A trade off –
You went over to Marlie’s on Saturday to play while Daddy and I watched the sad Michigan – Ohio State game….
Getting ready…
At Marlie’s…
Then Marlie came to our house on Sunday while Marlie’s mom ran a bunch of errands.
What a treat for all of us!!
Getting Ready!!
At School…
And book reading with Uncle Jim!
What could be better!!
When you and I got home from daycare, we just could NOT go inside. It was so warm out, and the sky was breathtakingly beautiful… a richer cobalt blue than I have ever seen! And part of the sky was still cloudy from the rains we had all day, so our neighbor tells us there were many sightings of two BIG rainbows in the sky. We decided to play outside, and it didn’t take you long before you found the pile of leaves and the puddles!!! You found them and the giggles started!
After a little while of playing in the puddles, Aunt Judi and Uncle Jim arrived for our playdate!! You invited them into your world immediately… collecting rocks, playing with the sticks, and then JUMPING and RUNNING through the puddles. Auntie Judi JUMPED RIGHT IN!!!! Isn’t she the BEST?!?!?!? We all giggled and giggled and giggled. It is a moment I will treasure forEVER.
Did you notice Auntie Judi jumped right in?
After dinner was well-earned bath time…
and then some books!
And of course, TICKLE TIME!!
Thanks for being such WONDERFUL Friends and Family to us, Judi and Jim. We love you dearly!!
today is a very sad day and a very happy day.
Your great grandma Elloise passed away last night in her sleep.
This is a picture of the three of us last labor day (September, 2005).
Your Uncle Mark wrote this about her:
Elloise Segebarth (one of my three special Godparents) passed away this morning after 92 years of amazing life in which she touched so many kids. She was a very special lady who taught elementary school for almost 50 years – including starting me off from Kindergarten through 2nd grade!! She lived across the street from us in Lowden, IA and had me reading some before I was even in Kindergarten. I remember one time when (at school) I asked if I could make a swamp in a sink for a plastic alligator I had. I don’t think I must have been very clear because after clogging up the sink with a first class bog made of lots of dirt, grass and sticks, I got a first class reprimand! She was an amazing lady who had a profound impact on my life. It may be awhile in our way of counting, but some day we’ll be celebrating a new and better life together!!
Though you share no blood, you inhereted SO many of her best qualities! Her spirit, her energy, her sweetness, her awareness of others. Grandma Elloise helpd my Mama raise me from when I was born until I was 7! She taught grades K-4 in a two-room country schoolhouse with your Grandpa (Grandpa taught grades 5-8 and was the principal). She taught me to read, she showed me that I was loved, she made me feel safe, she taught me how to laugh, she inspired my creativity, she taught me how to get along with others, and one of the things she did BEST – she role-modeled what it meant to be a strong, spirited woman in a world that often wanted to silence women. These things, and so much more, formed me… and helped me become the person God is making me into today. And likewise, I hope I am supporting the development of these characteristics in you – You and I inherited much from Elloise Ida Williamina Segebarth. We are truly blessed.
today you helped me vote (you pushed one of the buttons and helped me pull the lever).
It’s so important, Peanut. I know someimes it’s easy to feel like “what’s the point?” I’m only one person… one voice. But if we don’t get involved to make the world a better place in every way we can, it’s not likely we will see the change we care about.
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Can you believe it? The democrats took back Congress!! And we have our first woman speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi! And the secretary of defense, Rumsfeld, stepped down! There is reason to hope, Baby Girl!
Friday we started our day playing in our front yard –
And then took a quick little family trip to the Strong Museum of Play
today you climbed up on a chair (by yourself) and turned the thermostadt up to 87degrees.
then you “helped” me fold clothes
by dressing yourself with underwear as a shirt…
and my socks as leggings.
then you put on Daddy’s socks
and then your socks on your hands like mittens.
This week you also had your first (miniature) candy bar. You decided you like chocolate, and “chocolate” soon became your new word.
The words you are using most often these days include: apple, nana (for banana), please, thank you, hi!, bye-bye, elbow, knee, nose, cars, beep-beep, baby, hat, b (for your purple blanket), more, juice, up, down and the new favoite – candy.
Walking to daycare is SO much fun – We stop and listen to the birds doing their differnt Good Morning songs. We can often find them in the sky too. (Sometimes we have to be patient for the cars to go by.) There are LOTS of squirrels scurrying around, chasing one another and finding food. We also still pick up sticks, rocks and pretty leaves and flowers. You say HI to everyone we pass – including homeless people digging through dumpsters. Yesterday, you cheerfully greeted one man looking for cans in a dumpster with a smile and a HI! – I think he was shocked and happy when we walkd passed and you looked back to blow him a kiss.
I learn so much from and with you Peanut. I love you.
The next picture is one of you saying “Thank You!” with both words and sign language – you are too precious.
but I was so glad I could be there with you.
Today you got your cast off. Everyone we talked to said, “it shouldn’t hurt.” I wonder if these people ever had a cast removed. The physicians assistant used a loud saw to cut through the cast in 3 places. I think it was hot, and the saw went through the material and burned a your leg a little. It was scary for you and for me. You held my face in your hands as you cried, petting my cheeks and looking into my eyes. I told him that he was hurting you, and he seemed to back off a little. It took much longer than any of us wanted it to, but then he was done.
We were called in for x-rays then. Your leg was still very sensitive from the removal, so that was a tough process too. Then the woman forgot to put your apron on you – I heard her say “taking picture” so I laid on top of you as fast as I could and said, “She doesn’t have an apron!” The woman’s response was, “Nice cover Mom.” Sigh. That’s not okay, Peanut. I know people make mistakes, and we need to be patient, but it’s really hard when it’s that important! And it’s YOU!
Sigh. So then we went back to the PA – He showed us the x-ray – told us that you would likley not be able to put weight on your right leg for a day or two – that you would need to be home with a lot of extra attention. You showed him. You were walking around the room about 3 minutes after he was done talking. He was amazed… said this never happens.
I took you to daycare and we played together for an hour or so. You did great using your leg. Ran to me and gave me a HUGE hug; climbed on the jungle gym and went down the slide; and played in the leaves. You were giggling and doing fine. You do not want anyone to touch that leg yet – when I do, even very gently, you cry. It hurts. But that, too, will be but a memory in no time.
And I am SOOOOO GRATEFUL that I trust Miss Becky and Miss Bonnie so much. You are in such great hands with them – They love you and take great care of you.
2 fully functional (non-purple) legs again!
God is good, Peanut. God is good.
I love you Sweet Pea.
Okay – a quick recap of our last few days:
Last Thursday was the open house at your daycare. You and your best friend Marlie Moo ate lasagne together.
Auntie Amy sent us some FABULOUSLY fun clothes that used to be your cousin’s. You are so cute in your new Dora coat.
Both Grandma’s have been treating you to special presents lately.
You can not get enough reading time lately! And this is our FAVORITE new coat from Elisa. Thanks Elisa!
We hung out this morning with Marlie and her Mom – Great time as usual!
And in the afternoon we went to the Rocheser Museum & Science Center with Mark, Leslie, Molly, Riley and Sade!! What a ball! Then we all came back to our house for pizza and wings and a little Veggie Tales. 🙂
And tonight marks the last night with your cast! You did such a GREAT job with it. I’m actually quite nervous of the mischief you will get into without your cast. 😉
I love you Baby Girl Tatemann!