pajamas and hats.

I asked Brooks to run upstairs and put his pajamas on. This is what he came up with...

HA! 

Also, this guy right here—loves a hat!

There's never a dull moment in the Bryant house. I sure do love my boys!

mermaid tales.

Baby girl has turned a corner this past month. She is more affectionate, silly, and sweet as ever. She is the best helper—she loves to help me cook dinner, clean-up all messes, and put away toys. She is quick to respond with "yes, ma'am" or "yes, sir" when asked to do something. She has been loving her mama lately and I have been loving it, too. Who is this child who crawls into my lap, squeezes my neck, and gives me the best kisses?! AB Baby, you are making my heart burst! 

Ann Bennett is our child that keeps us laughing. One of the things that I adore and get the biggest kick out of is her vocabulary. So, here is Annie's first "Ann Bennett Says" word (and mermaid)-style:

She calls lip gloss, "lip claw". And asks for is on the regular. 

She calls a braid, "brave." And is equally obsessed, these days.

Our all-time favorite: steak is "snake." Baby girl loves her some snake.

A trolley in AB's world is a "charlie."

Another favorite of mine, crumbs? Oh, those are just "grumbles."

She calls jewels, "rules" and granola, "granilla."

And lastly, in true Halloween fashion, pumpkins in AB's world are "punkeens." 

Ann Bennett, my darling girl, you are such a light. Keep on shining and being YOU!

right of passage.

This is every toddler girl's right of passage, right?

 Busted!

monkey see, monkey do.

If brother sits on the "pa-ee," Sissy sits on the "pa-ee," too. 

It's monkey see, monkey do all day, every day up in here. 

Also, Happy Birthday to our Pop Pop! Since we are honoring you with a potty picture, I have a joke for you:

Why did Annie put candles on the toilet?

Because she wanted to have a birthday potty!

Yessss. TGIF!

brooks says.

While playing outside…
B: [With a serious face] "Look at that rain cloud far away."
L: "Uh oh. Is it going to rain?"
B: [Shakes head] "No, it's not going to rain. The sun is out!"
Ok, thank you, weatherman Brooks.

I opened the trunk to my car and noticed that there were boxes upon boxes of tile still there that John was supposed to get several days ago. I have asked him at least five times for him to get it out. So when I caught sight of it, I mumbled under my breath while putting Brooks in the car seat…
L: "Ooh, I'm so mad."
B: "Got be happy, Mommy!"

Picking at his cheek in his car seat…
B: "Get lunch off!" It was breakfast.
L: "Ok, buddy. I will wipe it off when we get to the store."
B: [Pointing to my center console where I keep spare wipes] "In there!"

While watching America's Funniest Home Videos and eating dinner in the den as a family, a segment on kids' reactions to pregnancies came on... 
J: "Brooks, do you want Mommy to have another baby?
B: [Poking at both of my boobs] "Mommy has two babies in der!"

While driving with one hand on the wheel…
B: "You have drive with two hands!" [Complete with hand gestures]
L: [Put both hands on the wheel]
B: "There you go."

Got a smoothie for Brooks at Costco…
L: "Can Mommy have some?"
B: "Sure you can!"

After eating breakfast he was sitting with his hands out and demanded…
B: "Wipe me up!"
L: "Excuse me? Wipe me up, please?"
B: "I don't like them!"
L: "You don't like what?"
B: "Oranges." [Even though he devoured them]
L: "You just don't like that they make you sticky? Because it looks like you enjoyed them; you ate all of them! Did they taste good?"
B: "They did, Mommy."
L: [Broooks runs off and I pick up his plate and say] "Good job, buddy!"
B: [From the den] "Good job, Mommy!"

Brooks learned how to sing "God our Father" at school. He now asks to sing it throughout the day…
B: Let's sing Fod our Gotter!"

While playing catch in the front yard…
B: [Out of the blue] "I got a penis!!!"

After an afternoon at the hunting club with John…
J: "Did you see any deer, Bubba?
B: "I didn't. Mommy, did you see any?"
L: "I sure didn't."
B: "Say 'no sir,' Mommy."

Handed him my chapstick…
B: "Hey! I love this! It's sooo cute."

Headed to the hospital to meet Charlie…
L: "Do you want Mommy to have another baby?"
B: [Pauses, thinks for a second] "You already have one, Mommy."

Going number two with Daddy (as in Daddy was keeping him company)…
B: [Looking down, face red, poops] "Daddy! Did you hear it go kapluke?!"

…'Til next time!

brooks says.

Goodness, this timid, silly, sensitive, sandbox-loving boy makes me laugh. A lot.

We bought Brooks a Vulcan statue…
B: [Pointing at the nether-regions] Vulcan pee pee, Mommy.
L: [Oh boy]
B: Oooh, Vulcan bottom too!

Trying to put his sippy cup of milk in my mouth…
B: Open that mouth!

While putting Ann Bennett down for a nap, Brooks runs in and climbs up on her crib…
B: Pray for Sissy, Mommy!
L: Okay, buddy!
B: Thank you, Jesus, for baby sister…

Another day we went through our "pray for baby sister routine" at nap time, then walked into Brooks' room for his nap...
B: [Crawls into bed]
L: [Walks to the door]
B: [Sits up and pats chest] Pray for meeeeee!
I do baby boy, all of the time.

While playing trains, runs up to me…
B: Hurt back, Mommy.
L: [Lifts shirt to kiss his boo boo]
B: Put lavender on it, Mommy.
Oil much?

We were upstairs playing and went into the bathroom to look out the window to watch it sleet in the backyard…
L: Brooks, who's room is this?
B: Pop Pop's. Pop Pop go potty in the toilet! He makes bubbles! (Thank you, John for teaching him that.)
B: He have flush it!

As I'm putting on Ann Bennett's bonnet…
B: Ooooh, Sissy's cowboy hat!

I was putting a bunny on the mantel for Easter…
B: Awwww!
L: Do you like that bunny?
B: So cute!

At snack time…
B: Want some water wit juice in big boy cup!
L: Okay, I'll go get some for you.
B: [Leans in] And don't sthill it!
Ironic because 10 seconds later, he spilled it.

I was sitting on the toilet enjoying some peace and quiet with a magazine when Brooks walks in…
B: [Shouts] Found you, Mommy!
L: [Deep breath]
B: [Gasps] Don't let book fall in the potty, Mommy.

While in the care of John…
B: Wooh! That carpet's dirty dirty! Got to clean it up!

And lastly, he tells me all day, every day…"you cute, Mommy, you cuuuuute." He especially loves to use the cute card when he is in trouble. Smart boy, Brooksie.

 Please stay this age forever, sweet baby boy. Don't grow up. 

brooks says.

I was giving Brooks a tubby the other night and while watching him play on his tummy, kicking and blowing bubbles, I had an overwhelming feeling of wanting to freeze time, this very moment, and hold onto it forever. So, naturally, I grabbed my camera. 

B man is at such a fun age right now. Twos are anything but terrible (though, there are days that I want to bang my head against the wall, curl up in the fetal position and cry). 

He is developing such a silly personality. He keeps me laughing all day, every day. 

He has started asking a gillion questions. They start with Mommy and end with Mommy. Mommy, what's dat sound, Mommy? Mommy, sit right here, Mommy. Mommy, Mommy, Mommy. At times it can be exhausting, especially by day's end, but I know that this stage and precious moments are fleeting, so for now I am going to cherish that little voice so full of curiosity and endearment, the little hands that make the biggest messes, his growing imagination and realizations, and, of course, bubble beards...

I decided before he even started talking that I would compile "Brookisms" throughout his little life that were witty, sweet, or just plain funny. Here are some Brooks Says that I have gathered over the past month:

While playing with his alphabet puzzle, revealing the frog under the letter "F"...

B: Froggy sitting down!

L: [Nods]

B: And watching, TV! 

Out of the blue...

B: "Give mommy love." Followed by a big hug. 

L: [Heart melts]

While watching me get undressed to get in the shower...

B: [Points and laughs], "Mommy's boo boos! 

L: [Ummm, you mean boobies, Sparky?]

While sitting in the chair reading a book with Ann Bennett on my lap and Brooks beside me, he hops down, walks over to Sister's activity mat, bends down and pats it...

B: Sissy better get down, here!

While sitting in the same chair watching cartoons one morning...

B: Want bulldozer. 

L: Okay, get up and go get.

B: I'm sweepy (sleepy). 

L: [Stares]

B: [Pushing me out of the chair] Move, Mommy!

Observing me change Ann Bennett's diaper...

AB: [Passes gas]

B: Oh! Baby Sister pooted on Mommy! 

Dropped food on the floor at the restaurant...

B: [Climbing under the table] Go down der and eat it up!

Sitting on my lap while I was editing baby George's newborn pictures...

B: [Points] Margot and baby Jesus, Mommy!

While undressing him for a shower he starts touching both of his nipples...

B: Wiggle nipples, Mommy!

L: [Trying not to make eye contact]

B: Mommy, wiggle her nipples! 

L: [Decides daddy better take a shower with him]

While eating lunch together at the dining room table…

L: I love you, Brooks.

B: [Smiles]

L: Brooks, do you love Mommy?

B: Noooooooo.

L: [Silence]

B: Mommy cry!

He likes to tell everyone he meets about trackhoes and dump trucks, complete with hand gestures. And my favorite Brooksism is how he gets millimeters from your face when he wants to tell or ask you something. That little boy. I sure do love him and I am pretty sure he loves me too. Wink.

To be continued...

#momoftheyear.

I have had several #momoftheyear moments over the past eight months. I'm not talking about supermom, I'm perfect, I deserve a medal or cookie moments either--more like, "Why on earth did the Lord entrust me with a child?" kind of moments. I think that it is safe to say that I am not the most graceful person alive (I see you raising your hands and shouting Amen! mother dearest). I am sporting three bruises at the moment, knocked a diamond out of my ring today, and my child currently has a black eye. Yes, my baby has a black eye. Queue: shameful head shake. *SIGH*

Want some examples?

During a walk with my girlfriends, Katie Beth and Margot, and our babes a month or so ago, I got attacked by a flying insect of a sort. Okay, it didn't attack me. It landed on my arm. So, what did I do? I screamed and then let go of the stroller to swat the little pest. Wait, you let go of the stroller? Yep, I sure did. The stroller, with my precious cargo in it, swiveled to the left and started to head down a steep driveway. Luckily, I was able to grab it before it picked up speed. I really think that my heart stopped beating there for a second. Where were my motherly instincts on that one?! #momoftheyear

Another pat-on-the-back moment happened this week. Brooks and I were in some need of some fresh air so we went on a walk around the neighborhood. It's super hot so I filled up a cup of ice water and stuck it in the cup-holder. I don't know how it went down, but I somehow knocked the cup out of the holder and it spilled ALL OVER BROOKS. He started crying (shocker) and a neighbor getting in his car started shaking his head and saying things like, "Oh man," "Oh no," "Whoa" while I am trying to console my baby and get the cubes out of his lap. #momoftheyear

Before:

...and after:

Sorry little buddy!

Listen, I do the best that I can.