I don’t really remember when this started for me, I am sure very early. But after this weekend I am convinced that is must be part of our genetic make-up. Shane, at 2 and a half, has already learned how to beg for things on store shelves and play her Daddy. We were at Wal-Mart (which we have decided never to take the kids there again) and Shane saw yet another thing she wanted; asked for it; was told not this time; and then turned on her heal, looked at her Daddy, cocked her head and said in the sweetest voice ever “Pleeeessseee Daddy” Worth and I just looked at each other and were in awe. How does a girl know to do that to her Daddy? To Worth’s credit he held tight but I could see him buckling if I hadn’t been there for support.
I must say though, that I am very excited about Christmas this year. This is the first year Shane will understand Santa Claus, leaving cookies, more presents under the tree than when she went to bed. I have always loved Christmas but to see it through the eyes of my children is just magical. We have already started a few traditions. We went to a paint pottery place and I let her paint an ornament. Her first Christmas we did her hand print and I will do Gray’s this year and now every year forward we will go paint ornaments. And, of course, I have frozen blueberries that I got from a local farm this summer, waiting for the blueberry pancake on Christmas morning tradition that started last year.
Gray is about to start crawling. He will get up on his knees and rock back and forth and scream. It infuriates him not to be able to go. We went to the doctor last week and he is a solid 18 lb, 10 oz. Shane was that at one year - he is and a half months. He is the sweetest baby, doesn’t get fussy unless something is wrong. And the love-fest between the two continues.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Monday, November 21, 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Passing the torch
Yesterday my Grandma passed away, she was 88 so I can't say it was a shock. I am so grateful that she died peacefully in her sleep, she wasn't sick, so in a way it was a surprise.
My Grandma was the best woman I have ever known. I lost my mom at an early age and my Grandma help my Dad raise me. She was strong but gentle, she had an endless amount of love and generosity for her family. She would defend us, right or wrong, without question or hesitation. It is from my Grandma that I learned the meaning of being a family.
At her house birthdays were special, she would make you your favorite meal and dessert and gather the family together for a mini celebration.
At her house Christmas was magical, she would decorate the whole place, slave for hours making the traditional Christmas cookie - peppernuts. We would have a giant family Christmas eve where she made the best meatballs and Santa would always visit. And most of my Christmas pictures is all of us sitting in the same room in the same chairs (Grandma and Grandpa on the couch, Dad in the blue chair, Orene in the gold and Jason and I on the floor.)
At her house college football season was another holiday. We would set up several TVs in the living room to watch and turn the volume down so we could listen to the radio too – made sense to the adults. She would make more “finger foods” than we could eat and watch the Oklahoma Cowboys play and usually loose back then.
At her house everyday was a day that she did something special for us. Most of the time it went unrecognized. Grandma would make two batches of oatmeal cookies, one with raisins for me and one without for my cousin; she was almost always there when I got home from school; she sewed me some of the best clothes I have ever owned; she would keep our favorite foods stocked at her house; she would let me pick flowers from her garden to take to my teacher; she would make chocolate pudding in the middle of the week for no reason and to this day I still wish she was living with me to take care of me when I am sick.
I grew up thinking that we were like every other family - just like the Cunningham's on Happy Days. Now that I am grown I realize how special we really were. Most families are not as close as ours was. Most of my immediate family members are gone, which is sad for me but more so for my children.
So this is my life now, teaching my children all the amazing things that my Grandma (and Dad) taught me. Passing on to them the love and appreciation of family and keeping the traditions going. How I raise my kids will be my best tribute to them.
My Grandma was the best woman I have ever known. I lost my mom at an early age and my Grandma help my Dad raise me. She was strong but gentle, she had an endless amount of love and generosity for her family. She would defend us, right or wrong, without question or hesitation. It is from my Grandma that I learned the meaning of being a family.
At her house birthdays were special, she would make you your favorite meal and dessert and gather the family together for a mini celebration.
At her house Christmas was magical, she would decorate the whole place, slave for hours making the traditional Christmas cookie - peppernuts. We would have a giant family Christmas eve where she made the best meatballs and Santa would always visit. And most of my Christmas pictures is all of us sitting in the same room in the same chairs (Grandma and Grandpa on the couch, Dad in the blue chair, Orene in the gold and Jason and I on the floor.)
At her house college football season was another holiday. We would set up several TVs in the living room to watch and turn the volume down so we could listen to the radio too – made sense to the adults. She would make more “finger foods” than we could eat and watch the Oklahoma Cowboys play and usually loose back then.
At her house everyday was a day that she did something special for us. Most of the time it went unrecognized. Grandma would make two batches of oatmeal cookies, one with raisins for me and one without for my cousin; she was almost always there when I got home from school; she sewed me some of the best clothes I have ever owned; she would keep our favorite foods stocked at her house; she would let me pick flowers from her garden to take to my teacher; she would make chocolate pudding in the middle of the week for no reason and to this day I still wish she was living with me to take care of me when I am sick.
I grew up thinking that we were like every other family - just like the Cunningham's on Happy Days. Now that I am grown I realize how special we really were. Most families are not as close as ours was. Most of my immediate family members are gone, which is sad for me but more so for my children.
So this is my life now, teaching my children all the amazing things that my Grandma (and Dad) taught me. Passing on to them the love and appreciation of family and keeping the traditions going. How I raise my kids will be my best tribute to them.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
FEED ME!
Gray is part baby part piggy. Not only does he get excited to eat food but he get down right demanding about it. There is no mistaking when it is meal time at our house. He has a scream that is louder than anything Shane has ever produced. At a typical meal he will eat cereal, a jar of applesauce, a jar of something else (pears, sweet potatoes - no to squash) and still kick back a 4-6 oz. bottle! After all this gluttony you would think it would be nap time but usually he wants to go play with Shane (his FAVORITE person). You have never seen a happier person than Gray after a good meal. When we use to feed Shane most all the food would ooze back out of her mouth - not our little man. That would be entirely too wasteful, 95% of the food stays in and gets put to good use. Not to be gross but he also is proficient in completing the digestive process. Let me just say he usually can't wear the same pair of jammies more than one night. When he blows it is from head toe - an AM bath is the norm. All of this makes for one happy baby though, he is such a joy and one of the two cutest babies ever born.
On Sunday, Gray starting sitting up on his own. Very surprising, we put him down for a nap and when he woke up he had aged a month. He was sitting up some, playing with toys he hadn't done much with before and damn near talking in complete sentences.
On a very exciting note, Shane is potty trained!! She hasn't had an accident in 5 days!! She still wears a diaper at night but the days are a go. We were even out a lot this weekend and she had no trouble using the potty in strange places. I think she really liked it. Maybe that is how she gets her adventure in - no slides or swings, but strange potties, YES!
One of Shane's new favorite words is actually. "Actually Mommy, that is my cup." "Gray, this is actually my Pinky Bear." So cute I can't stand it. She is also into dancing, we have put a cd player in her playroom and she loves it.
Dear friends, I must report the passing of Pauper II. We left the house for a few hours and had left him in a cup while I changed his water. Upon return I found Pauper II in the middle of the kitchen floor - dry. Poor guy was still alive and lingered 24 hours but he gave it up yesterday afternoon. I just left him in the bowl (dead Betas don't seem to float, they sink which is good news for a mother of a 2 year old) so Shane wouldn't notice and cleaned him up after bedtime. Shane has kinda lost interest in the last week or so, so I thought maybe she wouldn't notice him gone – wrong - that was the first thing out of her mouth this morning "Where's Pauper?" with such a worried little look. I told her Pauper was visiting Susan again. Needless to say Pauper III will be at our house tonight.
On Sunday, Gray starting sitting up on his own. Very surprising, we put him down for a nap and when he woke up he had aged a month. He was sitting up some, playing with toys he hadn't done much with before and damn near talking in complete sentences.
On a very exciting note, Shane is potty trained!! She hasn't had an accident in 5 days!! She still wears a diaper at night but the days are a go. We were even out a lot this weekend and she had no trouble using the potty in strange places. I think she really liked it. Maybe that is how she gets her adventure in - no slides or swings, but strange potties, YES!
One of Shane's new favorite words is actually. "Actually Mommy, that is my cup." "Gray, this is actually my Pinky Bear." So cute I can't stand it. She is also into dancing, we have put a cd player in her playroom and she loves it.
Dear friends, I must report the passing of Pauper II. We left the house for a few hours and had left him in a cup while I changed his water. Upon return I found Pauper II in the middle of the kitchen floor - dry. Poor guy was still alive and lingered 24 hours but he gave it up yesterday afternoon. I just left him in the bowl (dead Betas don't seem to float, they sink which is good news for a mother of a 2 year old) so Shane wouldn't notice and cleaned him up after bedtime. Shane has kinda lost interest in the last week or so, so I thought maybe she wouldn't notice him gone – wrong - that was the first thing out of her mouth this morning "Where's Pauper?" with such a worried little look. I told her Pauper was visiting Susan again. Needless to say Pauper III will be at our house tonight.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Growing so quick...
Life continues to roll along for all of us. We are having a good time. Worth, Shane and Gray took me out for breakfast for my birthday and I don't know if it was age or hormones but sitting there looking at my family just made me tear up. Worth looked at me and wanted to know what my deal was. I couldn't really answer, just so happy to have two beautiful kids and a pretty happy family.
I can't believe the changes in Shane. She seems to be changing by the hour. On Sunday, we went to Target and she picked out her own toothbrush (Belle from "Beauty and the Beast") shoes (purple flowers) and a Halloween shirt (orange with a black kitty). She is so opinionated! Yesterday, she went all day wearing panties and only had one accident. I am so hopeful that by Christmas she will be done with the money pit that are diapers. Who knows, when they are both out of diaper we may be able to afford a second home.
Sad news, Pauper I died. We now have Pauper II - unbeknownst to Shane, I don't know how I will ever explain death but I do know it isn't going to be when she is TWO. I cleverly lied and told her Pauper had gone to spend the night with our dear friend Susan - we even called Susan to make sure Pauper was okay. The next day I drove to Pet Smart - praying all the way that they would have a match. Lucky me, they did. Shane was very excited to see Pauper had come back safe and sound from Susan's.
Our strong boy is coming right along too. He is rolling over on his own now and has started cereal. There is a new cereal picture on the picture page (along with several others). He is the happiest baby ever. Shane loves him to pieces, she brings him toys and any time he is crying she comes looking for me to make sure I know that "her baby is crying". Of course, nobody brings a smile to his face faster that her - although his daddy is a close second. I wonder how long the love-fest will last??
I can't believe the changes in Shane. She seems to be changing by the hour. On Sunday, we went to Target and she picked out her own toothbrush (Belle from "Beauty and the Beast") shoes (purple flowers) and a Halloween shirt (orange with a black kitty). She is so opinionated! Yesterday, she went all day wearing panties and only had one accident. I am so hopeful that by Christmas she will be done with the money pit that are diapers. Who knows, when they are both out of diaper we may be able to afford a second home.
Sad news, Pauper I died. We now have Pauper II - unbeknownst to Shane, I don't know how I will ever explain death but I do know it isn't going to be when she is TWO. I cleverly lied and told her Pauper had gone to spend the night with our dear friend Susan - we even called Susan to make sure Pauper was okay. The next day I drove to Pet Smart - praying all the way that they would have a match. Lucky me, they did. Shane was very excited to see Pauper had come back safe and sound from Susan's.
Our strong boy is coming right along too. He is rolling over on his own now and has started cereal. There is a new cereal picture on the picture page (along with several others). He is the happiest baby ever. Shane loves him to pieces, she brings him toys and any time he is crying she comes looking for me to make sure I know that "her baby is crying". Of course, nobody brings a smile to his face faster that her - although his daddy is a close second. I wonder how long the love-fest will last??
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