Flying

At 7:03ish tonight I should be on a Delta flight to Michigan. Ann and TJ are flying tomorrow to see her family up north Michigan. I hope to be too busy to blog, but who knows, maybe I will get inspired. My laptop will be returning with me to NC because Jim needs a specific laptop to use in the private high school that he will be starting Sept. 7th. How exciting for Jim to go to a new school. I did tell him [and I will repeat it] that he should have more fun than a barrel of monkeys, in high school. We/he only get 4 years of high school, make the best of it. This is NOT a dress rehearsal, live, love, have FUN! ....We should all have more fun than we can stand, we don't get a second chance to do it again.

I'm back.

Esther, my 101 year old friend died 2 weeks ago. She was sad to see me leave Michigan, because we had become such good friends over the past few years that I visited her almost weekly. And I was not happy about leaving her. So.......... I decided to write to her almost every day, and when I had four pages of STUFF, I would post the letter. I'm sure at one time she received 2 letters at once, because the postal person failed to pick up a letter on Saturday and I had another by Monday. That explains why I haven't blogged in a while. All my thoughts went into the love I sent by snail mail to my wonderful friend. We did talk once by phone, and she said " well Virginia, I never knew you were such a competent amusing letter writer". [I never had a reason to stick pen to paper before.] Esther used to be quite the letter writer herself, until last year. She even wrote to prisoners! I'll miss you Mary Esther Sweeney 3-9-09 to 8-10-10

Who says.............

Who says that babies DON'T come with instructions.............

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA............................ I'm hungry!
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.............................I'm wet!
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..............................I'm poopy!
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..............................I'm tired!
WWWWWWWAAAAAA...........................I'm full of gas! The worst.

Ann found that when she switched to reduced LACTOSE formula, all the unexplained crying went away. Today Ann tried spoon feeding TJ rice cereal with great success. He's laughing and has more control over his hands. SOOOOOOOO SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!

My sister

My younger sister [Tina] just had her first grandchild 2 months before TJ was born. She is also "Granny Nanny" to her granddaughter. We shared 'child rearing' and now we share ' grandchild care'. Tina [Oma] quite a rewarding job to 'day care' Nina. Nina was due 4 weeks before TJ but, was born early. While Tina has a husband to minister to also, I am divorced, in a new state - NC, and live right next door to my son - father of TJ. My every moment is devoted to TJ, my Michigan family, Lily my dog, garage sales and watering plants. I wish Tina were physically closer, but email, texting, and cell phone pictures keep us connected. Tina is the woman I would most like to be like. She is 5 years younger and 5 years more liberated than I am/was. Tina doesn't have a mean bone in her body and wisdom that makes life easier to handle. She is my Dr. Laura, Dr Phil, Dr. Schweitzer and Dr. Spock all in a female body. Nature, environment and family are important to her. I hope she is as happy taking care of her 'Nina" as I am taking care of 'TJ'. I love you, Tina!

classicsforkids.com

TJ fell asleep sitting in an upright position on the couch this morning. He had had a bottle @ 5:30 am and was awake when I arrived @ 7:00 am. He played and pooped till 7:45; diaper changed, I sat him on the couch [supported by pillows] with me in front of him on the floor. I started playing classical music for his AM nap last wee; so I turned on the computer to listen to music with him and he fell asleep SITTING UP. I laid him on his side and continued the music. Classical is not the only choice of music; I sing to TJ, listen to kids songs [Addams Family Theme is a good one] and even play some rock & Johnny Cash [Walk the line, Ring of fire and my favorite "Ghost Riders in the sky"] When my own mother was singing, I knew that she was in a good mood. Music separates us from other animals [other animals dance]. Music and singing are good for the soul, used for therapy, helps us remember things and elevates us from other mammals. SO Sing -be happy!

Don't know.

When I sit down to write my blog, sometimes I don't know what I'm going to write about.........like today. I was going to force myself to write Tuesday (I didn't feel like blogging), but the computer was dizzy. I didn't write yesterday, because Ann had the day off.......which left no time to sit at her computer [I don't have one.....I left it in Michigan with my very smart, handsome, kind, wonderful (I miss him) grandson, Jim. I love my new job of taking care of 2 month old TJ, but I wish Jim was here to kiss and hug and tell him how proud of him I am. Texting helps ease the ache [talking on the phone to Jim makes me cry]. I am proud of both my children. They are sunshine to me. It feels like I will live forever, because my genes/DNA are in my children and grandchildren and hopefully great grandchildren. I have no idea what it feels like to be childless. So I can't say that offspring wouldn't matter. And asking a childless adult the question, would be like eating a great dinner and telling someone that they would ABSOLUTELY love it. We're all different and it would be a boring world to be if we weren't. I think immortally is having heirs.

Over Tired.

Why won't babies just fall asleep like a kitten does when it's tired???? Watch a kitten play, play, play and then just like you turned off a switch.....it conks out - like a light. Babies cry for EVERYTHING wet, hungry, gas, mad at having to stop eating to burp, etc. All those are EASY to fix. But the worst crying is an overtired cry. There is no simple answer to solving the problem and often comforting the baby seems to make a bad situation worse. They are determined to NOT fall asleep even though that is precisely what they need. TJ was crying and crying and Tim was frustrated that everything he thought the baby wanted, didn't stop the crying. I'm pretty sure he thought, if the kid is tired - soothing him will make him fall asleep. Nope. I noticed that there was a slight whine in the crying ans figured out what was wrong........... Over Tired. So with a pacifier, blanket, soothing music, TJ was put in his favorite swing and soon fell asleep. I know this is not rocket science, but these new parents are Very used to a baby that cries ONLY when he need the above items. A little experience helped to make a frustrating situation - easier. Learn something new EVERYDAY.