Charlie Kate has found her favorite toy, and we call him Collins

               Charlie Kate has found her favorite toy, and we call him Collins

We have a new arrival… well almost 7 weeks new!  Collins Ashton Burgess has come into our world!  His sister is in love with him.  She wakes every morning, and from every nap, asking to see him.  She gives “nose kisses”, and regular slobber kisses at least 15 times a day.  She wants him to have EVERYTHING!  She brings him toys to play with, especially when he is unhappy. 

See the pile she has brought for him?

Collins has been amazing!  I am still adjusting to two tiny humans to keep alive, but I can’t imagine anything else.  It’s so crazy how I worried to myself that I wouldn’t love another like I love Charlie Kate.  My heart grew!  I just love him so much that it seems dumb that I ever worried over it.  I cried for a week thinking that things were going to change between Charlie Kate and me.   Things did change, but it wasn’t as dramatic as I thought it would be.  It wasn’t a bad change. The early months are so demanding, and I just knew that Charlie kate was going to resent me and the baby for the time we spent together.  Thank God for hearing my prayer because she is right there with us,  loving him with all of the love she has in her sweet heart!

 

We have Kids!

 The other day I said to Jon, “The kids” are asleep.” That word being plural in our life blew our minds!  We stopped the conversation we were having and talked about how that word sounded so crazy for us to be saying.

We are still getting used to two, but could never get used to only one kid after this new love.

Collins sleeps most of the time, but eats like a champ when he is awake.

Charlie Kate is super busy being in love with all things princess. We are only able to dress her by saying that the articles of clothing remind us of “Cinderella’s shoes”, or “Rapunzel’s dress”.  We use this when eating too since she apparently hates to swallow food!  “Elsa eats all of her orange slices!”  Charlie Kate is a chipmunk at heart.  She has had chewed up turkey in her mouth for 45 minutes before.  Eww!  We have to check her mouth before she gets down.

Once she gets down from the table she is dancing, singing “twinkle star”, cooking pretend cupcakes in her kitchen, or dressing herself up with: high heels, bracelets on her ears, ankles, and wrists.  Charlie Kate would live outside if we would let her.  Of course she would be one solid red bump from bug bites...cherry red.  Not red from the sun as much as her father-like tendency to blush.  She talks about everything.  Everything is either “so good”, "so sweet”, or “so fun”!  We love her voice!

She is riding a zebra!  So brave!

 

its blurry but she is nursing her doll... learning from mommy

practice for brother's arrival

Practice came in handy!

Calling everyone she knows to tell them about our new baby!

In the morning her voice is our alarm clock.  “Mommy, Daddy, you can come in here!  Come in! Mommy Daddy come in here!” all of which is usually followed by singing.

She kisses us with her paci still in her mouth.  We look for her to volunteer to give up her paci any moment now.  Joke!  We are already preparing her to give them to Santa for other babies that need them. In return Santa will leave presents.  I’m sure someone out there has a theory about how this is wrong, but this is the best idea given to us so far… since she doesn’t seem to mind if they have holes I them.

We are potty training now too, because I didn't think we had enough new stuff happening! We are using “Charlie Kate’s toilet treats” -jelly beans in a jar.  So now every time she potties she says “Jelly Bean?”.  Also, every time she sees a jelly bean she asks to potty!  I’m sure this is one of the mistakes that might come back and bite later, like when we go to the dentist.

In the midst of all of this, Collins is still eating, sleeping, and pooping…every single time he finishes nursing!  I forgot how often this happens.  As I type this, we have two diapers left in the house for him… he goes through sooo many!  Jon is out getting them now, don’t worry.  He has some amazing smiles!  I’m thinking he is laughing at how often he makes me change his diaper, and pees on me!  He is a fountain, literally, of humor.  Gah, I love him!!!  

Dear Kids,

     So here is the news… you are the guinea pigs!  There are no practice children that we had before you to prepare. So you get the mistakes and the weird along with the amazing moments that only happen because God works through our weakness.  Did you know that anyone could have been your parents?  ANYONE!  God chose us though, and I am so glad He did!  That is the reason that I know we are the best fit for you… He chose us.  We asked for you, but He wanted you for us long before we asked,  Our lives are written already.  Our story is known to Him and he still chose to allow us to have you.  I am in awe of that!!!  We are going to make the mistakes that are written, but we will love you like crazy too.  I am just so glad that we get to live this story with you!  This life that was given to us has been made so much sweeter because of you two!  We love you two, and welcome you to our story.

Love, Mommy and Daddy