We say it all the time...how did the time fly by so fast? We watch first one little one add another year to their life span and then another add one until we finally end up with a bunch of little kids who've grown into big 8-year olds, or six-year olds, or almost three-year olds and then the baby of the family turns into a two-year old! And we really can't imagine where the time went.
Today Annabelle, the baby, the favorite granddaughter in the family turned two! Two! It was only yesterday we held her for the very first time, finally, after being isolated from her during her hospital stay because of problems at birth. Some memories(the isolation) are best replaced by happier memories (finally holding her and just watching her as she slept and breathed, worried about those ugly bruises that were left on her tiny little head and hands and feet from all the IV's that were necessary to bring her to full recovery.)
The first pictures we made of her at home showed those ugly marks splotching that sweet, beautiful little face. Granddaddy suggested he could remove them with our photo program. He meant well, he really did, but I guess I took issue a little more than I should have. How dare he suggest removing her battle scars! She had earned them; she had fought through them, and neither we nor she should ignore or admit those struggles she had gone through those first hours and days of her life. She will, of course, never remember them. God mercifully made sure her little memory won't retain that pain. We will probably never forget them, but she did endure them and they are nothing short of being her true battle scars she earned at her birth. It shows her she's a real trooper. She's a fighter. She's a winner. Maybe someday when she looks back on those thousands of pictures we made of her those pictures will remind her that she was a winner, a fighter, a survivor and if she has something else even more traumatic to face in her future,those bruises will remind her of her beginnings and that she can do anything she has to endure in the life ahead of her because she had those survivor instincts very early on in her lie. Yes, those bruises had to remain in her pictures. They couldn't and wouldn't be photo-shopped out.
This morning I didn't wake up until about 6:30. That's right,I slept right through the moment of the anniversary of her birth at 6:12 a.m. It wasn't that way two years ago. Earlier that day two years ago, we were all gathered together, Granddaddy, Nonnie, Uncle Matt, waiting for news of her arrival. The time passed by much too slowly until her Daddy finally, finally came off the elevator (we were watching the doors to the back of the maternity ward, but I think he had just come down from visiting his new little girl, so he surprised us/me.)
It was a while after that 6:12 a.m.arrival before we got to see her because she did have her breathing problems, etc. but thank goodness we didn't know she was already here for all that time. You don't worry when you don't know. Well, that's not true, because when it's your daughter going through that pain and misery, you do worry. You can't help it. It's inborn..
It was the happiest of times when her daddy told us all the details and we were on our way to focus our eyes on the most beautiful little girl ever born, with the exception of her mother.
Fast forward, and I do mean fast forward, two years and we are still looking at the most beautiful little girl ever born, equal with her mommy.
She has grown so much in so many ways during that time. This year she's a sure-footed little angel who flies around from place to place as opposed to the wobbly little legs that propelled her forward in an uncertain manner last year. She's finally using her language skills to express herself. She's much like her mommy years earlier. Annabelle's Granddaddy would ask her mommy when she was going to talk. She would sit silently, watching, listening, observing while Annabelle's Granddaddy, Grandmomma and her Uncle monopolized all conversations. Her Mommy finally let all those stored-up words go and we haven't been able to stop her since. I have no doubts Annabelle has followed her footsteps. Now she's really expressing those emotions, saying her thoughts and exerting her independence. Watch out, Mommy and Daddy, you're about to enter a world you have never dreamed of before. But it's a good world and you'll enjoy every second. You'll be so amazed at each new little phase she goes through. Enjoy it.
A lot of my blogs in the past have covered the little things she's accomplished except for the times I've been too lazy so I won't go back and cover too much of the past. Today, however, was a wonderful day of watching our little one as she moves forward.
I know her mommy will cover this in a future blog, so I won't go into too much detail about her cake she shared with us today. I will just tell you it was a chocolate chip cookie cake with a horse on it. Mom can tell the rest.
We all met at the local small, but very active airport, for her birthday party. Daddy had already gone earlier and set up the tables under the pavillion. Mommy and Annabelle met him there earlier. Granddaddy and I had met my sister and brother-in-law so they could follow us to the party. We'd been there at least once or twice before so we were not exactly sure how to get there, but we made it without any false turns. Mommy called just as we were getting out of the car. She had parked in another lot, which was closer, but we did get there without any problems. They still were later than we were getting over to the picnic pavillion!
The first words I heard Annabelle say were, "Pay, Mommy. I wanna pay!) And she did. She loved playing on that playground with her cousins and friends for quite a while until it was time for opening her presents and eating her cookie cake. (I hope I got enough pictures!) She didn't get a single present that wasn't a very favorite with her. She got a piano (I think I heard her daddy say he was glad he wasn't going to be in town next week), a baby doll, a tube of Little People, which she loves her Little People, some books, another dolly, a pink pig flashlight(for those camping out trips she loves with Mommy and Daddy) with a cute pair of pants with candy corn on them and a top, a dolly stroller, and something else I'm not sure of because I didn't see it close up, and I'm sure I've left something out, but she loved every single thing she got!
It was back to the playground for the little ones while we visited. Then it was time to end the party and to go find something to eat. Granddaddy, Uncle Ken, Aunt Kate, Carter, Charlie, James, Mommy, Daddy and I headed over to the local Methodist Church which was having their annual bar-b-que. It's been a tradition for us to eat there most years when we remember it, though since Granddaddy has retired it's easier to forget unless Mommy and Daddy remind us or we see signs advertising it when we're down that way. Granddaddy used to get annual tickets every year from a couple of his patrons, but once he retired that stopped. Now tickets are $8.00 each this year. Up from last year and the year before. But they still have quite a bit of business. It was delicious and surprisingly, thanks to Aunt Kate and the boys, we were all able to sit together even with such a crowd. That was truly a miracle.
We now have something to help us remember when the bar-b-ques are because they are usually held on Annabelle's birthday week end. Now that's a tradition.
After eating and fellowship the kids all played on the church playground. Annabelle and James played on the younger aged one because the bigger one was over-crowded. As soon as she hit the playground she lined up all the riding toys in a semi-circle and followed another kid around waiting until he jumped off the one he was riding. He didn't, so she didn't recover that vehicle. She's such a good little organizer. That will come in handy someday...maybe.
It was good to finally be able to spend some more time with our son and his family. We've known their plans to return to the area since they left two years ago for the great cold northern state. It was a time to gain experience he could never get without making the move. It was great business experience for him, the kids, and for Kate. They all enjoyed their time there, but it is also good to know he's home again. There are few things that trouble a mother, or mother-in-law for that matter than worrying about a child who is away from home, on airplane flights, etc. especially in this day and age of so much terror. We try not to think about those things. For now, it's one down. One to go.
Anyway, Happy Birthday little Angel. In this world with all its' instability you have made our world more stable and much happier beginning at the first moment we knew you were on the way. Even before your birth, when your Uncle called and broke the news to us they would be leaving and (how dare they?) take your cousins with them, you were planned to help us survive the rough times. Looking forward to you coming made it a little easier to accept their move. We've had a good time and enjoy every minute of your life with us.
We love you.
Grandmomma and Granddaddy
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