Imagination

Had a nice dinner with Gillian in her fort aka my walk in closet. Love her imagination...

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday Auntie Jody!

Gillian and I made a pink purse cake for Auntie Jody's Birthday. Didn't come out exactly how I wanted but not bad for a first try.

Ice Skating

I asked Uncle Bob a favor....to take Gillian ice skating. Craig doesn't skate and I tried skating in college and it didn't go well. Luckily Uncle Bob said he would love to! We started out without a walker to help Gillian but she decided she wanted one. But by the end she just needed Uncle Bob.

Baby Shower

I have been working with Amber (Erica's sister) on Erica's shower since November (it was also planned by my Mom, Erica's sister Laura, Erica's Mom and Step Mom). We have been talking about this shower for as long as they have been trying to get pregnant! Both sides of the family are very excited for this baby...it has been long awaited. Hopefully this April we will meet Baby Brooks....and not any sooner.

Exercise

I was sitting in the recliner watching Gillian run laps (our house is set up as a circle - living room, hallway, kitchen, dining room and back into the living room) and I couldn't figure out what she was doing. What had I fed her that had her so full of energy that she needed to run laps?

Finally she collapsed on me and I asked her,"What are you doing?"

She responded,"Running laps."

I'm thinking obviously but it intrigued me,"Why?"

Gillian responds flexing her arm muscles,"So I get big and strong!"

I burst into laughter which sent her into laughter.

I asked,"Where did you learn about exercise and getting big and strong?"

Gillian immediately responds,"TV"

24 hours later....

I thought the concept of kindergarten would get better with time but it has given me more time to worry. Not that Auntie Jody has helped reduce my stress in any way as I have been trying to talk her stress level down. But I know it's right for Gillian and she is dying to go so she will go and we will all smile even if we don't necessarily want to.

I broke the news to her daycare lady when I picked Gillian up. She is excited for Gillian and sad that she will be leaving the daycare. When Gillian started at daycare she did not talk and she was very unsteady on her feet. She has grown so much there and we all know it's time for her to move on.

I took the time chatting with Ms. Mary to ask about some of the things from "the list" that I was unsure if Gillian could do. It was nice to find out that we are down to tying shoes as the major thing that she can not do. We will have to start practicing which is hard since it's snow season and there aren't laces on her boots. We will have to think of some game to get Gillian interested in it. We have 8 months to practice so I'm sure we will get it done.

Ready or not....

Yesterday I got the mail like I do everyday. There was an envelope that stood out....it was from the school Gillian will be attending in the fall. I opened the envelope immediately. Kindergarten registration....I knew this day was coming. I know it's something we can't avoid but she is growing so fast.

Gillian asked,"What are you reading Mom?"

I responded,"It's from your school. Paperwork we have to fill out before we go to meet some people there. There is a list of stuff for us to work on."

Gillian,"Yeah my school!"

There is about 20 pages of information....it includes everything from my pregnancy to what she will be learning between September and December of this year. I had no idea that they send this information, I had planned on calling the school this week to find out when registration takes place.

I can honestly say that after reading the paperwork that I'm reassured that Gillian is on the right track and is in no way behind. She actually can do almost everything on the list.

For the rest of the evening, Gillian would ask,"Is flossing on my list? Is brushing my teeth on my list? What is on the list?"

I'm so happy that she is looking forward to school and looking forward to learning.

Life

I enjoyed this and wanted to share.





Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio



"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"



1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. So stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now.. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".

26. Always choose life.

27. Forgive everyone everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business..

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

32. Believe in miracles.

33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

35.. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

36. Your children get only one childhood.

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere..

39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

41. The best is yet to come.

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

43. Yield.

44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

45. Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.

NICU Promises

When Gillian was in the hospital Craig and I did a lot of talking (and sleeping).

We talked to each other of hopes and dreams we had for our family that was just starting out. We talked to Gillian a lot. We never did the baby talk thing....we even explained procedures and asked her to be strong. We needed her to get through everything and all we could do is talk to her. So with talking came promises.

I'm sure the nurses in the NICU didn't imagine that the promises we made we would actually keep but we have been doing quite well. We promised her that we would help her with any issues she had once out of the hospital - delays, illness...whatever she needed. We promised she would go to amusement parks, have a play set in her backyard, get a car at 16 (used of course), have assistance with college. That we would show her as much of the world as we could and assist her with whatever goals she sets for herself.

She has a promise coming to her that she won't find out about until we are in route to location but I've been sharing with family and friends here and there. We had been planning to take Gillian to Disney May 1st - May 5th (I know....YEAH). An option presented itself and we are going from February 14th - February 18th. What better way to spend Valentines day than in the magical place on earth. I was excited to go to Disney this year anyway but now for Valentines day just makes it so wonderful. Gillian is at the perfect age and I can't wait to tell her but I want to wait until we are on the way there (because I can't handle being asked everyday when we are leaving). The smile on her face and the excitement I know she will have will be just amazing. I love being a parent.

Happy New Year!

All the cousins with their cousins on the way (and Auntie Erica)!