Happy 3rd Birthday Lauren!

Happy Birthday!  

I can't believe you are three years old. 
3.29.13 

I remember the day you were born.  Grandpa & I traveled all night long from Highlands, NC so we could be there for your arrival into this world.  Waiting for your birth, I cried.  The first time I saw you, I cried.  The first time I held you, I cried.  What a precious day.  It was so awesome & serial to believe that you were my grand daughter-Lauren Opal Register.

Mama & Daddy know how to plan a party.  This year you wanted a Farm Party.  I hate that Grandpa & I missed it.  We were on our way to your party, when we got a call concerning a close friend who was very sick.  We had to turn around to go be with them at the hospital.  Anyway, you were very much supported with 18 friends; plus Aunt Kristen & Dola.  You saw animals, road  rides, & went down the huge side with Mama.

The following day was your birthday.  All the family got together to see you open your presents.  Aunt Amy gave to a gym outfit, because Grandpa & I gave you gymnastics lessons for the next couple of months.  You were excited.  Daddy & Grandpa are going to mow lawns to help pay for the rest of the years lessons.  (PS-wtiring on 7.10.13; lawn service fell thew, so now Grandpa is paying for them.)

Well, a lot has happened in three years.  Just this year alone:
1) You went on a Safari ride with Aunt Kristen, Dola, Mama & Daddy.  You saw so many animals  You had Graffias, & zebras eating out of your hand.
2) You, Grandpa & I (Nanna) have gone to the zoo several times.  You love the penguins, rhinos, & the Graffias.  Once, we even saw a new born gorilla & her mama.
3) You, Mama & Daddy traveled to Valdosta to meet the Great Grands-Grandmama, Grandpapa, Grammie & Bean.
4) We have had some fun family camping trips.  First we went to Petite Jean.  Aunt Amy slept on the couch while the rest of us slept in one room.  You loved cooking cups cakes with Mama & Aunt Amy; & scrambling eggs with Grandpa.
     In Oct. we went to Mt. Magazine.  You walked into our awesome cabin full of excitement.  You explored every room.  The colored leaves were beautiful & we all felt like we were on top of the world. I think your favorite thing we did was sit in the hot tub (spa).  You LOVED it.  The hot tub was good & warm, while the weather was cold!!  You, Mama & Daddy carved a pumpkin; you opened your Fall Box; & helped Grandpa build a fire in the fireplace.
5) You, Mama & I went to the Peabody Hotel & watched the ducks come down the elevator, & waddled to the pool as they marched to some music.
6) You, Mama, Haven & I went to the Pumpkin Patch.  You played, played, & played.  Then you picked out the prettiest Cinderella pumpkin to take home.
7) In Nov, you & I went to the Holiday House & saw Mrs. Clause while she read books to us.  You loved the decorations, presents, & decorated trees, but your favorite thing was going up & down the elevator.
8) Some of your favorite places to go are Chick-fil-a & McDonald's playgrounds.
9) You love to finger painting, water coloring & playing with Playdough.
10) Some of your favorite things to eat: turkey, hot dogs , cheese, frozen fruit, raisins, & pouches.  Even though you love to make cup cakes with Mama & cook scramble eggs, you never eat them, except for the icing on the cupcakes.  Variety of good is not your thing.
11) Your favorite color is RED.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU THIS YEAR:
1) You became a big sister.  Haven was  born July 16, 2012.  What a precious day.  You did such a good job in taking care of Haven the very first time you held her.  You wouldn't even move, except for you eyes while you held her.  You were so precious.
2) You began school-Mother's Day Out in a church school on Wed & Thurs; plus you attended Bloom on Tues.  I cried knowing you were at school.  Even though I might have not even seen you on those days, I still missed you knowing you were gone.

3) You got your hair cut in a salon, especially designed for children, for the first time.
4) You moved from a baby bed to a big bed.  You love to jump & climb on anything, especially on the bed all the time.  I called you my Jumping Bean.  We began playing this game where I sat under the bed, while you climbed on top & jumped off.  NOW!  you have bunk beds.

A few other things:
-Amy got Rio in Mar, 2012; but passed away Mar 2013
-I got Daisy.  You really love her.  When I lay down with you for nap time or bed time, you love for me to tell you Daisy stories.
-This past Christmas 2012-You wanted red boots.  It snowed 12 inches & we ended up with no electricity.
-I love the recording of all the songs & verses you have learned Daddy made while you were traveling to Picayune.

You are my special Lauren, & I love you.

Happy Birthday !

nanna :)

Dear Haven

Dear Haven Joy,

I can't believe that you are already 5 1/2 months old.  Time has certainly flown quickly since you have been born.  What can I say?  You are too precious for words.


I won't ever forget the day we met.  When I saw you for the first time you were asleep on Mama's chest.  You loved that skin to skin touch.
As I got that first glimpse of you I thought you looked a little like me when I was a baby.  You had dark curly hair & big cheeks.  Looking like me did past by pretty quickly.  You definitely look like your Daddy & lately you have started to look like Lauren; but mostly you look like Haven.

We were all pretty shocked to see your dark hair & so much of it.  We all thought if you had hair it would be very blonde.  It was very curly your first day, but no curls since then.  I think we should put moose on your hair to bring those curls back.  :)  Also, you had so much hair that it stuck up on one side toward the back.  Around Thanksgiving your hair all of a sudden laid down & it is so long that it goes down your back.

You definitely didn't like your first bath.  I think I can still hear you crying, very loudly I might add, as I watched on.  Poor Lauren was very concerned about you.  It took a lot of convincing that you were just fine & not hurting.  You were ready to get warm & meet your family.

Something else your parents noticed about your little personality within the first few hours of your life was that you were & are still sensitive.  You didn't like big movements.  You had & still have the most pitiful bottom lip that I have ever seen when you get your feelings hurt.

The first time I held you was pretty soon after you were born.  I first took a ton of pictures of you, Mama & Daddy, then Mama gave you to me.  I was charmed.  You didn't want to open your eyes because the lights were so bright in the room.  About that time the nurses needed to take care of Mama for a minute, so you & I went behind the curtain where it was dark.  We then had some one on one time.  You opened your beautiful blue eyes & smiled.  I don't think I have ever seen a baby smile the way you did on your first day of life.  First, I introduced myself to you.  I said that I was your Nanna & that I loved you.  I also said that God loves you, & then I went down the list of everyone else who loved you.   You were & are so precious.

I love the name Haven Joy.  

It seems that Mama & Daddy have named you correctly.  

You really are an easy baby.  You smile as soon as someone speaks 

softly too you.  You seem to be a baby of rest & full of joy.  

You definitely have brought so much joy to me & everyone else.  

Your birth verse is: 

Gen 7:16-So those that entered, male & female of all flesh 

went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.   

I don't know exactly how this might apply to you, 

but right now I see God was Noah's shelter, a Safe Haven, 

in the midst of the storm.  I pray that God will be your 

Safe Haven, & a Shelter all of your life.

Another special moment the day you were born was witnessing Lauren holding you for the first time.  That was too precious for words.  She took her "Big Sister" job very seriously.  You were great as you just rested in Lauren's arms.  Lauren held you for at least 30 minutes without moving a muscle, including her head.  Only her eyes would go back & forth.  The pink monkey is what you gave Lauren the first time Lauren met you.

I love to tickle you.  I can put one finger under your arm & you will tilt your body in that direction & just giggle out loud.  You sound just like Lauren when you laugh.  Also, I have to get some sugar kisses every time I hold you from those sweet cheeks of yours.

This past few days we have been celebrating Christmas.  All of a sudden you started doing some special tricks: you love standing up, if we hold you of course; rolling over consistently; almost sitting up by yourself; enjoying this bouncy jumper thing; wanting a sippie cup; & loved the Christmas wrapping paper-everything goes in the mouth.

I have enjoyed keeping you many Wednesday mornings lately while Mama has some appointments.  It has been a great time for you & me.  I didn't think we have had too much special time until then.  It has been a great time for us to get to know one another better.  Also, on Thur. nights Grandpa & I baby-sit while Mama & Daddy work.  Here, we have learned you are definitely a Mama's girl.  When it comes to night time, all you want is her.  You change from your sweet, smiling self to a huge crying melt down.  I usually can console you, but that last Thurs. we kept y'all, no one could make you happy but Mama.  When she walked in the door & could see the look on our faces, she knew that it had been a hard last hour.  She quietly calmed you down in your bedroom & all of a sudden it sounded like you began tattle tailing on us for trying to put you down to sleep.  Mama then brought you out & you just grinned & grinned.  You are a mess & we love you.

Well, I just didn't want to miss this opportunity to tell you how blessed we are that God gave you to us & I'm so proud that you are my Grand Daughter.  I'm looking forward to taking you to the park, zoo, making cookies, & having tea.  It will be fun to see what else we can come up with to do.

I love you.

nanna :)

Creating Holiday Memories Scrapbook

I'm calling this blog a scrapbook because, I am going to fill this blog with pictures.  When I look back on this time, this is what I want to remember.

.10.26-28.12 fall box; mt magazine

This years traditions really began in October while we were at at Mt Magazine.  What a perfect weekend.  All of us were able to come, including Amy's friend Kim.  It was so much fun just walking into our cabin.  It was beautiful!  Lauren walked in & just glowed.  We hiked, loved the outdoor spa; building fires; roasting marshmallows; carving Ben, Jenny & Lauren's pumpkin; just relaxing, having coffee & hot chocolate.  The weather was perfect!  Lauren's excited over the spa was something else.  Oh yes, opened the fall boxes.  If you don't know what the fall boxes are, please go back & read Oct 13, 11-All This In A Week?: Part 4-Thur. Tradition.
11.1.12-November

Even though I decorate for Fall in Sept with pumpkin & harvest, when November comes around, out comes the turkeys, Pilgrims & Indians.

--We began the November festivities by attending Angela Driskills' party for the staff in Dave's office.

--The following Saturday was extra special.  I took Lauren to go get donut holes, then to see Mrs. Claus at the Holiday House.  Her eyes got so big taking it all in.  Lauren's most favorite thing was riding the escalator, not the milk & cookies, & certainly not taking a picture with Mrs. Clause.

    That afternoon the girls & I went to the Holiday House.  We did great in not buying anything until the end.  All of a sudden we hit the mother load.  It sure did make my Christmas shopping easier.








--Then I was off to Valdosta for the Batts' Thanksgiving.  It could not have been for perfect.  Mother had been working on this since Sept.  I picked up Brittany along the way to ride with me.  That was a nice change instead of me driving by myself.  The only thing that was negative was  I got a speeding ticket.  Anyway, here are some entries that I wrote in Face Book:   

Day 16- I am grateful for the belly laughs playing Phase 10 with Brittany, Corey, Mother, & Melissa until midnight as the turkey was being prepared.
Day 17-What a perfect Batts' Thanksgiving celebration. Mother did an exception job in all the preparations & planning. The meal was totally delicious, devotional time was sweet, & going through mine & John's ornaments was a special time. Added blessing was visiting with the George family. It was joyful to my soul.

--When I got back it was time for our Thanksgiving.  Ben & Jenny with the children went to Picayune. It was quiet here but very festive having Amy & Rio with us for the weekend.
--Thanksgiving was early, so I began taking down all fall & putting up all Christmas.

This past November in Face Book, a childhood friend got me started in writing what I am grateful for everyday.  This was my last entry in November that I wrote:
Day 30-I am grateful for Dec. & what it means in celebrating my Savior's birth-Jesus. Looking forward to sitting back & savoring the moments. Looking forward to special time with the family & building memories. Looking forward to having my Mom for Christmas week. I guess still being new to Little Rock, we won't be having holiday events to put added stress on this month. What I do have are planned events in creating memories with loved one. Have an awesome Christmas season

In Dec. the same childhood friend found Christmas songs each day, which I copied to my timeline.

12.2.12-December: new traditions
Dec.2-During sunday night dinner, we finished our tree.

Dec. 9-Make the Ginger Bread House

Dec. 15-Making cut-out christmas cookies

Dec. 20-27: Mother coming to enjoy christmas & the trimmings; other scenery

Peabody hotel & trolly;

hotsprings with Lavern;

church;

Christmas eve dinner at amy's;

christmas am w/B&J's; lo's red boots

snowed in;

the end

ann :)

Snuggle

Snuggle.  What a sweet sounding word.  

Merriam-Websters Dictionary defines the word:

intransitive verb

: to curl up comfortable or cozily

transitive verb

1 : to draw close especially for comfort or in affection

2 : to make sung

Other forms : snug-gled; snug-gling

snuggle noun

Examples

- The puppy snuggled up against the sleeping boy.

- The boy snuggled close to his mother.

- The dog snuggled its nose between the pillows.

Origin: frequented of snug.

First Use: 1687

Synonyms: curl up, nestle, snug

Our sweet little Lauren is too busy to stop & be snuggled.  BUT! when it happens I am loss for words to describe it.  I have loved snuggling up with my children, but it is a special sweetness to snuggle up with that precious babe.  Every time it happens, my first thoughts are: "Lord, I can't believe she is mine.  She belongs to me in some way.  How blessed am I.  Thank you!"


                                                        ann :)

Regular Day

Today was a regular day around here.  I had an appointment, did laundry, etc....  I tried to study some RDH which didn't happen.  I mentioned to Jenny yesterday that our neighborhood has a new playground & that I didn't think it was too old for Lauren.  Jenny said, "Why don't we do it tomorrow (today) after her nap."  GREAT!!

Today came & Jenny needed to take Turbo, their cat, to the vet.  I suggested to let me keep Lauren while she took Turbo.  We both loved that idea.

Dave got home after dark.  He grab the flashlight & off we went for our evening walk.  He asked me about my day.  I briefly told him until I got to Lauren.
      I told him every detail.  We went to the playground. Swung; walked up the slide, she would do her routine while up in the tree house-with Nanna saying, "No, No, No" where I felt uncomfortable.  Lauren would repeat it back,"No, No, No" & then obey & come down the slide.  We did this about 10x or more.  More swinging.
      Then Lauren saw the stroller.   We went for a stroll with her holding Truffle's leash for about a mile.  We counted all the pumpkins.  She started a game by turning her head to look at me with the biggest grin you ever saw, & I would say, "Boo!"  Then, I realized that she was trying to scar me.  I would then say, "You got Nanna."  And we would both laugh.  And....

About that time Dave said, "I AM SO SORRY I MADE YOU COME HERE."

                                            ann :)

Grand Child Proofing Our Home

It has been a very long time since we have had to child proof our home.  Now, with our grand baby coming in & out, I have done my very best to baby proof our home.

When our children were born, Dave was in medical school & we lived in married housing.  We had a two bedroom apartment & everything was about at arms reach.  If you have ever lived in school housing, then you will know exactly what I am talking about.

I remember baby proofing our home by putting the household cleaning items up, & the fruits & vegetables cans down.   In fact the cabinet for the cans was a perfect place for Amy (toddler then) as a play house.  I didn't need to buy her dolls, I just needed to buy her some can beans & she was very happy.  I remember Amy would use these cans as her blocks, teach school to them & discipline them when necessary.   But woe to one of those cans if they would drop on her foot.

I can't believe that one month from tomorrow I moved from Highlands to Maumelle.  Another thing I can't believe is that I have only cleaned this house twice.  I must say in Highlands, Dave spoiled me by budgeting a house keeper to come twice a month.  I never cleaned it, so for me to clean this house 2x in a month is a great record on my part.  I also must say in my defense that when I have boxes around the house, it doesn't energise me to clean.  Plus, I'm the kind that has to have everything picked up before I can clean.  ANYWAY!!!!

What does cleaning have to do with baby proofing my home?  Well, the first time that I cleaned I was so proud because I bought those white plastic shields & started putting them all over the house.  Then I went to vacuum.  Why didn't I vacuum before I began to be such a good protective Nanna.  I could not get those things out at all.  I finally had to get a knife to barely loosen them up.

Today, I was smarter.  Yes, I still had to get the old shields off that I put on two weeks ago.  This time I vacuumed then added the rest of the shields when I finished.  Also, I remembered my trusty knife to take around the house with me.   At the end of vacuuming, I took great pleasure in gazing in my trash can to see the fruits of my labor-all the dirt.  I felt I had really accomplished something: 1) cleaning, 2) protecting my grand child.

In God's Word it says:
Prov 17:6 a-Grandchildren are the crown of old 
                                                  men...
I think I this verse can also be translated: 
             Grandchildren are the crown of 
                          middle age Nanna's.


(Dave will say that I am not middle age because I am not going to live to 112 yr old.)


Ps.3:3-But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, 
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.


Ps.147:13-For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; 
He has blessed your children within you.


I don't know if you could call these plastic shields bars in own home.  But I do know He has & will bless all our children (Amy, Ben, Jenny & Lauren) within our home.

                         ann :)

All This In A Week?: Part 3-Make Yourself At Home

Don't you love the word home-not house-but home.  A house becomes a home because it is where you & your loved ones live.  I also love calling other peoples' homes your home.  Like, where I was raised will always be my home because my parents live there.  When I go there, I don't have to knock at the door & wait; I just go in; say "Hi"; & give & receive kisses & hugs.  Have a great meal, rest on the couch & visit.  That's home.  You're comfortable there.

Well, I'm hoping that is how it is going to be for my children at our home.  The first day I was in my new house (w/o furniture), was a good beginning to my hopes starting to become a reality.

It was the end of a long day driving from Highlands.  Ben came over after work to see me & the place.  He really hadn't seen it since July.  After he helped me unloaded heavy boxes from the car, we began taking the tour through the house.  He spotted my special cookies that Jenny got me as a welcome home gift, & was about to tear into them.  I told him that I wanted Dad to see what Jenny did.  His reply, "He doesn't care about this!"  And immediately ripped open the bag.  All I could do was chuckle.  I then went outside to get Truffle from the back yard.  I came in & saw my homemade muffins, taken from the refrigerator & the bag was open on the counter.  Mind you, these muffins I ground the flour myself.  Ben calls them my birdseed muffins.  All I could do was laugh.  I loved it.  It warmed my heart!

Amy came over Sunday, not only to see us but to have some lunch, wash clothes & use the computer.  Love, love, love it!

Lauren has her own bedroom, shelf in the pantry & kitchen to play with where our kitchen table & chairs will go when we get the set.  It took me all afternoon putting that some assemble acquired toy together.  I was so sore when I finished.  Dave & Ben said she has more stuff around here than they do.

Sweet Jenny called and asked about taking her to get groceries since her car was in the shop.  I needed some too.

Yes, it is feeling like home.

                        ann :)

All This In A Week?: Part 2-Here They Come

Rollin, rollin, rollin

here those doggies rollin

Raw-hide

Three vans coming!

Boxes everywhere, in every room

Where do I begin!!!

I had full intention to begin in the kitchen.  

Hey, that rhymed :) 

I thought I just had to get this kitchen & pantry in order to function.  Then it dawned on me, I much rather have a bed to sleep in, so I started on the bedrooms.  Besides, let's get real.  Was I really going to cook?  You've got to be kidding!  McDonald's coffee & oatmeal was just fine.  Plus, I was still sleeping over at LaVern's & eating with the kids some.

I couldn't even get to the tub to take a bath due to all the boxes.  So on Thur. I spent the entire day going through all those boxes.  It was nice to finally get my closet in order & to take a bath in my own tub.

Dave, finally got in town around 4:00 pm Sat (Oct 1).  I must say I was a little nervous since he had never seen the house that we bought.   After a tour of our adobe-brown walls with white trim-home, we all went to Zaxbys.  It was so good to be together.  Jenny (daughter-in-luv) said, "Our family is now complete."  It really didn't seem real yet.  I felt like we were there for a long weekend.

While we were eating, I finally heard Lauren (grand baby) say my daughter's name-Amy.  She pronounced it with a little a, & the accent on may.  I loved it.  Then she started saying "No, Nanna; No, Nanna."  That charmed me no doubt.  I didn't know what the no was for, but I didn't care.  I clapped & clapped.  The more I clapped, the more she said it.  That child can do no wrong in my book.

I do have a point to this series, but you will have to wait until you get to the end-Part 5.

More tomorrow,

                      ann :)