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After a girl is grown, her little brothers - now her protectors - seem like big brothers. ~Astrid Alauda Help your brother's boat across, and your own will reach the shore. ~Hindu Proverb

There is a little boy inside the man who is my brother ...Oh, how I hated that little boy.

And how I love him too. ~Anna Quindlan

As Joe boards the plane to Iraq,
I sit here and think of all of the times that we have shared.
I can't believe that my little brother is all grown up!
As he embarks on this chapter in his life,
my only wish is that this becomes a positive experience.
I am facing the fear that I may never see him again,
but looking forward to the day he makes a safe return.
I am secure in the fact that I have said to him all that I can say.
He knows that he is loved and will be missed while he is gone.
He is strong and brave and I am very proud of him.

Smiley Girl

Hello everbody! She always has her tongue sticking out!
Scrunchy face!
Pick me, pick me!
Irelynn has been so much fun lately - she is always smiling and getting soooo excited about everything! She has been going to bed at midnight and will sleep until 6pm and then again until 9 or 10! I am not nearly as exhausted as I have been :o) She is eating every 3-4 hours now, which is really nice, too! She is still wearing her newborn jammies and 0-3 mo. clothing. I tried to put her in 3-6 mo. yesterday (I was getting bored with all of her clothing options), but she was swimming in it! All I wished for this time was a petite little girl & can't believe it came true... I think I just might be the luckiest mom in the world!

The bestest big brother ever

Isaac couldn't wait to finally feed his sister! Time to burp!
Cuddle time :o)
As I was feeding Irelynn a bottle yesterday (I decided to pump after she slept for 3 hours & then she woke up just when I was done...), Isaac decided that he needed a turn feeding her. So, he got comfy in the chair and I handed him the bottle and his sister. He was such a pro! He fed her, burped her and then sat her next to him with very little help from me! I can't believe how maternal (paternal) he is with her. He is always in her face and it drives me nuts, but she is always giving him all of her smiles... I guess she doesn't mind it so much! Irelynn has been obsessed with him since day 1 - I remember when we came home from the hospital and she was already following him with her eyes! They're just so darn cute together :o)