Homecoming, Part I

Today was Claire's coming home day. However, things didn't go as smoothly as we had hoped. Due to some unexpected events, we spent more time at the hospital than we wanted waiting for Claire and Mommy to be discharged and released. In true Aunt Fabby fashion, I managed to snap a few shots while we waited out the long day.





Jake came to be with Mommy and Daddy while we waited to bring his new Sissy home. His whole routine has been disrupted this week, and like the rest of us, he's very tired. I don't think anyone has been able to "get our naps out" yet, so he's been acting out a little due to fatigue...and maybe a little out of hurt feelings. He's not used to having to share all the attention.












He's a tired boy, but he snuggled right up to his Mommy!









I've mentioned Claire's dark spiky hair to several people. Here is a profile picture of her that shows off the mess of hair she has...dark like her Mommy.

























Since she was ready to go home, Andi decided she wanted to sit in another chair...not the bed. But, because the room was on the smaller side, there's not so much sitting room. Jason took the opportunity to climb up on the bed and stretch out his legs. What a great place for two sleeping children! We decided a family shot was in order. (Notice the pink shirts. Guess the Browns are "tickled pink" too!







It didn't take long for the waiting to get to us. Understandably, Jason dealt with it the best he could without a PSIII.



Apparently his attempt at sawing logs to build that cabin in the Smokies was a bit disturbing to Claire. She gave her best "mean mug."





Also, Jake reminded us of his homecoming day picture with the hand on the knee.











Claire already loves to play dress up. Or at least she doesn't cry when Aunt Fabby and Mommy play dress up with her. Andi calls this picture Claire's "Little House on the Praire Close Up."





I just think she's beautiful...like her Mommy!











But she does kind of favor her Aunt Fabby too!










This is a beautiful shot of her Coming Home outfit. Jason said that every little girl needs to come home from the hospital in a white dress to show her purity. I have to admit that while the theory is a little silly to me, the dress is perfect.








































While I was posting, I realized I had too many pictures for one post. And since I feel the need to comment on EVERY SINGLE PICTURE, I know I need to separate my posts. So more pictures from Claire's Homecoming...tomorrow.

Tickled Pink

There are a lot of things you learn from doing things once. After the first time through, you have a better idea about what tools make things easier, what NOT to do, and where to go when you need more help.

Thanks to Jake, Nanny Nette and Paw Paw now have this grandparenting thing down pat. They have even learned to color coordinate their clothing to celebrate special events.

The birth of Claire Elizabeth is definitely one of those very special events worth celebrating!
One of the things about having a great camera is that I get to take fantastic pictures of everything that happens in my life. Unfortunately, what that means for me as the photographer, is that I don't end up in many of the photos. I did manage to pass along the camera to Andi (very nice of me, huh), so that I could get into a couple of them. Here is one of my favorites. You can tell that the Harpers are "tickled pink" to have a new baby to love.

Claire Elizabeth Brown was named partially for our friend Elizabeth Lambert who died several months after Andrea and Jason got married. I know that if there is any part of Bissie in Claire...it's probably her already excellent napping ability.

Claire wanted me to tell you all that she cannot wait to meet you. She already likes to play dress up. Notice her boxing gloves. This little girl will knock you out!

I'm in Love with a Girl

My daddy has been saying since Andi and Jason found out they were expecting a little girl that Jason has no idea how a little girl can wrap her Daddy around those tiny little fingers. By the look on his face when he looks at Baby Claire, Jason is already wrapped pretty tight.

There is no doubt that Andi and Jason are naturals in the Parenting Department. Just look at Jake and his genius. But I'm sure that they have no idea what they will getting into with a little girl. Two geniuses in the family!

Paw Paw can hardly contain himself with two babies in the family. However, with a little girl, he is now in a little more familiar territory.


















Nanny Nette is excited because she has another sweet little one to shop for and another shopping buddy.

Jake will definitely have some adjustments to make, but it looks like he's ready to step into the big boy role...he's practicing with his Daddy's shoes.

Baby's Birth Day

In the wee hours of June 7th, just before the full moon, Claire Elizabeth Brown made her way into the world. She didn't take long to arrive once the show was on the road. In fact, Claire almost didn't wait for Dr. Martin to be ready.

Claire weighed in at 7 lbs, 15 oz, and is 20 inches long. She has beautiful dark, spiky hair and looks very much like her beautiful mommy. Jason and Andrea are thrilled for the adventure that will be coming along having a daughter.

Jake came to visit his new Sissy during the afternoon of her first day. Although he wasn't sure what to expect, he seemed to accept Claire as another part of the family. I think he's just ready to have everyone back at home.

Claire already has a personality, as you can see. I also think she may be a bit tired of the paparazzi and their flashbulbs in her face. Jake may have to teach his new little Sissy about the love for the camera...because this is a face, like Jake's, that will definitely be in pictures!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day means different things to different folks. For some, it is an opportunity to remember those who have fought for the freedoms most of us take for granted. For others, it means celebrating those who are currently serving in the Armed Forces. Others use the day as a holiday from work...to work in the yard, on the pool, have cookouts, or go to the lake.

This memorial day meant a little of all of that to my family. My Pop Charlie is a Veteran of World War II, although now he fights the War against Alzheimer's. He doesn't remember those days, but we remember, and are thankful that men and women like my Pop Charlie fought bravely for those who couldn't fight for themselves. We did enjoy the day off work, sleeping late, and spending time with Andi and Jake who came to visit. Andi, Jake and I napped while Dad watched "The Longest Day," and mom went to the grocery store for cookout essentials.

Even though we did celebrate a typical Memorial Day, mostly we celebrated by making new memories.

"On James!"

Jake loves to ride in Paw Paw's wagon, but he would rather drive Paw Paw's truck!

"Women Drivers!"

Baby Girl

Any day now Baby Girl Brown will make her debut into the world. This week, Andrea's "CrazyGirlz" got together to celebrate this new Ladybug. The girls had dinner and then returned to Becky's house for cake and ice cream. Sounds like a birthday celebration already.

Aunt Fabulous

Not everyone knows the story behind my becoming "Aunt Fabby," although there is worldwide speculation and have been numerous tabloid rumors. To set the record straight, I need to introduce a few other important characters into the story. Alyson and Matt are the parents of two boys, Sawyer and Brighton. These boys have tried to teach me everything they know in order to help me become a fabulous aunt. Their jobs are far from complete, but I feel pretty confident that they have the expertise to teach me all about how to love little ones.

For Christmas, Santa and Mrs. Claus brought me a new camera. Sawyer and Brighton each wanted a turn taking pictures. I think they did a pretty good job.

The week before Sawyer was born, a little over six years ago, I spent some time with Matt and Alyson. At the time, my overused expression was, "That's Fabulous!" Matt made fun saying that since it was in the last days of Sawyer's development in the womb, he might just come out saying that everything is "Fabulous." Matt went so far as to say that Sawyer might just come out calling me "Aunt Fabulous." We played around with some other silly manifestations of fabulous: Aunt Fab, Aunt Fabu, and it stuck as Aunt Fabby. That is what Matt and Alyson taught Sawyer to call me. Sawyer taught Brighton. And when Andi was pregnant with Jake, she and Jason talked to him about how much Aunt Fabby would love him. So, now I'm a Fabulous Aunt to little boys....what am I ever going to do with a little girl???

Merry Christmas!

I know that many of you may fall over when you see that I have once again decided to post. It's just a chance I have to take. My life remains fairly uneventful, so I rely heavily on my sister and her family for joy and fulfillment...in the form of my amazing nephew, Jake, and my niece-on-the-way, who is yet unnamed.

It is for this reason that I have come out of my blogging respite. I am going to be an Aunt Fabby again, and I need Jake and yet unnamed little sissy to know that I am so proud of them and excited for all the new adventures to come.

Not to mention...my blog is really just boring. So, I'm going to post several times over the next couple of days, overload it with pictures and witty comments, and generally attempt to make up for my reticence in the hopes that it will bring enjoyment to those of you who might actually read it.

This is my beautiful sister, Andi, and her fantastic husband, Jason, and Jason's little mini-me, Jaketastic. He is currently the love of my life...Jake, not Jason. 'Cause that would just be wrong.

This was Jake's first Christmas. He is almost 9 months old in this picture. Aren't they a beautiful family? Baby Girl Brown is approximately 3 months along at this point. Although we weren't expecting her to come along this soon, we are all thrilled with the prospect of another little Brown baby to love.

Nanny Shewbert is my great-grandmother. She is 99 years old...although there is some debate about that. She is still somewhat mobile, although she moves much more slowly than she used to, and she does require some support at times. She is blind and her hearing isn't so keen anymore, but she loves Jake Brown, and he is the president of her fan club. Everytime he is able to visit, he loves on her and showers her face with kisses. It's about the sweetest thing around, and usually brings tears to my eyes...although many of you may ask what doesn't make sappy Aunt Fabby cry.

What more could you ask for??? A little Jake is the best gift of all!

Sleep

Sleep is a wonderful thing. It is intended to give one's body, and hopefully one's mind, a much needed rest and opportunity for renewal. I've heard that it is during deep sleep that the body is able to heal and repair. The problem with sleep though, is that most of us need about 5 more minutes every night. Or at least that's what we think when we hit the snooze button.

It is amazing to me that babies can sleep almost 24 hours, waking only to eat and to be changed and bathed. We expect that. Doctors encourage that. Then as toddlers and small children, we enforce strict bedtimes and make kids take naps. However, most teenagers don't have a strictly enforced bedtime. My dad always said, "No phone calls, and you must be in the bed with the lights off by 10." But as my sister and I got older, that "bedtime" and those rules allowed for boyfriends who worked late and couldn't call until after 10, maturing girls who wanted to stay up watching tv, or the occasional weeknight date. And it seemed during those years, that my sister and I didn't need as much sleep to be productive. Then into college, pulling all-nighters, hanging out late at Huddle House, parties, going out on Thursday nights...sleep seemed much less in demand. (Unless you count the afternoon naps taken on the couch.) But as an adult, I find that I have returned to a bedtime. I'm usually near the bedroom area by 10, definitely in the bed by 11. Often, much earlier. I no longer am able to nap, except over the occasional lazy weekend (but always on Sunday afternoons--a rule in the Harper family). And as I look to my grandparents, I see a return to the longer sleep patterns. (Mamew being an exception.)

I used to kid that I wish I had a job where I could be paid for sleeping. I always meant that I would like to work in a lab where I could be the subject of sleep studies, judging the bodies reaction to dreams, medications, etc. But I realize how much enjoyment would be lost...the enjoyment I gain from sleeping. I've heard it said that lost sleep cannot be regained. Over-sleeping...not the kind that causes you to be late for work, but the kind where you sleep too much...only causes your body to be MORE tired. Crazy.

A couple of weeks ago, I heard on the radio during my 7 minute commute to work, that most Americans are not as sleep deprived as we think. The non-profit group that usually reports such news to us that we need more sleep than we are getting (TheAmericanSleepCouncilFoundationGrouporsomething), says that we are definitely sleep-deprived. Interestingly enough, some of their research is funded by gifts and grants from pharmaceutical companies that manufacture sleep-aids. Hmmm! The American Medical Association says that the required number of hours of sleep differs for each individual based on activity levels, diet, age, and stress.

I guess all of this rambling of sleep comes from the fact that I felt completely well rested last night. Over the weekend, I slept when I was tired; I got up when I was ready. Last night, I thought to myself, "This is going to be a good week. I'm rested. I'm ready." This morning, though, I went right back to my snoozing routine. I'm pretty sure that even if I didn't have to be at work until 10, or noon, or 2 this afternoon, I would still feel the same pain at having to get up...needing just 5 more minutes of blessed sleep.

Good Morning, Orbit...

I'm a pleaser. I know this. I have mostly accepted it about myself. While I might like to have a "Who Cares?" attitude...this is not my nature. I do care. I care what others think about things I do and say. I care what others think about my opinions, my shoes, my work, my family...me. But more than that, I care about other people. I care what they think about. I care about what they enjoy doing in their spare time. I care about people's motivations, their successes, their struggles. I care about the emotional state of others. I care what makes people happy, sad, angry, disappointed, anxious, and eager. And sometimes, not always, but sometimes...I even care enough to get involved. Although, the older I get...the more I find myself involved even when I would choose otherwise.

I say all of this to say that I may have found the perfect second career for myself. Now, I'm not giving up on education....that was a calling that I don't think I could ignore even if I wanted to. However, this week I have been helping out at my dad's office...answering phones and working the front desk. Mostly my responsibilities consist of answering the phones (which rarely ring), keeping up with who is in the office and who is not, and greeting people as they enter or exit the building through the front. I have the time to read books, do crossword puzzles or sudoku, read the news on the internet, and plan for my upcoming trip to NYC. I can interact with people...but not too much and not too deeply. I can be pleasant and helpful...for brief moments. And I don't have to worry about anyone being too loud...or telling anyone to pull their pants up. But this job, and these responsibilities are all about pleasing others. It is my job...no, my duty...to do everything I can to ensure every person who calls has a positive experience when initially contacting this office. The problem is...I have to do it strictly through my voice.

My Nanny was a receptionist for years at Orbit in Helen. People would always recognize her voice when we would go places and say, "OH! You're the 'Good Morning, Orbit' lady!"
That used to make me so proud...she was so distinct that people could recognize HER VOICE!

I've been practicing my 'Good Morning, Orbit' voice...and it just doesn't sound quite right. But give me time, Nanny...I'll get there.

Joy

I never realized it was possible to love something so much that doesn't even belong to you.

This past Saturday, I witnessed my second baby delivery. The first was several years ago, and although it was a truly awesome experience, it pales in comparison to the birth of my nephew, Jake. It's difficult to describe watching my sister labor through contractions and pain. There were moments I wanted to climb on that table and have this baby for her...it hurt to see her in so much pain. But as I participated in the pushing and encouragement for Andi, I was amazed to see this tiny life appear. It was a struggle...one I'm sure we'll tell him all about on each birthday that passes...but a struggle worth having Andi says.

In the few days since his birth, I've been very fortunate to be with Andi, Jason, and Jake quite a bit. I've been able to hold him and help them and participate in this remarkable event. I can't explain how blessed I feel. When I hold that little guy, and he stops crying and searches for a way to see me...and seems to recognize my voice...I get all mushy inside. He's amazing...and fabulous...and I am so glad to be a part of his life.

I keep thinking of things I hope for him. Things like...I hope he likes to read, and watch scary movies. I hope he's coordinated and fast. I hope he's good with money. I hope he's social and affectionate. I hope he's independent, but still needs his family. I hope he is sensitive and brave. Maybe he'll be a teacher like his mom or a preacher like his Paw-Paw or a banker like his Nana. Maybe he'll be a fireman, or a racecar driver, or an astronaut. Maybe he'll be a soccer player or a musician. Maybe he'll be a lion tamer, or a scientist, or an underwater welder. Maybe he'll be a mechanic, or a plumber, or an electrician. Maybe he'll be a soldier. I don't know what he'll be...and I don't much care as long as he works hard and is happy.

Like I said before, I never realized it was possible to love something so much that doesn't even belong to you....But I do.