REB!

Rachel and her great friend, Grace!!! Grace's mom, Sarah, took these pictures as well...notice the mark on her face. This was fresh off the blacktop at school that day...already almost gone now!



Our sweet daughter, Rachel Elizabeth Brown. Given to us on February 2, 2003!


I remember the day we found out we were going to have our first baby. So many feelings overwhelmed me....pure happiness at the top, excited, scared, nervous and such eager anticipation of what was to come. We had waited a long time for her. By the time she got to us...eleven years to be exact. I remember, while we were waiting all those years, we watched, what seemed like, everyone around us having babies. Starting families. But Gary and I waited. And waited. But when we finally decided it was time to have our own baby, we were blessed, oh so blessed by God.

I remember the day at our ultrasound, waiting to find out what we would be having! I was SURE it was a boy. And I was soooo excited. Nope, I was wrong, it was a girl. In that moment, I heard myself say out loud, "a daughter". Hard for me to admit and even believe now, but I never had this longing for a daughter. I know, strange huh? I REALLY wanted a boy. I have no idea why. But in that moment, that one moment that I heard "a girl", that all changed. Suddenly, all I wanted was our daughter. I dreamed of all to come with the joy of having a daughter. That time truly gave meaning to the fact of God knowing what is best for us. Because what was best for us was to have a little girl.

Rachel is SUCH a girl. She is all girl. She loves dresses, painting her nails, putting clips in her hair, "lipstick" (aka lipgloss) and all the stereotypical things little girls love. She is my heart. I sit and try to file away in my brain these times we have together. The love she gives me so freely, so fully. Hearing her tell me "I love you mommy" will always melt my heart. I try to file these away, because I know the day is coming. The day as it often does for mothers and daughters when I may not be so lucky to hear all of those things so often. I am sure we will "butt heads" often in her teenage years. Yet, I know it is all part of the package. The package of having a mother daughter relationship. I will need to remind myself of that in the future for sure.

But until then, I will sit back and enjoy this perfect little package.....our daughter. I love you Rachel, more than you will ever know!!!

JT Brown

(Some adorable pics by my awesome friend (and photographer!!!) Sarah!!!! Thanks Sarah!)



Joshua Thomas Brown, I love you!!! On July 29th 2005, we were given the wonderful gift of our son! Gary and I both really like the name Joshua, so it was. And then, Thomas was given after my dad. My dad passed away when I was just four months old, so I never knew him. But he left me with my name. Not just my last name, but my whole name as he named me. It may seem strange but, still to this day after nearly 38 years, I hold onto that. So I was able to do the same, and give our son a name after his grandpa, who I am sure is with him always. And so everytime I call him JT or hear someone else do so, I think of my father and smile to myself.

JT is the most intense child I know. He does everything intense. He can be the most stubborn little man one second and literally the next, he is like jelly melting into your arms giving you love. He has a heart of gold. He really does. Despite the fact that he likes to yell and hit his sister (such fun in our house), he loves to hug her and is always thinking of her. He will ask often during the day, "is it time for Wachel to come home yet?" When I tell him, not yet, he gives a "ohhhhhh..." in disatisfaction as he looks down at the ground. Then he will quickly ask "is it now mama?" or "in a few minutes wight?" He is in total awe of her. He really is. Last week, as I was getting ready to go pick up Rachel and her sweet friend from school, JT went into the fridge and got out two cheese sticks. Then, he promptly went to Rachel's room. He returned with two princess toys. He then told me, very intently, "I got theeeese for Wachel and Gwacie so they have something to eat and play with on the way home!" Well, as you can imagine, that made my heart melt in every way!

That is what he does. He makes your heart melt. Whether it is his sleepy self dragging his little body into bed next to you at 5:30 in the morning to say "I love you....I lay next to you" or the way his face lights up every night when his daddy comes through the door, or even after he has been naughty and has to say "sowwy" to you, your heart melts. I cannot imagine our lives without him or his love. I love you Joshua Thomas Brown!!!