It All Goes By So Fast

Remember when I was all hysterical about becoming a grandmother?  That was over three years ago.  I know this, because my little Sophie nugget turned three in August:

And then, my oldest daughter also had a baby. In fact, she had a little boy almost two and a half years ago.  His name is Jace:  

So I am a grandmother (Nonnie, please) to two little boogers.  I am so blessed that we are currently all living within 10 miles of each other.

Happy Holidays....  (yep, I'm one of THOSE)

Seven months old!

This is my little Sophia Nicole. Otherwise known as Sophie, Soph, Doph Doph, or Booboos.

She is seven months old already! I don't know where that seven months went, but I'm glad it did.
She is so much fun now...she sits and babbles and rolls and is almost crawling. We have to get the house baby-proofed, toot-sweet!  I love this little monkey-butt.

So, guess what?  Now my oldest daughter and her husband (both still in the army) are expecting at the end of June!  And...(drumroll)...it's a BOY!  That's new...I have three daughters and one granddaughter, and this is the first boy. Even for my mom...she has four granddaughters and one great-granddaughter, still going to be the first boy.  Ok, she has one son, but are we counting my brother? I'm not.  Just kidding, I love my brother. So around the end of June, we will have Jace ______ . Middle name not decided yet. Love the name Jace though. I just wish they didn't live in Georgia. I really want to go see him when he's born, and I don't know if I'll be able to.  (Crossing fingers)

Sun Devil Baby!

"I'm a Sun Devil, man! I went to Arizona State!" - Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire

Sophie at 4 months.  :)

Call Me Nonni

Well, look what happens when you don't post for 7 months...you forget how to sign in, and the whole design/posting format is totally different. Well, here goes...

Sophia Nicole was born on August 24, weighing in at 6 lbs, 6 oz, and 19 inches long.

 First few moments with Mommy

 Getting a bottle from Aunt Kylie. Kylie doesn't like to be called "Aunt" though...she's just Kylie.

Sophie at one month

 Two months old

 Our little pumpkin on Halloween

 And on Nov. 24, three months old already!

So big!!

Everyone is doing great here. Sophie is beautiful and happy and healthy and has brought such joy to our house. She has also definitely changed Shannon's life...for the better. Whereas before she did not care about school or grades or ... much of anything, today she is back in high school, motivated to graduate, and making plans for the future. This little baby has been a blessing in so many ways. Thank you to all who have asked about her, and I'm sorry it took me so long to get pictures up. Bad Nonni.  

Don't Call Me Grandma!

In May, I will be 45 years old. And in September, I will become a (gulp) grandmother. I seem entirely too young for this, no?

And it's not even my almost 20 year-old army medic that is making me a grandmother.

Oh no...it's my 17 year-old high school junior.

Yep.

I am a big believer in information. She and her boyfriend had been together quite a long time, in teenage time. At some point, you know they're having sex, and all you can do is make sure that they have as much information as possible. You know, like beating your daughter over the head with a box of condoms.

Even so, teenagers don't always think, and don't always make the best decisions.

We talked extensively about her options.

For her, abortion was out of the question. I respect that choice.

I talked to her at length about adoption.
She said she didn't think she could do it.

So, it appears that in early September, we will be having a baby.
She is 14 weeks along today.

My baby is having a baby.

Stunned, is what I am.

So, here's my main, pressing problem. I don't want to be called grandma.
It sounds old.
I have a nine year-old, for Pete's sake.
Mimi is taken...that's what my kids call my mom.
Mimi was a variation of Grammy, so that's out too.
Not liking Nana.
My daughter suggested "Gram Cracker". She's such a comedian.

So what do you have your daughter's child call you when you are adamently opposed to Grandma?

Veteran's Day

On my first Veteran's Day as a military mom, I was very lucky. My daughter was home.

She flew home late Thursday from Georgia to Colorado to spend the long weekend with us.

On Friday morning, we had a date with Kylie's third grade class. Danni had agreed to visit and talk to the kids.

When we arrived, there was a group of Cub Scouts out front, learning how to do a flag-raising ceremony.

We were just standing there, and one of Cub Scout leaders came up to Danni and shook her hand, and said, "Are you here to help with the flag-raising ceremony?"

Danni said, "Well, umm...I'm just..."

And the man literally pulled her by the hand and said, "Great! Come on!" And he dragged her away.

Cue me, laughing hysterically. I followed them, because I had my camera.

When I caught up with them, they were over by the side of the school. The guy in the brown jacket who had so thoughtfully dragged her over there, was talking to the boys. One of the boys had noticed that the flag on Danni's uniform was backwards, whereas the flags on the Cub Scout uniforms were not. The leader was explaining that the flag was backwards because it represented the soldier running into battle, with the flag flying behind her.


The looks on the faces of these little boys were priceless. A real live soldier was talking to them!

After she answered a few of their questions, they marched over to the flagpole and had their ceremony.

They had Danni raise the flag. That was pretty darn cool, with everyone looking on and the little boys doing their Cub Scout salute.

When school started, we went into Kylie's class.

We spent about 20 minutes with them. The teacher explained a bit about what Veteran's Day was and then let Kylie introduce her sister. Danni talked a bit about her job as a medic and what she is learning, and then she answered the kids' questions.

She did really well. I would have thought she had been a public speaker all her life. When I mentioned that later, she said that it's a lot easier to talk to kids. I would agree with that.

Can you spot the proud, beaming sister next to the soldier?

Happy Veteran's day to all who have served, and are currently serving. We are grateful for you.

Twenty Years Ago Today

Today is our 20th wedding anniversary. My husband and me. 20 years. 20 years, three kids, ups, downs, good times, bad times.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Everyone congratulates you. It's making me feel old.

On the bright side, Steve ordered up a beautiful snowstorm for me today. At least, that's what he said, that he ordered it for me for our anniversary. I love it. Best. Present. Ever.