BRAXTON BLOG

Last night we were working on Lilly’s nursery to add a little personalization to the room since it used to be Ella’s.  I was installing some shelves and wooden cutouts of jungle animals on a wall and Ella was in and out of the room playing while we worked.  I had climbed up on a step-stool to drill a hold for one of the animals when I felt two tiny hands on the backs of my legs.  Then I heard “careful, Dada” and looked back to see Ella supporting me on the ladder in case I might fall.  It was one of the sweetest things I’ve ever experienced.  She was genuinely trying to help.  When I got off the stool, she grabbed both my legs and hugged them tight.  She loves to help out around the house and when Dada has a hammer, she is right in the middle.  We bought some bookshelves to put in Lilly’s closet until I can build in the shelves like I did in Ella’s room and when I was hammering the back board onto them, Ella insisted on helping.  So I held nail and helped guide the hammer and Ella drove all of the nails in on two of the bookcases.  She had a HUGE smile the whole time, my little helper is the best any dad could ask for!

Last night I was driving home from visiting Mommy in the hospital with Ella and I happened to look up in the rear-view after adjusting it for night-time glare.  As we passed under a street light there was that momentary beam of light that illuminates for just a moment and then its gone.  I had a flash memory of being little and falling asleep in the car.  I was just awake enough for my eyes and brain to register the lights but not enough to be totally aware of them.  In that moment I made an interesting connection in my brain.  I had moved forward in the car but a piece of me was still in the back seat, in angelic sleep as we traveled home.  It was just one of those indescribable moments when all you can really say to yourself is, “Wow, I’m a dad!”.

By the way, do not worry about the whole “Mommy in the hospital” thing; the doctors were concerned over her blood pressures and protein levels but everything has checked out so far.  She should be coming home tonight or tomorrow morning, they just wanted to watch her and the baby closely for a consistent amount of time.  If you remember our hospital follies from Ella’s time in the womb, then this is basically the same stuff that is going on this time around.

This morning as I was working on shelving for the bonus room closet, Ella and Mommy were outside playing in the driveway.  We saw a rescue truck and a firetruck go into the back of the neighborhood.  Hopefully, everything is okay, but when I heard the trucks coming back, I walked Ella to the end of the driveway so she could see the truck (who doesn’t like a big red firetruck, right?).  She started waving as they came down the hill and when they got to our cul-de-sac, they stopped.  Uh-oh, I thought to myself.  Maybe they don’t like kids?  Nah, that couldn’t be it.  Then I thought maybe they were going to run the lights for her, nope a fireman got out of the truck.  Hmm…what’s going on here?  Ella was smiling and waving, then I saw it.  A bright red plastic fireman’s hat.  Apparently they keep some in the engines to give to little kids.  Of course, Ella clammed up and clung to me, but she did say thank you to the nice fireman.  It was such an unexpected little surprise.  Now she’s been running around the house having Mommy and Daddy wear the hat then immediately give it back to her.  I think she liked it even if she was a little scared.

There are likely three ways you can take that title.  First, you could be saying to yourself, “I always knew it was just a matter of time…”.  Second, you could be scratching your head waiting for an explanation.  Third you could be thinking I have been overtaken by the imbalance of estrogen to testosterone that is my household .  The real answer is none of the above.  When we got home from Church this morning, I got Ella out of the car and brought her inside, I was carrying out bible which hase a cover with a strap on it for a handle.  I was just carrying it by the handle and it was hanging by my side.  Ella came up and reach for it so I handed the strap to her.  As she walked away, she said ” Look Mama, Dada’s purse”.  She walked all around the house carrying my “purse” and feeling quite satisfied with herself.  She giggled about it for a little while.  The mind of an almost-two year old is so entertaining and creative.  Have I said how much I love my little girl?

Meanwhile, back at the Mommy-cave… apparently Lilly has enrolled herself in pre-birth gymnastics & karate classes, according to Mama.  All during services this morning I could see Mommy sort of jerk and hold her belly as her eyes rolled just a bit.  She was enjoying feeling the baby move, but it was apparently an extremely active session of punches and kicks for her.  When we got to Sunday School, she said that the baby was settled and napping.  She has since been just as aggressive in her kicking and punching this afternoon and evening.  I am so blessed to have two little ladies to fill my home with love and a wonderful, beautiful wife to share them with!

We’ve been gradually trying to introduce Ella to her new room.  Today was a first in that she successfully napped in her new room.  Inspired by that bit of success, Mommy put her to bed this evening in her new room.  It took a little bit of convincing and she had to lay in the floor beside the bed for a while.  In the end, she went to sleep and Mommy had to process the inevitable truth that our little girl is slowly growing up.  We’re cautiously optimistic that this is the start of a new phase for Ella, sleeping in her “big girl” bed.  If she can’t handle the change, the crib is open for now, since Lilly doesn’t have need of it just yet.