Some Things Never Get Old

Watching my kids grow up is often times bitter sweet. It is fun watching them learn and grow, but I find it sad when something about them I love so much changes and is lost forever with their progress. Like when my babies are learning how to talk and say certain words in an incorrect, yet adorable, way, and then one day they learn how to say it correctly and I wish they would go back to saying it the old way because it always put a smile on my face. There are some things that seem to stick around a little longer, and for that I am grateful. One thing that has stuck around our house for the last 3 years is Mason's love of mowing the lawn with Scott. He was given a little lawn mower for his first birthday and fell in love instantly. Since then there has rarely been a time that Scott has mowed the lawn without his little shadow just a few steps behind. It doesn't matter how many times I see it, (every week for 3 summers) it never gets old. I probably have more pictures and video footage of this site than any other thing in our lives. It's just something that makes my heart so happy. This year it got even better as Brynn joined in. A little boy who wants to be just like his dad and a little sister who wants to be just like her brother.I just love it!

Practice Run

Today my mom babysat her neighbor's 2 month old baby boy and we spent the afternoon at her house using it as a little practice run for when our baby brother arrives in just a few short months. It made me smile to watch the loving and tender way Mason held and talked to the baby. He was just glowing as he spent time with the baby. He is so excited for his baby brother to arrive and I can tell you right now he is going to be an amazing older brother. Brynn on the other hand still has some room for improvement. She was more excited about the baby's binky then the baby itself and expressed on multiple occasions, "I don't like the baby." I guess they got off on the wrong foot when she said hi to the baby and after a long stare and a silent pause she pouted, "The baby didn't talk to me!" After watching Mason shake a little rattle and sing songs for the baby she decided to join in and give the baby a teddy bear... by throwing it at his head. It was with good intentions, but I'm very glad it was a stuffed animal and not a hard toy. She does love her baby doll (actually my old doll) very much these days and takes it everywhere with her. She seemed to do better when we focused on her taking care of her baby rather than focusing on the real baby. So I guess that teaches me to include her in things by letting her take care of her baby as I take care of our baby brother. Today sent mixed emotions running through me. Of course I am excited, but mostly I just feel incredibly nervous about the arrival of baby #3. I am already so in love with this little guy kicking around inside of me and just pray I will be able to give each of my precious children all of the love and attention they need and deserve. Thank goodness for 12 more weeks of preparation...I need every minute of it.

And since no post is complete without a picture, here is a picture of the first time Mason saw Brynn through the nursery window. I have no doubt Mason was sent to our family first to fill a very important role as an older brother in the lives of his siblings. And I think Brynn will feel this same kind of love when she meets her little brother.