Cousins Meet!

This week my both of my brothers came in town! David came back in town from an internship in Houston and Stephen, his wife Mallory and my adorable little nephew Luke came in town on their way back up to New Jersey. I was so excited to see them and for Larkin to meet his uncles, aunt and his older cousin! They all dropped by the house Monday evening and we made the introductions.

Stephen and Larkin

David and Larkin

Mal and Larkin
Luke and Larkin- cousins meet!

"Come on Larkin, I'm just trying to play!"

"Hey buddy!"
Mom loves her time with Luke
Luke imitating PiperLuke is getting cuter each time I see him. His hair is a beautiful auburn red and he has the biggest blue eyes and eyelashes. He's a cute little chonker (big guy:))! It is fun to see how interactive and vocal he is and he is almost walking! Although sometimes I'm sad Larkin seems to be growing so fast, it's fun to see what I have to look forward to.

So glad they are in town and we are looking forward to hanging out with them more this week!

Birthday Celebrations!

Then, and ...

Now! Happy Birthday Mimi!

This weekend was a busy weekend of celebrations! In addition to Larkin's one month birthday, Mimi (Jordan's mother) turned 60! The whole family came in town to celebrate and we planned a full day Saturday to make her feel special. To celebrate with class, all of the daughter-in-laws had planned a high tea for Mrs. Brazeal at the Dallas Arboretum. We were so excited and looked forward to an afternoon of relaxation and crumpets!

My goodness it was hot, though and unfortunately the afternoon took a turn for the worse when when we got to the Arboretum tea room. Not only did it feel as the air conditioning was broken, but worse...our reservation had been bumped to accomodate a larger party. We were told they would be unable to serve us and we would have to leave. After some polite but firm discussions with the tea room manager and an email confirmation as proof of our appointment, the management turned the situation around and set up a spot for us. This first picture was taken as we were waiting for them to set up our table...

A little hot and bothered :)

After a complimentary mimosa and some refreshing iced tea we were much happier campers and began to really enjoy our celebration of Mimi's birthday. We had a bag of questions for Mrs. Brazeal to draw from that asked her about her life and the past 60 years. It was so fun to hear the answers and the tea proved to be a special and meaningful time for all of us.Now having much more fun!

We finished off the celebrations by driving over to Arlington that night to celebrate with our husbands and with Pop (Mr. Brazeal). Larkin, Jordan and I loaded up all of our stuff and arrived a little early so that all of the aunts and uncles could meet Larkin.

Larkin and Aunt Shelle

Larkin and Aunt Katie


Larkin and Aunt Jen

Larkin and Mimi

Larkin and Mommy

Pop took us to a wonderful dinner at Pappadeaux where they set us up in a private room. Our family gift to Mimi was a book created on Shutterfly. Each family had created their own pages of pictures and letters to her. She loved it!

Happy Birthday Mimi, you are a wonderful mother-in-law and we are all so thankful for you!

More Playdates!

This past week Larkin and I had so much fun as we had two more playdates! My highschool girlfriend Catherine and her husband, Shea came over and brought their son, Briggs on Thursday. He is about a month older than Larkin and soo cute! It was so fun to talk with them and learn from them tips and tricks of the trade. Catherine and Larkin; Briggs and Me

Our second playdate was with Annie Houston and her daughter, Lola. Annie and I went to high school together and loved to work out together while we were pregnant. I was her big sis in cheerleading back in high school and now she is giving me tips and wisdom about being a mommy! It was so encouraging to talk with her. Lola is 4 months old and Larkin had a little crush on her (although you can't tell because his eyes are closed). We can't wait to hang out with them some more!

Larkin and Lola

Thank you for coming over to play, friends!

ONE MONTH!

Dear Larkin,

A month... a MONTH has come and gone, little one! The months we awaited your arrival seemed to stretch out so much longer than this past month has. The nights and days since your birth seemed all rolled into one (perhaps because of lack of sleep). So it's with a bittersweet heart I watch this milestone come and go - a little sad the first month has passed; still, not wanting to go back and relive it, but continue on this journey of getting to know you better and watching you grow!

So much has happened. There are so many memories that I treasure and so many new things daddy and I have learned about you.

So, little Larkin, perhaps if not more for me than you, I want to write out some of the things we've learned about you over the past month of getting to know you.

BATHS:
Just the thought of bathtime relaxes you enough to get your bladder going. You've peed on mommy I think over 6 times! You love baths, though, and always have a little half smile as we bathe you off. At the end as you get cold, your little lip quivers and you start to shiver but you never cry.
FEEDING and SLEEPING:
You are still on a 3 hr schedule although last week there were quite a few times you needed to eat a bit sooner. I think you were growing. This week we are back to 3 hours. At night we try to let you go as long as possible. One night you had a 5 hour stretch! This has definitely NOT been consistent and typically you stay with the 3 hour schedule at night. At night mommy has to reswaddle you after changing your diaper so we are up quite a bit although I'm getting a little more efficient. Mommy wishes she could nap during the day, but it's really hard for her to do and the few times she has, you've woken up just as my head hit the pillow!

SMILES:
You seem the most happy in the morning. Sometimes when I go in to wake you up (if you haven't already awaken) you have a little smile as you fight off sleep to wake up. You have smiled almost every time I have brushed your hair and of course when you are eating or after a good meal. Your smile melts my heart and makes all the challenges of the day seem nothing. I can't wait for more of these!
PLAYING:
We are trying to stick to the eat, wake, sleep schedule. During your awake times we play on your mat, sing, go watch the wind chimes outside (you LOVE this), read and dance (mommy helps you keep the beat). You don't mind the Baby Bjorn but you usually fall asleep as soon as I start moving. Wake time has been the most challenging as you are still a sleepy little baby. But that's okay I love to cuddle with you when you are falling asleep.
SWADDLING:
You do NOT like to be swaddled. I've learned to put the paci in while I swaddle, that helps. The miracle blanket aka. the "straight jacket" works the best so far although we are going to try out the swaddle me to see how that goes. Even though you don't like it when you are awake, and you try to squirm and kick it off; if we put you to sleep without it, you are awake in less than an hour... so sorry little guy but it stays!
GETTING OUT:
We have been getting out more this week which has been wonderful for mommy. We have gone on walks early in the morning either outside or at the mall. We've been to visit friends at their houses and over to Nana's house several times. We've started running some of mommy's errands too. Each day we try to get out at least once. You typically sleep which has been nice for mommy and I am getting better and more efficient at lugging you in and out of the car.

With each day as a new mother I find myself treasuring some new memory or thinking back to something that’s happened in the last month and storing it away to return to and enjoy in the future.

Being a mommy is the most rewarding and yet the most "stretching" role I have ever had. I have so much more respect for single mothers, for my friends who became mothers before me and of course for my own mother.

You are the best little son a mommy could ask for and I am so thankful the Lord gave you to us to take care of while we are here on earth. Your little expressions, smiles, coos and even your cries have touched my heart and endeared me to you in a way I did not think possible. I am completely smitten. With that comes a vulnerability as I have to bring this overwhelming love for you to the Lord and trust that He loves you more than we do and has a plan for your life that surpasses what ours would be for you.

So, little one, we thank the Lord for this past month. You are the biggest blessing to us and we love you.

love~mommy and daddy

It's Raining at Our House

Dear Larkin,
You were born in one of the hottest months on record. With all the talk of 110 degree temperatures, rolling blackouts and conserving water, you would think I would welcome a nice shower to cool off. The shower I received yesterday was of a different sort.

Daddy had come home and decided he wanted to learn how to bathe you all by himself. He asked for my help to supervise the first time. I kneeled down in your bathroom to turn on the bath water and show daddy the correct water temperature. Little did I know, daddy held a naked little Larkin right above me. The rains came down and soon instead of bathing you, my head and back had been showered by your very full little bladder.

Daddy thought this was the funniest thing he had seen in a while and was laughing so hard he couldn't quite aim you another way (so it seems). We were both laughing hysterically as I tried to explain to daddy to never undress you until right before bathtime.

Oh goodness... lessons learned as new parents, you are constantly making us laugh (or I guess we are laughing at ourselves as we learn to parent you).

Love you so much little man,
~Mommy


After the rain shower!