Here and Now

I've spent so much time watching both of my children this past week and am so amazed at the fact that they are here and they are ours. There are so many times lately that I stop and think, "Remember this. Remember this exact moment," and this is my attempt at doing just that.

At 3 months old, Scarlett has quite the personality and loves to smile. She has discovered her hands and loves to suck on her thumb and pointer fingers at the same time, which I love. She is also starting to "talk" and coo more and more. She has started to discover the ceiling fan and lights and they are quickly becoming her favorite things to talk to. She is getting stronger every day, too. She does a great job on her belly and lifts her head up high. Her little legs are so strong and she scoots herself in circles whenever she is on the floor. Sometimes I think she's going to figure out what her legs are capable of and just take off, but I'm hoping she doesn't get it for a while longer yet.

After a lot of trying nights, Scarlett has started sleeping for 5-6 hour stretches a night in her crib, and wakes up in the morning cooing instead of crying. We haven't been able to make this happen every night, but we're working in it. One of her little quirks that Daddy and I are trying to figure out is her actual bedtime. We've noticed that if we put Scarlett in bed before 9:00pm, she will only stay asleep for 25-30 minutes. Any time after that, and she seems to sleep for hours. But, I have to tell you little one, a 9pm bedtime isn't quite going to cut it. ;)

I think my favorite moments with Scarlett right now are when she nurses. I love feeling her little body curled around mine and seeing her big blue eyes looking up at me. She's started to bat at my face as she nurses, which I find quite funny. Sometimes she'll lean back in my arms and give me a great big grin and I can't help but smile back back at her. And at those moments, all is right with my world.

Grasyson is not quite 3 1/2 yet, but thinks that he is much older. Not a day goes by that he doesn't say, "When I get bigger....." He want nothing more than to be just like his Daddy and do all the things Daddy does. Daddy is hands down his favorite person right now. After much thought a week or so ago, Gray looked at me and said, "Mommy, Scarlett can be your favorite 'cause Daddy is my favorite." I was able to chuckle and go along with him, but I would be lying if I said it didn't sting just a little. Gray has also started to use more adult like phrases and is starting to understand how powerful his words can be. In a moment of anger and frustration, he actually told me he didn't like me. I was stunned to say the least, not because of what he said, but because he knew to say it. Because he figured out at 3 that he's not always going to like Mommy or the rules I set, and he knew how to voice exactly how it made him feel.

Gray has surprised me by turning into a very outgoing little boy and doesn't hesitate to talk to people after he has warmed up to them. He is still very affectionate, and loves to snuggle. He is very compassionate when it comes to younger kids, though he does have his rough moments. He loves to hold his sister, and asks to have his picture taken with her almost every single time. We love when Gray leans over and gives Scarlett's head a good rub just because, and today we watched as he tried to teach her how to suck her thumb.

He played soccer for the first time this fall, and loved it for the most part. We signed him up for tumbling a month or so ago, and, after a slow start, he really took to it. He loves being active and learning how to do new things like cartwheels and headstands, and we're hoping that he will stick with it.

I know that there are a hundred other "things" and moments that I am forgetting right now, and I can only hope to convey a very small glimpse of what my children are like at this very moment. But hopefully some day I will be able to come back and read this and have it jog those other memories, or at least paint a picture in my mind of what my life was like when my children were 3 years and 3 months...

Right now Gray is standing in front of me with his sword belted around the waist of his shirt and his headphones on his ears with the cord hanging down singing at the top of his lungs, and I can't help but laugh. Scarlett is lying contentedly on the floor cooing away as she stares at her big brother, and this is one of those exact moments that I want to remember and hold onto as my children grow up way too fast.