Getting to Know Them: Bret

Picture by Kailee Brown

"On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, 'Life will never be the same' " -Nancy Tillman

That's a line from one of Bret's favorite books. I read it to him probably 10 times a day. Life indeed has never been the same since my baby boy was born. He has brought so much joy into my life. Now at 13 months old I feel like I'm just getting to know him! He is such a character.
He started walking the day before he turned 13 months and he hardly crawls since then. He is however, attempting to run. I knew he was holding out on me because his main goal was indeed, to run.


Anyway, everyday he greets me with delight in his own language. He comes into my room babbling about some great dream he had, or the amazing breakfast my mom made him or perhaps he's just coming in wondering why I wasn't there for breakfast. I don't know, but he just comes in talking like I can actually understand him. The other day, during lunch my mom and I were having a conversation and he joined in. What's funny about the conversations Bret has is that at the end of his long-winded tale, he turns to you puts his hand over his open mouth and gives you the funniest, can-you-believe-that? kind of laugh ever! He also uses this laugh when he talks to Mr. Invisible over the phone. When I see him do this I think to myself, DUDE! Where have you been all my life?!! You are HILARIOUS! 

With abuelita on our Sunday walk

Bret also really likes being outside. Most of all, he likes to ride in the wagon of the John Deere tricycle his grandparents gave him for his birthday. We take several laps in our apartment complex and he just loves it. He doesn't shriek in delight or anything but he just sits there calmly and once the ride is over he gets really upset. Yesterday we walked to the park and while in the park we met some new friends. He was mesmerized by the children as they swung on the swings, climbed up the ladder to the slide or ran around playing tag. He was taking it all in. He then decided he wanted to do his own thing and climb up and down the side side steps of the playground. He held my hand the entire time. I loved every second of it. I realized, while watching those children, that he won't always want me to hold his hand. That he won't always want me to pull him around the complex in his wagon. I realized, he won't always want me around. So I cherished every moment of him holding my hand and signaling for me to pull him up because he was ready to go home.

See how he doesn't look excited?
 He's actually having the time of his life.

He has recently started praying with us during all the different meals. Every time we serve the food, he folds his arms and says "aaaaMA" which means, "Amen". Before, we used to occasionally forget to pray because we were in a hurry, too hungry or distracted. His cute reverence and patience, even when he's really hungry, is a great reminder to me of what is really important. Now we say it every time and I always look forward to him yelling, "aaaaAAMA!" at the end and then going "HMMMM!" because he is ready to eat. I think it's time to include Bret in our family prayers before bedtime.

Bret learning how to be soft with Mia.
See my mom's hand holding his?

I love my baby boy. I love how observant he is. With all the teeth he has now (almost 8 to be exact), we have been incorporating "the brushing of teeth" to his routine. He loves to brush his teeth and he particularly enjoys it when me and/or Heath brush our teeth with him. Every time we rinse he bursts out laughing! He thinks it's hilarious how we spit into the sink. He tries to do it himself but ends up cracking up and being too weak from laughter to actually spit into the sink, so he ends up drooling into the sink. How fun is HE?!!

I love that he's a really good big brother. When his baby sister cries, he quickly goes and tries to help her. He's still learning about being soft and sometimes in his attempt to soothe his baby sister, he ends up making her cry more (sigh). He sometimes takes his favorite books over to her and starts "reading" to her (my heart melts). Or sometimes he throws his brown bear at her because he thinks that it will make her feel better...except, it doesn't... (sigh again). He tries though.

I love that God gave Bret to me to watch, take care of, teach, and learn from on this earth. This year has been an amazing adventure so far. My life wouldn't be the same without him.

 "For the world had never know a you my friend, and it never will not ever again."

On the Night You Were Born- Nancy Tillman