Maternity leave

As I sit here on the couch holding Jett while he sleeps and his big brother is upstairs asleep in his bed I can't help but reflect back on my maternity leave. From the moment we brought Jett home my recovery has been easy. It has been so easy that Brody, Jett and I have been able to be out and about enjoying each and every moment of this special time. We have spent countless days at the park, gone to story time, met up with friends, gone on hikes at the Gorge, and we traveled to Florida for two weeks. We have packed in so many adventures, and made so many memories in just this short period of time.

To my oldest Brody, you have become such a great big brother to little Jett. You surpassed everyone's expectations in how you have accepted him into our family and how you care for him. I will miss hearing you say, "good morning baby Jett," each morning. You are such a rough and tough kid that we were shocked to see how gentle (usually) you care for your brother. You hold his leg or hand ever so lightly in the stroller and often give him his paci when he cries. It is great to see you in your new role as his older brother. 

I feel like my leave was at such a perfect time in your development. While gone in Florida your vocabulary and speech in general seamed to change overnight. I love the little conversations we have. Your favorite things to say right now are:

"It's a mess"

Broke, daddy fix it"

"Brody funny"

In the midst of all this happiness there have been hard moments. I often loose my temper with you while I nurse Jett and you act out to obviously get my attention. I try very hard not to loose my temper with you and to be patient but I often fail. I hope these are not the things you remember as you grow. 

To my baby Jett,

I can't believe how much anxiety I had about you joining our family. I honestly didn't think I could love another person like I love your brother but almost instantly I realized I could and do. I have loved watching you grow over these last 9 weeks and can't believe you are already 2 months old. If I could I would go back to day one and do it all over again exactly the same.  You are a good baby and love to snuggle. Your favorite place to sleep is on my chest and I love laying down with you there. You nurse well, and sleep well at night. Naps could probably use some improvement. 😉. You are starting to smile, squeal, and I have even heard just a few little laughs. I love your and your brother's laugh.  It is probably one of the best noises I have ever heard and hearing it you can't help but smile. I can't wait to see your personality develop and see what kind of person you become. I wonder if you will be like your brother, who is just like your dad or if you will be like me or maybe someone completely different from us all. I hate that I have to leave you and go back to work when you are this small. It feels innately wrong and I wish it was different. I hope you and your brother know that as you grow up that your Dad and I work to provide the best life we can for you and that we both wish we didn't have to work and could spend more time together.   

Starting Tuesday morning I will once again leave you Brody and now you Jett in the hands of Sara. I believe she loves you just as much as we do and I trust her 100% to adequately care for you both. Jett you will soon find out what Brody already knows and that is that Sara is super fun. Possibly even more fun than your Dad and I. She is Brody's best friend and I know she will become yours as well. 

We have one and half more days together before we all start our new daily routine of me being back to work. I will miss you both so much it's physically painful. I hope and think the transition will go pretty smooth for the two of you. I love you both so much and I wish this special time wasn't over. I surely would stay home with you both each and everyday if I could. 😍