A Journey to Love

"Holy mother's milk!" This is what our beloved Dr. Patterson said as he walked into the exam room at Brayden's 2 month check-up today. Brayden weighed in at a whopping 14 pounds exactly, putting him at the 83rd percentile for weight. That's up from the 73rd percentile just two weeks ago, when he tipped the scales at 13lbs 2oz. For those that are terrible at math, that's an ounce a day our little guy gained! Yep, I'm doing my job well it seems. As for his length, he is 25.3 inches long, which places him in the 96th percentile. He grew an inch and a half in just five weeks. Benjamin recently asked me if Brayden would ever be bigger than him. I told him that since he (Ben) is the big brother, that meant Brayden would always be smaller. I might need to rethink that answer... In other news, Brayden spends much of his day smiling and cooing, which enchants us all to no end. There is nothing that can stop a room like a smiling baby. All activity ceases when...

The majority of grandmother's are called "Grandma" but the really special ones get the title of "Nana." I am one of the lucky ones to have a Nana. My Nana is everything a child wants in a grandmother. When I conjure her up in my mind, I see her standing in the same kitchen she has stood in longer than I've been alive, baking something sweet while I sit at the dining table, waiting in anticipation for her to let me sample her creation. Usually it was something sweet, like her famous Texas sheet cake or maybe some cut-out cookies. If it was the latter, it meant that the fun was just starting because once the cookies cooled, it was time to start decorating. And decorate we did! That table would be covered with small bowls of colored frosting and jars of tantalizing sprinkles, a little girl's version of Heaven. If I got to vigorous with my frosting application (read: two inches thick) or accidentally spread it on the wrong side, Nana would gently remind me...

This past Sunday was a special day for our family. It was the day that Nathan and I pledged in front of our church congregation to raise Brayden up in a Christian home, teaching him the word of God and demonstrating God's love for all of us here on Earth. Then our church family all stood and promised to pray for Brayden should the need arise, and to come along side him on his walk with the Lord, if and when they get the opportunity. It was a sweet moment as Pastor Jay prayed for our precious little boy to become a Godly man and for us as his parents to help get him there. Thankfully we are part of a wonderful church who promised to help us along the way.  We are so inclredibly blessed.

Having two children under the age of 3 has taught me something very important. In the short time that I've been a mother of two, I have learned that my time is very precious. I feel like most of my day is consumed with taking care of my children, which isn't a bad thing, mind you. It's simply a fact that in a span of 24 hours, I nurse Brayden 7 times, prepare and clean up after 3 meals and 2 snacks for Benjamin, change about 10 diapers, assist Ben with potty business about 7 times, dress and undress a squirmy baby and a resistant preschooler at least twice, brush one head of beautiful curls as well as a set of shiny white teeth, buckle and unbuckle car seats a minimum of a half dozen times, retrieve a pacifier or a blankie roughly 20 times, put children to bed about 6 times (2 of which require reading books aloud), and give countless hugs, kisses, and snuggles. (By the way, it's this last item that makes all the other tasks worth it.) The remainder of my ...

The other day, Brayden hit some major milestones. At the tender age of 8 weeks old, he donned his very first pair of blue jeans and shoes. One word: adorable .