Mom to Grandma..

When I gave birth to my children, I dreamed lots of dreams for them, including who they would become and who they would someday marry. I must say that I am proud of them and who they have become and their happiness in matrimony. Motherhood came naturally to me, I guess it was something I had always wanted. Still love being a mom, even though my job requirements have changed a little..I still worry about them, even though they are both very capable adults.

I love it when they are at the house, almost like old times. I get to cook for them and listen to them telling me about their day, (or in this case, their week,etc..) and tidbits about what is going on with them. Motherhood doesn't ever shut itself off, it just shifts some of the responsibility to the grown-up child and their spouse. Being a mom, after the kids moved out, did not come naturally, I still struggle not to "bug" them , I try to let them call me or come over.. This is hard at times, cause as a Mom, there is this unique bond that will always be and when the child/adult is out of sight, we feel it with our heart. It is totally unexplainable. I personally don't feel that I get to see either of them near enough.. I miss the solving of day to day problems and celebrating each life's victories, big or small. I miss them period. How does one not step over any boundaries , but find a balance so more time is shared?

I have an old autograph album that has a signature from my Daddy in it. He wrote, " Even at 40, you will still be my little girl." I am 43 now, I'm still his little girl! For a while in early adulthood, I didn't get that, I do now and I am proud of the fact! I embrace it.

Now, I am a Grandmother, this is something I am looking forward to very much.. But I wonder, will it come as natural? I grew up with 3 very different grandmothers.. I hope that I can take the best of each and be the best grandmother that a little baby could ever ask for!

I saw a lady sitting in a car today with a little girl in her car seat. I thought to myself, that little girl sure is enjoying her talk (babbling, little young for words..) with her grandma. Then , I stopped and thought, How do I fit the description of a grandmother? This lady was gray, fine wrinkles all over her face, a gentle voice, and a sweet grandmotherly laugh. The little girl , I could tell, absolutely adored her. Will Adaleigh feel that way towards me, have I got what it takes? I do know that I adore Adaleigh and miss her everyday. Is this a sign that motherhood really is extended through our children to thier children, thus making us "grandparents?

I have had the flu for about a week now, so I haven't been able to see my granddaughter,

and I realize I miss her just as I do my children. Children grow so quickly, how much has she changed? Will she know me? People let me know when they have seen her, and how cute she is , that they may have held her..etc, I can just imagine her growing another foot before I see her.. Ken teases me that she'll graduate high school next week! I can't wait til I get to babysit more, like the woman in the car.. I can envision, singing the songs her daddy grew up with, playing for hours, reading books to each other, sleep overs, and lots of giggles and hugs reserved just for grandmothers.

I might not even mind the gray..

well , okay let's not go that far..my grandmothers' were not gray when I was little either..

Randomly Me...Alphabetically

Adaleigh, Alex, animals , antique dishes, art, babies ,Bahamas, baking,bamboo, bananas, banana pudding(cooked), banana splits, beaches, bell peppers, Ben, big boats, books,Boston Terriers, Brittany, buttercups, Carribean, caramel apple cider,chinese food, chocolate cake, Christmas, creativity, cruises, candles, CSI, dancing, daisies, decorating, Delaney,dolls, dogs, elegance,egg plant,egg rolls, entertaining, family, fashion, ferns, fiction, Florida, floating, flowers, foccacia bread, freedom, friends, fun, gadgets, games, Georgia, grandparenting, grave yards (old ones), guests, happy, home, honeysuckle, horses, Humane Society, Isabella, ice cream, jade, Janet Evanovich novels, jazz, jewelry, Jesus, Johnny Carson, July, key chains (from places I've been), kites, lace, Lillie, lima beans, lollipops, love, Lucy shows, mazes, mermaids, Mistie, monkeys, mountains, mutts, mysteries, natural, nuzzling, oatmeal, ocean, okra, olive oil, packages, Pacific Ocean, packing, packages, palm trees, painting, parties, pasta, pastels, people, pink, puppies, Quaker Oats, queens (in history),rabbits, races,raffles, reading, Republication, respect, rice, ruffles, sailing, satin, sea, seashells, sentimental, ships, snow, Spring, stars, Summer, sunshine, talking, tea, traveling, Turtle candy, uniqueness, undies, vacations, Valentines, voyage, wagging tails, waterparks, watermelon, whirlpools, who-dun-it's, yahoo, yapping, year books, you, and zoos.....

Happy New year!

The season has officially begun!

I got to go to Canton to celebrate Chritmas with the folks and Brian, Maca, and the girls, recently. Brian and his crew will be spending it in Chili with Maca's family this year.. I had fun playing with Lillie and Isabella! They grow to fast..

They are pretending that they are mice, lately. Hence the "mouse hole" in front of the door...

Our Christmas time with Mistie and Ben

This year, Mistie and Ben will be spending time with each other for Christmas. Ben's new job required him to work on Christmas Eve this year. So Mistie spent about a week with us and Ben came up for the weekend. While we'll miss them on Christmas day, I have really enjoyed the one on one time with Mistie! That was a great present in itself!

Dorminey Christmas Dinner

Each year, we go to my Aunt Denah's for a big family dinner. Always lots of fun seeing our loved ones and catching up. Sometimes we even get to see a relative that hasn't got to attend in a couple of years!

I enjoyed Mistie and Ben getting to be there before they had to get back to Fla. Ben that night and Mistie the next morning.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, I cooked and cleaned all day. That night , Alex and Brittany came over and played a few games with us after eating supper. They left too early, but was nice either way.

I know one of these is mine..Right?

Christmas Day!

This year Christmas was good, but different in our house. It was our first without a full house to celebrate with. I was excited to have the new baby around, along with my son, Alex and his wife, Brittany, who were missing from our family time last year. But, sad to be away from my daughter, Mistie and her hubby, Ben on this very special day. We talked several times during the day on the phone, good, but not the same.. Other extended family members were nowhere to be seen either.Each having other obligations this year.. Though it was hard, I think I coped okay, even with downsizing my traditional holiday meals and not waking up to my children in the house.

The best part of Christmas for me was getting to babysit Adaleigh for the very first time! I so enjoyed the one on one time with her while her parents ran home for a little while and Grumpa took a nap.. She is so pretty and precious. Thank you to her wonderful parents for the best gift ever!!

Christmas night at Mrs. Conner's

That night we ate dinner with Mama Conner and the rest of the gang.. Good family time, great dumplings(my favorite dish that she cooks), and total choas at present time, all in all a good time. Everyone was in love with Adaleigh! Of course...