Greetings from the South!!

Greetings from Arkansas!! (wow…that’s still kinda weird to say/write out loud!!)  Any-who, hello!! Just a quick (well, kinda..) update as far as what’s going on in Familia de Atkinson….

1st of all, for those of you NOT in the know, we’re about 5 weeks away from meeting our little girl!! And the only person happier than me that this pregnancy is over is BRENT!! HAHAHA!!! Yeah, not only have I had a pretty cruddy pregnancy (with the exception that in the end I’m getting a beautiful daughter!), but I’ve been sure to take Brent along for the ride!  I figure, if I’m miserable (yeah, pregnant at 40 ain’t no joke!!), then he should be too, right?? ..for better or for worse!! HA! (Sorry baby, it’s almost over…I promise to be back to normal soon!!) Anyway, we’ve had lots of hospital runs, a couple of “false labor” episodes, and all the other “fun” stuff that comes with pregnancy lately! But praise God! All is well!! Baby-girl is due to arrive via c-section on April 5th, but truth be told, I doubt we’re gonna make it that long….I think she’ll be here within 2 weeks or so.  But that’s just me. 

Let’s see…what else? Oh…Elijah! He’s more of a joy now than ever before! I swear, I know the 2′s are supposed to be terrible, but so far I love this age!!  He’s absolutely trying to establish his independence and he’s definitely testing his limitations (mostly with Mommie….not so much with Daddy…go figure!), but his personality is ROCKIN’!! He has the BEST sense of humor!! Even at his age, he’s a hoot! And he’s already a musician.  He plays his guitar (a toy guitar, but he still plays it…kinda), and his drums (real drums…and he sooooo plays them!) all the live-long day.  And if there is no drum or guitar around, he’s creative enuf to make whatever’s handy into a guitar and/or drumset! Seriously, if there’s a neck-tie within reach, he grabs it, puts it around his neck and starts strumming it like a guitar!  Oh, and tapping his foot to keep time along with his guitar playing! And since he’s my child and Brent’s child, he totally leads worship; he uses whatever’s handy as his microphone (that’s my boy!) and leans in and says “Good morning! Let’s get ready to worship! Everybody say ‘hallelujah’!! HALLELUJAH!!!” …and he lifts his hands and closes his eyes, just like we do at church…it’s the cutest thing EVER!!  And I know all Mommie’s say this about their kids, but in all seriousness, he’s a FREAKIN’ GENIUS!!! He’s barely 2, and he knows his colors, his shapes, some spanish (thanks mostly to Dora the Explorer, and our spanish speaking congregation at church!), some numbers, and he just this week learned the ABC song!  And (not to brag….yeah, right!!) he’s soooo conversational.  He puts together 15 word sentences at a time now….easily!  Like “Mommie, can you help me please with my diaper because it’s wet and I need to take it off and get a dry one now.”  A sentence like that is sooooo NOT unusual around here.  Oh, and before you ask, NO he’s NOT pottie trained. He can be. He should be. But he’s NOT.  He’s his father’s child (okay, or maybe mine…) so he’s a little stubborn and normally only goes pee-pee on the potty about once or twice per day, unless we’re out, then he wants to “christen” every public bathroom we come to!  But, we’re still working with him…..stubborn little so & so!!  What else..?? Oh, he goes to “Mother’s Day Out” (which we call “school”) twice a week and he LOVES it! (some days, he doesn’t want to go, but he loves it once he’s there.) They don’t really do any “teaching” there, but they give him LOTS of interaction with other kids his age (actually, he’s in a class of kids that are a little older becuz he’s a little advanced for the 2 year old class….again, not to brag…..yeah, right! Have I mentioned that my kid is a FREAKIN’ GENIUS??!!!), plus some small arts & crafts, and most days, he even gets a short nap! Best part of all, Mommie gets a well needed break! Can I get a witness?????  Anyway, I’m looking into another “school” for him next year where they do some actual teaching, have more structure, etc….plus they teach Christian values (which, YES, he gets plenty of at home, but it’ll be nice to have it enforced at his “school”, right??).  More on that in the next blog, I’m sure…. Anyway, my Elijah is also the sweetest thing that God ever created (next to his Daddy, that is!).  Especially when he’s all sleepy-eyed…that’s when I get the best snuggle time in! He’s soooo sweet; he’ll lean in and kiss me on the cheek and whisper into my ear “I luff you!”  Then, he’ll do the same thing on my other cheek and whisper “I luff you!”  It’s soooo precious!  His two favorite things are still chocolate milk and Mommie….probably in that order!  But I think Daddy’s movin’ up on the list of favorites! It’s sooo cute how he’s really starting to bond with his Daddy.  They mostly play, and play too rough as far as I’m concerned, but Elijah LOVES it! Just when I think “oh no…Daddy was too rough..”, Elijah squeals with joy and runs back for more! (right about then, Daddy tells me to leave the room and leave the man games to the men-folk!”)  Anyway, life with Elijah makes life worth living!! He’s an absolute JOY just to be around! (can you tell I love my kid???)

Auntie Belle (Michelle My Belle) came to visit us for two weeks, and we had a good ol’ time! At least, I did! She cooked, cleaned, organized, played with the boy (Lijah-pie, not Brent! HA!), and kept me in line (well, as best as she could!) the whole time she was here. She was such a blessing to us! And every second was a pleasure for our entire family! I don’t know who was happier to see her….me, or Elijah?? He LOVES his Auntie Belle!  From the second he saw her, he was instantly bonded with her….again! It cracked me & Brent up! We were like “..huh???”  I mean, he’s my child so he’s all social and everything, but they got their bond ON!! The 1st night, they were all snuggled up and laid out on the bed like “what?? ..this is just how we roll!!”  It was sooo cute! Anyway, it was great to have the help.  It was great to have the company.  It was great to have Auntie Belle!!! 

Oh, and thanks mostly to Auntie Belle’s leadership, organization, and general “bossy-ness” (ha! you know I ain’t neva’ lied!), Baby-Girl’s room is DONE!!  We got it painted, organized, the clothes, gifts, etc, are all washed (well, up to 3 months that is), folded, & put away in their proper places.  Plus, we got some more lady-bug stuff and decorated the walls, etc. (btw, her room has a lady-bug theme!! sooooo cute!)  Anyway, we’re READY!!! ..whew!!!

So…now, we sit, we wait, we hope…..5 weeks away from meeting our newest edition.  OMG, I’m gonna have a DAUGHTER!! That’s insane, isn’t it??!! Okay, next blog, we’ll have info about our baby girl (like her name!), and if I can figure out how to post pix, I’ll add some of those too! Please pray for us, that these next few weeks go by fast and uneventful (well…with the exception of the “main” event!).

I love you all & pray for you daily! Much, much love! I can’t wait to see you all again!! (and for you to meet my new daughter!! ..and to see how big my Punkin’ is now!!)

xoxo