12.24.2013 Christmas Eve...have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

12.24.2013

Christmas Eve.  So I worked a few hours this morning - they let us go at 11.  Did a few errands and then Scott and I went to the movie theater and saw the Desolation of Smaug ...it was REALLY good!

Christmas Eve - it's an interesting one..just me and Scott.  No boys, no girls, no grands.  Just Scott and Me.  Sam and Jenna are with Josh and Megan.  I'm glad of that.  Tim and Mary and Clark are with Mary's parents, but we'll see them Saturday at my Aunt Diane's house.  We'll go to Jessica's house tomorrow around noon - Christmas is so different than it was years ago.  I've always understood how Mom and Dad felt when the holidays were spent on their own in California, without kids waking up in the house... but now I really KNOW it.

 Merry Christmas to my Mom and Dad and my Grannie and Gramps and my Grandma and Grandpa and my Uncle Red and  Zuzu...Merry Christmas.

Christmas can be so hard.  I'm going to try to NOT become all melancholy.Thank Goodness for my Scott. We will make each happy and cuddle on the couch with the Christmas lights glowing.

12.24.2013 Merry Christmas 2013 Newsletter

12.24.2013  I took the easy way out as far as my newsletter this year.  Instead of mailing it out to everyone I know - I sent it via facebook or an email.

Bad I know.  But I ran out of time!

I did send a hard copy to a few people - My Uncle Bill and Aunt Nan, my Aunt Ruth, My Auntie Flo, Carole and Moose Cameron (Josh's in-laws), Lynn and George Davis (Tim's in-laws,) Ruth and Jerry Kelly (Sam's in-laws) and one of my earliest friends Laura Michalik.

Merry Christmas 2013 and Happy New Year 2014

I know that Christmas newsletters are hardly needed anymore.  News is shared fast with Facebook, email and cheap cell phone plans.  But there are twenty years of Christmas letters in my computer and I can't stop now! 

I’m living in Greenwood, Indiana with my wonderful traveling companion Scott Smith. He retired in January after 34 years with the Post Office but still gets up each morning to eat oatmeal with me for breakfast.   Many weekends we drive the back roads of Indiana in the quest of completing my ongoing photo project – there are 92 counties in Indiana and I want to take a picture of each county court house.  I’ve only a few left. What will I do with all those pictures?  No idea, but it gets us out of the house and we travel well together.  Without me, Scott journeyed to Maine with his son-in-law AND enjoyed a North Carolina beach vacation with his daughter, grand girls and Auntie . 

With me?  Well, we had two weeks in Great Britain!  First we were going to drive ourselves around, and then we saw a YouTube video on the MAGIC ROUNDABOUT OF SWINDON.  If you get a chance, watch the video.  You’ll see why we threw out the idea of renting a car and instead, signed up for an 8 day Trafalgar bus tour.  We were driven all over England (Stonehenge! Bath! York! Stratford upon Avon!) with a side trip to Wales and a few days in Edinburgh, Scotland. When the tour was over, we still had 4 days in London on our own.  Scott had us nipping on and off the Tube like locals as we saw the Tower of London and Big Ben, attended The Mousetrap, roamed cathedrals – we even saw Prince Charles by chance AND took the train to Paris!  Scott sampled the beers of Great Britain while I developed a fondness for bangers and mash served at Mabel’s Tavern.  This trip was simply fantastic and I enjoyed every minute of it.  

We  flew west to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for Thanksgiving week with my Josh and his wife Megan.  The week before our visit, Josh and Megan's step-dad Russell drove from Idaho to Indiana and back again...in FOUR DAYS...to pick up a truck Josh has been working on with his Dad.  A Very Tiring Adventure - FOUR days, 3600 miles, and they're still friends.  :)  Josh and Megan are doing great; he works from home for HP, programming for the state of Ohio, and Megan works as a counselor at Fernan Elementary, just a few minutes from the house.  They live in a beautiful area, just about 10 minutes from Lake Coeur D’Alene.  Beautiful yes, but too far from me, that’s for sure.  

What are Tim and Mary up to?  Both teachers at local Lafayette schools, they’re also dealing with Diapers and Bottles;   my Grandson Clark Davis Franklin was born on August 7, 2013!  I was lucky enough to see him when he was only a few hours old. Luckier still, I was his Granny Nanny Oct. 14 - Dec 20.  I'd drive up to their place on Sunday and stay until Friday afternoon.  I'm not retired - my Boss allowed me to support my clients via cell phone and laptop.  Clark is a cute little guy and I miss him already!  It's back to the office for me and Clark starts at a day care in January.  I posted a picture each day I was with Clark on my blog http://whats-next-onthe-todo-list.blogspot.com/

Sam married his fiance' Jenna Kelly this past May.  Two days later, she took off for a summer job in Normal, IL at the Shakespeare Fest and he worked in Terre Haute.  After returning to Sam in Terre Haute, she found another theater job at the Cardinal Theater in Bloomington Indiana.  After teaching a semester of freshman English at ISU, Sam packed up their gear and moved there as well.  He starts a new job soon; more on that in Christmas Newsletter 2014.

So Tim, Mary and Clark are 90 minutes north of me.  Sam and Jenna are 60 minutes south.  Josh and Megan?  29 hours northwest.  Five out of seven fairly close at hand – could be worse!   :)   My kids are simply the Best.  I've posted some  pictures on my Flicker  photo account -  http://www.flickr.com/photos/99288886@N04/sets/72157638924131573/

I was really hoping that 2013 would be a year without sorrow, but that was not to be.  My Brother Steve’s little girl died this past spring; a stupid accident, she drowned in her bathwater.  Zuzu was only 4 ½. Every time I think of her, with her sweet little face and big smile, I’m SO sad and my heart breaks for my brother who loved her so much.    

What will 2014 bring?  ONLY good things (knock on wood!) I’m thinking lots of travel with Scott and lots of time with my boys and girls. I hope to see some old friends and perhaps meet some new ones.   Love and hugs to you and yours from me and mine!  Have a wonderful Christmas 2013 and a 2014 full of adventure, love and hugs!                 

12.20.2013 Nine Weeks With Clark

12.20.2013

Today was my last day as Granny Nanny to Clark.  So many emotions today!  Yes, I'm ready to get back to my own life but am I ready to NOT see Clark every day?  That's got to be a BIG NO, i am NOT ready.   And the bigger question, is Clark ready for day care?  We'll all find that out as he starts day care in 2 weeks, after the Winter Break is over.

Today was a busy day; when he was awake he was practicing his rolling, shrieking, raspberries, etc.  When he was asleep, I was busy washing clothes, packing up stuff, loading up my car.

I wish they lived just down the road from me.

12.19.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.19.2013

Hard to believe I only have one day left of these Nine Weeks with my Grand Boy Clark.  It's been hard, exhausting, and mind numbing and I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Actually, he slept most of the day today.  I kept peeking into his room to see just what was going on in there - and each time, he was peacefully sleeping.  I'm not used to him sleeping for so long - it made me anxious!  But when he was awake, he was busy, legs moving, arms waving, turning over and over and over, lifting himself up on his arms to better see his world.  And of course, the Shrieking for the joy of Shrieking and the constant raspberry practice.  :)  He's getting pretty good at that actually!

Just chillin' in the kitchen

12.18.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.18.2013  a Stellar Day!  made even better by the fact that Tim didn't go to work until around 10:30.  He attended a training class today, and therefore had a substitute for his normal classes.  So I had 2 of my favorite boys to hang with this morning!

Shrieking along with The Who on the radio Teenage Wasteland!  

He's been practicing the highly prized skill of producing a Raspberry..
...he finally did a few Most Excellent Raspberries!
Complete with Copious Drooool!

and he was VERY proud of himself!  

12.17.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.17.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

I'm REALLY going to miss this kid.  He's such a PERSON now... ornery, cute, cheerful and crazy and WONDERFUL...I'm so glad that I've been able to do this and honestly, I'm ready to get back to MY life, but wow, I'm going to miss being a daily part of his!

Scott gave Clark some cool socks for Christmas.  You'll see them in the below pictures and video - very colorful, Clark could hardly take his eyes off his feet today!

Clark has become VERY vocal, shrieking with glee at the top of his lungs! 

More Gleeful Shrieking!

        

12.16.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.16.2013

I ONLY HAVE FOUR MORE DAYS.  :(  I will sooo miss seeing his little face every day.  :(

Today I noticed Clark a few times just sucking his THUMB of his right hand and not every digit he has. Kind of cute.  I gave him a teething rubbery thing to chew on, not because he is teething, but just to see what he did with it.  First he scrunched up his nose at it - it must have tasted nasty!  But he grabbed it with both hands and chewed on it for quite some time.  Maybe getting him used to chewing on it NOW would be a good thing, prep for the actual teething process.

so I can't decide on only one picture, so I'm going to include a few.  and why not?  it's my blog!

okay, just the thumb...

More is always better!

Grammmma, you are sooo funny!

Moi?  Cute?

    

Tim got this for a Christmas present from Sam...Clark really liked wearing it!

           

12.15.2013 Turkey in Greenwood

12.15.2013  Christmas sure gets complicated when family is spread out all over the country.  So I had my Christmas with Josh and Megan Thanksgiving week..and I had my Christmas with Tim, Mary, Clark, Sam and Jenna on Sunday, the 15th.  Turkey and pumpkin pie, a new stuffing recipe, and of course presents!

I'm thinking the best present of the day was this gift to Tim from Sam.  

It even looks good on Mary!

It was a very snowy weekend in the middle of Indiana, so I'm very glad the roads were kept clear so the kids could get to Greenwood and then home again safely.

Where are Josh and Megan! ??

Uncle Sam reading a catalog to the nephew

12.13.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.13.2013

It's Friday night and I'm home.  I keep hearing distant Clark crying!

Today?  Clark...the incredible non sleeping child!  Oh sure, today I actually put him down AWAKE for his naps and he actually fell asleep on his own...a MILESTONE.  But both times, yes only twice, he woke up after only @40 minutes of slumber.  Why?  oh heck, I don't know.  Could have been Charlotte the Cat sitting outside his bedroom door yowling; could have been the school bus that screeched past the house; could have been the fact that he hadn't filled his diaper at all, despite the gurgling I could hear coming from his tummy.

Could have been any of those, but really, i have no idea.  Whatever it was, he hardly slept today.  The upside to that was that he was in a great mood all day long, despite his being so sleepy.  A lot of the time he was content to just sit on my lap, or next to me on the floor, happy to listen to me read books. So at LEAST he wasn't awake and cranky!

He's tried a pacifier occasionally, but meh, Fingers are better!

This has been my office since October 14!  Every work space should have a bouncy baby in it!

12.12.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.12.2013
Today Clark fell asleep three times while I wandered the house softly singing silly songs, snug as a rug-a-bug in my arms, with his head resting against my neck. Having him fall asleep content on my shoulder is just the best!  I'm very grateful that I've been able to have this time with him.  I love babies and this little guy is ours to play with whenever we want!

Too many cute pictures to choose only one, so here's a few

Charlotte the Cat staring at Clark, wondering why I brought him into HER bedroom.

Big Blue Eyes!  and yep, he's trying to cram each and every finger into that mouth

I saw him sucking ONLY his thumb today....it didn't last long.
Evidently one thumb is not as great as all 8 fingers

sitting up in his rolling Baby Einstein contraption

12.11.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.11.2013  So COLD outside today - I am not wanting Winter at all, at all.

But inside, Clark was in a find mood today - he had 2 short naps (during which I got nothing done at all) and he FINALLY went down for the Big One just before Mary got home.

We read books, watched a little Peg + Cat ( a cartoon I'm going to miss after I go back to work) played on the floor and drank milk.  Oh and this morning we did a little ARTS and CRAFTS.Crayola has this soft squishy non-toxic modeling clay called Model Magic.  I rolled out a few sections and squished Clark's foot into the clay.  He didn't mind and luckily, the stuff did NOT attach to his foot!

12.10.2013 Nine Weeks With Clark

12.10.2013

Christmas is ONLY 15 days away.  Oh Dear...and that's all I will say about THAT.  I did get one thing on my list accomplished - I crocheted a Christmas stocking for Clark!

Years ago I crocheted stockings for each of the boys - Josh has a reindeer on his, Tim a Snowman, and Sam a Christmas tree.  As they each brought home "The Girl" I crocheted a stocking for her and put a similar decoration on the stocking.

Tim wanted  Clark's stocking to be green, and so it is.  :)

Clark and I made butter cookies today -
I pushed his hand into the last big chunk of dough.

12.09.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

This just in!  A Video of Clark laughing for the first time!  Oh sure, he's chuckled now and again and of course has big smiles and spurts of GLEE and hilarity, but here is a video of Clark Laughing!

12.09.2013

A good Monday!  of course, there was no time for him to forget just exactly who I am and what our routines are.  I left mid morning on Saturday because my CAR wouldn't start (for some reason, the battery was dead!  I think it might have to do with the remote start) and I returned on Sunday, mid afternoon because the weather was supposed to be nasty and I wanted to get here before it did.

He was a cutie pie today - 3 short naps - long enough for me to get some stuff done but not long enough for me to sneak a nap myself.  We spent a lot of time rolling around on the floor today. Here are the pictures!

evidently he finds me quite amusing

on the tummy!

stuff to look at

12.06.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.06.2013

Today is a cold and chilly day; we did NOT go out for a walk but we did waltz around the back porch a few minutes.  Normally I go home as soon as the kids get home from school, but today?  Nope, I'm staying over - there's a big snow/sleet/ice storm in the Indy area scurrying around right now and tomorrow morning?  sunshine and zero snow.  so i'm heading home early tomorrow.

And it works out - Tim has an Ad Liberation show tonight and I've not seen one for months.  So Mary and I will go to the show and Clark Davis will have a babysitter!  Two in fact!  Mary knows these girls from school - how great to have a pool of babysitters to pick and choose from.  This will be the first time he'll be with unrelated people.  Sadly (or luckily, it's all how one looks at it - he's very particular about his bedtime rituals) he'll probably be asleep before they show up and with any luck, he'll stay asleep until at least after I get home (Tim and Mary will go to a party afterwards.)

So today a medley of Clark pictures, taken within seconds of each other.  He was vocalizing and finding himself fairly amusing!

12.05.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.05.2013  Omigosh!  Twenty days until Christmas! How can that be?  I've got a Christmas Letter to write and send out and about; this year was quite a year, good AND bad.  Presents?  Not so much to worry about these days, but I need to make a list, check it twice and get with the program!

I've only got 11 days more until my Nine Weeks with Clark is over.  And that makes me sad!  But I feel good about my involvement with his little life these past weeks.

Today was a big day for Clark.  He finished what he started days ago - he can now roll over by himself!  oh sure, sometimes his arms get stuck and sometimes he doesn't QUITE make it all the way over but he's now a mobile little guy and we have to be careful where we put him down - he might not be there when we go back!  he's a Man on the Move!

He has a good time on his tummy - things look different from that position!  I should know, I've spent a lot of time rolling around on the floor with him the last few weeks.

12.04.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.04.2013

It was such a fun day - Clark was in a fine mood and we're back in the swing of things after a few days of getting used to each other again.  He took 2 short naps this morning (each only 20 minutes long!) but stayed upbeat and cheerful while he was awake!

He's easier to put down for naps now - he was adamant that I was NOT doing it right for so long, but today?  Once he fell asleep bundled up and cuddled on my shoulder and twice he fell asleep in my arms, watching me as I paced around the house, singing silly songs to him, his head in the crook of my left arm and his legs slung over my right arm.  Nice, eh?

And then Tim came home at lunchtime and that made Clark very happy...

A few minutes after Tim left, Clark fell asleep and slept until 3:30...I was bottle ready!  and when I heard him muttering to himself, I snatched him up, plopped him in the bouncer and when he opened his mouth to let me know how DISPLEASED he was to be in that location, I plopped a nicely warmed bottle into his mouth.!

He was finishing that off just as his Mom got home.  Perfect timing!

He practiced all day long the art of the Roll Over but he's not quite doing it yet on his own.  Since babies are not supposed to be sleeping on their tummies anymore, he's not quite sure what to do when he gets there.  He FINALLY allows himself to put his head down, but usually it's STRAIGHT down, face into the blanket.  sigh.

OH OH, what do i do NOW?

Days like this make me realize anew how lucky I am to be able to stay with Clark for these weeks.  Of course, days like this also make me realize how creaky my back and knees are!

He's either trying to get OUT of that chair OR
he's practicing a bad 80's dance move

12.03.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.03.2013

Today was a Good day albeit a tiring one.  Clark took three naps, but they each were ONLY about 30 minutes long.

We walked over to Walgreens and perused the aisles; he stayed awake the whole time.

We walked home admiring the sky and the naked trees; he stayed awake the whole time.

We played on the floor and read books until I was groggy; he stayed awake the whole time.

We kicked the ball around the back yard until his Mother got home; he stayed awake the whole time.

The three of us walked down to investigate a day care at the Methodist church; he stayed awake the whole time.

Not quite sure if it's a growth spurt OR mebbe it's just the fact that it's another No Go as of Yet day.  But here it is, 5:16 pm and the kid is still awake!

But you know, he's such a cutie pie and has such sweet smiles; oh sure, the SHRIEKING is fierce, but he does make up with it with his smiles.

on the way to Walgreen's...I'm not sure what is causing him such consternation!

Clark sat up for a while in one of those wheeled seats with a tray.
The boys had one when they were little - we called it a Moon Coupe

12.02.2013 Nine Weeks with Clark

12.02.2013  I can't believe it's already December 2.  It means only 3 weeks left to hang out with Clark on a daily basis!

We flew back from Idaho on Saturday - I think I'm still recovering from the long travel day and the time change adjustment because today I'm really tired.  Luckily the work emails were few and I was able to focus pretty much only on Clark today.

Mondays are hard for both of us (especially after a 10 day break for me and a long Thanksgiving weekend for him with his Mom and Dad!)  I'm pretty sure he recognized me - which made me happy.  He missed his OTHER routine and he had intermittent grouchy grousing but he finally took a nice long 2 hour nap ... which let me nap on the couch for a bit.

It's amazing how much a baby progresses in 10 days.  I'm pretty sure he's longer and he is chubbier overall.  He's also vocalizing more and I got a brief chuckle out of him now and again.  He holds himself better and just is so much more of a PERSON.

Mom is reading Romeo and Juliet to Clark!

Back together again at the end of the day

12.02, 2013 Thanks for a great Thanksgiving Week!

12.02.2013  My traveling companion Scott and I flew west to spend a week in Coeur d'Alene Idaho with my favorite 1st son Josh and his wife Megan.  We had a great week of family, games and of course, turkey, pumpkin pie, and one night excellent salmon at a floating restaurant.

I miss seeing my son Josh whenever I want - they've been out in Idaho about 2 years and I really don't like it.  :)  But Megan is from the area, her family is close by, and they are making Coeur d'Alene their home.

At least they moved somewhere with great scenery and vacation opportunities.  The current thought is to go back this next summer when the lake is NOT 40 degrees.

11.21.2013 Nine Weeks With Clark

11.21.2013

A good, but tiring day today!  Clark had a case of the "can't go blues" so basically until those blues were over around 2:30, he could only snatch little 30 minute ClarkNaps.  We were both relieved when the issue was resolved; 15 minutes later he was asleep, just about the time his Mom came home.

Clark and I watched this video today - he was rapt!  He loved the movement and the music and all the faces!  Do we have another musician in the making?

http://www.amazingoasis.org/2013/11/best-coin-ever-spent.html

I'm heading to Idaho to see Josh and Megan for Thanksgiving week, so Clark will just have to handle things without me for the next 10 days.  His Auntie Hannah is going to hang out with him next Monday - Wednesday and then he will be seeing all sorts of family on the long Thanksgiving weekend. I hope I will get a big smile when I see him next in the early hours of December 2 instead of a puzzled look and a "who is THIS?"

Is he practicing his maestro directing moves?  OR
is he trying to coax that spit blanket onto my left shoulder,
which ALWAYS happens before he magically ascends to that aforementioned shoulder?

here is he trying to get that durn ceiling light to respond to all his commentary!