His future's so bright...

I realized it's been a while since I've bragged about my child's geniusness. (Is that even a word?) So let me tell you about all the fun things he does.

What he can say...
Single words:
Belly, ear, nose, eyes, mouth, socks (shocks), shoes, open, no, yes, cookie, momby, daddy, papa, scotch (uncle Scott), bye

Phrases:
I want a cookie, I have poopy, night night, I love you too, I wanna brush teeth, uh oh, oh no

Other amazing feats:
He can sing happy birthday, old MacDonald (sort of), Noggin theme songs and itsy bitsy spider, count to 10, flash people, close doors (and drawers and anything else you leave open), follow commands

Aaaand, that's all I can remember. Because it's late and I'm brain-dead.

Now for some pictures...

Daddy is mean




Farmer Ted is talking to the bunny


Farmer Ted is flashing the bunny


Trying on sunglasses


And a hat the firemen gave us on our walk that day


Sporting a mouthful of cookies on Easter


Posing for the camera


Taking a break from all the activity to watch TV


Playing peek-a-boo



Brendan is 21 months and 8 days old today!

Picture Time

Here are some recent pictures. Enjoy!

Trying to wear Mr. Potato Head's glasses


Yes, I'm still wearing my Christmas pj's, but I'm cute so it's okay


B reads this magazine for the insightful commentary


Helping Papa clean the branches out of the backyard after the big storm


Putting the "big" branch in the wheelbarrow


Put the branches in the dumpster, riding back to get more


Have to go for a ride in Grandmama's cart too


Tickle, tickle


I wanna go back outside!







Brendan is 10 days away from 20 months old today!

Terrible 1.5's??

Someone has taken my loving, even-tempered, good-natured, little lovebug and replaced him with a hormonal bipolar teenager. Oh, and before anyone starts in with "it's normal" or "just wait" with an all-knowing I'm a mom and I've been there before smugness - let me save you some oxygen and let you know right now that it's not helpful. Mmmkay? Thanks.

::open scene::
"Yay! Everything is WONDERFUL! I'm so HAPPY!"

adorable toddler peels back his face to reveal a demon
"ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!!! I don't want that crayon/train/cookie/cup/whatever you're trying to give me. I want that OTHER thing that I can't tell you I want because Mommy can't understand my mishmosh words and therefore has absolutely no idea what sort of important request I'm attempting to make."

::Cue music for dramatic scene::
Roll around on floor, flailing arms and legs, let out a few screams like someone just killed your puppy, gasp for air and gag until you almost throw up

replaces demon face with adorable face
"Why is everyone staring at me? I'm so HAPPY! Let's play and dance and sing!"
::end scene::

Truly people, it's exhausting. And I know I'm preaching to the choir; I'm not the first parent to go through this and certainly won't be the last. But I'm most definitely going to moan about it.


Brendan is 20.5 months old today!

Snow Day! (Part Deux)

In keeping with the whole Armageddon theme that seems to be happening this winter, we got hit with a massive snowstorm Thursday and Friday. Since Daddy had to work, B and I went up Grandmama and Grandpapa's (Papa) house for a sleepover. After a yummy breakfast (Grandmama made B french toast which he gobbled right up), we headed out to play in the snow.

Helping Momby build a snow woman:


Begrudgingly cheesing it up for the camera:


He got bored with the snowpeople so Grandmama took him for a walk:


Then they came back and he gave the side-eye to the snowkid:


Papa built a hill for sledding in the backyard. Wee!


And a close-up, just because:


The End.


Brendan is 3 days shy of 20 months old today!

Life

I wasn't sure if this was the right outlet for what will follow. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to put it here. After all, this is where I come to write about life. And for one brief week I had life growing inside of me. So I'm going to put this out there and then I'm going to bury it with happy posts.

Everyone has been asking me how I'm doing. And honestly, I really don't know how I'm doing. I feel okay, then I don't feel okay. We weren't trying to get pregnant, in fact we weren't/aren't 100% sure we're going to have more than one child. But as soon as I saw that positive test and got over the initial shock I let myself fall in love with the idea of having another one. And all of the possibilities that come with a new life.

Seeing pregnant women or babies doesn't bother me. I've been in their shoes and experienced that euphoria. I have a beautiful, perfect, precious little boy as a result. I don't want their pregnancies or their babies, I want mine.

Part of my issue is letting myself feel that I have the right to be so upset. I'm lucky that this happened sooner rather than later. I can't imagine the sort of heartache women feel when they're further along and lose their precious babies. Or women who've experienced multiple losses along their journey. So a part of me feels silly for feeling so much sadness over it.

I don't want to dwell on this. It is what it is. It happened for a reason. It just wasn't meant to be. [Insert other well-meaning cliche here.] Instead, I'm going to remember to count my blessings for the wonderful things in my life - especially my amazing family and friends who have offered so much support and compassion over the last few days. I am lucky and loved.