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!