A First Letter

To My Little Boy:

After weeks of anticipation, we found out last week that you are a boy.  A "he".  We are overjoyed that you, YOU, are joining our family.  We've known for what seems like forever that another precious baby was on the way, but knowing that it is you, Baby Boy, that is on the way makes it seem all the more real.  Even before we found out you were a boy, I had your nursery planned out (now the real test is whether you sleep in it more than your sisters did their's) and your name chosen.  But now that the ultrasound confirmed a boy is baking, I can picture your trucks in the play room, your little blue layette, and your dirt stained knees.

Even though I have yet to hold you, or gaze in your eyes, or kiss your cheeks, and even though I don't yet know the shape of your lips or the color of your hair, or the sound of your cry, I am learning more about you every day.  I know that you are growing.  The little flutters that I began feeling weeks ago are turning into full blown kicks.  During the ultrasound, we watched you flip your little self in complete circles.  Now that I can feel you all over my tummy, I like to imagine your acrobatics.  I also know that you like Cadbury Eggs as much as I do for it doesn't take long for your little feet to get busy after I eat one.  And, I know that you are active in the late evening.  I can't wait to lay down each evening and wait for your tumbling to begin.

Something else I know is that you have 2 big sisters who are anticipating your arrival probably more than I am.  At first, they weren't so sure they were game for a little brother, but as soon as Daddy and I told them they would indeed be receiving a baby brother, they have launched into full on excitement.  Grace and Emma Kate each kiss "Baby Boy" every night at bedtime right between prayers and being tucked in.

So far my experience as a Mama has been filled with pink, tutus, princesses, and nail polish which has come easy.  More than one person has told me, no, warned me that my world is about to be rocked with the arrival of a little boy.  Even though it makes me a little nervous, I'm ready for the rough and tumble, the mud pies, the "snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails".  I am ready for you.

Long before we knew it was a little boy that would be joining our family, we had your name chosen.  It's been our "boy name" for so long, that part of me was afraid it would wear out it's appeal.  But, now that it is your name, I love it all the more.  Your name is important to us.  It is filled with meaning, and it was meant just for you.  Your name is Reece Paul.  Reece is my mama's maiden name.  Paul is your Daddy's middle name, his daddy's name, and his grandfather's name.  You are named after many people who are important to us.  Many people who have had great impact, many people we love.  I hope you will be as proud of your name as we are to give it to you.

Precious Reece, though we have yet to look upon your face or cuddle you, you are already so very loved.  From the minute we knew of your impending arrival, we loved you.  And now, that we are anticipating our Reece, we love you more and more each day.  We can't wait for your arrival and pray for you daily.

Love,
Mama

An Easter Prayer

Dear Grace and Emma Kate,

Today we celebrated Easter.  We've hunted eggs, perused Easter treats, and gussied ourselves up for Easter pictures.  Those are all fun Easter traditions.  But, I want you to remember they are just that.  Traditions.

 The real reason we celebrate Easter is because of fulfilled prophesies.  Because of an empty grave.  Because Jesus died and was resurrected.  Because God loves you so much that He allowed His only son to be crucified so that through His glory, you could receive His free gift of salvation.  That's right.  Because of YOU.  Even 2000 years ago, you were planned, thought about, and loved.

One day, when the time is right, you will have the opportunity to accept Jesus' free gift.  I know this because Jesus offers this gift to everyone.  I pray that you will accept it and embark on the most wonderful journey of your life.

I could not begin to count how many times I've prayed that prayer.  I started that prayer before you were even conceived, and now, each night before I go to bed, I lay a hand on each of you and petition to God that it is in His plan for each of you to have a sincere relationship with Him.

My sweet girls, you will make many, many decisions in your life, but this decision to trust in Jesus is by far the most important.  I pray that you will realize the joy, peace, and celebration that can only come from Jesus.

For now, we will partake in these fun traditions, and I will try to teach you as much about the true meaning of Easter and Jesus as you can understand.  For even now, Jesus rejoices each time you pray to Him, sing to Him, and worship Him with your words, songs, and actions.

Remember that Jesus loves you so very much and wants to have a close, personal relationship with you.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Happy Easter, Loves.

Hippity Hoppity

Because Santa visits were such a royal mess in the past, I had never even brought up visiting the Easter  Bunny.  I mean, if you don't like a grandfatherly guy with rosy cheeks, I could only imagine the heebie jeebies an oversized rabbit could evoke.  But, when Grace asked about him, I thought, "Sure, why not?  Surely we're past that phase."  And we were past it.  Right up to the point when Emma Kate's eyes fell upon Mr. Easter Bunny.  That's when things started to fall apart.  Grace was game, so, I pried Emma Kate out of the stroller thinking she just needed a little extra coaxing or maybe a bribe with candy (Hey, I never said I was a perfect Mama.).  Grace, the big girl, climbed up beside the Bunny.  "Beside" is the key word.  As Emma Kate screamed "NOOO!" I realized the only way we would get a picture was if I sat down too.  As I sat down, the EB pulled Grace onto his lap.  As quickly as he pulled her up, she slid down his other knee and dug her finger nails in my arm.  At this point, the realization set in that we were a mess of princess sized tears, flails, and death grips.  So through smiling, gritted teeth, I growled "Snap it.  Snap it!"  I figured if the photographer thought his stuffed frog with jingle bells was going to turn this catostrophe around, he was sadly mistaken. 

Here is the result of the Bramlett Girls' first (and possibly last) Easter Bunny visit.

Before I was your Mama

Before I was your mama, I was a little girl.  I had a room with pink walls with matching blue and pink floral wallpaper.  My white iron bed sat in front of my window.  I used to love sitting on my bed looking out my window at the daffodils my Papa gave me.

Before I was your mama, my favorite toys were baby dolls.  I loved taking care of Emily Suzanne and my other babies.

Before I was your mama, I had a pair of little blue jelly shoes that I wore everywhere.  When Mimi thought they had seen better days, she tried to throw them away.  Papa got them out of the trash, and they are now one of my favorite keepsakes from my childhood.

Before I was your mama, I had arguments with Mimi about what I would wear.  When I refused to wear a romper to school in first grade, she had Uncle Jamie tell me that all the girls in high school wore rompers.

Before I was your mama, I loved reading, swimming, riding my bike and 4-wheeler, and playing outside.  The first story I read myself was about roller skates.  My favorite books were the Babysitters Club series.

Before I was your mama, I tried to pick up a worm to impress some classmates.  I laid a finger on it, got completely grossed out, and haven't touched a worm or a bug since.

Before I was your mama, I cleaned out and reorganized my Granddaddy's garage for him one summer.  He couldn't find anything, but had nothing but praise for my help.

Before I was your mama, I spent summers at Granny and Granddaddy's and at the pool.

Before I was your mama, I got my first cd player one Christmas.  My first cd's were Bon Jovi and Reba McEntire.  Talk about diverse tastes...

Before I was your mama, Mimi and I would stay up late working on school projects.  Later, we stayed up late working on wedding plans.

Before I was your mama, I loved going to the movies and shopping with my friends.  Papa thought I stayed on the telephone way too much.  I thought that's what he got a second phone line for.

Before I was your mama, I dreamed of being a mama.  Now that I am YOUR mama, I can say with certainty that my dreams have been surpassed, and I could have never imagined what joy and honor that you, my Sunshines would bring me.

A Room for Big Girls

The Big Girl Room.  Oh, the Big Girl Room.  This is perhaps the most talked about room in all the rooms I have ever had a hand in planning and decorating.  Why?  Because it's taken over a year to plan and convince the big girls that it was a good thing.  Actually, convincing them that a big girl room is fun was easy.  Convincing them that big girls sleep in their own room was a whole different story!  Finally, it is finished and easily my favorite room in the house.

At dinner the night it was completed, Grace decided she wouldn't sleep in the big girl room that night.  She proclaimed that she would sleep in it when she was four.  Well, since 4 was a mere 7 nights away, I agreed to her plan.  It has now been a week, and the big girls are actually doing it!  After a bed time song, prayers, and kisses, Grace and Emma Kate discuss the important things in life such as clothes and flip flops (I mean, they are my daughters) while drifting off to sleepy town.

I wanted their room to be feminine without being too "theme-y"  After 2 coats of pixie dust pink, pink tutus on the wall, and pink tulle bed skirts, I'd say we definitely achieved feminine. :)

The bedding on their little twin beds were the first thing chosen and were a gift from Mimi.  The girls love the sweet little fairies on the sheets.  I wanted wall letters for their name, but didn't want them simply painted, so I recovered them in fabric.

The hard working Daddy sanded, refinished and added new drawer pulls to the dresser that sat in my childhood bedroom.

This little tree might be my pride and joy of the room.  I sketched and painted the trunk and limbs, and adhered fabric leaves.

Emma Kate's favorite color is orange.  She has been saying for weeks that she wants an orange room, so since I can't bear the thoughts of 4 orange walls, I came up with this little idea of a way to remember my itty bitties the way they were when the room was created.  Hand prints in each girls' favorite color.

Hopefully it's normal that they've slept better than I have this past week.  Even though it is way past time they were sleeping in their own beds, I have to admit that I miss having them at my finger tips throughout the night...

Celebrating Turning 4

Dear Grace,

When you said you wanted a princess party (again) for your birthday, I wasn't surprised in the least.  When you allowed me to talk you into a mermaid party with little effort, I was definitely surprised!  I love the way your fourth birthday party came together, and I loved getting to celebrate another year of you, my sassy princess!

Many thanks to Briana, owner of Rockin Cali Girls and mom to 4 beautiful girls for creating the birthday shirt.  The day it arrived in the mail, you were holding it over your head, jumping up and down, and shouting "Woo hoo, woo hoo!"  I consider that a win.

My friend Suzie of Zo-Mak Photography created the invitation for us.  Thank you to Makena and Zoe for sharing their mommy's talents with us. :)  When we picked these up from being printed, you oh so nonchalantly showed all the other shoppers.

The sweet mermaids that adorned your party were created by Toadally Cute Products and were just what I had in mind, right down to the dark hair that matches your's.  

For food, we went with "submarine" sandwiches and chips, "fruit of the sea," "treasure dip," and "mermaids in a blanket."  Yeah, your mama can be corny.  Get used to it.  And since your favorite food group is still sugar, we overloaded the dessert table with cupcakes, brownies, fish shaped cookies made by Southern Girl Bakery, and candy including Swedish fish and octopus sour gummies.

When I decided real goldfish would be sweet centerpieces, I forgot about why I'm not responsible for the pets.  Thankfully, only one goldfish found out why this is true, and Kayla the animal lover took the rest home where they are receiving proper care.

As a thank you to your guests for coming, we put together personalized pails with shovels, goldfish snacks, bubbles, bath toys, squirt guns, lip gloss, and lotion.

My sweet little big girl, I am so proud of you for remembering to thank everyone for the gifts.  

And, thank you for humoring me during picture taking.

I will always remember your mermaid birthday party with a smiling heart.  I hope you had a blast and made fun memories as well!

Four

Dear Grace,

As I sit here staring at your sleeping face, I realized that when you drifted off to sleep you were 3.  Tomorrow morning when you wake up you will be 4.  FOUR years old.  I know it's just a bigger number, and in reality it's only one day older than you were today, but there seems to be something different about turning 4.  Maybe it's because your little mind has grown by leaps and bounds over the past year.  Or maybe it's because you have really grown into your role as big sister.  Maybe it's the conversations we have that make you seem wise past your years.  Or maybe it's the compassion that I'm witnessing develop in your little heart.  You are learning to be empathetic and to give.

When you were born, I couldn't stop staring at you.  You were so beautiful, and I wanted to memorize every curvature, every dimple.  It's like that now too.  I stare at you, amazed at the little lady you are becoming.  It is pure magic that escapes your eyes when you get excited.  Over the last 1,460 days of staring, I've learned so many things about you.  I know the shape of the dimple in your chin.  I know how your hair falls across your forehead.  I know that you bite the inside of your lip when you're in deep thought.  I know the way you clench your jaw when you're about to stomp your foot.  I know the sound of your belly laugh, the feel of your hand in mine, and the smell of your hair.

When I look at you, I see excitement, possibility, and innocence.  I see love, diligence, and independence.  But most of all, I see my baby.  For no matter how many birthdays we celebrate, you will always be my baby.  I love you to the moon and back.

Happy birthday, Princess Grace.

Love,
Mama

I've been MIA from blogging, the kitchen, and the cleaning cabinet.  But, I promise at least part of me has been busy - the part that grows a baby!  Right after Christmas, we learned that Baby #3 will be joining our family in early September.  Symptoms appeared even before we got confirmation via a pregnancy test, and since then, they have continued with a vengeance.  The sickness that has joined me for every pregnancy showed up 2 weeks earlier this time than my 2 previous pregnancies.  Thanks to enough Zofran, I've managed to keep some food down and be able to function.  And I do use the term "function" loosely.  Cooked meals have been few and far between, house cleaning is all about perspective, and my bedtime has often been the same time as (if not before) Grace and Emma Kate.

Right after we found out our little miracle was on it's way, I began reading all about the baby's development.  I was 4 weeks pregnant at the time, and at that point, the baby is the size of a poppy seed.  A few nights later, I made poppy seed chicken for dinner.  As I poured in the poppy seeds, I began looking at them, examining them.  It is nothing short of amazing that God, who spoke the universe into existence formed the little poppy seed of a baby in my tummy.  Created him or her for His glory.  All of his or her DNA, his or her personality, his or her soul is contained in a package that starts out smaller than a poppy seed.  Nothing short of amazing.

When we told the girls they would be getting a little brother or sister, we got a "No boys allowed!" from Grace.  She and Emma Kate love to kiss my belly and talk about all the things they will get to do for their sibling.  I still haven't managed to convince them to take care of the dirty diapers.  

We had our first ultrasound at 9 weeks to make sure the dates were correct and to see the little heartbeat.  It was so reassuring to see the little flicker on the screen and hear the gallop of the baby's heart.  

We had another ultrasound at 12 weeks.  It is incredible how much growth takes place in 3 short weeks.  The baby was flipping all over the place, showing off, and even seemed to play peek-a-boo.  At 12 weeks, the baby is a little over 2 inches long.  

Now that we're at the end of the first trimester, I'm getting a little energy back.  And, the alldayallnight sickness is easing up as well.  I feel so blessed that God has given us the opportunity to welcome another little one into our family.  My prayer continues to be that I will be a Godly mother and teach my children about the joy of a relationship with Christ.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." 

Psalm 139:13

Guilty as Charged

Walls, base boards, rugs, doors, windows, floors, tables, couch.  These are a few of the places I've used a magic eraser on to remove, well, anything the girls choose to use as art medium.  One evening not too long ago, we found a new canvas for a Picasso-in-training.  As I was walking by the refrigerator, I noticed artwork on it's side.  Not a large mural, but just enough for my eye to catch.  Not too far away from the crime scene lay the weapon of choice - a blue Sharpee.

CSI meets NCIS commenced upon our house.  We gathered Prime Suspect #1 and Prime Suspect #2 for questioning and an experiment.  The suspects were given the Sharpee (with the cap on), and told to pretend to draw on the fridge.  Lo and behold, one of the suspects "drew" at the same height as the evidence.  The other suspect "drew" too high.  Prime Suspect #2 became the only suspect.  She denied it, "No, I did not dwaw on the fwidge."  She passed the buck, "Gwace did it."  She adamantly shook her head.

Now, at this point, I had a flash back to my childhood when, as we were putting up the Christmas tree, my parents discovered where someone had written "WWF" on our bathroom wall.  We couldn't continue with the tree until the guilty party owned up to it.  Everyone knew who had done it (and it wasn't the fru fru girl child).  We begged my brother to confess.  Finally, after what felt like 4 months, my brother either confessed or my parents decided it wasn't worth leaving Christmas tree limbs and decorations all over the living room floor.  Either way, this event has been ingrained in my mind.

Fast forward back to the present.  After many interrogation techniques, getting on an eye to eye level with her, and using our disappointed tones, Emma Kate threw her arms around my neck and through tears cried "I'm sowy!"  Apparently, she's not as much of a hardened criminal as she tries to portray.

The Guilty Party: