Christmas 2011

Phil and I are back from spending Christmas with the world's best baby. And also Matt, Katherine, and Caitlin. I love having all my family together in one place and Matt and Katherine are such wonderful hosts. We ate WAY TOO MUCH food, all of it delicious. We had turkey, ham, macaroni, potato salad, sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie and the best cake I have ever eaten in my whole life. Did I mention that my daughter in law can cook up a storm and my son isn't too bad either. Great potato salad, Matt! We went to church at Atlanta First, where Hannah's school is, on Christmas eve. It was a beautiful service. I got to go to church with both of my children and Phil, too. That in itself was an event.

We all had lots of great present to open on Christmas morning. I think Hannah may have preferred the paper and boxes to the actual presents. Hannah gave me a beautiful necklace that says "Nonni" with a heart. Since we have had some confusion about the spelling of Nonny/Nonni, it is a great relief to finally know how to spell it. Thank you Hannah for clarifying that for all of us. Now if you would just work on that "Na, na, na, na". Really, who says your first words have to be Mama or Daddy?

Caitlin and I were amazed at how much Hannah had changed since we last saw her, only about six weeks ago. Not so much in appearance, but in what she is doing. She is very active, always on the move and interested in everything. She was sitting up the last time we saw her. Now she is scooting everywhere. She is fast, too. It sort of looks like she is swimming on the floor! She likes to stand up, but needs some support. We took her a musical play table and she would stand for long periods playing with it. She also has two teeth now. She is very verbal, making all kinds of sounds, although we aren't quite sure what she is saying. I bet she is right now telling her mom and dad that she needs her Nonni to come back and visit. We will no longer be able to refer to Hannah as a "baldy" baby anymore. Her hair has grown quite a bit. She even had bed head after a nap. Her hair hangs just the tiniest bit over her ears and is downy soft. What hasn't changed is how happy she is. She is always smiling and laughing.

Personalize a free slideshow

More Babysitting

Either I am slack at this blogging thing or else I am not getting enough Hannah time. It has been awhile since I posted. I am back from another babysitting weekend in Atlanta. Caitlin went with me and that made it an extra special weekend.  It isn't often that I get both of my favorite children in the same place.  Matt and Katherine made us a wonderful supper on Friday night and a great breakfast on Saturday morning.  I should have a t-shirt that says "Nonni - will babysit for food".  Matt and Katherine took off about 2:00 for a wedding that was at 7:00.  Wonder what they did all afternoon?  Grownup stuff, I guess.  Cait and I enjoyed Hannah.  She is without a doubt the happiest, easiest baby ever.  She has changed more since I last saw her.  She is sitting up beautifully and playing with all her toys.  Her eye/hand coordination has improved and she is putting everything in her mouth.  Surely those teeth will make an appearance soon.  She has the cutest chubby thighs.  Sweet Hannah, this is the only time in your life where someone commenting on the cubbiness of any body part is a compliment.  I love the way she responds to her name and the way she laughs when you make funny noises for her, but the best thing is how she is first thing in the morning.  When you go in her room and she sees you, her whole face just lights up and she gives you the biggest smile.  Makes me smile just remembering it.  I love keeping Hannah.  Folks always told me that grandchildren bring their own special kind of joy and that is the absolute truth.  Shucks, I would babysit Hannah even if you didn't feed me. 

Picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Go Jackets!!

I spent this weekend in Atlanta keeping Hannah while her mom and dad went to the Georgia Tech football game.  I had her all day on Saturday all by myself.  Sort of grandma heaven.  I had a wonderful time and I think Hannah did too.  She has changed a bit since I last saw her in July.  She is a bit bigger and has a bit more "peach fuzz" hair.  She is very active and everything goes into her mouth.  I think some teeth might be in her near future.  She has tons of personality, giggling when you give her raspberries on her tummy and squealing like a little piglet at everything that pleases her.  And everything seems to please her.  She is such a happy baby.  Probably because she has such great parents.  And a cool Nonni!

Another photo slideshow by Smilebox

Wait a Minute

Wait just a minute.  Time is flying by and I need it to slow down.  I just want to be completely caught up at school, have a clean house, groceries in the cabinets, laundry done, a good book to read, a football game to watch and a baby to cuddle.  Dream on, right?  I would settle for a football game to watch and a baby to cuddle.  Am happy to have that coming up in a few weeks. 

I have been so busy lately with the kind of stuff that never seems to be finished.  School is great this year.  I have the best class.  The kind that comes along once every ten years or so.  They are so sweet and so well behaved and smart, too.  They also crack me up on a regular basis.  Like when Autumn tells me my hair looks fluffy and when I ask if she likes my new style, she replies, "No, it is ugly."  We do want our children to be truthful, don't we?  Then there is Chris who comes up at least three times a day to  hug me.  He came and was just standing beside me on Friday and when I asked what he needed, he said, "A hug."  I was expecting a tattle of some sort.  Loved getting a hug instead of trying to figure out who did what to whom. 

Am in Spartanburg this weekend for a bridal shower.  I love weddings and all the stuff that goes along with them.  I also love spending time with my family.  Went out to dinner last night with my sister and my sister in law.  Great fun.  Those two girls are crazy.  One because she has 6 kids and the other because she actually married my brother.  And they think I am strange because I have shiney red shoes. 

Well, I think I will go have coffee and a cookie for lunch.

the famous red shoes

Where did my summer go?

I have just finished up my last two mini-vacations for the summer.  I spent a weekend in Charleston with Caitlin.  We saw the final Harry Potter movie and then did some shopping, one of those things we do so well together.  We don't really have to do anything spectacular, I just like hanging out with Cait and Charleston is always nice.  Caitlin made chocolate chip cookies for dinner one night.  My kind of meal!

Last week I went to Atlanta to help out with Hannah when Katherine went back to work.  I had good intentions with helping out around the house but it was impossible to do anything but watch Hannah, rock Hannah, feed Hannah, play with Hannah.  I kept telling myself that she would only be tiny for so long and that I needed to make the most of every minute.  Sounds good, huh?  I do love that baby!

Hannah starts "school" on Monday.  I was able to visit her school and meet her teachers.  It seems to be a bright and happy place and in my head I know that Hannah will do well there.  My heart though wants her home with the people who love her best.  That would include her Nonny of course.   Actually this will be hardest on her mommy.  I vividly remember leaving Caitlin on her first day and crying (really boohooing!) all the way to work.  Both she and Matt went to daycare when they were just about Hannah's age and look how marvelously they have grown up.  Hannah will be fine!

Nonny and Hannah watching Ellen on tv

Happy Girl!

Fourth of July

The fourth of July was, as always, fun.  My sister always does this big thing with lots of people and great food and several hundred dollars worth of fireworks.  We had hamburgers and hot dogs this year with a million or so desserts.  Lord knows I need to get back on my diet after all that I ate.  It was delicious!  Nothing better than a grilled hot dog with Mom's homemade chili and Vidalia onions.  Had a twist this year as the power went off due to an electrical storm so we spent the evening by candle light and fireworks.  Just added to the charm of it all.

Followed up the 4th with an overnight trip to Folly Beach to babysit Hannah and her cousins, Addyson and Delaney.  I had forgotten how much I love the beach, not that I actually was on the beach.  Just sat on the front porch in the ocean breeze and smelled that great ocean smell.  I tried out my new book, Pete the Cat, on Addyson and Delaney and it was a hit.  They are such amazingly smart girls, so sweet and well-behaved.  Caitlin came to visit and help me out and it was a good thing she did because Harley, my favorite granddog, decided to sneak downstairs and poop all over the hallway.  I, of course, did not realize this and when I went downstairs in the dark, I stepped in it.  Guess I should be thankful I was wearing shoes!  While I cleaned carpets, floor, and shoes, Cait got the big girls ready for bed.  This is very untypical Harley.  He is usually the best boy!  Anyway, the girls had one last story and went to bed and Cait headed home.  Sweet little Hannah had her bottle and then settled down in the bouncy chair to play while I ate my lemon pie (Mom's lemon pie = YUMMY!).  Except Hannah had a surprise for her Nonny, too.  She had a very stinky diaper that interrupted my pie savoring.  She looked so pleased with herself.  "Look at me, Nonny!  See what a clever girl I am!  I can poop just like big brother, Harley!"  Freshly changed she did snuggle up against me and sleep in my arms while I finished savoring my pie and watched a little tv.  I do like this grandma thing, even when the grandkids are little stinkers!

In My Next Life

I often find  myself saying "in my next life" and finishing the thought with some improvement or change I would like.  I decided maybe I should record some of these: 
In my next life...........

• I will be tall and thin (hey, I am halfway there already, but I do find myself shrinking with age.  in height, not weight)
• I will be able to sing and play a musical instrument or two (not the way I sing now but in tune and a real musical instrument not the guitar in Rock Band)
• I will be coordinated enough to play a sport (no, Wii bowling does not count)
• I will be able to cook (at least as well as my kids, how embarrassing is it when your kids cook better than you do? although perhaps that means I did something well as a parent.)
• I will be crafty (not in the sneaky sense but I will be able to make things that someone might actually want to own and display and not hide in closet)
• I will be able to sew (just hemming a garment does not count)
• I will be able water ski slalom (maybe this goes up there with the coordinated thing but it always irked me that my brother and sister could do that and I couldn't)
• I will be able to draw and/or paint (just another talent I seem to have missed out on.  where the heck was I when the talents were being passed out?)
• I want cute feet (I have had a thing about my ugly feet ever since my Aunt Wilma commented on their lack of prettiness when I was in high school.  long time to be feeling inadequate.)
• And while we are on feet, I want "good" feet that can where any kind of shoe and be comfortable ( I intend to keep the shoe fetish in my next life!)
• I am going to be married to a very rich man who can afford to hire someone to fix things or a very handy man who can fix things himself (sorry Phil)
• If I do have the rich man as opposed to the handy one, I would like to have a maid every week so I wouldn't have to clean anymore.
• I am going to live somewhere where it is cool and pleasant year round and there is no humidity (I was thinking the mountains but since I am going to be thin and gorgeous and could probably wear a bathing suit maybe the beach)

Well, I am sure there more but the cat boxes are calling.  So back to the real world.

Home Again, Home Again!

Home from another vacation, this one to Dahlonega, Georgia with my hubby.  We had a cute little cabin overlooking the Chestatee River.  Really nice.  The folks who owned the place were terrific.  We had dinner with them at a little place called the Crimson Moon where we listened to the live music of Tom and Juli.  They did perfect songs for us old fogies.  It was great fun.  Phil and I also went tubing on the river.  I can honestly say that I floated by Zac Brown's mountain cabin and they waved at me.  Of course I would have to confess that "they" were some folks who appeared to be working on the house and not actually Zac or any band members.  Such is life!  We ended our vacation in Atlanta where we actually got to babysit the world's most beautiful, gifted and talented, perfect baby.  Yes, that would be my Hannah.  The kids took us out to dinner, played some games and watched tv with us and in general let us disrupt their weekend.  Hannah has gained some more weight and has dimples in her knees and on her elbows, too cute for words.  She is also beginning to really smile at people.  You can see the smile in her eyes as well as mouth and it is fascinating to watch her personality developing.  Grumps and I sang "In the Paw Paw Patch" to her and the serious expression on her face was hilarious.  She was studying us like she was trying to unravel one of the world's great mysteries.  Probably just wondering what a paw paw was and who in the world told her nonny that she could sing.  Hannah is a lucky little girl.  She has the best mommy and daddy.  I am so touched by how wonderful Matt and Katherine are as parents.  Life is good.  I am missing baby girl but it is lovely to be home.

Grumps playing with Hannah

Little Miss Wonderful

Songs with "Friends" in the Lyrics

I just got back from a long weekend in the NC mountains with some very special women friends.  One of the games we played during the course of the weekend was trying to think of songs with different words in the lyrics like "wine" or "sunshine".  It was fun but I confess that I was terrible at it.  We should have tried to see how many songs we might have found with the word "friends".  The three gals who went with me have known each other for a long time and I consider myself very fortunate to be included in their circle.  Three of us teach.  Two are Methodist, two are Lutheran.  All of us love to eat and enjoy an good beverage.  We laughed so much this weekend.  It was just marvelous.

I found myself on Saturday afternoon laying in the hammock,  feeling a cool breeze, hearing thunder in the distance, watching the leaves in the trees blow and counting my blessings.  I have so many: family, friends, health, home, job.  The list goes on.  I am thankful for them all.  I am so truly blessed.  It was just the best feeling, swinging in that hammock.  I wish I had the writing skills to really let you experience it as I did.  

So here's to good friends, good wine, good food and GREAT times!

Hats and Hannah

Hannah came to meet her great-grandparents this past weekend and of course, I managed to be there, too.  Had a lovely time with my favorite granddaughter.   She is growing and can make the most interesting faces.  At least they are interesting to me! 

All the family was there and managed to make fun of my most recent crochet projects.  I have been making hats and none seem to turn out quite the right size.  I intended to make a winter hat for Hannah so I made the pattern for 6 to 12 months.  It was very attractive on my son.  Granted, he had to stretch it a bit to get it on but not that much!  Then there was the supposedly toddler size sunhat.  If you know anyone with a toddler with a giant size head, I have just the hat for them. Regardless, they were all cute hats and surely they will fit someone out there. And another reason to retire - I need more time to practice my crocheting!  Pictures on Ravelry soon.

Night sweet Hannah!  Nonny loves you!

Hello New Blog

I thought it would be nice to start a blog when I retired from teaching.  I know.........I have one more year before I actually retire.  So I guess this is going to be  a countdown until retirement blog!

I also thought it would be good to start a blog when I had my first grandchild.  The two events didn't coincide, thankfully.  I would have hated waiting any longer on my sweet grand-baby.  Hannah is a miracle.  I could hold her and simply watch her sleep forever.  My friend, Bettie, said she held her newborn grandson and he simply melted into her heart.  I think that is just about the best way to say it.  It's the truth.  You look at how perfect they are made - tiny nose, rosebud mouth, beautiful hands with such little fingers, and baby feet, well, we won't even go there.  Nothing is sweeter than baby feet!  A baby will just melt right into your heart!

So I guess this blog is going to be about the countdown to retirement, all the bittersweet doing things for the last time with my last Kindergarten class and all about the wonderful first year of being Hannah's Nonny.

Yes, I said Nonny.  Grandma was already taken so I had to come up with something different.  I took suggestions from my kinders.  Grandmas are called by some pretty strange names!  I like Nonny.  I just wonder if Hannah will be able to say it when she finally begins to talk.  Whatever she says, I am sure that will be what sticks.  My children, and consequently Hannah, don't live in the same town with me.  So I wonder how often I will get to see Hannah.  If I could, I would whisper my name in her ear every night and sing her to sleep and tell her stories until I was sure she knew who I was.  

Now I am going to work on my crocheting.  I am making hats right now, trying to find what  I think might be the right size for Hannah to wear when winter comes.  The nice thing about hats, besides being fast to make, is that no matter what size, it will fit someone!  And this brings up another reason why I really need to retire.  So many patterns and so little time to make them all.  

Hannah, Nonny loves you.  How about I sing Mockingbird or would you rather have a little Miranda Lambert?