is their first, and for others it is their second.  The times I spent with my expectant friends reminded me of what it was like to be in their shoes.  I hope I wasn't too overbearing in sharing my own experiences.  It is just so exciting!  There is just something so miraculous and awesome about a tiny human being growing inside of its mother. 

As I talked to the first time mothers, it brought back such a flood of feelings.  I remember the anxiety; there were so many unknowns and so many questions.  Will the baby sleep well?  Will she nurse well?  Will she be healthy?  What about the delivery?  What is that like?  Is it really as painful as people say?  What if I have to get a C-section?  There is also so much excitement.  Everything is a first for you. 

Then comes the second child.  That child is no less special; they too are a gift.  While the newness is there, the firsts are not.  The anxieties are now about how the older child will react to the baby and where they will go when mommy and daddy head to the hospital.  There are still the questions about whether the delivery will go smoothly, but there is less anxiety and more anticipation.   There is still excitement, but that excitement is reflected differently.  It now shows in the eyes of a "big" as well as in the eyes of mom and dad.   

Last weekend, I really enjoyed watching three friends experiencing the excitement and anxiety in their own ways.  Every woman is different, and those differences carry over to the ways they prepare for and parent their children.  No way is right or wrong, and everyone has to do it their own way.  If you try to do it the way someone else tells you, you'll just get frustrated.  What works for one mom won't work for others, which is why I try to keep my motherly advice to a minimum.  I am not going to pretend to succeed even a majority of the time; honestly, I just love to reminisce and tell stories.

In closing, I have a message for my expectant friends.  Please know that your way of preparing for, becoming, and being a mother will be just perfect for you.  There will be challenges and surprises (whether this is baby 1 or 2), but God will guide you through all of them.  When your children see you lean on God, they too will learn to find their strength in him. 

Quotes from Audrey

Last night, we went out to dinner for Nana (Lana's) birthday.  Since it was a birthday celebration, Audrey got a piece of chocolate cake and ate almost the entire thing.  The resulting sugar rush made for a chatty little girl on the drive home.  At least twice on the drive, I found myself chuckling at what she was saying.  Here are a couple of my favorite Audrey quotes from last night.

"When you say bacon, I say YUM!"

"I don't like slow songs; I only like rock 'n' roll songs."