Got A Little Story For Ya

Matt, in a very rare instance, left the door unlocked while, er, peeing the other day. Brantley, with her normal disregard for closed doors or other people's privacy, walked in. The conversation that followed went something like this:

Brantley: "Dada, why are you peeing out of your bellybutton?"

Matt (turning his back to her best he could): "Brantley, wait outside for Daddy."

Brantley (VERY concerned): "But Dada, why you pee out of your bellybutton? Why Daddy? (Touching her bottom) I pee out of my bottom Dada."

Three days later when she is getting ready to go potty:

Brantley: "Momma, Dada pees out of his bellybutton."

Me: "Oh really?"

Brantley: "He pushes on his belly and pee comes out of his bellybutton. That's how he does it."

Love my girl!!

Coming Soon

I guess I should make an official announcement here that the Helbig's are expanding. Hard to believe (and unsettling, exciting, nerve-wracking, hopeful...) that Matt and I will be the parents of two children. Two. Not one, but two. I know for many people two is a walk in the park, easy breezy. But oh-my-goodness I just don't know how we will do it. I know we WILL do it and it will be wonderful - I'm just missing the "HOW" part. The logistics. The PLAN. The routine. And how to make the routine seem not so, well, routine.

I think this recent development of anxiety is due to the non-stop pace my life seems to have taken on the past couple of months. It just so happened that work and personal family / home life decided to kick it up a notch at the same time. I am usually good if it is one or the other but both gets me a bit on edge. Like wake up in the middle of night and go over and over and over scenario A, B, and C again and again and again...

But let's be clear here - I am so thankful for this anxiety and sleepless nights because of what it is all stemming from. Another baby girl. A sweet sister for my little B. Another round of first smiles, words, steps, and birthdays. Another reason to celebrate the life Matt and I are creating together. Oh yes, I am so looking forward to bringing this little one into our family and growing our hearts again.

Worth it. Every little bit.

Brooke Jordan Helbig - coming March (or April?) 2011.

How Much Is Too Much?

1 bowl of Heart to Heart with large handful of blueberries + 1 stawberry / banana smoothie + 1 fruit and nut granola bar + 2 slice of veggie pizza + 1 package of honey mustard pretzel nuggets finally ='s one satiated belly. And it is only 12:00.

Reminds of that time I was home in TX and I had a couple of friends visiting in the same day at different times. That day I consumed a stack of Dad's applesauce pancakes, Grandmom's Sunday dinner (roast, okra, rolls, fruit salad), AND a monster burrito from Freebirds! Makes me want to relive that day and take a nap at the same time.

Wonder what Matt is cookin' up for dinner?

Raise Your Hand

If you've ever messed up instant pudding? Anyone with me? Anyone?

Glad to report that 3 hours of soaking, 30 minutes of scrubbing, and 2 SOS pads later, the pot has been restored to its original shine and lustre. Phew.

Aahhh.

I am digging the new blog template feature. Or maybe it isn't new but just newly discovered by me. A breath of fresh air it is.

Now

I love this time of day on a Saturday - Brantley is napping peacefully, Matt is at the farm getting some pent up stir craziness out, and I get me time. Thanks to my neighbor Abby I now have *i*Tunes* to keep me happy during me time. I have had an *i*Pod* for years now with a whopping 7 songs on it - 7 songs that we played over and over again. Now a whole new world has opened up and I am lovin' it! Abby left me with a stack of CDs to download - most of the music I would never purchase on my own but I am so happy to get to add it to my growing collection. Currently getting mushy listening to Marc Cohn's True Companion - ahhhh.

My other newly discovered love are books on CD- at least this book on CD: The Help. I cannot wait to get in the car by myself so I can listen to it. Bliss.

With the weather hot as blazes, about the only thing we can do outside is eat popsicles on the front porch. We were using popsicles as a reward for pooping on the potty but I swear she started creating poop from nothing just to get one. And now that I am fully addicted to them myself, the only thing she has to do to get one is pass a bathroom. Oh, B walked by a potty? Popsicles all around!! I seriously love this time on the front porch with the dogs running around and B constantly asking me to make her more juice. Bare feet, sweating, the pure joy on her face. Sometimes we get lucky and a massive thunderstorm will roll through. Then we get the added bonus of screaming every time a big boomer roars. Yesterday I literally jumped 2 feet in the air - kind of like that time with Doug and the armadillo...

Now is good.

These Faces

These little people...

reminded us all of what this man...

helped create. And spread a little joy when our hearts were breaking from having to say good-bye to him too soon.

I've learned that some of my best memories are made during the saddest times of my life. Maybe because that is one of the two circumstances when my whole family gathers together. This picture, for instance, is one of my all time favorites - taken on the playground of Houston Hospice.

Nammy really needed that kiss right then. I'm glad B was there to give it to her.