Woohoo! Scrappin' the Bday!

This is made with the Albums to Remember Custom Create-A-Kit. It was matched up to the theme from Dylan's 4th birthday party. The letters are recolored with paper from that same kit. The letters are made from the Albums to Remember Black Chip Alpha.

Class Clown

Here's a digi page I just got done with :)

Journaling reads, "you'll do anything for a laugh. You tell me it's how you make friends. silly faces and falling down. january 09"

credits: all papers, banner, chipboard letters, stitches, staples, ribbon, ticket stubs, & circus tent all by Heather Roselli {life is a circus kit}
bull nose clips by MissK {want to change kit}
clouds by Julie Marie Designs {earth wings #2 kit}
curled paper edge by Jessica Gordon
worn paper template by Gunhild Storeide
fonts: pea heather's handwriting and pea stacy's new doodles

Meemaw

Ida Naomi Fitzgerald
1932-2009

I did not want to write this post at first. How could my words ever do justice in remembrance of such a fine lady that was Miss Naomi? I really just didn't want to have to realize that our Meemaw was gone. But I knew that wouldn't last for long with the presence Miss Naomi possessed. She wasn't my personal Meemaw, but she made me feel that way. I can still remember the first thing she said to me after marrying Cliff. She said, "Welcome to the family, honey." Those words still warm my heart today, but when she said them I knew it was just protocol, I had already been "family" with her for a while.

If I was to think of Meemaw in just one word, it would be HUGS. 9 years or so ago, I was introduced to Meemaw. I was tagging along to either a church or family function as the third wheel with Cliff and Shayna (former girlfriend). Before speaking, I was given a welcoming hug. Maybe it is just a Southernly lady thing to hug everyone you meet, but Miss Naomi's hugs were always sincere. Meemaw wasn't what I would have considered a fragile lady by no means. Humble, honest, hardy, a country woman, ya know? Even so, you wouldn't have expected those hugs to be that tight! Yet at the same time they were sweet and squishy, just like her. :) You would usually get a few wet smooches (never just one!) in any embrace with Meemaw. She always smelled like fabric softner and whatever good cookin' she had been up to that day. Meemaw's loving touch that was shared with everyone is what I will miss most, her openness to befriend and care.

I'm still sad. It upsets me Sam will never know Meemaw. I luckily have a picture of the two of them together, but even this picture is not the same Naomi I wanted him to know. Miss Naomi couldn't smile the last six months. Sometimes I think she didn't want this picture taken at all, because it is simply not her as her usual self. I hesistated in taking it. I'm glad now that I did. I tell myself I was being silly. Meemaw was proud as can be of her new great grandson. She was not the type of person of appearances, never self-absorbed. I just wish I could have had the experience of watching her bounce Sam up on her knee talking baby talk to him. Nothing made her light up more than holding babies.

I've been dealing with difficult questions from Dylan.
"Why is she in a box, Momma?"
"Why are they closing the box with Meemaw in it?"
"Why would we put her in the dirt?"
"Are we gonna get her out of the dirt tomorrow?"

Even more confusing...
"God is gonna get her out of the dirt?"
"I want to see her, can you put me in the dirt too then?"

There was a white heart flower arrangement from all the grandkids with red roses zig-zagging through the middle. I explained to Dylan it was a broken heart, because our hearts were sad Meemaw is gone. Dylan matter-of-factly replies, "But my heart isn't broken. I'm not sad. I'm happy Meemaw is in heaven.", to which that same heart of mine melts. He leans over to her and says, "I love you, Meemaw. I will miss you. Have fun in heaven.", and kisses her casket. I hope Dylan will remember her as much as his 4 year old mind will let him.

Meemaw made dolls. 628 of them actually. She logged them all in a book, along with the recipient. Recipients included even "waitress at Quincy's" and "little black girl across the street", in order words- complete strangers. Are you getting the gist of the wonderful lady she was? I received doll #625 right before last Christmas. The last Christmas she was still normal. Her last Christmas. I selfishly complained to Cliff how Kristy got a bride doll at her wedding shower and I still didn't have one after all this time. I told Cliff not to say anything, but of course the Fitzgerald in him doesn't make for a great secret keeper. :) She had innocently forgotten and honestly, it hadn't really bothered me. I was just being a brat with crazy pregnancy hormones looking for something to complain about. I was pretty embarrassed when I received my doll, because of how I acted. It's a sweet doll with blonde hair and blue eyes decked out like a Southern princess in her huge pink dress. It was obvious that Meemaw definitely had me in mind making that one. I am so glad she thought of me and that doll currently resides on top of my dresser. Unfortunately, I hadn't mailed the thank you card until one hour before I was told she had died. I hope she does know I appreciated the dollie and it will forever be cherished.

My Cliff is so sensitive. He will only go to viewings of those very important to him, because it upsets him so. We were running late (as usual, still haven't figured out when to start getting ready for things with Sam) and missed out on the personal family viewing, so had to stand in line to see Meemaw for a good 30-45 minutes. I've never in my life seen that many people at a viewing before, I'm not even exaggerating. Cliff got his last hug with his Meemaw. I think seeing her appear more like her usual self versus how sad she looked the last six months in various hospitals and nursing homes brought a type of relief to Cliff. He was serenly calm after that. He shared to me that if he cries now, it is from recalling happy memories of Meemaw. Cliff has plans of attempting to duplicate her famous chocolate oatmeal cookies to carry on her memory.

I wish I could feel the same as the rest of Cliff and his family, that my faith could be as strong. Dylan tells me Meemaw is going to be friends with Papa Chuck (my grandpa) in heaven. The two of them would get along for sure I know. For some odd thought, I keep picturing them playing checkers together. Neither was a crazy checkers playing person or anything, but it is just what I see in my head over and over. I am dreading her absence this Christmas. I wonder how Papa Charles (her husband) will cope from this day on. No matter what, Meemaw will not be forgotten.

May 12 of 12

There was a huge tantrum over this boo-boo. Dylan was stabbing moon sand with a steak knife and stabbed himself in the finger. It then included me finding band-aids, neosporin, and throwing away the "bad" knife. It seriously is nothing more than a scrape, but because he saw a drop of blood, Dylan was convinced he was going to die or something.

Sam is full of smiles now-a-days. This is right after his bath and he was ready to play for a good hour or two. Playing for Sam is standing up and falling down over and over on Momma's lap, sometimes includes climbing Mommy Mountain and falling off her head. :)

My new obsession: Sookie Stackhouse! Reading Book 3 on the back porch, finished it before dark :)

Cliff skipped out on work. He was determined to get the back yard into good shape for the summer. As you can see, it's mostly dirt. If it's not dirt, then it's kudzu, ivy, clover patches, or moss. So if we want a chance of grass growing through, we gotta get the leaves up before summer.

At a trip to Lowe's, Cliff got Dylan these Spongebob handyman gloves. It made Dylan feel like a big helper and he was thrilled they match his flip flops!

Out of nowhere, Dylan decided he didn't want training wheels anymore. He tried for about 2 minutes before asking Cliff to put them back on. We figured this was gonna happen.

Hey, look at this big boy! Sam is so extremely proud of himself standing up in his exersaucer. It takes a lot of work on his part, so he's tired in about 5 minutes. I can tell he can't wait to be able to catch up with his brother from the way he watches Dylan.

I seriously only thought something like this happened in t.v. shows. Cliff hooked up the wrong jumper cable ends to the wrong prongs on the battery. Sparks and smoke! After fixing a little wire, Cliff is trying to get the truck to hold a charge. It cranked up enough to drive Dylan to his Great Grandma Joan's house and back, but then died again. As of today, it is still hooked up to a portable battery charger thinger.

Cliff lounging watching one of his favorite shows: NCIS. I prefer Ziva to Kate. :)

Me about to conk out in bed. I woke up earlier than usual and ready to fall asleep. If I don't go to bed first, I have a really hard time falling asleep if Cliff is in the bed.

Don'tcha love my dresser decor? Looks straight out of a jr. high girl's room, right? LOL I thought it would be funny to show our two alarm clocks with the different times. There's no reason for this at all, just apathetic about it all. In case you are wondering, it's actually 9:38 PM in the picture.

Pebbles Inc. MUST HAVE!

I know this is just a peek, but I also know I must have it or I will fall over dead. Pebbles Inc. is becoming my favorite scrappy company. That last page I did a post or 2 below was with their tweet bird papers. I know this will be so perfect to scrap my Sammy with. I'm thinking that orange fellow in the sneak peek above is a whale and OMGee, guess who has an ocean/boat room?! ::Squeals!:: Check it out http://pebblesinc.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-post.html

3 months old :)

I've been looking through my old baby development books for ideas of activities to play with Sam. He's discovered his tongue from one of these suggested games. He sticks his tongue out like a little lizard. He loves to get a reaction out of me by doing it.

Been working on tummy time and trying to get him to roll over, not quite there yet. When he coos, it's a hooo type sound. Dylan always made a cooo or dooo type sound and his first word was Da-da. Maybe Sam will say Ma-ma first? It will probably be ba-ba from loving all the bottles he guzzles down!By the way, I would recommend these bottles, Gerber Clear Views. They are cheaper than most and vented in the nipple area, but don't leak. I don't have spit up problems at all with these. My second recommendation would be the Playtex Vent-Aire bottles. They are awesome, but pricier and have more parts to keep up and clean. I've also had 2 of the bottom inserts mess up.

Build-a-bear Giveaway

Tell me this ain't something adorable? I would love this! Is it awful I would buy something for myself and not my kiddies if I won this giveaway? LOL You can enter here at the New to this Whole Mommy thing blog.

Dylan's Birthday Party

(personal info on here is blurred, that's what the smudges are. scarlet heels ghosts and swirls-Boo To You mini kit, miss mint/peppermint creative recolored doodle frame- Twinkle Toes kit, th!nkblue recolored gray paper solid- Freebie #4 kit, Studio Baers Garten recolored polka dot paper- Liberty mini kit, Nickelodeon Danny Phantom pic, and Smack Attack font)

A little late, but here's some shots from Dylan's birthday party. Dylan wanted a Danny Phantom birthday party, there was no changing his mind either. I was a little out of luck about this theme, as Danny Phantom was only on the air for about a year and not super popular either. If his birthday was closer to Halloween, I probably could have gotten more decor, but luckily found some stickers off Ebay.

Here's the cake. I'm very happy this didn't turn into a cakewreck. At the grocery store, I explained a ghost for the cake and she tells me, "Well, it won't be professional or anything." I kinda cringed and just hoped for the best. Dylan was happy with it and knew it was a Danny Phantom cake--that's all that matters!

He was way too excited to pose for too many pictures. I love this one though. It took some practice on holding up the number 4 for a few days before his birthday. He had a thing where he would forget to hold his thumb down, kinda cute I think.

I would say the silly string fight was the highlight of the party. Each kid had about 3 cans a piece. Cliff, my brother, and Cliff's brother got in on the fun too. All of these pictures are kinda wonky, because I was getting attacked while trying to snap the action. The party was at my Grandma's house and I am glad I didn't tell her about the silly string ahead of time, because I think she would have vetoed the idea. Once she saw them doing it, she relaxed about it and was giggling. All the kids went after the 3 guys and Dylan. They definitely got the most of it!

All in all, a great party. :) Dylan got a ton of cars, water guns, and action figures. Some of the bigger gifts were a wooden swing set, real cash register, kiddie pool, and skates. I don't think he got one thing that was battery powered, kinda nice for him to not always be so wired-in.