here is my sweet heart

I have been agonizing over this post, which pictures and how to say how much we love her and capture the events of those days we were there. Mom and I found a letter from PawPaw to Leah in her baby book. One day Brynn Leigh may want to read what Auntie said about her first days in this world, that is some pressure. But seeing as she is almost 3 weeks old I just need to post it whether it is perfect or not.



First Impressions of my First Niece

We walked up to the door, Room 264, and knocked softly. Opening the door she was behind a curtain in her daddy's arms. Swaddled in pink. Sweet and peaceful.

I think I torn her out of Michael's hands. I wanted to see her and hold her and tell her my name. She is perfect. Looks like a mix of Brody and Dylan but with a sweet feminine mouth and girly features.
She won't remember but she was loved so much from the very moment she was born and we fell all over ourselves to get to meet her. She was so quiet until David held her while standing, she screamed a piercing girl yelp. We all joked that she could sense a change in altitude.

I spent the next few days going back and forth between the hospital and the house. After breakfast I would get in Dylan's bed and David would get in Brody's bed and they would show us all their toys or try to attack David. And one morning we played Monopoly Jr. I called it "my mid-morning rest".  Then mom and I went up to the hospital. Everyday I wanted so badly to take care of my Leah. Her body did an amazing job growing and caring and giving birth to our little BL. Although recovering, Leah had a sense of peace around her. The hospital room was so calm and felt light. Little promise wrapped in a blanket, squeaking in her mother's arms bathes the room in cozy, warm love. She may not remember but those were special days in the hospital.

It was raining on homecoming day.

She didn't like her car seat at first and let everyone know. Over all she is a fearless, easy going baby who knows what she wants.

Mimi loaded the car with all her gear and Michael drove slow to avoid any bumps in the road. When we walked in the house everyone came over. Brynn Leigh can draw a crowd.

Dylan sang her the song he wrote for her "baby don't cry" and Brody was quick with his assigned job of pressing the music soother. Dylan wanted to hold her and did a great job of watching cartoons and holding a baby at the same time. She is so lucky to have big brothers to bring her toys when she is sad. (And stick monkey hands in her mouth)

Her first day home we held her non-stop, and by we I mean me. I couldn't put this sugar lump down. Brynn Leigh had no complaints for her auntie. Even though I was only around for a couple of days I changed one pp diaper. And she dealt with that debacle, I can already tell she is going to be one tough cookie.

We had dinner that night in the dining room, all of us. Leah, Michael, Dyan and Brody (at their small table they carried into the dining room together), Mimi and Cool and Auntie and David and Brynn Leigh. Everyone together. And that night we had movie night and watch Madagascar 3.


Hard to sum up new life. First days in this world, and possibility and change. And what I want Brynn Leigh to remember about her first days is

         She is loved

         Her family came all the way to Arkansas to meet her
         Uncle David and Brody both loved petting her head - her dark hair
         Auntie loved her widdle chin and her tiny squeaks
         Mimi stayed with her for 3 weeks + 1 week before
         Mimi sent "Picture of the Day" to Auntie
         Brothers love her so much
         She is a star and a sweet heart.

march comes in like a lion

This March came in like a lion, lots of roaring and unexpected challenges and one very special treat.

 

Houston

Two Saturdays ago Mary had a seizure/s and was rushed to the hospital for tests. David got the call and was at his parents house in less than five minutes, yet another reminder of how nice it is to be close to them for emergencies. Thankfully she was fine and did well in the hospital even with a roommate!

 

Last weekend, and a little before and a little after, Gil was in Miami for the derm convention and we had Mary for four days. I tend to get nervous around this time of year because it is a lot of responsibility to care for another human being, especially one with health problems.

 

I wonder sometimes what was God thinking? If I were to pick a person who would cope with a terminally ill MIL, I would choose someone tender, caring, selfless and easy going. Not going to fool myself into thinking I am any of those things. When David was struggling seeing his mom in the hospital I didn't know how to comfort him, I just made stupid jokes about Ceasar medication.

In general what was God thinking with me? He made me so different and so bad at all the stuff that makes someone a good person.

Arkansas

Thursday, March 7th 2013

My niece Brynn Leigh was born! I love saying her name, Brynn Leigh and calling her my niece. I love her lots.

Friday we flew to AR to meet her! Went straight to the hospital for the first snuggles. David went to his post with the boys. I swear they think he is their best friend. They love me, but the LUUURVE him, they cried when they found out Dp wasn't staying forever. (They asked him to buy a house in Arkansalt)  I got to take care of Leah and Brynn Leigh but Dp stayed on twin duty all weekend. But watching him play Transformers it didn't look like duty to me.

I brought the boys a scavenger hunt for the park expecting them to half pay attention. But Saturday we went to the park and they were really into it. Brody especially. Things we found I didn't think we would find: birds nest, butterfly, kite, someone riding a bike. Things we found that weren't on the list: duck, bridge, tree stump and fish.  Daddy Cool and David taught the boys to skip rocks. We wore those boys out, Brody asked to go home, he wanted to play on the play ground but he was tired and his feet hurt.

 

Houston

Monday we left mom and Mercer's and BL and flew home. Terrible feeling leaving the people you love. I had so much time with the twins when they were born, and I want BL to know me just the same.

When we got home I noticed the bathroom floor was soaked. My first thought was "David mopped!!" and then quickly realized no, husbands don't do house work. We had a burst pipe in the attic and water was dripping from the ceiling.

When have you ever heard someone say "I was at home and heard a dripping noise and it was a leaky pipe so we turned off the water and called a plumber before any damage was done." ? Never.

ALWAYS " We came home from a trip and the _____room was flooded." Always.

Thankfully

• Pipe was an easy, fairly inexpensive, fix.
• Husband mopped the bathroom floor!!

Reclining

Cats have beautiful posture, like slinky models or floating dancers.
And then there is Ribgy...
He sits three ways and all very schlumpy.
Spin Me Right Round
Like many dogs, Rigby walks in a circle looking for the perfect spot, when located he sits and drags himself another 360 degrees till he is coiled in a tight ball.
Timber
His favorite. He walks up to the desired spot, stiffens his joints and tips over. No bending of legs just TIMBER! Flop. This usually means "I'm ready for belly rubs."
Army Crawl
I don't know, I just don't know.
His is walking and stops using his hind legs and keeps crawling till he is fully stretched and calls it a day. He looks like a flattened out kitten rug.
Contrast with Abbey's purposeful, dainty descent with a dramatic sweeping in of her tail like Zorro's cape.