Monday, June 30, 2008

"Groanin' Grammie?"

Rough night last night.

My cold turned into a full blown sinus infection with my head and lower face throbbing like root canal pain!

...called my doctor back home.

...got a Z pack antibiotic prescription.

...bought a face mask to keep my germs away from everyone else.

Not fun.

Here's hoping for a better tomorrow.

How can I give my grandbabies kisses with this face mask on...?

*groan* : (

 
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Sunday, June 29, 2008

Audrey's Gift for Grammie

My sweet granddaughter gave me a gift.

It is a head cold.

Stuffy, sneezy and cough-y...that's us.

It's a little easier on Grammie than it is for a newborn...but, still not much fun for either of us.

I guess that she just wanted me to have something to remember her by when I leave on Thursday morning.

I probably would prefer to leave with just the wonderful memories.

Ah-choooo : )

Saturday, June 28, 2008

A milestone Anniversary

(The "foursome" heading home from the hospital...)

We had a celebratory dinner last night...

Sitting around the dinner table, we all raised our glasses to toast Adam and Jenny's 10th Anniversary.

As I studied the faces of my beautiful family, I was so filled with joy and love.

Adam and Jenny have accomplished so much already on their marital journey.

They are both in careers that they enjoy...and they have two beautiful children to now share the rest of their journey.

They didn't take a trip to some exotic place far from home to celebrate.

They didn't have a romantic candlelight dinner for just the two of them.

They didn't have a big party surrounded by their friends.

They didn't ask for big gifts to mark the occasion.

Instead, they chose to be surrounded by some of their family right here in their home.

They knew that this Anniversary would be remembered for the birth of their beautiful daughter, Audrey, who now joins their family with her brother Owen.

And, when you think about it...

...what greater gift is there than that??

Friday, June 27, 2008

Late night love

I am "in charge" of the late night feedings.

The other grandma was the middle of the night person...(thank heavens for her)..but she has headed back home now... : (

...and Jenny is on the "all day and night" shift!

Adam does what he can first thing in the morning as he and Owen prepare for their days...Adam heads to work and takes Owen to his daycare. He also takes part in the evening shifts.

He and Jenny are wonderful parents...and I am amazed at how well they are handling having two.

Like they say, "it takes a village"...that couldn't be more true!

[Another strong case for having our children while we are quite young.]

So, last night I had little Audrey in my arms around 1 A.M. as I prepared to give her a supplement bottle of her mom's pumped milk.

But, she had other ideas.

She decided that she would rather sleep.

Since Adam and Jenny are trying to get her on a schedule I knew that this feeding was important.

I was pretty bleary-eyed as I held this precious bundle in my arms and "pleaded" with her to drink...but, she wasn't going to have any of it.

I tried all of the "tricks" that I had remembered from when my boys were babies...tapping the bottom of her feet...talking to her...singing to her (my singing could put anyone to sleep!)...etc. etc. All to no avail.

Finally, she finished the bottle and I changed her, burped her and put her back down in the crib to go to sleep.

But, she had other ideas about going to sleep, too..... : O

Some day I will tell Audrey all about that night when I held her in my arms and tried to get her to drink her bottle so that her tired Grammie could get to sleep...

But, for now I will just enjoy my "late night love" with sweet Audrey...bleary-eyed and all...

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Two thumbs up for Audrey!

Owen seems to think that Audrey is a bit amusing as he gives her thumbs up in this photo. I'm still not sure that his little 21 month old thought process is totally grasping what this is all about and that this little munchkin of a sister is here to stay. I think that she seems more like a new toy to him at this point...but, I must say that his encounters with her have been very sweet.

Yesterday I had the privilege of being the one to pick Owen up at his daycare. As I spotted him in the playground with his group I saw that he was covered from head to toe in dirt. I mean covered! Not only was he dirty all over--including sand in his hair--but where he was sweating from the afternoon heat it was sort of caked on his skin.

Now I must preface this to say that I was wearing a nice white shirt at the time....

...so, you know where I am going with this...

As Owen spotted me he came running towards me faster and faster with his arms outstretched and a cloud of dust surrounding him.

I looked down at my nice clean white blouse....and at this whirlwind of dirt heading my way.

Oh, what's a Grammie to do?

I knelt down and took him in my arms as he gave me the biggest "oh, I'm so glad that you are here" hug!!!!!!!!!!!!

The blouse became this most unimportant thing at that moment as I held this little bundle of dirt and dust in my arms.

Heaven right here on earth...

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

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Another day in Paradise....

OK....admittedly, we aren't getting a whole lot of sleep around here....

...but it is a "happy tiredness"(!?!?!!) as we oooh and ahhh over every little thing that Audrey does.

Fortunately, Audrey is a little piggy hungry little thing.

Unfortunately, Audrey likes to have some milk every hour or so.

Fortunately, Audrey likes to sleep.

Unfortunately, she prefers sleeping all day and being awake at night.

Fortunately, my partner in crime dear Judy (Jenny's mom) is here with me.

Unfortunately, Judy and I aren't quite as young as we think we are.

Fortunately, my grandchildren are healthy, sweet, and absolutely wonderful.... and there's no "unfortunately" with that one! : )

Monday, June 23, 2008

Owen chooses banana over Audrey!!?!

I am here in Minneapolis grinning from ear to ear as I enjoy my grandkids!

New baby Audrey is absolutely beautiful (spoken like a real grammie!) and so sweet. She feels so tiny compared to her big brother Owen who has grown by leaps and bounds. He is talking up a storm and such fun to be around...I wish that I had his energy. : O

Initially, he was not quite as impressed with his new little sister as we all were. This video is proof of that as it shows Owen coming to see his Mommy at the hospital...and also to get his first glimpse of baby Audrey.

After running to his Mom's arms with some fresh flowers...he then walks away and heads right to the backpack and a BANANA!

In the video, his Daddy asks:"Do you want to see Audrey?"....to which Owen answers with a very blase' "no".

Seeing him run to the backpack, Daddy then asks: "Do you want the banana?"...to which Owen emphatically and enthusiastically answers "YES!" while jumping up and down with joy.

Owen, just wait until your little sister starts bringing cute girls over to the house when you are a teenager.

We'll see how important those bananas will be then...

: )

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Pure Heaven....

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This serene sight will be awaiting me in a few hours as I head to Minnesota to spend 12 days with Jenny, Adam, Owen, and Audrey!

I will attempt to blog there when I can...

xoxo

Grammie

Friday, June 20, 2008

Owen meets Audrey!

Yesterday Adam took Owen up to the hospital to get to see his Mommy and meet his new little sister.
He looks cautiously interested in this little bundle that his Mommy is holding....
....and seems to be enjoying watching this new little sister of his....baby Audrey.
"So, this is what all the fuss has been about, eh?"
"Can she go out and play with me yet, Daddy?"
"Well, if she can't play now....can we go get an ice cream cone?"
"Now, that's what I'm talking about!"
: )

Thursday, June 19, 2008

My Jenny

"God could not be everywhere, therefore he made mothers." Yiddish Proverb

With all of the emphasis on new baby Audrey, I don't ever want to lose sight of my sweet Jenny's most important part in all of this joy.

Not only did she carry this precious "cargo" around for the past nine months...growing wider than she was tall...but she nourished the baby inside in so many ways. And, all of this was being done while she was being a mommy to Owen, a wife to Adam, working full time, and going to classes for her Master's degree! ...And, I will never forget how she flew to Chicago to be a bridesmaid in her brother's wedding when she was 8 1/2 mos. pregnant! What a trooper!

"Thank you, Jenny for all of the joys and blessings that you have brought into my life. I love you so much and can't wait to see all of you on Saturday!!!"

Love and tons of long distance hugs,

Grammie

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Pink ribbons and purple shoes

We Southerners like to "announce" things in our own special way.

When a new baby is born, the parents (and grandparents!) get the privilege of adorning their mailboxes with a pink or blue bow.

The news of Audrey's birth was hardly an hour old when I immediately went to the store and purchased my ribbon. I couldn't wait to get home and display it proudly for all to see!

Without sounding sexist...I will say this....buying things for little girls is a bit more fun than for little boys.

And, I have the check receipts to prove it! : O

Maybe it is because I was the mother of two boys and never got to really shop for a little girl? (Good excuse, eh?)

It seems that everywhere I turn, there is something adorable that I just know my new little "diva" Audrey needs to have.

For instance, these two pairs of baby "shoes" just called out to me yesterday...I mean, c'mon. How cute are they? Jenny loves the color purple, so, the second pair were a must have. And, I know that she and Adam will not be into the real frilly froo froo things for Audrey...so, I am trying to keep things reasonably simple.

I am having such fun and I haven't even gotten to Minnesota yet (I leave Saturday!)...

Watch out world, Grammie is on the loose at the local malls!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Introducing: Audrey Maren!

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She's here!

My beautiful granddaughter arrived at 5:08 this morning!!!!!!

She weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz.

and is 20 1/2" long!

Jenny was scheduled for a C-section some time today....but, little Audrey had other plans as they went to the hospital at 2 o'clock this morning after Jenny's water broke and contractions had started.

(It sounds like my new granddaughter already has a mind of her own! I like that!!) : )

Everyone is doing well....and, according to her mommy and daddy....she is absolutely beautiful!

Pictures to come....
xoxo
A Smiling Grammie

Monday, June 16, 2008

Mommy's having a baby tomorrow!

Dear Grammie's blogging friends,

Tomorrow morning is going to be a very special day!

Mommy's belly has gotten sooo big and heavy because my new baby sister has been growing in there for nine l-o-n-g months. Mommy says that she is ready to bring baby "Moe" into the world already!

So, while I am in my daycare tomorrow, Mommy and Daddy will be going to the hospital to bring the new baby out.

Then in a few more days, they will bring baby "Moe" home to play with me.

They did say that she won't do too much at first...just a lot of sleeping, crying, and eating. (They say that I did the same thing when I was first born!) But, that's okay because I will have my two grandmas and grandpas coming to stay and they will bring lots of toys play with me! They will do a lot of sleeping, too, because I can really wear them out!!!!

I have to admit that I kind of like being the center of attention...but after tomorrow I will have to share some of the spotlight.

But, hey, that's okay, because I will always be the bigger and older brother!

Bye Bye

Love and Kisses,

"Big Brother" Owen

Sunday, June 15, 2008

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Father's Day 2008

Subject: Did you send your dad a father's day card?

Date: 6/14/2008 4:48:12 P.M. Central Daylight Time

From: eCards.jonmgqn@pfsformatshift.com

The above email notification was one of many in my box yesterday reminding me of the upcoming observance of Father's Day 2008.

I was immediately overcome with a heavy feeling of sadness.

This is my first Father's Day without my Dad.

What was once a celebration now just makes me feel my loss even more. Even though it was usually just a phone call and a sending of a few cards....(generally one funny one followed by one "mushy" one)....it was always that feeling that today was a special day for my dad. Of course, it was made harder by the fact that I lived so far away...but, it still felt good to honor him on this day.

So, here I sit thinking about this sweet, gentle man who made many sacrifices along the way as he worked hard to raise his four girls...put us all in braces when our teeth were not aligned...and put us all through four years of college when the braces came off...watched three of us get married....watched two of us get divorced.....smiled with delight at the births of his four grandchildren...(all boys!!!!)...and glowed with pride as he held his first great grandson in his arms up in Minnesota....and finding out that my kids had honored him by making Owen's middle name my Dad's last name....making sure that the family name would live on.

I miss his being in my life and my children's lives.

I will especially be thinking about him on Tuesday when Adam and Jenny bring my first granddaughter into the world...and then in September when Jeffrey and Janet become first time parents with their new baby to be. He would have enjoyed meeting two more great grandchildren so much and would have been a special part of their lives with his wisdom and quiet presence.

As I am writing these thoughts down, I am realizing that I can still honor my Dad today.

I think that I just did.

Happy Father's Day Dad...I love and miss you.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Owen does Austin Powers

YEAH, BABEEEEE!

Adam sent this video out last night and I am still laughing!

In his own little "Owen talk" he is having such a great time with his Austin Powers bobblehead and his mommy and daddy.

His animation is not a surprise to me at all in that Jenny and Adam both did theatre in college and both exude enthusiasm (understatement!) in all that they do.

Four more days and this little sweetie will be sharing his spotlight with his new baby sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eight more days and I will be in Minnesota collecting hugs and kisses.

OH! OH!

: )

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Bama Bound Braden!

My nephew, Braden, is here in Birmingham tonight. He flew in around 6 pm...just in time for some dinner and relaxation before heading to Tuscaloosa first thing tomorrow morning for Freshman Orientation.

I am quite excited to have him in a school so close by--45 minute drive from Birmingham--!

His B'ham Auntie (me) can now teach him some real Southern traditions such as learning to say: "y'all come back now, y'hear?!" as well as "Yes m'am" and "No, sir".

He'll need to learn to enjoy grits with his eggs and catfish served with fried green tomatoes...and, most importantly, he will get to dine on the world's best bar-b-que at Dreamland where they serve up pork, ribs, chicken and a side of soft, fresh white bread. Oh, and don't forget the banana pudding for dessert.

Red and white will become his two favorite colors as he gets ready to enter a land where football is King...and Alabama Coach Saban is revered and recognized as royalty. No two words will be as important to him as "Roll Tide"...the Alabama chant.

He will learn that one of the most sacred days of the year is when Alabama plays Auburn in the famed Iron Bowl. The winner of this intense rivalry gets the all important bragging rights for the whole year.

We laughed tonight as I asked him if he was going to be one of those crazy kids that I see on tv cheering wildly for the football team. You know, the ones who come to the games with the school colors painted on their bodies....and letters displayed across their chests spelling out A-L-A-B-A-M-A!!!

Without even needing to think about it...he answered me with an immediate "yes!".

Roll Tide...Braden

...it's going to be an interesting year! : )