Smiles

Last night, Jimmy smiled at me for the first time! My heart melted. It was a full smile, one I had never seen him do before. My heart ached for that moment, because he had smiled for my mom and Jimmy, but I couldn't seem to do anything to warrant a smile from him. But when it came, it was wonderful. He was sitting in my lap while we watched the Academy of Country Music awards, and I was making silly faces at him. Just like that, he looked up at me with his big, beautiful blue eyes and flashed me the biggest, toothless grin I've ever seen. I immediately started balling my eyes out, and it seemed the harder I sobbed, the funnier he thought it was. His grin grew bigger and bigger as the tears streamed down my face. I will never forget that moment.

This morning, he discovered my hair and how fun it is to pull it. The harder he tugs, the louder mommy wails. He took a huge chunk of my hair into his tiny fist and pulled as hard as he could. I looked at him and asked him very politely to stop hurting mommy and what did he do? He smiled. The more pain I was in, the bigger his smile grew. This kid definitely thinks it's funny to watch me either cry or wail in pain. I'm in big trouble. :)

On the puppy front, Brinkley has definitely stepped into the realm of "big girl." We took away her kennel last night and put her bed on the floor in our room. She slept there the whole night without budging and I was so proud I could scream. Jimmy also taught her to go to her bed when commanded (after only 3 times of being stern with her and then rewarding her with treats when she obeyed). She is such a smart dog. I think she has also taken the role of baby protector now that she doesn't have her kennel, because she won't stop following him around the house. If I put him in his crib, she sleeps beside it. If he's on the floor on his mat, she's right next to him. My babies are just growing up way too fast.