Emma's Thoughts on Brother

Emma and I went to Cook Out yesterday, for our girl time. It was the first time I have eaten at one. Well, we didn't actually eat, we just got milkshakes but everyone else's food looked good.

I'm not sure how this happened to me two days in a row, but on Wednesday when Hannah and I went to Panara, she ordered a chocolate chip cookie and I got a brownie. I told her we could share because she wanted the brownie too. Somehow, I gave up my brownie completely and we took the chocolate chip cookie home, which she ate the next day. Yesterday with Emma, she ordered a blueberry milkshake (she adores anything with blueberries). I ordered banana, which is by far my favorite homemade ice cream or milkshake flavor. Well, once again I ended up giving up my banana milkshake in exchange for her blueberry. My banana was much better. The blueberry wasn't sweet enough. So, two days in a row I got the short end of the straw!

While Emma and I sat in Cook Out she told me her thoughts about brother. She can't wait to meet him. She wonders if he will have curly hair like me and her or straight like Hannah and Daddy. She can't wait to help take care of him. She will bring me his diapers and play with him. I asked her what she thought Brother would do all day long. She said, "Play with his toys of course." I explained that he won't be able to play at first. He won't even be able to hold a toy in his small hand. She then thought he would just crawl or walk around all day. So, then I explained that he would just lay around and we would talk to him and hold him and love on him, but he couldn't do much at first. I think she pictured him coming out like our friend Trent (who is now 19 months old!) I think she forgot that at one time Trent wasn't able to do what he does now!

Emma asked me if I knew how to change diapers! When I asked her if she and Hannah ever wore diapers she replied, NO! I told her unfortunately I had lots of practice in that area!

When I told her that she and Hannah would be staying over at Auntie and Uncle's house while Mommy and Daddy were in the hospital she told me we better train Brother to not cry at night because Auntie and Uncle wouldn't like that. (She thought Brother was having a sleepover with them too!) She didn't realize he would be in the hospital with us! It's so funny that I hadn't realized that she didn't understand this whole process. I don't know why she would, I simply forgot that she had no prior knowledge on the subject. Hannah doesn't remember Emma being born, so her most recent memories are of Trent being born and she remembers a little bit about tiny babies and how fragile they are, but that's about it. So, we're embarking on a new adventure for our entire family.

I feel a bit too old to be doing this again, but I'm sure when he arrives it will all come back to us. This time go round, I won't have a 18 month old and a newborn to raise at the same time. 6 1/2 and 5 seem much easier to manage, since they will be able to help and they won't need their diapers changed at the same time! God will give us what we need. (Patience, endurance, enough love to go around, and hopefully a baby that sleeps!) I think about mine and Joe's ages and then I am reminded of Abraham and Sarah. God bless them for their faithfulness. I think at Sarahs' age I would have laughed too! Well, I'm off to finish my work and then pack our bags for the hospital. It's getting "real" this week. I am realizing that he is coming SOON, so we better be prepared. I guess buying a car seat is in our plans for the weekend. I had been debating on which one to get, but I think I better decide and go ahead and get that last purchase made so we can truly say we are ready!