30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 9

My little Beanlet, Bradley, is 3 months old today. Was it really 3 months ago that I rode with Nathan in the car to the Birth House and then rode home less than 4 hours later with this newest addition to our family? It can't be. But it is. And now I understand why parents say, "they grow so fast" and "time flies by". I didn't realize this so much with Steven, when I had all the time in the world to devote to him. But now, with two little ones, I realize how the chaos of a day, the trying to capture every sweet little bit from both of them in your memory so you never forget can actually cause the time to speed by, and the day to become a blur...like a road traveled not by foot but by race car. The time is never enough. Yet there have been days where I say, "it'll be easier to do this and this once they are older" or "once they are a bit bigger then I can finally do...". No! What am I saying?? Speed up this already too fast train of their childhood years?

I know I was already thankful for my boys in a previous post, but I couldn't let this milestone pass without being a bit more thankful for them as individuals...so today is devoted to Bradley, and the 21st, when Steven will be 22 months old, will be devoted to him.

Bradley looks so much like Nathan. I honestly, except for having given birth to him, cannot see how he is my child. My friends say he is looking more like me as he gets bigger, but I still cannot see it. Maybe he has my nose...maybe. He was born a little string bean - long and skinny, but he is starting to fill out quite a bit now. There are little rolls appearing on his baby legs and a belly bulge and still tiny, but fat, feet. His smile is absolutely contagious. He smiles at so much now. He will smile at anyone giving him attention and he especially loves Steven and his rapid movements (which make me nervous but make Bradley giddy). He is squawking and trying to "talk". His coos and giggles are simply adorable.

It is amazing how aware Bradley is of my presence. Whether sleeping soundly or wide awake, he is aware when I am not near him and will fuss. Not so much when Nathan or Steven are around, but during those times of the day where it is just him and me, he wants me with him. What I am realizing is that while Steven is napping, it is easy to say, "now's my chance" to get this done or that done, but it is also prime time for me to spend some one on one time with Bradley while I can. So when he is awake and it is just the two of us, I try to keep busy with him and interact with him the way I used to with Steven when he was this little. When he is asleep I try to keep myself busy with things that can be done in the same room he is in - folding laundry, blogging, and washing dishes (which for some reason is enough "white noise" to keep him asleep).

While Bradley has had his fussy times (ask anyone close to us), he is in many ways a mild, easy tempered baby. He may be particular about mommy being the only one to hold him at times, but I'm sure it is only for a season so I'll accept it while it is here (and miss it when it is gone for sure). He sleeps a lot during the day and since the beginning has been pretty nice to us at night, only waking once or twice to eat.

I am loving watching Bradley grow day by day and week by week, and month by month. I wish time would slow just a little so I could take it all in, but alas, it simply can't be. So, I must enjoy the moments that I can, capture what I'm able, and pour all that I can into loving and nurturing my littlest boy to be the best boy to man that he can be. I can't imagine my world without little Bradley and I am oh so thankful for him.


Smiley boy!



Bradley - 3 months old