nana's birthday.

Yesterday, we celebrated Nana's birthday with lunch, flowers, cake, and bubbles.

We are so grateful for these sweet memories and time spent with great-grandparents. They're the best. 

Happy Birthday, Nana!

new house glimpses: volume one.

I haven't shared much of anything about the new house, yet. Except for the fact that moving with a three year old and a one year old was no joke. Moving across the street was no joke, either. I believe approximately 47 trips were made to and from. The day of our closing, our painters broke my favorite (discontinued—oh, the horror) lamp and the DirecTV gent cemented a metal pole smack dab in the middle of our backyard (really?!). So, naturally, I cried to him. And every one else who came into contact with me.

You literally cannot pay me to move again. Not until my moving wounds heal, at least. I don't foresee that happening for, oh, ten plus years.

Lo! We are in and on the road to settlement. We have a never-ending list of to-dos and lots to buy, hang, or purge, but it feels like home. Our hearts are overflowing.

I am going to periodically share some snippets of the house…until it is ready to share in its entirety.

Up today: our new runner. This may be my favorite purchase for the new house, thus far.

Coco seems to like it, too.

Happy Friday!

growing girl.

We went to the doctor today for Ann Bennett's 18 month well check-up. My growing girl weighs 27.2 pounds (92nd percentile) and is 35.5 inches tall (>99th percentile). Her head circumference is 48 centimeters (89th percentile). Our wild child was surprisingly timid and clingy. She started crying as soon as Dr. McAfee walked into the room. Dr. McAfee had to perform her check-up on my lap. It's a good thing big brother was there to assure her it would be okay! Sweet, Brooks.

AB only had to get one shot, the DTap vaccine. She was not a fan of me holding her arms down, nor Ms. Tabitha pricking her with a needle! After I picked her up, gave her "pa-pa" and "yaya (lovey)", all was right with the world again. Both she and Brooks got a sticker and a sucker afterwards for being so good. Well-deserved! 

Now my little priss pot…please, stop growing! It's hard to believe at her next check-up, she will be TWO!

a year and a half.

How on earth can you be 18 months old, baby girl?!

Each night, as we "rock rock" (per your request), I stare at you in wonder thinking, how did I get so lucky? Then I look at you, pouring out of my arms, and ask, when did you get so big? It pains me to think that in six short months you will be two years old. The twos and threes are so much fun and definitely years to look forward to, but with you, my beautiful Ann Bennett, I'm hanging on tight to the baby days…to the here and now.

You are quite a ball of emotions, Annie. You are 18 months old going on 18. One minute you're hot, the next you're cold. When you're mad, you're angry. When you're frustrated, you're infuriated. When you're happy, you're elated.

You feel hard.

You love hard.

And speaking of love, right now you love your "yayas" (lovies—all four of them), your "pa-pa" (paci—rarely leaves your mouth), vitamins (you cry at the refrigerator until I figure out what you're asking for),  "bay-bays" (babies—you love your baby dolls, but real babies take the cake), your mommy (if I'm not holding you, you are at my feet crying to be held), coloring (the walls, especially), cartoons (you are far more mesmerized by them than Brooks was at this age), your coat (stands at the washing machine crying when I wash it), music, and dancing. 

I think that music and dancing deserve their own paragraph. I joke with daddy and tell him that you are going to be a superstar one day. The next Britney Spears, maybe? Oh, Lord. Please no. You can recite every song and nursery rhyme known to man. You literally fall asleep singing and wake up singing every. single. night and day. If we are in a store or restaurant with faint music playing in the background you feel the beat and start dancing. Music is your life…and you're only a year and a half old!

Our little lady is really developing in the speech department. She can repeat (and sing) the ABCs and count to five. She thinks that all kitty cats are named Coco, she says "car" like she's from Jersey, and has been known to chant, "pa-eee, pa-eee, pa-eee" (potty, that is).

She fully grasps the concept of no. She shakes her head yes or no when we ask her a question. When Brooks yanks a toy out of her hand, she shouts, "nooooo!" And when mommy or daddy tells her no, she either looks down and plays with her hands, starts to quiver her lips, or hysterically cries. Typically, it's the latter. She is extremely independent. Sometimes to a fault. Like when you fell down the stairs, recently. Heaven forbid someone hold your hand!

Little bit loves to eat. She's most content on a full belly. She has mastered the fork. She isn't afraid to ask for "mo" (more) or tell us when she is "ah done" by ripping off her bib or pushing the plate off of her placemat. She loves to sit on the barstool and eat at the island or pulled up to the table in her highchair sans tray. It won't be long until we say goodbye to the high chair all together. If brother doesn't sit in a high chair, Sis doesn't want to sit in one. She is his little shadow, always within arms reach, copying everything that he says or does.

AB has 12 teeth total; top four, bottom four, and four molars. She has been a bit fussy this past month, and I'm sure it has something to do with all these teeth she's been sprouting. 

She is an early riser, like her daddy and brother. We put her down around 7:30 every night and she is up singing, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, between 6:00 and 6:30 every morning. She is, however, a good napper. She naps between 2 and 3 hours every day. I'll take it! 

My darling, Ann Bennett, I love your sweet kisses, snuggles, and your mischievous grin. I cherish our mornings together when Brooks is at school. You absolutely love having mommy all to yourself. I see that sweet personality shine and am able to breathe you in. All of you. Life sure is crazy crazier with you in it, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. You make our lives so much richer, more gratifying, more meaningful, abounding with love and laughter. Goodness, I love you. And always will. Happy 18 months, AB baby!

my valentines.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Y'all. I can't make this stuff up! XOXO.

valentine's party.

Today, Brooks had his class Valentine's Day Party at school. Brooks typically doesn't go to school on Fridays, so he was especially excited to see his friends, teachers, and eat sweets and treats.

Leave it to me to wait until the last minute to throw his valentines together. In my defense, I didn't read the newsletter until Thursday morning. Photoshop came to my rescue. I took an old picture of him running around in the backyard, added the text "You make my heart SKIP a beat," and attached a stretchy heart toy found at Target with leftover baker's twine from Christmas. I think that they turned out pretty cute!

The real cutie, however, was my little man!

Sweet, Brooksie. Don't go breaking any hearts today!

the circus.

Last night, John and I went on a special date with Brooks. We hired a sitter, treated our little buddy to a cheeseburger and fries, then took him to the greatest show on earth: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey LEGENDS at the BJCC.

I think that I may have been more excited than Brooks! It was my first time to go to the circus, too. I know, so sad. 

We let him pick out a toy, took our seats, and waited on the show to begin. He was mesmerized the moment they came out from the behind the curtain.

His favorite act was the caged dirt bikes. I think that the lions and tigers came in a close second. 

B lost interest around intermission, but he wasn't ready to leave just yet. We got him some popcorn and watched a few more performances.  I wish that we could have stayed until the end, but it was getting late and he needed to get home and get into bed.

He was such a trooper and loved his one-on-one time with us. We loved that time just as much, if not more. Such sweet memories made with our Brooks!

blue jeans.

I swore to myself that Brooks wouldn't wear jeans until elementary school...

But, goodness. He sure does look cute.

impossible.

Moving with little ones is close to impossible. If they aren't unpacking already packed boxes, they are tiny tornadoes, ripping the house apart. When it gets quiet, I get nervous. Today, the day of our closing, Ann Bennett somehow managed to empty an entire bottle of shampoo in our shower within a two minute time frame.

SEND HELP!

mama jean.

Two days after Christmas, we got the phone call that Mama Jean, John's paternal grandmother, had passed away. While we were deeply saddened by the news, we rejoiced knowing that she was in the arms of her Lord and Savior and reunited with her true love, Grandaddy, who her heart ached for since July. We cried tears of happiness and hope at the thought of that sweet reunion. 

July 4, 1931 - December 27, 2015

"Jean Williams Bryant, age 84, of Birmingham, AL was called Home to glory on December 27, 2015. Jean was preceded in death by her adoring husband Francis A. Bryant. She is survived by her sister Tomera Williams Lenoir; her three sons and their families, Larry and Cindy Bryant, Steve and Pam Bryant, and Warren and Kim Bryant; six grandchildren, Ashley Lawrence (Jack), Stephanie Adams (David), Eric Bryant, John Bryant (Lauren), Lea Moore (Bradley) and Crawford Bryant; and six great grandchildren, Jackson Lawrence, Bennett Moore, William Moore, Sam Moore, Brooks Bryant, and Ann Bennett Bryant, all of Birmingham, AL. Jean was born July 4, 1931 in Chilton County, AL to William Bennett and Cloie DeLoach Williams. She met her husband Francis in school, and stayed by his side for 68 years, until his passing in July of this year. Jean loved her husband dearly, and was a steadfast helpmate throughout his life. Together, they started a business, raised three boys, and served their church body faithfully, both at Raleigh Avenue and Lakeside Baptist. Possessing a quiet and gentle spirit, she cared for others well by cooking and hosting many at their farm. She loved reading God's word. She read through many bibles, passing each one along to her children and all of her grandchildren. Jean will be greatly missed, but we know that in our loss, she has gained eternity with her Heavenly Father."

The visitation, funeral, and graveside services were held on December 30th. We celebrated her amazing life in the presence of family and friends who loved her dearly. It was a bittersweet day.

We love you so much, Mama Jean, and are thankful for the way that you loved us.