Family

I am so blessed to have a great little brother and now a sister(in law). This past Saturday Isaac went out of town for the night. So I took the kids and we met Eric and Rachel at Olive Garden for dinner out. Janna was so excited the whole way there she kept asking where they were? When she finally saw them she got shy and clung to me, it took a half hour before she was talking and giggling with them. Janna was a good girl at the restaurant. Simon slept well as usual.
Eric and Rachel came back to the house (Janna's house as she calls it) and helped me out with bed time. Eric and Rachel followed us back and Janna kept asking where they were. I kept answering every five minutes they are following us. She would repeat it, wait a few minutes, and ask for them again. Eric read a book with Janna and then gave her a bath. She asked him to, she didn't want Mommy. My brother did a great job. She was showing off for him. She was laughing her big laugh and having a great time. It was too cute. I wish I had thought to record it. Eric came out of the bathroom very wet but happy that Janna had warmed up to him. Rachel read Janna her books and tucked her in. She kept asking and still does occasionally. " Where Rachel go?" She loves her Aunt Rachel.
I was so grateful to have their help and the company while Isaac was gone.

Big Girl

We have telling Janna she is a big girl and her reply is " no I am not a big girl, big sister". She is identifying herself by Simon. It is so cute.

She loves her baby brother and very good with him.

Pig

The other weekend I was eating pancakes that my mom made and Janna was wanting me to go play with her, I told her wait just one minute Mommy is a piggy and eating one more pancake. She looked at me very seriously and said "mommy not a piggy" and ran to the living room and got her toy pig that went with her farm toy, she ran back to the kitchen and said "this is a piggy mommy".

PawPaw

PawPaw went to be with the lord on September 18th, 2008. He was in the hospital for over 20 days. I know now after time to think and reflect that he is in a better place. I know that Pawpaw was ready to go he told mawmaw the morning he pass that he was ready to go "home". He is no longer suffering, sick, or tired. He can see and hear clear as a bell. My only wish is that he had gotten to meet Simon. His great grandson that was named after him. I know that he will meet him someday in the way off future though. The visitation was on Sunday and the furneral on Monday. It was very tough for me to see a close loved one in a coffin. Isaac was very supportive and Janna kept saying"mommy feel better". She knew I was upset. MawMaw is doing well, better than I expected, I still worry about her though. I would be so lonely. So please keep her in your prayers.

During the celebration of his life service I learned more about pawpaw, things I never knew, stories never told. I have the great memory of the weekend we went to stay/visit with them when Janna was 3 months old. We played Uno and talked. I will never forget that weekend.

Janna was good girl that weekend with minium fits. She was good during the service and patient during the visitation. At the cemetery we paid our last respects to PawPaw, as I touched the coffin, she say" I want ice mommy". My tears turned to laughter. I didn't want her to understand I now she she didn't have a clue. I am not sure if the coffin looked like a big ice bucket or cooler or if being outside after church made her think picnic.

I Love PawPaw and loved to share my love with him. I will miss him very much.

My Future Decorator

While we were eating dinner Janna took an opportunity to decorate Simon.

Note to Parents

I received the cutest note from Janna's teacher last week. This is what it read:

" She cracked herself up today when she made her belly button move by flexing her ab muscles and sucking her belly in and hanging it out. She thought that was super funny"

I wish I could have seen this.

Labor Day Weekend

We had a good long weekend together as a family. Here are some highlights.

Saturday we took a family trip to McDonalds for lunch and Walmart. Janna got new shoes that she wasn't excited about until this morning. She walked all around Walmart carrying her bag of marshmellows. She loves marshmellows. We use them to get good pictures. She was so cute hugging the bag as we walked down the isles.

My parents came down on Sunday and brought a twin bed for Janna. She was so excited about the bed rails that keep her from falling. She is currently using my old sheets, my little pony and strawberry shortcake. She looks so cute in the bed. We got rid of the futon and are planning on selling the toddler bed. The room is starting to change. She is sleeping well so far in her bed and is able to to in and out of the bed without a problem. It is nice to be able to just change the sheet if there is an accident instead of cleaning the futon with chemicals.

She talks about baby brother sleeping in the crib.

After her first night in the twin bed she told me she had to pee and took her diaper and skirt off ( in the living room) and we went to the potty. She used the step stool and she sat on the big potty and peed. She really went. We clapped, cheered, and danced afterwards. I am so proud of my girl.

On Monday Isaac Dad came down and we grilled out together and put a new facet in our kitchen sink. yeah for no more dripping!!!!

This morning I took her to school and she went right in and pushed the stroller and me out. I didn't have to hand her off. There were no tears, just a kiss good bye. My baby girl is growing up and I am so proud of her.