Sweet Baby Boy

While I loved being with my granddaughters for so long, I did miss a few things here in Colorado. The mountains, the unpredictable weather, my house, my husband and the kiddies....just to name a few.

And boy did I miss this face:

Our sweet little grandson, Chase. He's such a sweetie and such a happy baby! I got to see him on the webcam...and that was nice. But it's not the same as smooching on him in person! For the few weeks I was gone, Chase grew so much. His hair is coming in (but only on top...too cute!). He is still working on his first tooth, which means drooling ALOT. He's still not crawling...he's happy to be sitting on the floor with toys all around (takes after his daddy on that one).

Nana missed you so much, Chasey-Wasey!! I'm happy to be smooching on you again in person!!

Why We Have Our Babies Young

I just spent 4 weeks with my daughter and her family as they prepared for the arrival of their baby girl. Stan, Megan and I drove to MS for Christmas, then traveled to TX to visit with Melissa, Mark and Audrey. Stan and Megan had to leave to go back home before the baby was born, and I stayed on to help out in any way I could. And thus began my wonderful, tiring, awesome, worn out, amazing journey with my granddaughter!

She is one busy little girl.

Driving around in her car.

Playing dress up with blankets.....

....and hats.

Then there's the tunnel to crawl through. And yes, Nana even crawled through it too!! No picture (thank goodness!!)

The amazing ball pit!

Laughing at daddy as he jumps to reach the balloon!!

Dancing!!!

Wearing...I mean eating...her food!

The never-ending stinky poopy faces!!!

We did make time to admire Kayla, the newest member of our family.

Overall, I am one pooped nana....and I loved every single minute of it! Audrey and I had a lot of together time while mommy and daddy were off having a baby. I re-learned how to carry a wriggly child along with a purse, groceries and a sippy cup and walk up a flight of stairs. Some how you forget how busy kids are, how they are non-stop action from morning to night. How they get into EVERYTHING!! I miss those days. I really do. And I truly learned why we have our kids young....we needed the energy!!

Many thanks to the men in my life. To Stan for not complaining about me being gone so long. To Matt for staying at the house to be with Megan when Stan had to travel....and also while we were all gone over Christmas, for staying at the house to watch the dog. You both are wonderful!! Thank you.

And thanks to Melissa and Mark for putting up with me. For giving us such beautiful, wonderful grandbabies!! I'm so proud of both of you!

Our Wedding Day

Twenty-seven years ago at this exact time, I was in tears, and would continue to cry off and on all day. I woke up to rain...on my wedding day....rain....in December.....because in Mississippi, we rarely get snow. My oldest sister, Charlotte, took me out for breakfast at Denny's (it's now gone thanks to Hurricane Katrina). I remember sitting there, looking out at the pouring rain and feeling so depressed. How could it be raining? How? The ceremony was starting at 7:00 pm so maybe, just maybe, the rain would go away! But no. A couple of hours later, I was getting my hair done and the rain was still coming down in buckets. I had long, straight hair down to my waist, and everything the stylist tried to do to my hair, it eventually just fell limp because of the moisture in the air. She finally pulled back some hair and the rest she twisted up and held it there by bobby pins and lots of hairspray. I was to take it all out later, at the church, so that my hair would still have some ringlets and a little bit of body. On the way home from the salon, with my sister, Donna, I just started crying again over the rain. Stan called to check up on me. I'm still upset and he wants to come over to comfort me. Yeah right. First I didn't want him to see me until the ceremony (I kicked him out of my house the night before at 11:59 pm), plus I'm sitting there, in ratty clothes, with my hair looking ridiculous, my eyes very red from no sleep and crying. Yeah, come on over and see what you're marrying!! This ought to be good. But I convinced him that I was fine and that he was to stay away. His mom told me that rain on your wedding day is supposed to be good luck. At the time I didn't know if she was just saying that to calm me down or if it really was a good luck charm, but since I've heard that a few times over the years, and lets face it, we have been married for twenty-seven years, maybe she was telling me the truth.

So I stopped crying. Got rid of the red eyes. Began to focus on what needed to be done. It was still raining when we arrived at the church. I'm getting ready in one room, with my bridesmaids and my mom and my future mom-in-law....Stan is in another with his crew getting ready. As the time is getting near to go walk down the aisle, I hear a lot of laughter coming from the other room. I only found out what was happening after we were looking through our wedding photos, and there was Stan, in his tux, laying on a table, arms crossed over his chest, with all his groomsmen standing around holding the table up, you know... like he was dead now since he's about to marry. And then there's Larry, Stan's brother-in-law, with his head bowed and his hands covering his eyes, "weeping" over the loss of yet another male about to enter holy matrimony! Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. Really I do.

Now back to the serious stuff.

Time to get to the back of the church, where I would wait in the foyer until it was time to start down that aisle. The next problem? The only two ways to get to that back foyer was to walk inside the sanctuary or walk outside to get to it. And it's still raining. And I'm in my dress. Rain and wedding dresses to not mix. So we walk to the sanctuary entrance in the front, and someone (don't remember who did this) went inside to make the announcement that due to the rain, the bride was coming in this way and to "please close your eyes until she is out of sight. No peeking please!". Then my bridesmaids made a circle around me, and in we walked. We were laughing, telling people to keep their eyes closed! Pretty funny.

Time for Stan and our pastor, who is my future dad-in-law, to stand up front. Stan is wearing a white tux, standing so straight, waiting for the wedding party to walk in. Instead of a center aisle, this church had two side aisles. We were walking up the left one, and then after the ceremony, we walked back down the right one. Time for the bride and her dad to walk in. I remember being so nervous, clutching my dad's arm tight. I had a bouquet of white silk roses, along with two red silk roses. On the way up to the altar, I stopped to kiss my mom and give her a rose. After the ceremony, I would be stopping again to give a rose to my new mom also.

Finally it was time to stand up there with Stan. As we held hands for the first time that day, I realized that I wasn't so nervous any more. I know that Stan had his share of nerves that day too since his hands were ice cold. We stood there before God and family and friends, and vowed that we would love each other forever and ever.

And now, twenty-seven years later, I am still as deeply in love with my husband as I was then. I love the life that we made together. I wouldn't change a thing. The struggles and hard times only helped us grow into who we are today. We have always been there for each other. He's been the one constant in my life, the one I can always count on no matter what. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry (usually the good kind). He's romantic! He's a wonderful father and grandfather. He's an awesome provider for his family. He's the most annoying, frustrating man ever! He's perfect....for me!!

Stan, I thank you for giving me so many wonderful memories. For loving me. For always being there for me. For being my best friend. For spending your life with me. For being such a good dad to our children. For putting up with me and all the times that I annoy you. I can't wait to see how much more annoying we will be when we are in our rocking chairs.

"Grow old with me. The best is yet to come!"

Happy Anniversary!

I love you.

You're Sleeping On The Couch, Bucko!!

Even after all our years together (it will be 27 years on Dec. 11), we have never been the kind to get soooo mad at each other where we say "here's the pillow and there's the couch". I mean, first of all, if I was THAT mad at Stan why would I even give him a pillow!! Now, I'm not saying that we have never gone to bed mad at each other....I'm sure we have....a few times....mostly because he's wrong about something....but at least we have slept in the same bed.

Over the last couple of nights, he has been sleeping on the couch. And I am all snuggly in our big king-size bed. And it's not even because he was wrong about something or that I am mad at him. He's sick. He started getting sick on Wednesday, which was our Thanksgiving Day (celebrated a day early since Matt was off). By the time we had eaten our dinner with Matt, Amber and Chase, he was coughing and sneezing up a storm!! It truly sucked. Stan doesn't get sick often, so you know he feels bad when he's taking medicine without whining about it. As soon as he lays down, the hacking starts. I thinks he hacked up both lungs by now and is working on his other organs! After about 5 minutes of staying in bed, he gets up and goes to the couch. He says he doesn't want to keep me awake (which is really sweet of him, but not necessary).

So he's had a couple of rough nights while I've had that big bed all to myself. And I keep thinking to myself that I should pick a fight with him so that I can say...in all seriousness..."That's it!!! You're sleeping on the couch, Bucko!" I really hope he starts to feel better soon...I really do. But it sure would be kinda cool to use that line once in awhile!!

Winter Wonderland

Over the weekend, we had a snowstorm come to town! And I loved it. I love the snow. I love the cold. I love snuggling up with a blanket and watching sports or a good movie on TV. Here in Colorado, the snow is just beautiful, and I'm sure it's just as beautiful elsewhere. This snowstorm was no different than any other. It lasted a couple of days...this time we got about 8 inches of snow. The mountains are just amazing with their white-capped tops. I love seeing the fresh snow on trees, bushes and grass. I love how sparkling the snow seems. I love the purity of it as it is falling. I also love the fact that we are usually not stranded too long before it's okay to start venturing out again. Once the sun comes out, the roads dry off fast.

That's what I love about snow.

This is what I don't love about it so much. I don't like how dirty it gets as the plows come out and move it. It turns dirty and clumpy. If I'm going to be stranded indoors, I'd rather Stan be here. It's always nice to have someone you love to snuggle with. The kids usually frown on me trying to snuggle with them. Go figure. Megan (and probably most kids) doesn't like it when the snow comes on the weekend. What good is a snowstorm if it doesn't get you out of school?? I don't much like driving in the snow either. I'm a nervous driver and even a more nervous passenger. I drive Stan nuts when he's driving in the snow. He has NO fear and I have way too much!! And the shoveling. The shoveling makes me sore for days. I am definitely getting too old for it. But once the shoveling is done, it feels nice to see a job well done and then go back into our nice warm house.

Overall, my love for the snow outweighs my dislikes of it. I have family (I won't name names... cough....Mike...cough...) that completely shudders at the thought of the cold or snow. To them, if the temperature dips below 70, it's time to bring out the parka, mittens and hat!!

But the best thing about the snow for me is that I get to take pictures of my husband dressed like this:

In public. For the whole neighborhood to see. Priceless!! Warms my heart!!

The Tooth Fairy 1990

Our oldest daughter lost her first baby tooth at age five. It's one of those moments that just melts your heart. You look at this child of yours and think that she was just a baby yesterday. And now she is losing teeth?? Incredible!!

As with most first-time parents, we looked forward to the time when we'd get to play with her mind!! Like... yes, sweetie, there is a Santa, or Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy. And if you keep your room clean, they will come!! Such fun. Everyone should try it.

She lost her tooth on a Saturday afternoon. It was actually the week after she started kindergarten. First leaving me to learn and now losing teeth??? No way!

We wrapped the tooth in a tissue so that it wouldn't get lost (and easy for me...I mean... the tooth fairy to find), put it under her pillow and off to la la land she went. My husband and I had the dollar out that we would put under her pillow. It really was exciting for us. I couldn't wait to sneak in her room, take the tooth and put the dollar in its place.

But....as with most well thought out plans, ours had a slight problem that we hadn't counted on. You see....we're morons. Yep...too dumb to procreate. We watched TV, like always, and then went off to bed. And never, ever, thought about that dollar laying on the coffee table, waiting to be put under our little girls pillow. So we went to sleep...and slept very well.

The next morning at about 7:00 am, I was awaken by Melissa. She had tears in her eyes as she held out her hand to me, which was holding the tissue wrapped tooth, and in the saddest whisper I had ever heard, said..."She didn't come". It really was such a sad moment. She was devastated. I held out my arms for her and gave her a big hug. I told her that Saturdays was just THE busiest night for the Tooth Fairy and that she just didn't have enough time to get to everyone! But that if she doesn't get to you the first night, she WILL come the second night. She NEVER misses two nights in a row and that you always get extra stuff if you have to wait for the second night. After our daughter left the room, I immediately turned on my husband and said..."look at what YOU did". Life is all about assessing blame, right, Stan??

I went shopping that day for anything that would make that little girl smile again. That night, we put the tooth back under her pillow. And nothing, but nothing, was going to make me (us) forget again. By morning, she had candy, a toy and extra money under her pillow. And we were awaken by a very happy little girl who couldn't wait to show us her loot.

Even morons can make things right again!!

Ode to My Husband

A couple of weeks ago my husband wrote about being impulsive. How he acts or buys on impulse. And this is so very true. He sees something and the next thing you know, he has one. Or he's unhappy with something, he instantly does something to try to change that. I have to say that for the most part, these decisions work out for the best. It may make me a wee bit nervous (like job changes or no paycheck for a few months...little things like that), but everything turns out good. For my part in his impulsiveness, I go along with him. Lets face it....when he's impulsive....I make out like a bandit!!!

So I've been thinking back over our history together. Thinking of ways that he has given in to this impulsive side...and how I went along with him. Here's what I've come up with, in no particular order:

--His Spitfire convertible. It was a 2-seater, small, and not good in snow....he lived in Colorado at the time.

--The blue house with ugly brown toilets. We were moving to Alabama. He went looking for a house for us to rent. He had 3 days to look. He settled on this horrible little house after looking for only a couple of hours on the first day. He called me to say that he found a house that he thought I would like, but that if I didn't like it we would only be living in it for a year. I didn't like it. And he's still hearing about it fifteen years later.

--Trees on our hillside. After building our house and landscaping the yard, a man was driving down our street selling trees from the back of his truck. Stan immediately decided that we needed those trees in the overgrown weed-infested hillside behind our home. He bought four trees. From a man in a truck. All four trees: dead.

--The 300 ZX. We were living in Ohio. He was in D.C. on a 3-month TDY. I was in town visiting him. I was pregnant with our first child. He came home to the hotel we were staying at with a 300 ZX. Yep, he was driving by the car lot...saw the car...gave them a down payment...drove it off the lot. Problem? It was a two-seater. Other problem? Hello? I'm pregnant! Where is the baby going to sit?? His response? NO PROBLEM....there's a luggage rack in the back!!! My response? We got his deposit back.

--The big-screen TV. We stopped by an auto parts store for a lightbulb for the headlight for his car. They were telling us that none of the bulbs they used were working, therefore we must have a short in the electrical system. They ran test after test. We got tired of sitting there. Walked down to his favorite electronics store. As we were browsing, Stan ended up in the home theater section. Within minutes of the salesman seeing him coming, we had a new 60 inch flat screen TV to be delivered to our house. Walked back to the auto parts store. They still hadn't figured out what was wrong with the car. Told them we would take the car to the dealer. Paid for the lightbulb. Turned out the auto store was using the wrong bulb. The dealer replaced the bulb with the correct one. Headlights work. Yep, we call the TV our $4,000 lightbulb!!

--Rav 4. He decided he needed a new car. Test drove this one car. Bought it. Hated it. Traded it. Car lasted only a few months with us.

--My wedding band set. Lets face it. He wanted to buy me a much bigger diamond set. I am NOT going to say no! Not happening!!!

--Theater seats. After moving Megan into her new room and moving the guest room furniture around, I was setting myself up in the loft. I just needed a new desk and chair. We went to the furniture store. Looked at desks. Found one I liked. On our way to the order the desk, Stan went to the theater section. We bought my desk and chair....along with seven theater chairs!! Why seven?? I have no earthly idea.

--Our lot. We were just out walking. Walked by an area that was just starting to be built up. Within hours, we were with a realtor, deciding on which lot to buy. Of course, we are still on the lot, living in my dream house!! Can't complain too much about that.

I'm sure there are lots of other stories and examples. I'm sure I have my own issues with this dreaded disease. But I am sure that I have told him "no" many times. And just as many times, he has not heard me!!