Back in 1981...Twenty-Seven Years ago this week...

It was a dark and stormy night. That is how I remember it... I had this attack of nesting, bigtime. And I had washed and waxed the Lincoln. We had taken a long, long walk, and I think I ate a whole pizza, and ice cream... And this time of year in Texas, we were just waiting for that first front to break the 100 degree days.

I remember sitting in the hospital room after Andy was born watching the Miss America pageant---the one where the girls have talent. A gymnast that year seemed to be able to contort her body in ways I could not imagine with my stitches...

Twenty-seven years ago this week, we brought home our firstborn son. And I became a MOM. He was the first grandson to my folks, and the first great grandson to three still living at the time. Our beautiful, blonde headed baby boy. We could not hold him or kiss him on the head enough. And he was so cute that even my siblings were inspired to give parenting a go.

I'll never forget the gorilla doctor (hairy was not the half of it) that I had never seen before in my life come into the delivery room, feel around on my tummy and proclaim, "small baby, no problem." Andy turned out to weigh over nine pounds. That silly doctor had to spend half an hour stitching me up when I tore.

And now, our firstborn has a beautiful baby of his own to love and hold and sing to. Happy Birthday to our Firstborn. We said then, "Welcome to the World, Andrew."

Twenty-Two Years Ago Today...

Almost five-year-old firstborn was helping me pick out party favors at the party store when my water broke. I told firstborn that we had to go home, and would continue our shopping later. Firstborn asked the lady behind the counter, "what time do you close?" Too cute.

We drove home, and a good friend watched over our firstborn while I went on to the hospital. I can still hear Bob's cowboy boots coming down the hospital hallway in to the delivery room. We watched the monitors the rest of the afternoon... about 6 o'clock, the doctor came to check on my progress after her office hours, and when she installed another monitor into James' skull, the monitors showed that James' heart rate dropped. They threw me on the operating table and took him out quickly. It was a very sudden entrance...and yet, on my own Mother's 50th birthday.

I wonder what our firstborn remembers about it all. To be the only child for five years, and then be given a brother, and then another fourteen months later.

To James, he has always had brothers, being the middle child. Built in playmates. And such a bouncing baby boy. Such a joy. We have so enjoyed watching him grow up and now we get to enjoy him for three more weekends before he heads to his next leadership course.

Happy Birthday James ! Love, MOM

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday to Me
This year I’m fifty-two
And, next year fifty-three
(rhymes better)

And Bob and I trade this year in that I was born in ’56 and he turned 56. And he was born in ’52 and now I am 52. Should be easy to remember how old I am. Ha

My folks called and sang to me already this morning.

When I was a little girl, I thought the fireworks were just for me. My Grandpa would take me to this fireworks extravaganza at the old stadium in Champaign, Illinois. And I thought that fireworks and my birthday went together.

I don’t remember getting a good watermelon last year, but the first one I picked out at Walmart yesterday was good. It sure was heavy. And thankfully, it had this tough skin rind as it rolled around the back of the minivan trunk area. I had hemmed it in with one of the seats which collapse into the spot, but I should have collapsed the bigger one making a smaller square to contain it.

And I am sure you have all heard the news, Walmart is dropping the dash. So, the way I have been spelling it for years is finally correct.
Big parade in town tomorrow, but since it is suppose to get up to 97 degrees, we will probably wimp out on going to that this year. When our boys were in the local high school marching band, we went to the parade probably six years in a row. I’ll never forget the year that my folks were holding the double plastic couch over their heads during a rain shower and the chair got heavy with rainwater and when they dumped it out, causing a mini waterfall. It was so funny.

We have pictures of our boys when they were toddlers sitting in their chairs watching the parade. The expressions on their faces show a mixture of fear and awe looking up at the firetrucks and clowns.





What do I want for my birthday? More pictures of the grandbaby. A grannie cannot get enough pictures.

And Bob’s meeting got cancelled, so he gets to stay home and play with me. Yipeee!!!!!!!!

Update: Bob gave me a pedicure, and a haircut 'round the ears, and I gave him a haircut, and he gave the back yard a haircut. And we enjoyed the silly movie, "Get Smart" and since it is hot as blazes, we enjoyed just poking around on our computers today improving our minds.

Thanks to all who called---my folk get the earliest prize, James, and Mary and Andy and Benjamin. And a few "unknowns" on the caller ID thingy. We finished off the watermelon. And have watched the doves try to get into the squirrel-proof birdfeeder. Must be the peanuts in this mix that is attracting squirrels and doves? And thanks for all the emails--Nance and James... The pictures of you repelling are great !