Deltas & Daddy

Over the weekend I went to visit my college friends at Emily's house in Jefferson, GA. It was so much fun to catch up with everyone & I realized that Anderson will survive without me! We basically ate & talked & ate...very similar to life in Massey!

This was pretty much what I did all evening...frantic texting to Brandon for updates on Anderson. Emily also did this all evening...entertained us! Hello, Emily!!!!! Speaking of Emily, she is awesome & organized everyone to chip in to get me all of these clothes! Yes, there are about 25 outfits there (shorts/shirts, pajamas, the one piece romper things-? what to call them....) and they are all adorable!! Anderson is going to be stylishly dressed for the next year.

Some pictures from the weekend. He is obviously missing me here.

He had such a fun time with Dad he was too exhausted to even roll completely onto his stomach.

This is actually a picture from last week but I thought he was too cute in this outfit. My mom got it for him because Pops has a hat like it! Here is a really short video of him this last week...

This post is brought to you by the letter J!!

I would like to introduce John Andrew Brimer, known as Jack!! He arrived yesterday, weighing in at 7 lbs 4 oz and is precious! If you look closely, you will see he has red hair!

This is mommy Clare and looks amazing less than 24 hours later. I can't believe that I was able to visit him in the hospital when they lived in Florida a month ago!! Clare & Andy are going to be such great parents and I can't wait for Anderson & Jack to play together!

Meanwhile, my giant baby (holding Jack made me realize how big Anderson is!) has starting playing in his Jumperoo! This was Lily's that we took from Aunt Manda's and I know he is going to like it...once his feet actually touch the ground! He did have socks on, by the way, but they will not stay on his feet!

He, also, was shocked at how big he is!

Hodgepodge

I don't have a theme for the pics...they are pretty random from the last 2 weeks. We went to Birmingham last weekend for Lily's family birthday party. We left after cheerleading tryouts (All of my girls made it and I have 7 new ones to get to know, so I am really excited about the year!) Anderson slept the way there and was pretty great on the way home, too! Brandon took this picture of him in his car seat on the way home. He was more awake at this party than the last one...

We also went to Noah's lacrosse game-he was the goalie and was, of course, awesome. I think he was the only player who had his entire family there to cheer him on.

I just like Lily in this hat.

Please look at the chubby face in the pink hat cheesing it up in the middle of the crowd.

Speaking of chubby, here comes a birthday cupcake!

So proud. When is it that we stop getting rewarded for eating sugar and making a mess?

yes, that is my 3 month old in Big Cousin Noah's lacrosse stick (net? what is that part called? I should know this.) Kyler & Noah are going to teach him to play as soon as he can walk, but Noah is trying to get a head start.

I love my job. So, last week I was having a terrible day-Anderson had been up all night, I was behind on grading, I was teaching imperialism (not my favorite), I just found out we are losing more teachers & our tiny raises for next year because our superintendent has missed the point that education can only make a difference if you have people who make a difference...but, I digress, I was just frustrated. Then, one of my students gave me this shirt she made for me because she knew I liked Teddy Roosevelt so much. (Imperialism is right after Progressivism, which means I talked about Teddy nonstop for the few days prior-so, so much to say.) Anyway, it was really fun and reminded me that my job is pretty awesome. In what other profession do you have tshirts made for you by a teenager? There are a lot of things I love about teaching, but getting a tshirt from a student is up there.

Speaking of tshirts, this is the one my AP US Class designed this semester. This is hilarious if you know the background....Thomas Paine (pictured above) wrote Common Sense in Jan. 1776, which was after the American Revolution had started (April 75), but before the Declaration of Independence was written (July 76). In it, he basically inspired the colonists to declare independence, which of course led to America! So, NO (thomas)Paine, NO Gain (of America)....Excellent. I love being the Queen of the Nerds.

3 months old!!

We have reached the 3 month mark! I feel that there are milestones in the parenting world that deserve an award-a medal, maybe a small check. They can be called " the survival awards" or something equally fitting. 3 months is definitely a category. I realized this when I called the doctor for the first time when he was 3 weeks old (he had diaper rash. I seriously called the doctor about a diaper rash.oh, first time moms. we provide such humor to all of the veteran moms out there) and the operator said to press 1 for a baby under 3 months and 2 for a baby over 3 months. I made a mental note of the 3 month mark significance...and here it is!! I LOVE 3 months!!
He has found his fist and is determined to fit it into his mouth. He practices all day.
The first attempt at pictures didn't go so well...no smiles.
That fist again.
Hi, my name is Brandon. Nice to meet you.
Aunt Manda took the really good pictures. She basically sets up a studio in her house with one of Noah's blankets and a pillow. She is awesome.

Pitiful. Speaking of pitiful, you should see Brandon & I as we have spent the better part of the last few evenings staring at the video monitor. We have started putting him to bed slightly awake, which quickly turns into very awake and angry. This lasts anywhere from 5 minutes to 90 (yes, an hour and a half one night). He is much better at falling asleep on his own now, but still cries a little. The baby books & stupid websites say, "Put baby to sleep drowsy but awake, so he can learn how to sleep on his own." That's it. So calm. It should be followed by, " Then rip your heart out and stomp on it because that is what it will feel like for the next 5-90 minutes." I know it is good for him, but it is really hard to listen to him cry. I had to leave the house the first few nights(Brandon is MUCH stronger than I am). I feel like there are the 2 approaches to this-1, let your baby cry and they sleep well later but the parents suffer in the beginning and 2, don't let your baby cry and you will regret it later. I hope I am right on this. It is getting better and now his anger has taught him to roll onto his stomach! This just encourages more video watching because I have to make sure he is still breathing. Does this ever get easier??

Happy Easter!!

I know. Precious. Anderson enjoyed his first Easter! We spent yesterday at the Brimer-Kersey Egg Hunt where Noni found the golden egg, Pops made balloon animals for everyone and Clare held Anderson and Jack!! :) I have no pictures because I forgot my camera! I do well to remember him, the carseat and the million things that need to be in his diaper bag. Sometimes the camera doesn't make the cut.

The 4 generations-lunch at GG's.

The cousin booties. Mom got them these outfits & both she & Nicole forgot that it was not Lily's first Easter! I am clutching Lily to keep her from escaping.

Exhausted after all the fun. Actually, this picture was from a while ago but it is Easter related ("ommy thinks I'm a chick magnet"..I do, of course, but no dating for this boy for quite awhile...I am not ready to share him quite yet)

family, friends & flying

I have realized for some time now that I am the luckiest person in the world. Perfect husband, perfect baby, perfect family, perfect life overall....then my parents decided to move to Knoxville. Now, I REALLY am the luckiest person! My parents have lived their entire lives ( that's a lot of years...:) in Memphis and have chosen to leave all that behind to be here with us. Things they are leaving behind: The house they've lived in for 26 years, jobs (Pops is the Wonder man-seriously, they keep trying to keep him by paying him to commute to Memphis each week...he is pretty awesome, Mom worked for the Catholic Diocese and helped run the show), friends (A LOT of people were sad when they left), family (so, so many wonderful people....), knowledge about the city they live in, way better BBQ (I hate Buddy's)....the list goes on. Things they are gaining: living down the street from my family. I know. I definitely got the better end of this deal. For example, last night after they drove here from Memphis & unpacked, they cooked dinner for us. It's a nice little set up I've fallen into. Welcome to Knoxville!!

Anderson has no idea how lucky he is that he is going to grow up with both sets of grandparents so close to him! He and GG decided to match for the occasion.

As if my parents moving here isn't enough, my friend Clare moved back to Knoxville this week! You will notice that she is quite possibly the cutest pregnant person (due April 25th!). She held Anderson and loved on him, while he was confused about sitting on his friend. I cannot believe how lucky I am that she is basically down the street from me!

Meanwhile, we have discovered Anderson's new favorite thing: flying! My babycenter email told me that this was an activity for the week and we tried it and he loves it!!

I am also concerned about what is happening to my hair. Seriously, do I own a brush?