Granddaddy

Though he was not killed in action, Memorial Day always stirs memories of my grandfather, a veteran who came home. So, in honor of those fallen, I am remembering my grandfather. Because of their sacrifice, I have had the privilege of life lived with my Granddaddy!

He left us just a few days before we knew we were expecting Gator. I see his money sense in his first great grandchild. "Never invest money in the stock market that you can't afford to lose," he said. Hubs and I bought our first car together just a few days before he passed. I like to think he was tickled that we paid cash for it. I was sure to tell him too.

I see his tenacity in the one who bears his name (Bull is named for him), though some may call it stubborn or strong-willed. These traits can serve a person well, if used properly.

My eldest niece has his twinkling eyes - bright blue, calm, piercing. In fact, all of his great-granchildren (so far) have blue eyes, but hers are the most like his.

He had beautiful silver hair and his favorite color was yellow.

He spanked me once for sassing him (I deserved it).

His hands were the lined, calloused hands of a working man - a farmer and mechanic. Yet they were pristine, clean nails neatly trimmed.

He used his small pocket knife for everything. The crinkle of a peppermint wrapper instantly takes me back to Sunday mornings at my grandparents' Church. He always had a pocket full of peppermints that he would send down the pew just before the service started. We learned quickly how to keep that cellophane quiet.

His pecan trees still bear fruit every year, though the rows of his garden have been fallow for a long time. Those acre peas were the best tasting ones ever! I used to snap beans from his garden with my grandmother.

Even though the house was on city water, he still had a well for irrigation. I remember watching him turn on that faucet to get a swig of cold, delicious water after mowing his lawn with a riding lawn mower. There's a picture of my sister and me sitting with him on that mower.

His perfect teeth always held a toothpick between them.

He let me shift the gears in his truck when I was little. It was fun and nerve-wracking at the same time!

He wore ankle boots that zipped up the inside and short sleeve, metal snap-up shirts with chest pockets on both sides.

He hated bluejays and squirrels because they pestered his songbirds. He always had the bird feeder full of seed, and the bath full of water and knew the name of every bird that visited.

He loved the Braves, cherry cordials, and McDonald's (spoken MAC Donald's). My sister and I loved going there with him for lunch.

He served in the Pacific during the Second World War. Hubs finally got him to talk about his experiences - he never would tell us much. We made a shadow box for him the year before he died. He was so proud of that.

How I miss him.

Linky Love...

I've rearranged my blog roll over there to the left and wanted to direct you to some new favorites of mine:

Simple Living: a group of five blogs about homelife...lots of down to earth goodness about home management, parenting, healthy cooking, green living and homeschooling. And I've known one of the contributors since we were kids!

(in)courage: a site with numerous contributors whose sole purpose is to encourage women.

A Holy Experience: a farmer's wife and mother to six in Canada, Ann never fails to bring tears to my eyes with her candor and beautiful prose. I am challenged every time she writes.

Five Months

Already? I can't believe that you are nearly a half of a year old!

You are doing so many new things.

You started rolling over and over and over again. I've walked in the room to see you 2-3 feet away from where I left you. You've started pushing straight up on your arms, and pulling your knees under you, though not at the same time yet.

You love playing in your exersaucer and swinging in your portable swing. The weather is much warmer now, so you have been enjoying the outdoors on a more regular basis.

You have started reaching for things that you want. And you can put your pacifier in your mouth! You have found your feet, and grab them by yourself often. You also nuzzle into my shoulder when I pick you up. I melt every time!

Your laugh is contagious and your smile is a little bit shy. But when you smile, everything about your face lights up and your blue eyes twinkle. Your hair is still very light compared to your brothers' hair, and there seems to be a little bit of wave to it.

We have not started solids yet even though you are ready. Your brothers get out of school in four more days. We'll start once they're home all the time and I don't have to worry about carpool and such.

You had your first ear infection recently. I think that the change in seasons along with the pollen gave you a runny nose. And that turned into a goopy eye and an ear infection. You didn't do well on the antibiotics. I'm hoping that the summer time will be more kind to us!

You are such a big boy. I don't have an official weight since you haven't been to the doctor in a month. But at your four month well-baby visit you weighed 16.2 pounds and were 26 inches long. You're starting to outgrow your 3-6 month clothes. This actually works out well because most of these are cooler weather clothes from your big brothers. The 6-12 month clothes include many more summer items!

You have become quite a little traveler over the last three months. We have taken road trips to Texas, Florida, and Colorado, and a plane trip to Florida. You have fallen right in line with the excellent traveling habits of your big brothers. In fact, Mommy has even braved a few trips by herself with all of the boys, the longest of which was three hours. Because of all these trips, you've met your great-grandparents, and most of your Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.

You went to your first major league baseball game. You also melted the hearts of an international chaplain couple while they stayed with us. The wife spoke Spanish to you constantly and you LOVED it!

You are such an easy-going baby. You are content in nearly every situation (as evidenced above - you fell asleep in the middle of the floor). You only cry when you have a dirty diaper, you're tired, or you're hungry. You usually don't cry when you're left alone for a bit. This works out well for Mommy since I have lots to do to keep up with your Daddy and big brothers!

Mommy loves you!

Mommy, I want a mohawk...

I announce that it is time for haircuts. Gator says, "Mommy, I want a mohawk."
So, following the advice of numerous mothers who have told me that haircuts aren't worthy battlegrounds as long as the hair is clean and neat, I say ok.
I start cutting his hair - no guard on the sides, the shortest it has ever been.
I barely trim the top, just evening it up a bit with a #7 guard.
He looks in the mirror, laughs at himself, and realizes that he isn't quite comfortable with all the attention he will draw to himself by having such a haircut. He asks me to make the top shorter.
I oblige, using a #4 guard this time.
He looks in the mirror again and still doesn't like it. Will you make it a little shorter?
I pop on the #2 guard, then fade it a bit with the #1 guard.
Thus we have the high and tight, my-kid-should-be-in-basic-training haircut that you see here.
And, he (finally) likes it.

10 years

and what we have to show for it...

Happy Anniversary to us!

Mothering

It's what I do.

It's what I've always wanted to do, from the time I wore pigtails and had ringlets, and diapered baby dolls.

It stretches and soothes.
It hurts and heals.
It exhausts and energizes.

It breaks down and builds up.

It takes everything I have and yet gives everything back.

It's what I've always wanted to do.

Happy Mother's Day to the mothers who inspire me and have taught me how to raise this brood of blue-eyed boys: my mother Gail, my grandmothers Margie and Wil, my sister Angie, my mother-in-law Pam, her mother Beth (our first Mother's Day without her), my sisters-in-law Melissa and Sheila, and countless other aunts, cousins, and friends.

For some more inspiring and challenging words, may I direct you to these posts written by one of my favorites - Ann at A Holy Experience? Please take time to read them...her words are sure to encourage you!