The day before Elliott was born our family was at church and I was having a conversation with a friend and was telling her my anxieties of bringing home a new baby and my concerns with how it would affect Merrin's whole world. This friend told me something that no one else had ever mentioned. Most people tell you how hard things are going to be with having two when you are just getting used to being a mom of one, etc. but this wonderful friend said, "Bethany, don't you realize what a beautiful gift you will be giving Merrin"? I had never stopped to think of it that way. Being the worrier that I am, I just thought that Merrin might be jealous or hurt in some way by not understanding that mommy will now have to split her time between her and baby brother. What an amazing change of the way you look at things!! For those of you out there that have siblings, I'm sure you would all agree that they truly are a beautiful gift from God. I can't imagine not having my sister in my life as well as my brother and sister-n-laws. Merrin has not only surpassed my expectations but she is in complete love with her baby brother. Of course I know there are hard days ahead and we are certainly having to watch our "little helper" so that she isn't too rough with baby brother but for now I'll focus on what a beautiful gift Elliott truly is to our family! God is certainly amazing and baby Elliott has had a terrific first week! 
Merrin's Mamaw and Great Aunt Della came along for moral support (not so much for Merrin but for me of course)!
I know this may be hard to believe but despite the fact that I am dangerously close to leaving my 20's and entering unknown territory, I have NEVER been to the circus but yet here Merrin is at 22 months old experiencing her first circus experience! Keith's work had tickets for this past weekend's show and although I doubt I would have paid for tickets considering Merrin's age, we would have REALLY missed out had we not gone! Merrin absolutely LOVED it! We told her before her nap on Saturday that when she woke up we would go see some "animals" at the circus and I think we even threw in a "lions, tigers & bears, oh my"! So...when Merrin woke up from her nap all she could talk about was ANIMALS! She asked for them the whole way on the car ride there. When we got there she was in awe of all that was around her and contently sat on Keith's lap watching with this little face full of wonder. Once she had been there a little while she started yelling when the crowd yelled and clapping with everyone else clapped, it was so cute. I am glad that Merrin enjoyed herself. She also experienced her very first taste of popcorn and couldn't get enough of it! She kept asking for the "animals" yesterday so we told her that we would have to go see them again next year. I highly recommend going if you've never been. It was truly amazing seeing the elephants and all they could do as well as the acrobats and the frisbee catching dogs!
