A New Big Brother Too!!

With the creation of a new baby comes also the creation of a new Big Brother! Hunter thought Grayson was pretty cool....as far as squirmy, crying, red faced little people can be cool to a three year old! I think the connection was made though.



But let's get real! A game of catch with a magically deflated Mom beats all. Though I didn't get Sheri in this picture, I sure enjoyed watching the two of them tossing the ball to each other. Hunter did a pretty good job of catching too. I hate to admit it but I can just see the quarterback sizing up a passing play in this picture. I'd rather see him play tennis!

It won't be long before Grayson will be his play buddy. Amazing, isn't it?

To Go Back A Bit......Announcing, Grayson!!!

With my two older daughters expecting children this year, it was a real honor to be invited to attend the birth of both new grandchildren. I figured it would be relatively easy to arrive in time to witness Sheri's new little one. After all, what is an eight hour trip compared to her last labor of 30 hours? As soon as she decided her time had come, I would load up the car and point her north. If I didn't drink too much (to bypass so many potty breaks!) I could be there in, say, 6.5 hours. Piece of cake.

So, my darling mother to be called me Monday evening to tell me she thinks she's in labor but the contractions aren't too close together and they feel at an intensity level of a 2-3. Ok....early labor. I pack my car.

8:00am. As I drive to work, we chat again. Contractions maybe 5-8 minutes apart, intensity up to a 4. Progressing nicely but still early. She carried on a conversation without effort....no real strain. There's time still. I proceed to work and do 2 massages with the intent of driving up right after work.

12:30pm. I'm on the Florida Turnpike and we talk. Hhmm....things are getting serious now. A little more intense, a little closer together. But in the back of my mind I remind myself of her 30 hour labor. No problem. I should get there just about in time to drive with them to the hospital.

2:00pm. I get a call saying they are GOING TO THE HOSPITAL!!!!!! What the heck? She MUST be overreacting.....right? But the strain in her voice is real enough. I drive a little faster....

4:00pm. I call and DANNY answers. Wait a minute....that's not right! "Oh sorry," he says, "Grayson was born at 3:37pm."

I missed it. It took just a few more hours before I met my newest grandson. Perhaps an earlier departure would have been prudent. Still, I'm so glad this birth moved along. The birth story is hers to tell but I would say going from 5 to 10 centimeters dialation in less than 45 minutes is pretty remarkable. I think her body was telling her..."Ain't NO WAY I'm going through THAT again!!!"

I'm BBAACCK

I've finally decided to learn to put pictures on my blog....instead of relying on the symphathies of my (wonderful) children! Maybe it will give them one less thing to chuckle about!!!

So much has happened since I last logged on. I'm going to start with the mundane but fun and work my way into the really cool stuff...like another grandson to crow about! It may take some time, so please be patient with me!

Below you will meet "Miss Bunny", my year old New Zealand Red doe who has had 2 beautiful litters so far. She's a funny bunny....only really sweet if she's nursing or pregnant! Her most recent litter numbered NINE babies. Unfortunately, we lost one due to injury. The prococious little thing hurt its neck jumping out of the nest box and paralyzed itself.

These little ones just turned 5 weeks old and are ready to wean! I also have another doe (we call her The B_____) and a buck (male) whom we call.....LOL....Bucky. I never claimed to have a wonderful imagination!





I've also been experimenting with container gardening. I planted carrots in this pot a few months ago. I put my foot in the picture to give some scale. The pot is a 14" that I bought at IKEA.

This is the harvest....3/4 of a pound of fresh, unpoisoned carrots. I know, it seems a lot of work for just a smallish harvest. Still, there's something really fun about pulling a sweet carrot out of the ground. Almost like hunting Easter eggs!