All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

Dear Brantley~

We decided to stay in Paragould one more day and head back to Cabot today. Although you had a super cute outfit that was perfect for church, none of the rest of us had church clothes. So we stayed at Nana and Papa's while they went to church. After church we went to Chili's to eat with Nana, Papa, Nucle Zac, Nucle Jeremy, Aunt Tara, and Jax. We were waiting for our seat when I suddenly noticed you had two new teeth coming in. Your top two front teeth have broken through and are shining pretty. Just as I said it Daddy noticed, too. Then Nana was so excited for you and had to see. You're getting them all quickly now that you've finally started getting them. 

When we got home we had so much fun pulling out your new toys and beginning to put them together... and you had fun trying to figure out what to play with as we kept putting new ones in front of you. It's so exciting to see you discovering new things and trying to figure out how they work. 

Now on to getting ready for your birthday next Sunday!

I Love You!!!!

Momma

What Heaven Must Be Like

Dear Brantley~

This morning you got up at 4:45am and wouldn't go back to sleep. I was in the living room with Asher, so Daddy took you into our bedroom to give you a bottle and try to get you back to sleep. It didn't work. By about 8am you were cranky as all get out from being so sleepy. Around 8:30 I was nursing Asher in the recliner, and you crawled over, climbed up, and were fussing trying to get into the chair with me. So I put Asher in his sleeper that was next to me, and I picked you up and put you in my lap. You curled up to me but kept fussing. So daddy fixed a bottle and brought it to me. You took about one ounce and you were out! You slept in my arms for 2 hours. You would have kept sleeping, but we had to get you to sleep. As you laid in my arms sleeping so peacefully and putting all your trust in me to keep you comfortable and safe, I told Daddy that must be what heaven is like because I sure felt like I was in heaven. Hopefully I don't leave you to go to heaven until I am an old lady, but if I do I want you to always know that I will be right there with my arms wrapped around you at all times. Holding you in my arms is heaven, so in heaven I will always keep you wrapped in my arms.

I Love You More Than You Will Ever Know!!!!!!!

Momma

NBA Finals and Hill Hike

Dear Brantley~

So often I look at you and think "I cannot believe this little guy grew in my belly!" You are so perfect! Why did God choose my body to protect you for your first 10 months? I feel blessed beyond words.

I'm sitting here in the recliner tonight holding you. Game 7 of the NBA Finals is on, but I'm struggling to watch it because I can't keep my eyes off you. It was precious earlier. You sat up next to me in the recliner like a big boy and watched the first part of the game with me.

This morning was our first walk with Mrs. Liz and Addison. I wore you until after we left them. I climbed up two monsterous hills with your 19-lb body on my chest! Talk about a workout! I love working out with you, though!

After you went to school this morning Daddy and I went down to Books-A-Million to just hang out for awhile. We had to have spent a couple hours there. It was so nice and relaxing to have that time with your daddy. It motivated me to do some things for our family. I'm so excited about the things I have up my sleeve!

It's about time for me to carry your precious self to bed. We have a big morning ahead of us... Another hill hike! 

I Love You So Much!!

Momma

Growing and Developing

Dear Brantley~

You love to suck on your bottom lip when you sleep. It is so cute! I rocked you to sleep as I do most nights, and then I propped the feet up on the recliner after you fell asleep so I could just hold you. I've just been sitting here for the last little bit staring at your precious face and all the adorable expressions you make. 

You've started pushing up on all fours when you're on your tummy. You may end up crawling before you walk after all. Today you took about 15-20 steps with me holding your hands, though. So I think they're both coming soon. You can go from sitting to standing pretty much by yourself. You just use us for balance.

It's so exciting to watch you grow and learn!

I Love You So Much!!

Momma

Your First Camping Trip!!

Dear Brantley~

Today was the beginning of your first ever camping trip! It was so much fun with you! Unfortunately I had a paper due tonight, so I had to spend much of my time doing that. But I've been able to enjoy some time with you. We packed up the truck and camper with all our stuff plus you, Bentley, Cleo, Russ, Daddy, and me. We found an old DVD player, so Daddy attached that to your seat for you to use. You watched Ratatouille all the way here. We got a campsite on the Little Red River. C2 to be exact. We set up your Johnny Jump-Up for you to play in...

You went to the store with Daddy. After you got back he took you for a walk...

And we finished out the night with you falling asleep in my arms in front of your first ever campfire.

Sleep peacefully, my love.

We have a beautiful day in store tomorrow, and momma doesn't have any school work she has to do. :-)

I Love You So Much!!!
Momma

Fun at Church

Dear Brantley~

Oh how I love you!! I just had to say that! :-) You went to the nursery at church today for the second time, and you did great! When we picked you up one of the girls working in there told me how you were her little buddy for the day. She did a silly gesture to you when we first walked out, and you grinned real big. You had fun with her the rest of the time. She said you are the first baby she's ever seen who loves to play with the toys that hang down over the bouncy seats. You do love those! I always have fun watching you play with those.

You took a good nap this afternoon, and I held you about half the time. I wanted to nap, too, but I couldn't fall asleep. I just couldn't take my eyes off you!

We rode around with Daddy for a bit so he could take some pictures with his camera and get some photography practice. Then we headed over to Rodney and Christy Wagner's for Life Group... and you tagged along. I think I will give in next time and take you to the childcare at the church. I'm nervous about it, but Jax will be up there, too. That eases my mind a bit.

I got to rock you to sleep tonight... my favorite thing to do. I held you for so long after, but I finally had to put you in bed so I could work on school stuff.

You will never know the extent of my love for you!!! You are my angel!!

I Love You!!
Momma

Your First Haircut!!

Dear Brantley~
You got your first haircut today!! You were the youngest baby Mrs. Charlotte had ever cut the hair of, but she agreed that you really needed it. You were SO good!!! We were amazed at how good you were because most babies fuss when they have it done. You smiled the majority of the time. It was so cute!

Daddy took a bunch of pictures while she was doing it, but I'll have to get them off his camera so I can put them on here. For now here is a picture I took of you with my phone.

You look so handsome and like such a big boy!

I Love You So Much!!
Momma

Cabot Ladies' Night Out

Dear Brantley~

Tonight I took you with Melissa Passini and I to Cabot's Ladies' Night Out. I wore you around in my wrap, and everybody had a fit over you! You were as cute as cute can be, and you were such a good little sweetie pie the whole time. I love taking you with me! Melissa and I bought you a new shirt.

By the time we got home you were worn out. Daddy fed you, and you were out for the night!

I have had an idea for awhile of a website I'd like to start and some fun I'd like to have with it. I finally got the motivation tonight to get it going. So soon I will have a site designed for mommas who want to be fit. I'm excited about jumping into this new journey! I think it will be a lot of fun and something where I can share my passion.

Daddy's already headed to bed, so I guess I'll go join him before it gets too late. Tomorrow morning you and I are heading to Mrs. Melissa's for coffee. I'm going to share the news with Mrs. Cyndi about your little brother or sister. (I told Mrs. Melissa tonight, and she was SO excited)!!!

I Love You So Much!!!
Momma

You Rolled Over!!

Dear Brantley~

You officially rolled over on the floor for the first time today!! I had you on your playmat on the floor for some tummy time. Daddy was sitting on the couch reading a book. You started going, and I started screaming. I turned around and Daddy was still looking at his book. I told him to look up as I turned my head back toward you. I got to see you roll the rest of the way over. I was SO excited and started freaking out. Daddy had looked up just after you finished, so he missed getting to see it.

Later this evening we did some more tummy time. I kept trying to video you, but you weren't rolling. Daddy got up and walked out of the room. You started to roll, so I hollered for Daddy to come back and I tried to get my video camera out again. You rolled before I had time, though. And Daddy missed it again. :-(

Since I missed actually getting you on video, I took a picture immediately. So here's the best I can do on documenting your first real day of rolling over:

The funny thing about you rolling over is that you've been standing almost completely unassisted for a month now. So you could stand as long as you're holding on to something for a month before you could roll over. I have a feeling you're going to skip crawling and go straight to walking. It's so exciting to think of what else is in store for you! You're learning more and more all the time! I LOVE it!!!

I Love You So Much!!
Momma

CMSN PTO Fundraiser

Dear Brantley~

I am the president of the PTO at Connor's school, Cabot Middle School North. I hope to do that for you someday, too. Although it is very time consuming at times, I love doing it and helping the school and the students. Tonight was our big fundraiser of the year. In the past we have sold items. We didn't want to do that this year. Parents get tired of having to buy things all the time from kids soliciting them. This year Alisa Landis headed up the fundraising and had a movie night. It was the first time it's ever been done. She did it all from scratch, and she and Melissa Passini worked their tails off on it! It turned out to be a huge success! You, of course, were there for all of it. You stayed in your carrier attached to my chest most of the time, but you were SO good!! We got there before school got out today, and we didn't get to leave until after 9pm, but you were good the entire time! Daddy and I were so proud of you! Connor held you for a little bit (he's pretty proud of you, too), but you started getting fussy. We had to take you back to calm you down. Here are a few pics from tonight:

Connor's teacher, Mrs. Angie Bowman, was dying to hold you. She is one of our favorite teachers ever. Maybe you'll have her as a teacher someday.

I Love You!!!
Momma

Wounded Warrior Project Dinner

Dear Brantley~

Tonight was a Wounded Warrior Project dinner in Little Rock. Several of the people hadn't seen us since we were trying to get pregnant, and some last saw us when we were 7 months pregnant. So, of course, we had to take you and show you off. Look how stinking cute you looked:

Bentley had to get down there by you, too. :-)

I Love You and am SO Proud of You!!
Momma

Night Owl

Dear Brantley~

You are so good at sleeping through the night! You do it almost every single night! Last night we put you in a cute little owl sleep sack that Tracy and Mary Katherine Brengard have you. It is so adorable on you! Look how precious you were relaxing in your swing after your morning feeding this morning.

Although you slept through the night you're still my little night owl. :-)

I Love You!!
Momma

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dear Brantley~

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!! Today is your first ever Valentine's Day, and your Daddy and I were so excited to get to spend it with you (our new favorite Valentine). It was an awesome day! You are such an incredible baby! We could not be more blessed. Daddy asked me this morning what I wanted to do for Valentine's Day, and I told him I'd like to go antiquing. I knew that would be something he would enjoy, too. It is something we always liked doing together before you came along, and now we figured we would start you young on the fun. Many people believe Valentine's Day is a time to pamper the woman in your life. I disagree. It's a time to celebrate your love as a couple. I can be pampered on my birthday and/or mother's day if y'all want a holiday to pamper me and make me feel special. But I want Valentine's Day to be just as much about your Daddy as it is about me. The first two years we were together your Daddy didn't recognize Valentine's Day at all with me. Last year I decided that regardless of what he did I would make sure to make him feel special on that day. I planned a very romantic dinner for him, and I cooked him a Valentine's dinner that was top notch for his particular tastebuds. I spent the whole evening pampering him. This year he wanted to do something for me, but I knew that was unlikely as difficult as it is for him to do much. So I figured spending the day doing an activity that we love doing together would be perfect. We took you up to Pickles Gap and Greenbrier to do some antique shopping. Everybody had a fit over how cute you are. We shopped several different antique stores, and we loved the day with you! All we bought the entire time was some fudge at The Fudge Factory in Pickles Gap, but it was awesome to look at everything. And, as always, you were such an angel. We love every second we spend with you! Thank you for being our little Valentine!!

Daddy surprised me tonight with a very special Valentine's gift:

I couldn't ask for anything more!!! I LOVE it!! It symbolizes our love together for you. It's perfect!

We Love You!!!!
Momma

Baby Picture: You and Me

Dear Brantley~

Everybody says you are a clone of your daddy, and you pretty much are. From the time we had your 4D ultrasound done everybody has thought you look exactly like Daddy. But he and I have noticed lately that the more alert you become the more we can see me in you. Today your Nana sent us a picture of me when I was a baby.

It's amazing how much my baby picture looks like you right now! We couldn't believe it!

We definitely both have that full head of hair that stands up. It makes me so happy!!! And you definitely have my eyes. I love it!!

And I Love You!!!
Momma

Motivation, Black Mail, & Your Cousin Jax

Dear Brantley~

I went out for another jog today. The other day I tried on some pre-pregnancy jeans that were big on me back then. In fact, they were so big I could take them off without unbuttoning them. When I tried them on the other day they lacked about 2 inches from being able to close enough to button. I couldn't believe it!!!! I was so disgusted with myself. Today while I was jogging a song by Kellie Pickler came on called "Life's Too Short." It says, "Life's too short to hate yourself." It's about being proud of who you are. At one point it said, "You let a stupid pair of old blue jeans that don't quite fit ruin your day and beat yourself up. You beat yourself up. Well blue jeans ain't nothin' but fabric and buttons. They don't mean a thing. They can't make you beautiful. Baby, you're beautiful. So throw 'em away!" That was just what I needed to hear. Not only did it make me feel better about myself, but it also made me push harder to reach my goals... and I did! I hoped to make it 2 miles again. I made it 2.25! I was so proud!

When I got home daddy had given you a bath again. This time was because you had messed up your pajamas, though.... pretty bad! Haha! You will love those stories when you get older... except you won't want us to tell them in front of your friends, or worse yet.. a girlfriend. :-)

We went to Nucle Jeremy, Aunt Tara, and Jaxon's house for supper tonight. Jax just loves you! It is so cute to see him around you. I can't wait to see how y'all interact as you get older. He can't wait to teach you so much.

I Love You So Much!!!
Momma

My First Real Run

Dear Brantley~

I went out for a jog today. Last week when I tried to jog the pain was pretty strong. I was nervous that it might still be a little too soon. So I decided to give it a little more time. Now it's been 5 weeks since you were born, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I did a short walk to warmup, then I started into the jog. It hurt like crazy where my incision was made. I decided I would push however hard it took to make it to a quarter of a mile. When I hit that mark the pain had decreased, so I made up my mind to push harder. I believed I could make it to half a mile. I got there and was already struggling to breathe, but I thought I could make myself go to three quarters of a mile. I got there and knew I couldn't let myself stop without going to a full mile. By the time I got to a mile the pain from the surgery was gone and the only difficulty I had was the typical struggles of someone starting back to running... so I pushed on.

1.25 miles... I can make it farther....

1.60 miles... I accidentally missed 1.5, so I might as well go on to 1.75...

1.75 miles... I can't stop here! If I've pushed this far I can push another .25 miles so I hit 2.0...

1.97.... gasp.... gasp....

1.98.... wooooweee this hurts......

1.99.... almost there... almost there...

2.0!!!!! My first day back and I ran 2 miles continuously!!!! I felt so accomplished!! I'm gonna get back to where I was. It will only take time.

The pics I got of you today were adorable... as always! When I got home from my jog your daddy had surprised me by already giving you a bath. He dressed you in jeans and a hoodie that were so stinking cute on you. That evening he had fun with you as you fell asleep in his arms while he fed you. I had to get pics of you and him...

Then you fell asleep in my arms a bit later. I couldn't quit taking your picture. Look how beautiful your little face is...

I love you more than you could possible imagine!!! And I love you more and more every single day!!!

Momma

Just a swingin...

Dear Brantley~

Today we took you to the Memphis Flea Market at the Little Rock Expo Center in Jacksonville. Yeah... it's pretty confusing. I used our carrier to tote you around, and I loved every second of having you curled up to my chest like that. It is the greatest feeling in the world. Well... it's one of them. I've found there are many "greatest feelings in the world" when it comes to you.

I had to take a picture of you and me to show your size. Look how little you are compared to me. It is so adorable!!!

And then I had to video you tonight while you were swinging in your swing. I love your coo's. You quit doing them as much when I started recording you, but I had to post it for you to watch someday anyway.

I Love You!!
Momma

5 Weeks!!

Dear Brantley~

You are officially 5 weeks old today! And while I failed to get a picture of you in your cradle today, I did take pictures of you in my arms. Of course, I get pictures of you every day. :-) You fell asleep on me as I was nursing you, which you do almost every time, and you were so incredibly precious that I had to grab my camera. (I'm not posting any that show much of me. In this particular one you were covering up the majority of me. What can be seen in it is no more than, and not even as much as, a low-cut top would show. But you were so precious I just had to post it for you.)

I Love You So Much!!!
Momma

Newborn Pictures

Dear Brantley~

I know we're late, but we took you to Jonesboro today to have Emily Cottingham take your newborn pictures. You were so stinkin' cute! Look at this preview we got to see...

Is there anything cuter in the world?

Your Nana and Papa came down to Jonesboro so they could see you. We met them at Longhorn Steakhouse to eat, and Nana wanted to hold you from the second she finished her meal. She absolutely adores you.

I'll post more pictures from you photo shoot as soon as we get them. I Love You So Much!!!

Momma

Momma Check-Up

Dear Brantley~

Today was my 4 week check up after giving birth to you. Everything went great! I am cleared to get back to my regular activities... of course it's all dependent on how I feel. I basically have to just use my own judgment from here on.

You, on the other hand, are growing like a weed. You're growing too fast. It was so hard for me to leave you today. I planned to take you to the doctor's office with me, but you were sleeping so good when it was time for me to leave the house that I hated to disturb you. I left you home with Daddy, and I cried as I walked out the door. I know I need to leave you for short jaunts so we don't deal with separation anxiety later, but it doesn't make it any easier. To help ease my pain your daddy sent me a text when I got to the doctor's office that said, "Look at the security camera." I pulled up the living room security camera on my phone, and he had moved it to your swing so I could watch you while I was gone. It made me feel so much better.

I Love You So Much!!
Momma

Date Night

Dear Brantley~

You went on a date with Daddy and I tonight... at home. We went to the grocery store midday and got a pork shoulder roast and a few other things. (Your 1st Valentine's Day hat is from Nucle Jeremy, Aunt Tara, and Jax, and your 1st Valentine's Day outfit is from MawMaw and Dandy).

Daddy smoked the roast all day, and I cooked some boiled and smashed potatoes (which he loves). Then I prepared some asparagus the way we like it and he grilled it. We had a fabulous dinner after enjoying wine and cheese together earlier in the evening. I got to finish the night by rocking you to sleep.

I honestly don't know if a day could be any better. I got to enjoy it with my two true loves.

I Love You!!!

Momma