PHart

Heath is a man with his own ideas. He is very inquisitive which I can usually handle but the other day I said, "OK bud no more questions or I’m going to knock you into next week!" His response, “Which day in next week?” AHH! He loves that Phoenix starts with a ph and makes an ‘f’ sound. He learned about fat with a ph and decided, if it doesn’t stink but makes a cool loud sound it is a fart with a ph. He is adjusting well to his new little brother. The first time I heard Heath say his individual prayers after we brought Bennett home he said “please bless us with a... wait I mean Thank you, thank you for our little brother!”. He has been praying so long for a little brother it was almost a habit. I think he is ready for him to play; he keeps putting things in his bassinet for him to play with. He also had all his stuffed monkeys out the other day and was playing with them and then brought in Perry the platypus and said, “We are adopting him.” It has been so fun watching him take on the role of big brother.

The other day he was playing Wii and I said he needed to turn it off and do something for his brain. He asked “like what?” and I said use your imagination. (dangerous words) He played outside digging for a while then he came in and asked “can I sell rocks?” I said sure that is a fun thing to do. I had some vision of a sort of lemonade stand. Rianne came in a few minutes later and said I can’t find Heath. He was nowhere to be found just a few little shovels in the front. I started to panic as the first neighbor we contacted said, "yes he was just here selling rocks." I called for him and then began calling more neighbors one said “yes, he was here, I asked if you knew where he was and he said yeah she said it was ok.” Well there goes Mom of the Month. I couldn’t really get too mad at him when we found him, he said he only went to houses of people he knew and technically I did give him permission. He also asked last night how much tithing he should pay on his rock sales totaling 30 cents. I think they may be the sweetest 3 pennies ever paid in tithing.

the wait for 5lbs

Brant’s New Year’s resolution was that our house needed to change by 20lbs, I asked how he would like to accomplish this, he said "I either need to lose it or you need to gain it so I don’t look so big." Well 5lbs has changed EVERYTHING!

On Tuesday the 17th our new baby boy was born. Five weeks early weighing just 5lbs and he was 18inches long. On Thursday the 19th we received a phone call from LDS family services that a birthmother has officially selected us. On the 21st Bennett was released from the hospital at 4lbs 14 oz and placed in our arms.

There are so many details and miracles that happened along the way and some we are still discovering. We love him and have received a powerful witness that he is ours, we know he is and he knows it too!

I look forward to sharing the whole long story, soon. For now know he is loved and adored by his siblings, and parents.

He is growing and eating like a champ (3 days with us and he weighs 5lbs 3 oz). and although I think he has weird ears at least they are soft. :)

We have been overwhelmed with so much love and support, which we deeply appreciate.

Too Good

Too good for them

I came to a realization over Christmas, as much as I hate to admit it I am THAT aunt. When my niece Stephanie made her engagement announcement and I thought “she is too good for him”. Then with the events (my sister’s X) and how Zack handled everything I realized I wasn’t giving him much credit.

I’ve had that thought lots of times with the Brown side of family. This should probably be an apology section for the ones where I actually expressed my skepticism on their motives and made critical remarks.

Sorry Lindsay, Jana, Shaye, Wade and Sara. I honestly had moments where I really thought you were not good enough, I was wrong.

Also to the others that while I can’t think of specific times I said or did anything I’m certain I thought it and if I did something I apologize. I thought it was just my need to protect them because they are so good, kind hearted and certainly I don’t want to see those traits taken advantage of. This is the reason I won’t ever set my best friend up with anyone I think she is too good for everyone I know. To my nieces and nephews of future relationships, I will probably still think it, but hopefully I’ll be nice. I think my nieces and nephews are too good for whoever they are with, I just love you guys so much but I will trust your judgment and support you. There will however still be ear squeezes. I realized had I been judged or held to the same standards I wouldn’t have been picked as good enough for Brant. Honestly, I still don’t feel good enough for him and still have feelings of inadequacy in being a Brown.

Too good to me

We took a quick trip over to Kanab and as usual it was fabulous. We enjoyed great conversation and food at Grandma Brown’s. They are so good to us and always make us feel so welcomed and they really warm our hearts and hands :)

Kristi and family took us hiking to the elephant’s trunk just north of Kanab, so much fun.

This is what I’m talking about who could possibly be good enough for this guy who took care of crazy Heath the entire hike.

No way anyone is good enough for this girl who would wash and rub her aunts old lady feet.

 She painted my toes too!

We also got to witness Tyler wrestling and well he is too good it was awesome, Brant was actually yelling in the stands Tyler took first! Sorry he’s is too good too!

Yep it is official my nieces and nephews are just too good. So I’ll just accept my place as the scary overly protective aunt, my kids just happen to have the BEST cousins!

The weather has also been Too good not to go hiking. This was another hike we went on earlier. Annette has the good pictures ;) but it was a cool place here in Flagstaff, this place is too good. 

For New Year's we did spend it with the Elson's

I’m not one for too much stock in new year’s resolutions.  One thing I did change is our morning routine 2 chores in the morning before school, usually it is just one each.  Heath is a competitive one and when Ria did 3.  He was determined to show her up, so I came out to find him cleaning my stove.  I'll take his fire if it keeps my house clean :)  

This year is going to be too good! 
May we always seek and recognize His hand.