A Birthday Wish.

Just realizing this little project celebrated it's first birthday this month! Happy Birthday Casa de Dionne!

Now, here's what I wished for when I blew out the candles. I'd like to see some comments on the blog in the coming year. Eh-hem Grandparents in particular, family and friends too, it's much appreciated when you respond via email that you like the blog. However, your comments and notes would become part of the (b)log if you would post comments to it. Just click on the little word comments at the end of the post (right where it usually says "0 comments") and enter share your thoughts or add your own story.

So, someday when G and TBD are reading the story of their life not only will they see what I had to write but what you had to add to it... Wouldn't that be great? Plus, a few comments would inspire more posts. It's always nice to know if someone else is reading.

Please comment. This is a two way communication vehicle.

Four for One

Catching up... so here's four little blurbs I've been meaning to update with.

SNIPER
Couple weeks ago, G went home to Austin with Nana on a Friday. Deeda had a business meeting there on Saturday. So G hitched a ride home with Deeda on Sunday mid-day. Nana and Papa were beyond thrilled to get their first sleep over with G and he was equally excited to swim and play and eat papa eggs. But I promise, no one was happier than I was to have a date night with my hubby on Friday and then get him out the door early Saturday so I could enjoy an entire day and evening to myself! Errands were run, closets organized, chic flick watched. Operation Baby’s Room officially made it to the next milestone . Crib is assembled. Closet emptied of paperwork and filled with baby clothes…

Now, I wasn’t there so I can only tell the story as it was told to me, but here’s what I heard.

Saturday night the boys went for pizza with Nana and Papa. When a pepperoni fell of G’s slice, he said, “Sniper.”

To have the full effect of this comment you must know this is a formula joke Deeda adopted when G was first toddling around and falling down a lot (seemingly for no reason). He’d fall and Deeda would say, “sniper!” It’s been a staple that’s continued as G has grown and he continues to fall. Usually these days it’s because he’s running super fast or jumping from something. Anyhoo- it seems as though G clearly knows how to use the formula himself… E.g., if your pepperoni falls down it must have been a “sniper!” This from the same boy who says he “stepped on a duck” when he “toots.” He knows he’s funny and he loves it! The other day he tried to play “give me five – down low – too slow.” He doesn’t quite get how it works but he does get that it’s a funny thing and he’d get a laugh for pulling it off.

He has also adopted this very George Mcfly from Back to the Future fake laugh he does where he closes his eyes really tight and “laughs.” Sometimes he’ll add to the look, a “What?” as in when Stanly Tucci says “What? You Won Something?” in It Could Happen to You. One Deeda and I quote a lot….

DEVELOPMENTS
For months we’ve been telling G to come wake us up rather than calling for us from his bedroom. Seems as though we’ve turned a corner. He’s been coming to our room, getting under the covers and watching an episode orfMickey Mouse Clubhouse or Sean the Sheep in our bed. It’s a beautiful thing! It’s like sleeping in… but not. But we’ll take what we can get.

This is especially nice because sleep isn’t coming easy for me these days. Baby and belly are growing fast and getting hard to turn over with or lay comfortably with. My lower back/butt/legs are really hurting. Sitting is OK but laying down makes for aches, stiffness and occasional numbness. Ahhh the joys. BTW - we're at cauliflower stage now... weighs about 2 lbs and is 14 or so inches long!


Anyway, after he came to our bed Saturday, G decided he wanted us all three to move to his bed. So we did and we made a G sandwich and he loved it as much as we did… We were literally all laying there staring at the ceiling and planning our day when G said, “mom will you show me how to snore?”

We had to laugh. He’s been known to wake me up (when I have fallen asleep tucking him in) telling me to “stop making that noise” or to make sure I am aware my “breath is nasty. “ So, I guess logic told him I was the best choice to “teach” him how to snore…

After that he declared he thought a good plan for the day would be to go to the toy store to get a BIIIIIGGGG Batman. He eventually settled for a haircut, trip to Target and putting the finishing touches on his new and improved bookshelf system to house the toys he already has.

HIDE AND SEEK
G loves to play hide and seek. Actually, he loves to hide in the same place over and over and he loves to tell you where he is or call out “Marco!” (as in Polo) so you can find him faster if you’re pretending not to see him where he’s already told you he will be… The other day, G and Deeda were having a good game when Dee Dog got into the action… Deeda would say, “Where’s G and Dee would run around looking. Our old girl has some spunk in her for sure.

COULD IT BE TRUE?
Last Thursday marked the dreaded glucose test. I felt as though I hadn’t done everything I could to help ensure a positive outcome after so many celebratory weekends in the last couple months complete with brownie bites and the like…. Plus the recent discovery of sea salt caramel gelato. Oh boy… wish I never tasted stuff… salty and sweet and ice cream! Good lord! Anyway, I drank the koolaid at the doc and they took my blood. Doc said expect news by Monday and that no news was good news. It’s late night Wednesday and there’s no news. Could it be that I don’t have to deal with Gestational Diabetes this time around? I am hesitant to even write this for fear of a jinx but I do have my fingers crossed.

beep beep back it up to father's day

When I watch G play with his Deeda, it's clear the boy is sure his dad is as cool as whatever superhero is in vogue that week. Just view the sword fight photos I've posted at snapfish for a glimpse at the look in G's eyes...

This year Deeda got a rice cooker and G can hardly wait to fire it up. In fact, it wsa one of the things that came up on the car ride home from the beach. He also got an original painting by G-man himself and a very special T-shirt made at school.

sum sum summertime

Summer is here. we know in H-town because we had three consecutive days above 100 last week. Good thing we were headed to Galveston for a long weekend with the neighborhood gang.

We weren't sure what to expect after Ike, but agree Galveston looks far better than we anticipated. There is damage. There are homes gone but there are also entire beachfront neighborhoods standing.

After Destin last May, G had one observation. "This water is nasty," he declared without solicitation. We had to laugh. But as far as the gulf goes it was cooler than bath water and we've seen it worse. Our observation is that the semi-private beach makes a huge difference over a public pocket beach and the big bridge seemed bigger when we were younger.

We joined the latter part of a week long trip the Friends of Red core group whipped up. In all, my head count was more than 25 including the kids. I am so grateful for this little network we have of really fun families. What a great time!

We know G had a good time because he literally didn't stop talking the entire way home. I've never heard him so on fire. Ever. And the pelican dove into the water, and they launched the sail boat, and we built a sand castle and my kite broke and I don't like watermelon and, can we watch Spiderman when we get home?... The child's mind was on what seemed to be an endless loop replaying the whole thing.

The kid was exhausted. We'll all sleep well this Sunday night.

Pictures are posted at snapfish. I continue to have a thing for people walking away... so there's a lot of that and I was having fun trying to create silhouettes. This is one of the lessons learned in the photography class I took last June, from which I have yet to complete the homework. Someday. Skill or luck, cute kids on a beach are always a good subject to play with.

spaghetti squash

Week 22 is spaghetti squash. The vegetable reference points to the size of the baby crack me up. But they're very helpful! Thank you babycenter.com for vegetable references and details on the defiance toddlers exercise as part of "normal" behavior. Thank you very much.

Somehow I hit and passed the halfway mark in this pregnancy and it seems I've only just gone public. While I fully expect time to slow waaaaay down in the heat of the summer I have to mark these recent weeks as a time that I've felt great! My only complaint being the back/left leg ache.

The belly went from maybe just overweight to totally pregnant overnight sometime last week. I will post a photo eventually. Next doc visit is the big glucose test. I am holding out hope we don't have to do that whole thing again.

The name game is in full swing and we're not telling. So no asking. Try to enjoy the surprise. At least we know it's a boy! In the mean time you're welcome to call him Tiquan or Buzz, both nicknames that have stuck. G wants to name him Buzz (as in Lightyear). Tiquan was the wonderfully wry suggestion from Grandaddy.

Make way for baby

The new office (old dining room) is nearly up and running. I am working in it as I type. We love it! Special thanks to Nana and her Raben painting skills. Also, for the record, she was right about the color all along. Next up, baby room which may also entail an upgrade for G's room.

This week marks 20 weeks. Half way. Despite a back ache that moves down my left leg and some swelling (already) in my ankles, I feel really good. My zits are finally clearing up a little and from time to time I can feel a little movement - which has me always wishing I could feel more. I am looking forward to a big karate style kick.

This was the first night I heard the sound of heat in the air: Cicadas. Today it was 94 but the weatherman confirmed it did feel more like 100 with the humidity. It's going to be a long, hot summer. But I have my eye on the prize: Halloween and the holidaze season from home with "bebe brudher."

Coming Right Up

Couple days last week, G made me breakfast. Cereal with bananas (arranged neatly around the outside of the bowl) and then a piece of toast. When he offered me a diet coke and I accepted he said, "coming right up" as he dashed to the fridge.

This does help make up for the fact that the child seems to be crying more often than not these days. Someone breathes on him and he's in tears. What is that?