Land of Wonderment

Wow - Can't believe it's been such a long time since I posted anything on this blog... but when I think about what life has been like this past 3 or more weeks, it makes perfect sense!

Just let me say that, while the title of this blog implies I have been on some exotic vacation somewhere, it is just the opposite!! Instead of Yosemite, or Alaska, or even the Rocky Mountains, I have been in a two story house on the outskirts of Houston, Texas. While it is not on any travel brochures, it is all the wonder that this woman could have asked for at this stage of my life.

You see, I was at the Johnson's.

Erin, Gregg, Liz and Bladen moved in February; two weeks before the next baby Johnson was due to be born. They had bought their previous home when it was just the two of them - kids were in the plan, but I don't think they would mind my saying that 3 in 3 years was not the plan. God knew better!

So, with a baby due in two weeks, they closed and moved in to a lovely home that needed painting and a little remodeling. Here comes Mom to the rescue! I rode over the Houston with some friends, and Erin picked me up. We unloaded a few boxes and got beds set up before the painters came. When they arrived, we found ourselves with the refriderator "Saran Wrapped" as Gregg called it, for 3 days, and paint fumes that scared Erin out of the house. So, we found all sorts of fun things to do. We visited Grandma and Grandpa (Ann and Frank), took in "Puss - N - Boots" at a theatre that would make our little Pleasanton theatre look like the IMAX, ate at Chick Fil-A, and went to a park on a cool, rainy day. So much to post here about memories, but I won't bore you. Andy joined us on Friday night, where we slept in the soon-to-be nursery with everything pushed to the center of the room and all but the bed covered in sheets. It was almost like camping!! On that Saturday morning, I told Andy that I couldn't leave. I ended up staying until Wed., when Gregg drove me to Flatonia, and Andy met us. Gregg promised he'd call if I needed to return.

(That night, we celebrated my one-year anniversary since my surgery. A "victory ring" and a shared steak at Saltgrass was perfect! )

Once at home, things were settling in. Here, at least. In Houston, first Erin got a terrible stomach bug, then Liz was sent home from school with a high fever and vomiting. It was time for me to go back. Never packed so fast in my life....

That was on Tuesday. There's no way I can put in order all the events of the next few days, but the main event was the safe and speedy arrival of Ginny Brielle on the following Monday morning. A tiny 5 lbs., 14 oz. of perfection. Once again, God had blessed us with a healthy baby, with all her tiny fingers and toes. It was almost too much for this Nana to absorb. It's one thing for your own children to be so perfect, but seeing your daughter with her own newborns is breath-taking.

So. Back to the wonderland reference of the title. Here are my "moments" of the trip: (In no particular order!)

~ Bladen can carry more items in his hands and arms than anyone I have ever seen. If there was an Olympic event in this category, he'd get Gold every time. He's learned the mastery of making one trip count and getting there with everything he wants and needs. It's amazing to watch him gather things and still manuever the stairs. Scary, but amazing!

~The sweetest sounds: Bladen - "Hold You" when he wants to be held. Dreading the day he outgrows that! Liz - "Hi, Nana". Two little words said with such tenderness and love.

~Best - let me say that again - BEST part of every day was having them run into "nana's room" and greet me in the morning. Didn't always last long, but still....

~Bedtime ritual: Hugs, high fives, "nuks", elbows, and forehead "bonks". Then, blow kisses as you leave the room. Seriously, when you have multitudes of parents and grandparents and two toddlers, this can take a while!!

~Watching them think. Just seeing their little minds working to figure things out and make them come together was pure joy. Must be the teacher in me still.

~Observing them with their new sister. Words cannot express the sweetness in their eyes, their touch, and their voices. I know it's not going to be that way for long, but for now it's exactly perfect. Erin and Gregg did a great job of preparing them for this very moment!

~Buying and planting flowers in the new yard. We went down to the nearest Wal-Mart and picked out petunias, and it was beginning to rain once we finished planting, a sweet time for all involved.

~Running in circles downstairs. Pure joy in the laughter and squeals coming from a 2 and 3 year old! Loud echos off the upstairs filled the house, and the sound of their little feet slapping on the floor as they tried to escape their Nana. So glad I could do this with them!! :)

~ and finally - Bladen's macaroni chow-down!! One night, he asked for mac and cheese. He ate 5 helpings! The first one Erin gave him was a good size. It was gone in moments. No chewing necessary, and he was ready for more. He ate all she gave him, most of hers, and finished Liz's. At last, he sat back in his chair, finally full, and gave a good burp. It's a good thing too, since there wasn't any more to be had. (Sadly, I didn't not think to document this to video until the end!)

Now I'm back home, returned to my life with my Andrew. To say I missed him all those days is an understatement. To have him there for some of the fun made it all right in my world. I did miss Dana - a lot! But soon she will be home with us, and we'll have all new moments of wonder.

Life sure is good!

Joy Renewed

I have always enjoyed Christmas, as have most people. The sneaking around, the lists, the choosing of wrapping paper, and the overall optimistic attitude of the folks around me.

All the years I taught, I loved the excitement of the children in the school. They were sometimes harder to keep a handle on, but children anticipating Christmas is contagious, and I often felt like one of them. This has been a different year; being retired I was not on a school campus to "catch" their fever.

However, I do have two little elves who are making this holiday season even more precious than ever. The presence of Liz and Bladen around the tree and opening their stockings and gifts will add a new level of joy to my life in a couple of days. I always look forward to seeing Dana, Erin, and Gregg open theirs, and this year is no different - I always sneak in a gift they weren't anticipating to liven things up!

So, to you and yours, Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holidays to all. I'll be thinking of you!!

"and Mary kept all these things in her heart."

This is one of my favorite quotes of the New Testament, referring to the life of Jesus, His mother Mary witnessing things and holding them in her heart forever. I've thought of it often during the years as Dana and Erin grew from little babies, to toddlers, to teens, and even now as women. I love to observe them and tuck away little things that are special in my "mom's eyes".

Last week was a good chance to add lots of those moments - I spent three days in Houston at the Johnsons' (don't I have a great son-in-law to endure me all those days?!?) and the joy of seeing Erin with her babies; to see her teaching Liz such little things as kissing her baby brother good-night, and "helping" fold clothes were just precious. I know I did those same things, but it didn't feel the same as watching her. I enjoyed Gregg coming in after work and getting "It's Dad!" from Liz; so full of excitement and love for her father and his joy at seeing his children. I even got to witness Dana totally enjoying her role as Aunt D as she shared chocolate pie with Liz and taught her to jump on the bed and fall in heaps of giggles. My heart just filled up time and time again.

So, even know, as I sit here at look at Bladen and Liz's pictures - I remember all those little things - Bladen doing his "pose" as he balanced himself on the floor - and it's almost as good as being there still.

Almost....

Too cute for words...

I've been trying to post since we got home from Erin's last weekend, but I'm just figuring out this picture thing. The ones of Liz and Bladen with the cute hats is from the photo shoot a couple of weeks ago... not really Christmas, but who cares?!

We had a wonderful time with all the family; Dana first here in Pleasanton, then us all together for another celebration. New Years' fireworks in their neighborhood sounded like a war zone, but Liz slept right through it all!!

Life is back to normal now - at least for a while. School's back in session, and now the next event to celebrate will be Dana's birthday at the end of the month. I'm sure we'll find something wonderful to do!!

The weekend in review

Had a lovely time in Houston - again. We arrived at Dana's apartment with time to spare before falling into bed, and then activities began.

Dana and Andrew got up and headed out for a belated Birthday breakfast. She took him to her favorite place, and then they went to a museum exhibit on the 40th anniversary of the landing on the moon. I was invited to go, but Andy and I don't really do well together at museums... he is a meticulous reader of all things exhibited, and I scan and go. Both parties deemed it a success.

While they took in culture and science, I shopped for Bladen's shower gift and a book for Liz. Never had been to a Babies R Us, and am glad there isn't one in Pleasanton!! I decided a checkbook is not a good thing to take when the amount to spend is open-ended; from now on, I only go in with cash!

After shopping, I arrived at the Johnson home. Once Liz woke up, we had a good reunion (she looks like "Who are you and why are you here so sporadically??" She warmed up pretty quickly this time, and I have to say the highlight of my afternoon was when she was singing. Such a precious sound to my ears! If only I could have recorded it!! Her other grandparents arrived, as did Andy and Dana, so then the sharing began.

One down side to the weekend was that Roark, Liz's canine brother, reacted to some flea repellent, and ended up in the ER for dogs. He is okay now, but it was a downer for the weekend.

Sunday was worship, and then the shower. Lots and lots and LOTS of little boy clothes, so she is set for the first few months. Diapers were the other hit of the day, and those were received very graciously! One we got things back to the house, we hugged, kissed, and said out good-byes.

So, now we wait. Thanksgiving is in two weeks, and then Bladen is scheduled to arrive soon afterward. We are all ready to meet this little man and see what joy he adds to our growing family!!

Camping with Dana and other highlites of the weekend -

For the second time in several weeks, Dana has been our hostess as we invaded Houston. She is a gracious, welcoming hostess, and shares her apartment with us openly.

As I look around at her life away from me, I see so much of her and what is important to her; friends, family, special times, God. (Perhaps I should not have listed Him last, for He is certainly not last to Dana!) Her home is comfortable and happy, filled with all the things that comfort and enhance her life. We appreciate her willingness to let us move in and stay a while!!

The weekend was memorable. Erin and Gregg put on quite a first party for Elizabeth, and she was a trooper!! Went to everyone and took it all in stride. While the concept of the candle was obviously lost on her, it marked for us a celebration of a wonderful year; first everything - tooth, sitting up, solid food, smiles; you name it, we celebrated it. And while my mother and father in law were not able to attend, you could see their legacy all around. Bladen, growing strong deep inside Erin, pointed to the future. It was a day all of us will hold on to.

The Johnson family was happy to be there; our lives have blended pretty well over these past 6 years. We are greatful to them for raising such a fine man as Gregg and for loving our daughter and welcoming her into their tiny (by LaMore standards of number!) family.

And then the weekend ended; too soon as usual. But we plan to return, November 7, for the shower awaiting Erin and Bladen. We anticipate his joining us very soon!!

To be a Nana -

I want to wish my Liz a Happy Birthday - one day late. Yesterday was her 1st birthday, and my phone visit with her and Erin was so fun!! On speaker phone, I told her all sorts of silly Nana things, and Erin told me she was trying to push all the buttons to talk back. I understand that she really enjoyed her celebratory cup cake, but not so much the hat... I cannot wait to see how she handles the big family part coming up this weekend!

Everyone told me that I'd love grandchildren, and they were right. I can't look at a little boy now, without anticipating who Bladen will be, and how he will anchor himself to our hearts. My own grandmothers loved me with all their hearts; and Mamaw had 20 of us to love!! Combing her long, graying hair, going to the store to spend my valued dollar with her, getting letters from her that encouraged me and told me each time just how much she loved me are only a microscopic portion of her influence in my life - how I hated it when she left us at only 70 years!! My Grandma Annie was a hoot; a funny little Dutch German woman, who burned the sugar cookies and somehow still made them taste like gold! When I would spend the night with her, she'd pull me to the floor while she said the rosary - her false teeth clattering along with the rosary beads.

So, here we are at the beginning of my Grandmotherhood - the future is full of ways for me to show Liz and Bladen how dear they are to me, and all the fun stuff only Nana's get to do.

Elizabeth; thank you for opening the door to this next portion of my life - as your Aunt Dana would always say; "You are first!"

The thing about babies....

Liz has reminded me of some basic facts about babies that I'd forgotten in the 25+ years since I had one:

~it's really better if you let them approach you rather than just grabbin' them at first - cuts down on the crying and grabbing for Mom!
~ they are full of such entertaining facial expressions! Adults and even older children have learned to "control" their faces due to learned reactions, but not babies. You get exactly what they feel at every moment.
~ nothing - nothing - smells as good as a baby!
~ the whole world is new to them - things that we just look at, they see with new eyes. Help us to open our eyes to their world!

Thanks, Liz - you taught your Nana lots and lots! I love you -

The days that pass....

Yesterday, Erin and I were talking, and in the background Liz was playing. Sweet little sounds of music, banging, laughing and a few whimpers filled the air as our conversation continued. Erin was telling me all the things that Liz has begun to do in the 2 months since I saw her last, and it made me even more anxious to get to Houston this weekend. I think the thing I am most in a hurry about is, I want Liz to KNOW me; to recognize my voice and anticipate my coming to see her - I want to be real to her, not someone who shows up once a month ( or longer!) that could be just anyone. I am ready to be her NANA. Hopefully, with the frequency of visits in the upcoming weeks, she will begin to put it together. I know it will happen soon, but I am impatient.... come on, Friday!!!

Liz's noises

Liz is quite entertaining right now; she has found her voice and is sharing it with lots of enthusiasm! Every time I get Erin on the phone, she lets us know she is in the room - and I love it! Erin tells me it gets a little old after half a day or so, but for this Nana so far away, it's pure music!! I just can't wait until they come again so I can watch her in action.

From the sound of it, she's a born Soprano!!

A Mom's Dad Shout - Out!

I think one can be way maudlin and sappy on this particular holiday, and so for my post today, I'm going to keep it upbeat - I got to hear sweet Liz screeching in laughter last night on the phone, and that will keep me happy until I get to see her (and her precious folks!) in a couple of weeks. So, without further ado - my tribute to some great moms -

To Erin - the first of a lifetime of sweet memories; you have blown me away with your instinctual nurturing of Elizabeth - plus, you are one fun mom! Hang on, there's lot's more to come!

To Jackie - your Christmas scavenger hunts alone rank you high on my list, no to mention trampolines, hay rides, and loving my girls as if they were your own!

To Cathy - Dana was your baby as much as mine; thanks for all those trips to birthday parties and Cabbage Patch dolls!

To my dear cousin Deeann, raising Crystal while earning your degree as a single mom won my respect like you will never know. I love you -

Shanon - Shanon had Meredith 4 months after Dana was born, and everyday, after school, she came over and lay Dana across her pregnant belly, so they could "play"

Dianne - starting "late" and having 4 perfect stairsteps; you taught me so much about acceptance of each child as an individual!

Anne - my mother in law. What would Andy's life have been without her steadfastness, structure and determination to make those two boys her own. Words fail me.

Okay - I said I'd keep it light -

Jaci Hutton - a military mom who inspires with her love of those babies, and of her husband as he serves us - and can keep all those "J" names straight!

Kara - Anjane is so lucky to have her as a mom!

My mom - fun in a nutshell. Maybe not all of the time, but when she was "on", no one could touch her; tents, mudpies, laying in grass and looking at clouds; and the list goes on.

I see the "young" mothers at church, and I hope they are enjoying these days of little ones, with sticky fingers, toothless grins, and messy rooms. If I could, I'd take the chance to go back and visit a few of those days, not to change anything, but to smell in the sweetness of the hours. But since I can't, I move on - to Liz, and to the little ones who will follow her.

Half a year ago...

Little Elizabeth has turned 6 months old this week! She is - well, wonderful. Her Nana loves her very much, and just wanted to share her sweet angel face with you all!

Thursday of Spring Break

I really wish time would not go so quickly during days off! I love Thursdays during a work week, but they make me sad on vacation days - it is almost over!!

We've had a lovely time with the girls' here. One forgets the joy a baby brings, and Liz has gotten lots of attention and love while here. It is my desire to hold her hour upon hour, but she likes to play and move, so a lot of the time, I have just watched her and listened to her sounds and laughter. I'm so glad Erin came, and that we had a chance to enjoy them all!

This is a rather odd visit, in that we will join them all in Houston this weekend. This afternoon, the three will journey back to their homes, and Andy and I will drive over tomorrow for the big LaMore family photo shoot. We will spend tomorrow night with Mom and Dad, then go over to see Gregg and Roarke on Saturday. I have missed Gregg this week, and am looking forward to seeing him!

Now, it's off to make Sticky Buns for breakfast, and get finger-printed. Yep, the great State of Texas now requires that all school employees be finger-printed to check our criminal history. I'm scared....

Have a great day -

10 Things I hope for Liz

Here, in no particular order, are 10 things I hope for Elizabeth Marin' Johnson:

1. That she will see faces and animals in clouds and dirt, and all sorts of interesting places.

2. That music surrounds her.

3. That she lives in a community that shows her a diversity of humanity.

4. That God is part of everything that surrounds her.

5. I hope her mom lets her make messes. (Erin's mom didn't, and I regret that.)

6. That books and puzzles and games stimulate her mind.

7. That Roarke lives to be an old, old dog.

8. I hope that God blesses her with lots of brothers, sisters, and cousins to play with.

9. I pray that she will see everyday how much her mommy and daddy love each other.

10. I hope she has curly hair.