The Justiss Family: January 2012

So, as I continue in my journey of going back and catching up...I find myself daydreaming and remembering every tiny detail of those early days with Griggs and watching William fall more in love with his new baby, his little best friend. Septmeber brought 2 months with Griggs. We made some road trips and had lots of fun family times. I remember many nights snuggled between both of my boys. I loved how we were comfortably settling into life as our family of four...

We started the month with quiet outings to Seaside with our two boys. It's always a pleasant outing to walk down and around Seaside. William just loves running through the big grass and chatting with people. I love his free spirit and excitement. He lifts my spirits and puts a smile right on my face. It felt good to be out with both boys, enjoying the sunshine and watching William so innocently play. Griggs was such an angel baby while we were out and about. William would occasionally come over and tell his baby all about how to play in Seaside. Such a sweet memory!!

Because the weather was still beautiful and we enjoy being outside together, we had several afternoons of fun playing in the water hose with William. He was still wearing his adorable overalls, which just keep that "baby" look on him a little while longer. We would chase each other and spray the hose to "cool off and grow", which brought much, much laughter to William. Sweet Griggs would just chill out in the bjourne, mostly sleeping on my chest. There were lots of icecream afternoons as well.. Somehow, William would convince us that we needed an icecream treat when we played outside! It never bothered me because I knew he was happy! Philip would climb and play without complaint with William on the playset. It makes me laugh a little, watching him climb the little ladder and sit, crouched over in the playhouse, just because William wanted his daddy to climb with him. Those afternoons of outside family time were such a blessing! I looked forward to Philip coming home from work, knowing we'd end up outside to play and laugh...before getting the boys settled for the night!

September afternoons also are wonderful beach sunset days! We did spend several afternoons walking down to the beach for some fun playtime. Griggs just hung out in the bjourne while William would run and play and roll in the sand. I know what a blessing it is to have the beach basically in our back yard. I love watching my child play with such enthusiasm, enjoying one of God's most beautiful creations! It also felt great to get out of the house and enjoy the breeze and salt air, while still adjusting to a newborn! I can remember watching William play while rocking Griggs, knowing it would be not too long before Griggs was chasing his brother. I wanted time to slow down then.. and still do now!! I just cherish the days and savior the moment and capture many moments in pictures....so I can go back and remember...(like I said, being a year behind in my blogging is a blessing! It makes me slow down and go back and relive these sweet early days! I am thankful for my firm memory and endless pictures!)

One of William's recent favorites during this time was firetrucks. Anything related to firetrucks and firemen. He would sit for "hours on end" and entertain himself with his village of firetrucks and dress in his firemen jacket and helmet and play. I loved watching his imagination grow, listening to his conversations with his toys. As I would sit nearby, feeding Griggs or just quietly watching, William would get lost in his little mind, lining up his firetrucks and dragging out all his little people toys and small cars, creating a vast playland. He would make many "rescues" and take many adventures all around and under our dining room table. I loved this age (actually haven't had an age I don't love). Some days, he'd ask me to take care of his toys and trucks while he took his nap. That made me smile. I could see his little mind working...knowing he was truly lost in his little world of play. I love capturing his play in pictures. I would sometimes prop Griggs nearby on his boppy lounger pillow so he would "watch" his big brother. William would always include Griggs. He would take a few toys and place them around his brother, then describe the adventure of the day. I can remember thinking, "soak this up, remember exactly the gentleness William is showing" and can remember telling William before he knew it, Griggs would be playing with him. William would get so excited about this and giggle and tell Griggs "you gonna play with me soon, baby. just keep growing okay. until you get big like me, I'll play for you"........Be still my heart.....

A big deal to Griggs those days was his sweet little hands and tiny toes on those adorable feet. He would watch them move and twist. He'd pull them to his mouth. He'd just watch with wide eyes as he discovered all 10 fingers and 10 toes.. My heart would get all warm and fuzzy, and I'd just have to scoop him up and cover him in kisses and tell him all about those hands and feet and create songs and stories for him. I'd sing to him about what those toes would grow up to do and how those hands would change and grow and create memories...

Oh, the smiles...the ever-heart-melting smiles of William and Griggs... I can close my eyes and see those innocent, joyful smiles of my boys...William a month away from turning 3 and Griggs only 2 months old. I loved the anticipation of what would follow that sweet smile as it shown on their faces. Griggs cooing and smiling and yawning, eyes watching us, following us...William, full of surprise, full of conversations.. Oh, I could just sit and flip through my pictures of their perfect little smiles..and I do..I find myself flipping through photos or scrolling through files on the computer. And the best smiles..the ones that led to the other one smiling :) I love beyond measure the relationship already present between William and Griggs! Yes, I count my boys' smiles as a true gift from God and I thank him often. For smiles. For sweet, simple smiles!

Another favorite milestone from September with Baby Griggs would be the moments of him tucked in the Baby Bjourne. Having him snug to my chest, sleeping or just hanging out, while still entertaining William and having hands free, those moments are a treasure. I loved having my tiny little baby so snuggly and warm, tucked near me to my chest, where at any moment, I could kiss his sweet little head, while I still ran and played with William, prepared meals, folded clothes, wrote thank-yous... you get the picture. I can remember Philip and I taking turns "wearing" Baby Griggs! I loved how Philip proudly strapped the bjourne on when he came in from work, wanting his turn carrying Griggs and getting those snuggle moments while still having time with William.

One thing I try to constantly do with William is keep him "involved" in a natural curriculum of hands on fun and learning. I love craft time and enjoy his love of learning. Being a stay at home mom provides me the best opportunity to be his "teacher" and enrich his daily life with lessons and believe me, I try to find every teachable moment. We have "school" all the time. It's a known fact that I LOVE BEING A MOMMY and love being my child's first teacher. With that said, I love to involve him in our kitchen, using that as a huge part of our "classroom". With September, brings apples and Johnny Appleseed...not that an almost 3 yr old really understands who Johnny Appleseed is, but nevertheless, I took the moment (as I did last year).. and to get his chubby little hands interested in apples...we spent a few afternoons painting with apples, peeling apples, tasting different types of apples, making applesauce, reading books about apples..I have a sweet spot in my heart for his little excited face when we spend time doing projects and our activities. I just love this chance to make learning fun and exciting for him. I also love the chance to give him one-on-one time doing our little projects and crafts while Griggs sleeps...and at 2 months, we will take it!! I include this part about simple "apple painting" just to capture William's excitement for learning and so I can always remind myself that I do have the beautiful gift of teaching him that learning is fun...and can be messy fun and always around us!! Life is good.

One more sweet memory from these days...I loved watching William "read" to his baby brother. I loved how he would sit with his books and read to himself and entertain himself while I cared for Griggs. He was so wonderful to understand when mommy needed to care for Griggs, whether it was nursing, changing diapers, sleeping, etc.. he would either entertain himself nearby with toys or books, or snuggle up with us, while giving Griggs his space, as to not interrupt or cause distraction. It fascinated me how my almost 3 year old, truly seemed to care for his baby brother and know Mommy still loved him, regardless of my attention being pulled away. I love how he could get lost in his books, knowing his mind was growing and his heart loving us...

More of September 2010...
We made our family vacation to the lake the week of my birthday~~ We packed up the boys and off we went! I did head off to Dothan before hand to see my parents for a few days before meeting up with Philip. I love making trips to my parents' house with my children. I love bringing my boys to see their grandparents and great-grandparents. I love the comfort I have of pulling up into the driveway, and the smells of being "home". I love just being in my old house. I especially love when I put Griggs down to sleep in my old baby crib. I love how I watch my baby sleep in the bed that was mine, wondering if my parents watched me sleep just as I watch him (and watched William!) I am thankful for the moments of spending time with my moma and daddy, with Hunter and Holden and with Grannymart and Poppi in Dothan. And it makes me happy that William recognizes when we are getting near their road, telling me to turn to go to Maggies... it is a great feeling.

So, after a quick visit in Dothan, we went to the lake for our vacation. I've shared before about the love of Lake Eufaula and how fun it is to sneak off and escape the world. During this visit, we hung out and relaxed as a family. We played with William, slept lots and lots. We cooked and cooked and cooked. We had great family time. And, it fell along with my birthday!! And a visit with Papa and Mimi!! They arrived on my birthday and that night, my parents, brothers and grandparents all came up to have a birthday dinner. If you know me, you know I LOVE birthdays. And not just mine, I love anyone's birthdays!! I love celebrating life and making the birthday person feel special. This birthday was wonderful! I was with my family, at the lake, relaxing. I loved eating dinner together, hearing my parents and grandparents and papa and mimi share stories together. We laughed all night and celebrated family. It was a great birthday! My last year in my 20s...yet it made my heart so excited, knowing next year, I would be 30!! I honestly couldn't wait to be 30!! Isn't that crazy?!?! anywho...

Papa and Mimi spent a few days with us at the lake, enjoying their snuggles with Griggs and William. I loved watching them as they played and chatted with William, as they rocked Griggs and as they relaxed with us. It was a great visit. Lots of horseshoe games were played, lots of walks taken, lots of delicious food enjoyed...and an AUBURN GAME!!! It was a great weekend!! My brother came up on that Saturday, and off we went to Auburn for the Auburn/Clemson game. We had 4 tickets. Philip/Lauren/Papa/Hunter! Mimi came along and we spent the day tailgating together before the big game. When it came time to go into the game, I had to make the hand off..as I did a few years back with William...and yes, I cried again. Mimi just hugged me and tucked the boys in the stroller and off she went, strolling them back to the car to head back to the condo we would be staying in that night. She babysat the boys during the game, while the 4 of us headed into the game. It was so hard. It was the first time I'd been away from Griggs for any length of time (other than maybe an hour)..But as we walked into the stadium..my heart jumped!! I just love being in Auburn for football games!! WAR EAGLE!!! And what a game! It was so fun to celebrate such a victorious win over Clemson with Philip, my brother, Hunter and my father-in-law, Papa! It was a great first time away from Griggs...apparently Auburn got my memo to "make it worth being away from my babies!!!" hahaha!!

Oh, boy, do I cherish those moments...I'm sitting here January 2012 still trying to catch up with this blog. Still journaling those moments. I sometimes fear I won't catch up. Then as I sit down to type away, the moments come flooding back and it seems only like yesterday. I love what I call a gift of procrastination with this blog. Why, you ask?? Because, now, William is 4 and Griggs is 18 months.. and I am reliving their first few months together, just like it was yesterday. My heart is full as the words come pouring out. My prayer is this blog will be a window for William and Griggs...a look into my life as their mommy and a glimpse of how they blessed me...