Back Scratching

Lucy loves to have her back scratched. It started when we would rock her before putting her in the crib to relax her. We will lay in bed and she will say "Mommy, will you scratch under my back" which means will I scratch under her shirt. She has said this for about 2 years, and tonight she said "Mommy, will you scratch my back" so I started to scratch her back and she said "under my shirt." I said you mean under your back and she looked at me like what was I talking about. I told her that she always asked me to scratch under her back and she just kind of snickered and closed her eyes. I got teary eyed because it's another sweet saying that is gone. She is just growing up too quickly for me.

My heart smiles

My heart smiles...

...when Brandt says "ta u" (thank you) whenever I give him something

...when Lucy acts so excited when Brandt runs to her yelling "sissy" because he wants to show her something he has. She usually responds in a high pitch voice of "wow, Bubs, that's cool"

...when Brandt lays down on the floor on his tummy because Lucy is doing it or runs around acting silly because Lucy is

...that Lucy lets Brandt copy her and actually likes it

...listening to Lucy read

...rocking Brandt at night and listening to him giggle when I give him butterfly kisses

...when Lucy and Brandt yell "Daddy" as loud as they can when they hear his truck honk and his key in the door

...that Lucy loves to share with Brandt. It's usually that she will give him a bite of hers and then ask him to share with her. It seems to work. Although, the other day at Target, we stopped to get a free cookie at the bakery and Brandt ate his in less than 30 seconds and then kept yelling "sissy, more" thinking that she should now share with him. She was actually going to do it, but I told her she didn't have to.

...when Brandt smells things... well, just look at this picture. How cute is that!!

...listening to Brandt say new words like, throw (toe) and swimsuit (suesue), and the way he likes to hold my nose when I say something is stinky.

... watching Brandt hold a crayon and pencil to color. He loves to color, just like Lucy! I'll find him at the dining room table a lot coloring away, especially since he can crawl up on the chair now.

...listening to Lucy figure out math problems that she came up with herself while driving in the car. She always is wanting to learn something.

...the way Brandt calls his baby bear, binky and blanket all "baby," and loves to carry his baby bear around tucked under his little arm.

...watching them sleep... so peaceful, so beautiful! (This was after a big day at the zoo).

Sissy

Brandt is saying Sissy for Lucy all of the time. He'll call for her, he'll see something that is hers and say "sissy", and the sweetest thing is that if I give him something he'll stick out his little hand and say "sissy" which means can Lucy have one. I love listening to him talk because he jabbers away and I pick up a few words here and there. When the kids and I were at my parents, we would talk to Daddy daily and Brandt would get on the phone and just start jabbering and pointing as he talked. I sure wish I knew all he was saying. I do love that 95% of the time I do know what he is trying to tell me or ask me and all he has to say is "mommy." What a gift to be home with my children and know them so well that all they have to say is mommy, well sometimes it is "mommy, mommy, mommy, MOMMY" but none the less I know what he wants. These are such precious days!!

Yesterday at church, I picked up Lucy from her class and Mike got Brandt. When he saw us he started squirming to get down. I thought he was running to me because he usually does, but he ran right to Lucy and gave her a huge hug. Melt my heart!!