Our boys are growing up

Well it's February 2012 and I haven't been faithful at all writing - busy with life and just haven't taken the time to capture some of the best moments of my life - but they're there --- yesterday our little, well sort-of little Caleb turned 6 months old. Some days it seems like we've had him forever and somedays it seems like just yesterday he was born -- he's such a happy, sweet baby - he's got the biggest, brighest smile that shows his cute little dimples yet sometimes he can have the most serious look - we call that his 'joey look' !! jk Joey!  And speaking of Joey - he and Nat are making the best parents -- I guess my favorite time is first thing every morning when they wake Caleb up or greet him with this cute little song they've made up just for him --- how many 6 month olds have their own song?  I think it goes like this --'Good morning Mr Caleb, you are the sweetest baby in the whole word and we love you very much - very much, very much!' --- you would have to hear them to know how sweet this is -- I need to try and record it the next time we're all together.  It is such a blessing watching 'my' kids love and parent 'their' kids -- such a joy to see how they're doing and just how blessed our grandbabies are to have them as parents.  I thank God everyday for these sweet babies and their parents!  Caleb has found his 'feet' in the last couple of weeks and is growing and learning everyday.  Such fun to watch how everyone's world revolves around him.  Nat is the best little mommy - watching her with Caleb is such joy!  She's handling work - busy season - life and baby, yet she and Joey are very purposeful at spending family time together -love watching them.  And Joey is stepping up to the plate and doing great as a dad!  Just think this time not much over a year or two ago, he was scared to death of little Noah!  I say we can thank Noah for Joey and Nat deciding to have a baby this soon and we really can - I think when Joey fell in love with Noah, he knew how much fun this journey was going to be. 
   What else is going on with Caleb - he weighs right at 20 pounds, smiles all the time, can turn over - sits up doing the tripod and is going to be sitting up on his own any day - loves playing with his 'crunchy toy' and Aubie, but is still most fascinated with his own hands and feet!  I love how when you put him on the changing table, he's fascinated with his feet and loves to watch the shadows on the ceiling.  I took him outside to take some pictures last weekend when it was warm and pretty and he really enjoyed 'talking' with the birds and watching the wind in the trees.  We had a good time talking about the wonderful world God made for us to live in - I hope he'll come to know this for himself when he's old enough, but for now - I'll just keep singing 'Jesus loves me' and telling him every chance I get.
    One thing I've really enjoyed about Caleb is that Nat and Joey are really good at sharing him with us grandparents -- they don't mind at all letting me keep the baby monitor in my room at night and getting up with Caleb early morning and of course - it's such a sacrifice!  Really I love these special moments but for some reason if I try to sneak him in my bed for some cuddle time, there's always 2 other adults that invade us pretty quick!!! B'ham is too far but we've learned that it's worth late night drives when the reward has as good of sugar as Caleb does - thanks for letting us love this baby God -- he's such a special addition to our family

   But of course, don't forget Noah - can you believe he turns 2 next week!! My how time flies when you're having fun!  He really made my day, week, year - all of it,  about a month ago when as I came into the house to visit - he looks up, yells  'DeeDee' and runs to give me a great big hug!  He's such a loving little boy,and really is a little boy now, not a baby - he loves having you go to his room to play  ---'come on' is one of his favorite phrases and he can entertain himself and us for hours with the simpliest things.  He's at such a fun stage - learning everyday, talking up a storm, growing like a weed!  He's getting so independent now that he's in daycare more and still has that absolutely contagious smile!  it's fun watching him learn and grow - we love the fact that they're in Millbrook and it's not to far to make a day trip or stop on the way to and from B'ham --we're so blessed that our children are in the same direction and not too far away.   Hopefully we don't drive you guys crazy and I hope we never wear our welcome out!
   Like Nat and Joey, Nick and Kayla are wonderful parents!  Aren't we blessed!!  They are doing such a good job molding this little boy into a wonderful person - Kayla is such a natural teacher - I love watching her use 'teachable moments' with Noah and I'm excited she'll soon be able to use those skills as a teacher.   It's fun to watch them purposefully go about shaping his little mind and behavior.  Nothing thrills my heart more than to see a child who knows that when his dad says - 'let's pray' that a little boy, not quite 2 years old knows to bow his held, fold his hands AND sometimes even be quiet while his dad thanks God for both our food and for him!  I'm convinced that these times will pay off as he grows and learns how much both his parents, grandparents and God loves him.  Thank you Nick and Kayla for working daily to teach little Noah about not only his ABC's and 1,2,3's but life and God!  We're enjoying watching all of you each chance we get -- spending time with you guys are some of our happiest moments.
    So what is Noah up too - he turns 2 next week, knows his colors, some of his ABC's, love Auburn and will yell - 'War Eagle - hey' at the drop of a hat, loves cars, trucks and balls the best, loves outside and is so cute when he's standing at the front door watching for his dad to come home.  Thank you Lord for sharing this sweet little boy with us! 
   We love 'our boys' so much and as Nat reminds me - I've got to learn to say 'our grandchildren', or 'my boys and Ella' or something in just a few shorts months when we welcome baby Ella to our family!  Nat laughs at me b/c I'm always saying 'my boys' and she has already let me know that I'm going to have to change what I say when this sweet little girl gets here.  I'm certainly getting excited about getting to dress and play with a little girl, watch Noah be a big brother and share  more joys with Nick and Kayla as their little family grows.  I tell people all the time - all I need in life to make me happy is time with these kids -- all of them!  Nothing makes me happier than to have all of them home at one time, but of course - I really love what little 'one on one' time I get to spend with 'my boys'.  We're thankful each day for the blessings God has given us and look forward to continued love and family time! 

well it's Sept - guess I didn't do too well considering I have one post and that was in April.  Lots has happened since then - baby Giesen is here - beautfiul, healthy, strong - a God given joy to our life.  I had the distinct pleasure of being in the delivery room and for all the times I've witnessed a birth - this was the most special (remember I was 'knocked out' with my own - c-section deliveries).  I couldn't believe it when a few months back Nat asked if I wanted to be there - guess you can believe it took me only a second to respond yes.  Her comment was - I need you to be there for Joey and I know you'll make sure everything goes ok --- not sure if she was asking her mom or her personal nurse to be there - but didn't care - this is absolutely one of the most precious memories of my life --- Nat did great, was patient, composed, calm, cool and collect and it was a pleasure to see my baby welcome her firstborn into the world.  Most of the time I did great - she had great labor nurses so didn't really need me to coach, just 'hold my leg' and be there.  I was so proud of her - she 'pushed' for 2 1/2 hours and only 'grunted' the last couple of pushes -- I was beginning to worry that baby Caleb wasn't going to turn -yes he was head first but not turned just right so it took a long time to decide he was actually going to appear.  I was afraid the nurse had started her pushing too early and she was going to do all this work and get too tired to deliver - but never fear - my baby girl did great!  I've always wondered how anyone could witness a birth and not believe in the God who made all of us - it's so amazing to see that perfectly made life.  There's one picture I love - it's Nat looking over the sheet when Caleb first appears to see for herself that everything is good - I remember looking from her to Joey and seeing the look of complete joy and the glisten of tears in Joey's eyes --- it reminded me of how blessed this little boy is that God chose Nat and Joey as his parents.  I held the tears in - I honestly don't know how, but feel so blessed to share this special time with them. 

After a few minutes, I got to go to the waiting room with a camera full of pictures (I had already texted tehm pictures so they would know he was here and healthy) to share with the family that was patiently waiting while Nat and Caleb had 'skin to skin' time and Joey and Nat had time alone with their new son --- I'm gonna try to post the picture of the nurse wheeling them down the hallway to their post partum room - the joy is so evident on everyone's face as they meet Caleb for the first time.  Since I had already met him, I was able to take all this in and enjoy this time.

I love this second picture - everyone is watching Noah's reaction to baby Caleb -- that's sooo funny to me !

Caleb is blessed to have not only grandparents but great-grandparents on both sides - here he is with the Giesen's and Gram

 

do you think Nana and Pop are proud of Natalie?!?

Over the next few days - I got to witness the joy of watching these parents welcome their baby into the world and their lives.  They are blessed to have such loving family and friends.  Learned a lot - did you know if you have a question about what to do today - like how to keep him from wetting 'everything' no matter how carefully you put on a diaper, that all you have to do is look it up on-line - guess that's changed a little since mine were little. Wished I had invented the 'boppy' - I probably wouldn't have had to come home and go back to work -these are cool.  Swings are nothing like what mine had - they're sophisticated now - you can hook up your ipod to the swing and choose the music you play.  We didn't have little 'duck bath blankets' to keep our's warm but they are so cute and we sure didn't have diaper genies - great creation. Donnie said the greatest update is the carriers that are also car seats - great to not have to wake up a sleeping baby to buckle them into a car seat. Anyway I  loved helping with all the 'firsts' we experienced those days -thanks for letting me share in your first few days with Caleb - it is something I'll always cherish.  Gonna leave you with a couple of my favorite pictures from that first week and a half.

 

 think she's fascinated with him?

just a bowlfull of joy!

Getting started - who, when, what, why

So what's going on, I'm not sure but I want to try this to capture the precious moments in life --- so without further ado - here goes
who -- I'm a child of the King, wife, mother and grandmother - a role which I love playing to our grandson, Noah and to baby Giesen, whom we'll get to meet in August
when - I guess this is as good a time to start as any; want to make sure I don't forget anything important that I want Noah to remember
what -- don't know what I'll share, but i do know that the everyday events of life - those things we often think are the ordinary are what make life worth doing everyday -
why - because God has blessed my family tremendously and continues to do so everyday -- thank you Lord for those little daily blessings, for the little treasures you give to us