Two Sons

Two sons.

(Both nursing.)

Brandon loved having a little brother. He wanted to help me do everything for Ethan. I remember putting the lotion on Ethan after bath time and Brandon loved to help me rub Ethan's back.

We thought Brandon would have to move out of his crib soon so we got him a little toddler bed. Ethan slept in the cradle. The cradle was made by Tom's dad when Brandon was born.

Soon Ethan was out of the cradle, but he moved into our bed instead of the crib. He preferred sleeping with us.

I had been going to my sister's home to take care of my nephew, but now that I had a newborn my nephew came to our home.

I did lots of crafts with the boys. Lots of music, lots of playing.

Tom built a playset in the backyard. We had a little basketball hoop and a sprinkler out back too. We also made a little garden. I can still picture

Brandon picking and carrying cucumbers. He was very proud of what he had helped grow.

After awhile, my sister decided to put her son into a daycare.

I was sad that I would not be taking care of my nephew anymore. I loved that my two sons were being raised with their cousin. They had a lot of fun together. They had a special bond.

With that part of our income gone, Tom decided to try for a promotion at work. I knew he could do it and there were others that were encouraging Tom to go for it too. Tom just needed to know he could do it. I was so very proud of him. He went for the management position and he got it. He stepped up and took a chance so that he would be able to provide for his family. I know I can always count on my Tommy. He is a wonderful man, a wonderful provider.

I was soon spending my days with our two boys. We did lots of things. There was a park close to our home. Tom helped build a new huge playset there. This was before Ethan was born. We bought one of the pickets for the fence that surrounded the play area. It has Brandon and Ethan carved in it. That was one time I was glad we knew we were having a boy and had a name picked out already.

(I wonder if it is still there.)

Brandon did get very sick with the Rotavirus. He had to be hospitalized for dehydration. I stayed the night with him. We watched Batman videos and ate popsicles. The next morning, Tom and Ethan came to get us. Ethan was on a chair next to Brandon's hospital bed. He stood up and fell right off, hitting his head on the floor. I could hear it "crack." I yelled for a nurse. She said she couldn't touch him, I had to take him to the ER. I was confused and angry.
Turns out, Ethan had fractured his skull. I got to spend that night in the hospital with Ethan.

Brandon got a wagon for his birthday.

We would walk to the park a lot. We did a lot of picnics there.

We still have that wagon. Lots ot things we bought for Brandon we still have.We still have Brandon's first stroller - I won't let Tom get rid of it. In my opinion, lots of items for babies and children were made "better" back then.

Anyways, after Ethan turned a year old, Tom and I started thinking about having another baby. We decided to try.