Quiet mommy, Santa pics

I have lost my voice again - this is the 3rd time in 4 months. Crazy thoughts are going through my head about why this keeps happening. I have come to really appreciate my voice through all of the ways I have had to adjust during these quiet days. I respond to voicemails with text. When I need Bates to come inside, I stand on the back stoop and clap my hands until he comes running. Thomson especially likes the game of quiet mommy. I whisper his books and his bedtime songs, and he whispers with me.

Here are finally some more pictures, seeing santa:

Brooks was baptised on Sunday. Thomson wiggled to get out of Gus' arms and talked the whole time. But Brooks did great and it was a special day. I have so many hopes and dreams for these boys. Chuck preached on 2 Samuel 24:18-25 - King David, Araunah and the threshing floor. "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing"(v 24). A relationship with God requires sacrifice, sacrifice should cost us something. Any success in life should come with some sacrifice. Monday is Halloween and Thomson wants to be a trash man. I made some calls and tried to create a costume, but in the end I decided that this is not the year for homemade costumes. So he will be a cowboy instead! He has a horse and everything!

Tomorrow I am planning a photo shoot for some much-needed pictures of Brooks. Will post them soon and some pictures of Thomson's birthday this week.

Well Fancy That!!!

Thomson is so hard to photograph these days!! Last weekend we took a photography class with our friend, Carrie Tabb. She taught us how to use our cameras on Manual Mode. Today was my first day of practice. Well Fancy That!!!

A sick day

"Bebe Books" has his first cold today. We are hunkering down in the house and working to get him feeling better. Nurse Thomson is in full force - bringing the Boogie Wipes, testing the Baby's medicine (Tylenol for Brooks, Gatorade for Thomson), pushing him in the swing. Thomson has started getting in Brooks' face and talking in a high-pitched tone, mimicking my baby talk. This morning he brought over a burp cloth and covered Brooks' face when he was lying on his back. Luckily I was sitting right there. (He was trying to wipe his mouth). When Brooks' nose or eye starts running, Thomson lets me know that the baby has "trash". So sad to see a little one sick!!!

treading water

I feel like I have been treading water for 10 weeks. Some moments I am under the water, trying to get back up to the surface. Other moments I am on top of the water and I can see the edge of the pool but I am not quite there yet. Most nights, dinnertime is the worst for me - two tired and fussy babies + hungry husband and dog + hungry yet picky toddler = several hours where I literally feel like I can't breathe. I try to take deep breaths but I often tell Gus that I can't breathe.

I know it will all pass and we won't remember it but when you are in the middle of it, it is hard to see it that way. I try to get supper fixed earler and we take long familiy walks in the evenings to relax everyone, but still it can be suffocating.

Just keeping it real.

For those of you curious about Gus' dad, he is doing great, home from the hospital and is recovering well at home. He will have another surgery and another (shorter) recovery but he is in such great shape and has done so well considering all that he has been through. A reminder to all of us the importance of staying in shape! Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Number One

Look mama, Baby has a little foot!

Gentle, Thomson, gentle!!
When Brooks started smiling, he only used one side of his face. I thought it was so funny and cute (but you know I asked Dr. G about it when we visited at 6 weeks, just to be sure . . . If you read the Athens Banner Herald, Gus was officially voted the #1 DOCTOR IN ATHENS! We are very proud of him! Patients have noticed how he really cares for them and wants them to have the best outcome possible. He takes his time and he listens.

And if you turn the page he was also voted #1 Husband of the Year, #1 Dada of the year, and #1 Son of the year for 2011. We have been through a lot the last few weeks but we are starting to see daylight ahead. Brooks is sleeping better at night and is very happy all day between his long naps. If you could hear him beside me right now - I just got his play mat out of the closet and there are all sorts of cute critters dangling over his head. He coos every time I bump it and they all start to move!

Thomson is so sweet to Brooks, he attacks him with kisses and hugs every time he gets a clear shot. We are lucky that Thomson loves him and has not tried to hit him (like lots of my friends' toddlers). I think Thomson thinks he is a small puppy because he makes this really funny noise when he leans down to "hug" or kiss his baby, he sounds like a purring cat. (See picture #5 above). But when Thomson is tired and fussy, he always wants me to hold him and if I am holding Brooks, he wraps his arms around my legs and cries "no baby, no baby".

That's all for now. Just trying to be superwoman over here!

A quiet house

The house is quiet. Mom took Thomson this morning for a weekend of "Camp DeeDee Happy" and to give Gus and I a nice break. It is such a strange feeling - not worrying about locking cabinet doors or putting the remote control up high and out of a toddler's reach. It feels strange that where I put Thomson's toys they will stay for the next few days (unless Bates decides to take a turn). Thomson is heading over to Lee's house (he calls him "Bee!") and then to the Marietta Blue Devil game to see Happy in the press box. I am sure there will be some cute pictures!

Here is a picture of what I will be missing this weekend - Thomson loves to play in the pantry, close the doors and get out the dog bones.

Yesterday Gus turned 35. We celebrated pizza-style with a datenight to Ted's pizza downtown Athens (Brooks in tow). I even let Gus pick out which pizza he wanted to split! Gus has been working overtime to keep everyone happy and moving around here. He walks in around 5:30 every night and gets bombarded by Thomson ready to play and me with some chore waiting for him "Hi Gus, will you please change Thomson's diaper and take out the trash?" Luckily he is still coming home!!!

So happy birthday Daddy or "Happy Daddy" as Thomson chanted all day. It was also our dog Bates' birthday so Thomson also chanted "Happy Daddy Bates". We love you!

Last week Thomson started preschool. Dropping him off was of course so emotional as all of the children were crying and Thomson clung hard to my neck. By noon, though, I found him happily sitting in a corner surrounded by what looked to be the contents of the trash can - a gatorade bottle, a water bottle and some paper, etc. I am sure the trash made him feel right at home.

Brooks is doing great, gaining weight and still sleeping most of the time. I do not have many pictures of him with his eyes open so here are a few of Brooks sleeping from the past month. Thomson adores him but ignores him most of the time. He comes over for a quick hug or kiss the baby and then is off to play.

Here are pictures from the last few weeks:

Thought we might need to zoom in a little bit on Big Brother's face when he first walked into the hospital room. He screamed and then ran out the door and then ran back in.
We are all doing well, Thomson is feeling much better and Gus and I are starting to get better. Brooks weighed in today at the doctors office and he is back up to 8 lbs 0 oz, a good gain since Monday. Everyone is sleeping well and Brooks and I are having bonding sessions 3 times a night.

Brooks made the gossip column in the Marietta Daily Journal yesterday. My grandfather Brooks Smith was the editor of the MDJ after his time with the United Press. Thomson has been enjoying all of his attention and special treats! DeeDee took him to storytime at the library yesterday and then to Kroger where she let him ride in the big car shopping cart! I always avoid those large obnoxious carts so it sure was a treat for Thomson to finally get to drive one.

Coming Home

Yesterday we came home from the hospital. Thomson is still sick and so we waited until the last minute to bring him up for a visit. Initially he was so excited to finally see his mama, after 3 whole days! The hardest part of the whole experience was aching for Thomson and wanting to take care of my sick child. We have been talking about "bebe" for months - now he is really here!

Thomson was a little overwhelmed and shy at first, he stayed as close to Gus as possible

Thankfully we had a blanket for Brooks becuase the temperature had dropped to 98 degrees.

We were all very ready to get home, Gus especially who is now sick himself. Ready to get home and get everyone feeling better!!!

Baby Brooks

Brooks Whitaker Sams

July 21, 2011

8 lbs 4 oz

Baby Sams is here! Two weeks early, he was born on his Aunt Evie's birthday!! I somehow managed to keep myself calm this time around and the entire experience has been great. We came home from the hospital yesterday after a visit from Thomson. Thomson is still sick and so we are being very careful to keep his germs away from his new baby. Brooks is my dream baby not only because of his georgous hair but also because he sleeps 23 hours a day. I am actually not sure what color his eyes are becuase I have hardly seen them open. I have been waking him every 2-3 hours to eat and then it is off again for more sleep!

Brooks Whitaker is named for my grandfather and my brother - two very important and special people. He is sure to do great things in life if he is anything like his namesakes. More later . . .