What A Great First Week And Now Welcome To The Real World!

We have had such a great first week and my Mom left early Thursday morning and therefore the real world has set in. She was like a regular taxi for the kids doing baseball, swim team, golf and the grocery store. It was such a nice two weeks off for me. She came in one week before Smith was born and really picked up the slack for me that week and our first week home. It was lovely. She left our house spotless, squeaky clean and no dirty laundry. After many sad tears for Mammy leaving, we are really doing well but still missing my Mom and sure wish she lived closer. Our first week consisted of lots of fun visitors, Smith's first bath, a trip to the doctor for our first checkup, and many yummy lunches, ice cream snacks and dinners on Mammy. We are just having fun hanging out at home and feel like we aren't accomplishing much during the day but are sure enjoying some great body rests. We are adjusting to less sleep but Smith is sure worth it. The kids are really loving him and every time Mollie Jane see me without Smith (like when he is in his crib or swing) she asks "did Smith go back in your tummy Mommy?" I just kindly tell her it does sort of look like that but he is here to stay.

My Mom's love language is serving. She loved pitching in and doing stuff for us and there is never a time when it is more appreciated than when you have a newborn. Smith sure misses Mammy giving him a bath and his "talk time" every night after his bath.

Coming Home from the Hospital

Baby Smith came home. I was a little sad to leave the hospital. The hospital stay is always my favorite part of having a new baby. I love it. It is heaven on earth. All the visitors, the around the clock care by fabulous nurses, unlimited food at the push of a button, hanging out in your jammies all day, Jackson coming up every day for his body rest with his favorite movie in our hospital room, calling the nurse to change the diapers, magazines and movies and just bonding with the baby and Jason. God blessed us with some fabulous nurses who were so kind and nurturing. We left the hospital about 6:30 pm and I could have stayed easily another week. Although, I would have really missed Jackson and Mollie Jane. We came home and my Mom cooked our favorite steak meal dinner. It was just Mom, Jason, Smith and I. It was actually so relaxing and quiet. Mollie Jane and Jackson were at our church VBS with a friend and got home later to celebrate with a "birth cake" for Baby Smith. Smith did great in the hospital and slept great even after all the poking and prodding and circumcising they did to him. I don't know that our house will be peaceful and quiet or there is great sleeping that is going to go on these next several weeks but now that we are home it feels great to start the adjustment to this fun family of five!

Baby Smith in his coming home outfit and lovely hospital pic. I never think these really look like my kids!

Jackson up at the hospital for his body rest with us.

Baby Smith in his "box" as Jackson calls it. We think babies in their boxes are about the cutest thing ever. My favorite sound at the hospital is the sound of the box rolling into your room from the nursery (even at 3am). It just doesn't get much sweeter. Jackson taped up a picture of himself and Mollie Jane for Baby Smith.

Smith Allen Brawner is Officially Here!

Smith Allen Brawner is officially here. He arrived at 12:11pm June 10. He weighed in at a whooping 9 lbs, 11 oz. He is our big boy with a full head of blond hair. I got induced after being 10 days late. It was a lovely delivery compared to Jackson and Mollie Jane in that I got a fully functioning epidural. My doctor whom I love was able to do the delivery. Smith sure took his time getting here but once he decided to come he was sure in a rush to come into the world. I was dilated to a 7 and the nurse turned me on my side and within about literally 5 minutes his head was crowning and before we knew it the nurse was holding his head in waiting for my doctor to make it. It was close but my doctor came in completely out of breath running from her office and within about 3 minutes of her arrival Smith Allen Brawner made his entrance into the world. He is officially in a size 1 diaper. The newborn diapers show his “coin slot” and he has pooped out of them twice in the nursery. We had to stretch out his Hospital T-shirt as it also does not fit and looks more like a football undershirt. His brother and sister came up to meet him tonight and were thrilled. Mollie Jane got a “Dora” car from Baby Smith and Jackson got a “Snoopy Snow Cone Machine” from Baby Smith. They gave Smith some “woobies.” We had a couple of visitors and had a little pizza party up in the hospital for dinner with everyone to celebrate his arrival. We sure appreciate everyone’s prayers and are thrilled for you to hear all about our big man and hope you get to meet him soon. As Jackson said tonight “He is such a special person in our family now.” Thank you God for blessing us with Baby Smith for he is truly “fearfully and wonderfully made” by a creator who has such amazing plans for this big man. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for him.

The new "buzz cuts" at the Brawner house

Jason our chaplain canidate

My Dad a 29 year retired colonel

The Brawner boys got buzz cuts. I can't say that I love them but they are growing on me and am afraid I will have to learn to love "the buzz cut" because Jason will have one for at least the next 20 years. I feel like most people know that Jason joined the Army National Guard this March and is currently a chaplain canidate. Therefore, he has a buzz cut. Jackson who was hesistant at first hesitant about Daddy becoming a soldier is now so excited and wants to get buzz cuts with his Dad. It will take Jason about 3-5 years of graduate school (going part time)until he will become a full chaplain. It is going to call for weeks and weeks away from our family the next three years with officer training school, one weekend a month in Jefferson City, two weeks every summer and then the very good possibility after the graduate school craziness is over that he will be deployed. We are all so proud of Jason making this big commitment. It was not an easy decision for either of us but we both felt strongly that the Lord had his hand in this. God really began to tug at Jason's heart to do this. Many of you know my Dad is a retired Colonel in the Army so in many ways this sort of lifestyle is not new to me. My Dad was in the army for 29 years and gave up many weeks and weekends to serve in the army. I am so proud of my Dad for so many of his accomplishmenst but one of the things I am most proud of is his service to our country. I know Jason has also. I think my Dad's example of service was one of the many things that inspired Jason. So if Jason get deployed for a year I may be swearing at my Dad (HAHAHA). I had to talk to our neighbors about Jason's new army venture because one neighbor saw him and thought he was going to a costume party. They already think we are nuts cauz we lead crazy lives but when they saw him multiple times in his uniform they began to wonder. So it is all straightened out now and the kids are excited because they love Daddy in his uniform. Also in typical Brawner style, when Daddy is gone once a month for drill weekend, they get to have a sleep over with Mommy and have donuts. WOOHOO! I am not sure how I will work it out when Daddy goes away for weeks at a time because Mommy can't eat donuts every night then or I will never loose this baby weight!
Jackson is so pumped to have a buzz cut like his Dad!