My lovely little friends:

I was just going to write an entry about how I don't really like kids (other than my own), but then I realized I tear up a lil bit every time I see a newborn, or a first time mother holding her newborn.

Or thinking about how cute toddlers are when they are exploring and learning about everything in their atmosphere surrounding them (thanks to Brook for this one right now!).

I think about the little kids at Addy's daycare who play and love on my daughter each and everyday. (Which also reminds me of the amazing teachers who love on my children in my absence everyday... I freaking love & will miss their daycare.)

I think about the "person" that bared me an amazing sweet and deep 6 year old nephew and ex-step-niece that first taught me how much I really do love children and how they would come into my life and save me. Because Carly Rita Smith - you saved my life. And I will forever again, love you and be grateful for you.

And then, swearing I would never have kids - ever, I got pregnant. And I miscarried, and I secretly cried because everything I had so fastly become to love left me, but I couldn't tell anyone that I was hurting - I felt like the world would not understand... And just barely two months later I got pregnant with my daughter (I was on birth control the first time?! I am sounding scandalous...) Addy, who taught me so much about loving others before myself, teaching and raising, helping me understand who I wanted to be. I started with a niece who saved my life, and a daughter who helped me focus.

A year later, I got pregnant again. I was working at Mervyn's and the Mayors Office at the time, and Mitch was in Miami for work. I remember walking into the bathroom at Mervyn's and seeing it again. I called a really good friend at the time, who came and got me and helped me get my daughter, so that we could go to the hospital to have a D&C. Tears. I must get really fertile after miscarriages, because I then got pregnant with Brooks. The time between my miscarriage and while I was pregnant with Brooks was one of the hardest, most unstable and most trying periods of my life. Not "THE" but pretty dang close.

I had no idea how I would cope - how could I care for my daughter, a newborn and still manage to take care of myself? But to my suprise, that little ball of joy came from my womb and the tears fell - I was so in love, again. Brooks has taught me patience, that my heart is never too small for more love, and has helped build on Addys lesson of focus, with ambition. I have desire and dreams because of my two children - two children I never ever thought I would have.

I think of all the many nieces and nephews Mitch has, and how sweet and loving they are to my children. How great their mothers are. I am grateful for seeing such a compassion of mothering through the love those children have shared.

I have no idea where I wa sgoing with this, it was supposed to be about how 2 kids is more than enough and how I don't like any kids other than my own, and that the world is overpopulated... but it became this.

♥

(Oh and P.S, the kids discovered they love each other the past couple of days. It all started at Wal-mart. Brooks was being a handful, so Addy went and took his hand so he would walk with her... and since then, they have been inseparable, loving on each other. I lovelovelove it!!)

Addy & Brooks

Updates...

I don't have any photos, I will have to do that later....

But, I wanted to announce some big news!

At nearly 18 months old, Brooks got his first tooth! We noticed it popping through around early May, but in the middle of May it finally came through – the front center one. Next in line was the second front center one, and a molar! He has 3! Getting 3 teeth in a two/three week span, and still being a joyful happy baby? I know, I know – I'm very blessed. I was also blessed that I only had one vampire child, and that Brooks was kind enough to not get vampire teeth – and stay with vampire teeth, until he was 2 (Addy on the other hand....)

He's also starting to mimic everything we say and do. Tell him to get a diaper? Off into his bedroom he zooms and back to wherever I am when I asked him to get me one. If he wants more to drink, he brings his cup to the edge of the kitchen and waves it like “Hey fill this up lady!” haha! This morning on the way to daycare Addy and I were singing the “I love _______” (enter someones name) song, and we were singing I love Daddy, and Brooks goes “Love Daddy”. SO CUTE, especially since he still does not have much vocab (and I didn't talk til I was 2, so I'm not worried about it....)

We've been very sick around here – and poor Addy is feeling it the worst, the mornings she wakes up and just begs to be snuggled, & is all sad. Once she takes some medicine, and is finally convinced into eating breakfast – she eventually feels somewhat better, but it's still hard seeing your kids so sick – especially when you are so sick and kind of secretly craving the ability to just taking care of yourself. Oh the joys of parenthood!

I'm taking my last official undergraduate classes, with hopeful joy that I will get into graduate school. Mitch is heavily (more so, most likely) considering the marines, which would put him in northern Va, while I would be in grad school in baltimore (90 minutes away). We would have to commute to each other on the weekends, but with such a short grad program, and it allowing us both to benefit our own lives, while benefiting our married life in the long run – well, it would be a great good thing ;).

That is that for now, I think.....?

Addy's Dance Recital

Addy had her dance recital tonight. She LOVELOVELOVED dance, and will be sad once she realizes it's "over". Hopefully we can find another class to sign her up for soon!

Updates?
Updates...

Brooks CAN walk, and HAS walked and WILL walk if you make him -but he's still in the "I can prove you wrong, and can crawl much faster than I can walk" phase.

He can feed (and prefers to feed)himself with utensils. Unless it's macaroni & cheese, and then he will use his hands.

Addy has been in a dance class, and loves it. She will mimick what she learns the whole week until she goes back and learns more.

It's the end of the semester, and Mitch graduates next weekend, and I the following weekend. Insanity! College Graduates? Check. College Indebetees? Check Check! :)

Now for the fun stuff: