We All Love Baby Braxton...

Isn't this just the cutest picture? Talk about kissing cousins.... One to cherish!

Ava Joins the Ranks - The Cat Walk at GAP

Sometimes you've got the right size, but not the right attitude. That's what we've always had when it came to Ava's fit-modeling career. However, we got a call from our manager last week asking if Ava was still wearing a size 7 shoe. "Yeah, she is," I answer. "Now, which one has the better temperment?" Michelle asks. I know what she means -- Bettina doesn't really have a "better" temperment, per-say, but has more curiousity and willingness to try on new things in front of a room of complete strangers. "Bettina," I answer. "Does she wear a size 7?" she asks hopefully. "No. She's an 8." "Well, how do you think Ava will do?" I can't promise anything other than we could practice at home beforehand.

So, in the morning, just before our appointment with Baby GAP, Ava and I practice putting on different types of shoes: some too big, some too small, and some in colors I know she hates. Every time she does what is asked without complaining, she gets a Skittle and gets to choose the color as well. I'm still a bit nervous since the last time we went to a shoe gig, she absolutely refused; we got black-listed from that client.

With fingers crossed, we walk in to meet our contact at Baby GAP. The fitting goes great - she tries on the shoes and walks the "cat walk" observed by a team of designers, returning to ask for "a yellow one". We have found Ava's current currency. We're called back again before the week's done, and again, she gets her pick of colored candies. Good job, Ava!!

Little Parasite

'Tis the season to be thankful for all the little things... There are many obvious things: cute little girls who insist on doing things themselves, who delight in seeing Christmas lights, get shy around Santa, and relish in hot chocolate and ice cream. However, I must admit that I'm feeling a bit annoyed with a little parasite which has been silently leaching off my body, sucking all my energy as well as any appetite or satisfaction from food. And, with the holiday season, what a time to be turned off by food!

And, poor Paul! Since I'm not turned on by food, I'm certainly not excited about shopping for or preparing it for him. He usually gets the short-end of that stick. I am thankful he's understanding and not pouty about that. And, the poor girls! They want to play and jump on my tummy and be launched into the air on Mommy's feet like an airplane. Sorry - not in the mood. I'm grouchy that I have to tell them "no" and "that gives Mommy an owie."

Since we are to practice being thankful, I only have to do two things to set myself straight again: look at the refrigerator where a picture of the grape-sized parasite resides, proving it's little heartbeat, fingers and toes exist and, remember back 3-years ago when I was so sick, I spent nearly all day for 13-weeks in bed. So, it has been worse. It's just different now that more little beings, no longer legitimate parasites, but dependants none-the-less, vie for my energy and attention.

That's right - my parasite isn't something I picked up during some exotic travels, but is something Paul and I hoped to create. We're having Baby #3!!! Are we excited? Absolutely!! And I will be a lot more thankful in a couple more weeks once I'm able to regain my stomach and energy level.

Watching Ainsley and Patrick these last couple of days with their new baby is inspiring -- sort of a look at what's to come. And, spending the holidays with the girls, who "get" Christmas and all the magic that it encompasses for them, #3, who should arrive late-June, will be another treat and a true blessing! We are thankful - even for a parasite!

Baby Braxton is Here!

Braxton Raymond was born at 7:12 pm today, Wednesday Nov. 21st. He is 6 lbs 15 oz and 19 inches (if memory serves) and has a loud set of lungs!! Ainsley is doing great and did it all al natural!!

Patrick describes little Braxton as having "10 fingers, 10 toes, no tail and looks like a chicken with no hair."

We have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

This Is How It Should Be

They decided not to force her to take the medication once they figured out that she didn't want to take it anymore. Phone calls went out: "Grandma's coming home. Come when you can - she's not expected to make it past the weekend."

So, family began to gather, filling up her and my Aunt's bedrooms as well as the neigboring hotel. Food was brought over from members of the church congregation. We took turns holding her hand, reading to her from the Bible, checking her meds and comfort level. Three or four of us would help turn her every couple of hours to help her skin stay intact. We learned how to bath her, style her hair, and move her, strategically propping her pillows to avoid pressure points. We journaled anything pertainant so we could all participate in her care. Grandma was surrounded by familiar things, smells and noises. Calming recordings of her church choir ran softly from a CD player in her room as well as the filtered noise of the televised football games the guys were watching. Things are relaxed and "normal." The visiting nurse came to check on her. After watching us, she looked approvingly at us and said, "This is how it should be." Everyone participating, loving and protecting Grandma's dignity. Her comment made me cry as I realize just how beautiful this all is.
Saturday afternoon, there was a marked progression, so we gathered in the family room where she was placed and sung hymns for nearly 2-hours. We whispered in her ear and allowed others to say last words via a cell phone to her ear. She'd acknowledge with a slight lift of the hand or facial twitch. Her breathing was much labored now.

We were assisted in the evening by Anita, a nursing assistant I liken to a doula for death. Extremely compassionate and educational, she'd prepare us for and teach us to recognize the next stage. When Grandma's last moments came, she awakened those not already with her. It wasn't 15 minutes after she woke me up that Grandma passed. Surrounded by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and filled with the hope and promise of joining God and her high school sweetheart and husband of over 63 years, she made a peaceful and graceful transition into the Kingdom of Heaven. Grandma passed this morning at 4:55am. That nurse was right: This is how it should be. If only everyone had the same blessed opportunity.

Ainsley's Shower

Ainsley and Patrick had a flurry of baby-readiness activities this week. Two showers (pictures can be seen here) and a giant baby furniture warehouse sale. They should have everything they need, for Baby Braxton. It's just the waiting game now.

Halloween - a Bit Remiss

The Halloween pictures, the Halloween pictures... I'm finally getting around to posting the Halloween pictures.


A few days before Halloween, we tried to spread cheer through the neighborhood as we meet with a couple other kids from church to do a costume parade at a retirement house. The girls were shy at first, but then quickly visited people around the circle handing out little gifts of oranges and flowers. In hindsight, apples may be a better choice to give as most of the residents did not have the dexterity to peel the oranges. But after some help, they enjoyed them with us.


Our Ladybug and Butterfly enjoyed a nice time trick-or-treating. Here with Grandma, we hit up the retail shopping center during their hosted event. We later dined with friends casually then headed down the hill at nightfall for some trick-or-treating candy. The girls loved process, although they have yet to remember to say "trick or treat" for their treats.

Ava was scared of one costume: Jack the Pumpkin, who she called The Baseball Monster since the stitches on his head reminded her of a baseball. She's still talks about the Baseball Monster with fear and even started screaming one time as I was listening to the radio. I realized it was the "sports minute" and they were talking about Barry Bonds, the baseball player. She doesn't even like to hear about baseball in general; it's all too closely related to Jack the Pumpkin.

Jack the Pumpkin didn't bother Bettina at all. As Ava screamed and refused to approach the door where the "monster" was receiving his candy, Bettina passed us all and boldly asked for two candies! There's Bettina. We should have dressed her as a bull rather than a dainty butterfly!

Momma says, "Pimp My Ride!"

What's it like to be me? Watch this little movie, and you'll have some insight...

And Paul asks me why it's necessary to take my car to the car wash once every 6-weeks....

Tired of Watching Videos

Although we're still feeling awful, I am tired of being stuck sick at home watching videos. The girls don't feel like playing with their toys so much and to prevent agitating my own headache, I've allowed the videos to roll.

However, the weather is so nice, that despite feeling "poopy," we pack everyone up for a quick visit to the pumpkin patch. Couldn't get too many large smiles - or even a grin, but there was lots to see and it probably improved our mood.

We brought Hayden for a picture, too!

Happy Birthday, Daddy

The girls had so much fun making cupcakes for Daddy's birthday! It was our first attempt at baking....it went well enough, I think we could try something else soon.

We then got dressed up, in what Ava refers to as "ballerinas" (aka skirts) and took Dad to our favorite family restaurant: Fresh Choice (or aka "ice cream" ever since Daddy shared the secrets of the dessert bar with the girls).

After presents and singing, it wrapped up to be a beautiful day!

Pile of Tissues by the Bed

We've been sick. Bettina got it first, about a week ago. Her fever started Wednesday night, perhaps early Thursday morning. It finally broke on Friday. I'm glad, however, that she got it first. Bettina is a needy, whiney barnicle when she's not herself and demands to be carried everywhere. So, since Tuesday last week, I've been using my Chinese sling like a regular pack horse.

Saturday, Paul and I got away to have an anniversary dinner at The Ritz in Half Moon Bay. Nonna, who watched the kids for us, had a hard time getting the girls down. That night, Ava's fever came and I was up all night with not just one, but two whiney kids. Paul and I soon realized that it was divide and conquer night: Ava sleeps with me in our bed and Daddy with Bettina in their room, since 4 in a bed is ridiculous and Tina wouldn't sleep with so much "freedom" anyhow. By Sunday, I knew exactly that the moaning came from body aches rather than the sore throat I suspected - I had it, too. And, since then, we've had to keep the same sleep arrangments, gratis a Ava.

Ava, too congested to breathe, wakes up every 45-minutes to an hour crying, "Mommy, I's sick!" or "Mommy, I's need to blow my nose." She and I shared a box of Kleenex and I bottle of water to combat the cotton-mouth.

This morning, as Daddy came into the room to get ready for work, Ava defensively stretched out on her newly claimed turf: "Ava's bed! Go away! Daddy cuddle Tina!" Poor Daddy! However, my sympathy is short-lived as I know that Bettina, who's on the upswing, is now able to sleep through the night and Daddy got a full-night's sleep. As I swing my feet down to the floor, I find a pile of Kleenexes scattered all about evidencing our long, miserable night. Then I think, "He probably wouldn't want to spend the night with us anyway!"

Finally Home with Baby

Now here are a group of pictures that tell the whole story...

Emily called Jon in Bahrain, half-way across the world, and says, "Honey, I think it's time." He's able to coach her through her delivery while waiting to board his flight home. He even gets this clever sign made up just before boarding.



Someone lets the cabin crew know that another soldier is coming home to yet another new baby and they bake him up a little surprise. Their cake reads, "Congrats, Dad."


Meanwhile, Emily and Ella cuddle with Baby Rudy, knowing that Daddy's coming home soon.


And, finally, Jon walks into the hospital the following afternoon, ready to take his son, bride and little Ella back home - as one proud family (along with his mother, my aunt MaryAnn, who's out to help).

Makes you get all choked up and teary, doesn't it?

Still Coming Home to Baby

Well, word came today: Jon's on his way home from Iraq, expected to land at home tomorrow afternoon. Both he and his wife, Emily, were hoping he'd be there to see his baby, due the following day, come into to world. However, Rudy James, born this morning at 9:30am at 8lbs. 6 oz. and 19 3/4 long, and God had other plans.

Ironically, I was emailing Emily asking how she was last night after one of the girls woke up requiring a diaper change and I couldn't sleep right away. She emailed back that she was up with back pain that wouldn't let her sleep either. After she signed off, it must have progressed quite rapidly!!

The good news is that they were able to hail Jonathan somehow in Navy-land and, via telephone, he coached Emily through her pushing. I'm sure that I'll have some photos to share soon, but in the meantime, welcome to the world, Rudy James and welcome home, Jonathan!!

First Carousel Ride

Just look at the glee in those little eyes! Could we just bottle up some of this happiness and save it for a rainy day? The label on the outside would read "The Feeling Of My First Carousel Ride."

Dr. Snoopy Gives Out Teeth

Bettina gets comfortable while waiting for Dr. Snoopy

Bettina opens wide and shows Dr. Snoopy her broken teeth

We don't know how it happened or even when. Little Bettina is so stoic and tough, that she just appeared one evening with two broken teeth.

Of course, I was on the internet all night asking other moms for "emergency" pediatric dentist referrals and panicked about how quickly I could call Dr. Snoopy's (who received his nickname from the decor of his office and was referred by 80% of the mom's who responded) office. Two-minutes after his office opened, I was assured that Bettina's teeth were not an emergency, but that the doctor would like to see her anyhow, just to make sure. At least the sense of urgency was placated.

The visit was very much like the rest of my week: manic and out-of-control. Both girls (I had to take Ava with me) were "in a mood" (partially my fault since I took an appointment near their nap time) and weren't listening to me in the waiting room (partially their fault since they only have one toy in the entire waiting room!!!). Somehow, I don't have a copy of the insurance card and my cell phone was also forgotten at home so I can't even call Paul to get the information from him. Then I watch Ava sneek into a corner and get very quiet. This means one thing: poop-time. I pulled out all my supplies and realize that Paul had taken out the wipes the night before to deal with something and forgot to put them back. No wipes!!

I asked the front desk for some Kleenex and they could only give me 3 sheets for some reason. So I take out my changing pad, have Ava lay down, and pull down her pants. Stuff OOZES ALL OVER - total diaper failure!!! It's all over her pants and during her wiggle-fest, gets onto her shirt. The recpetion finally sees I'm needing a whole lot more that 3-sheets and rescues me with a garbage bag and some wet paper towels. Needless to say, Ava went the rest of the visit naked wearing only shoes and a diaper. Bettina did great for the doctor (who gave her and me a compliment for being so obliging), and he reassured me that the teeth are fine. Nothing's loose or seemingly cracked (an x-ray during their regular cleaning with confirm it) and when she's older - 3 years or so - and can sit still for half an hour, he can bond them so they look whole again. Whew! I thought I'd have to deal with the guilt of seeing all her pictures until she's 8-years old be with her showing off her two-front broken teeth!!

Getting out the door was an ordeal again. Reception took about 7-9 minutes to even get to me to schedule their regular appointments. Meanwhile, both girls were a handful wandering in and out of the exam areas, laying on the floor whining like crankypots and for their balloons - which they continue to release, and keep trading their toys from Snoopy's doghouse which all seem to be those plastic vampire teeth, (I guess we are close to Halloween) but they think is candy and become frustrated when they can't eat them. I was a little miffed at how long it took them to get me my appointments, but definatley relieved that Bettina's broken teeth will eventually get better. I hope for the strenght to get through such a manic day and hope that their impending baths (thanks to Ava's failed diaper) will wash away much of the chaos.

My Kid's Got FOMO!

I was enjoying a lovely cup of coffee out with a friend of mine when we ran into another mom, who just had her second child. We were chatting and I was asking about how the second one was doing. "Well, she's got FOMO. My first one was so easy, I guess I had it easy." She went on and on, ending with, "I'm just exhausted dealing with all this FOMO syndrome stuff!"

Gosh! What is this awful thing called FOMO. I'll have to ask my doctor about it. I'd never heard of it, but it sounded devastating and horribly exhausting for both baby and mommy. "What's FOMO?" my girlfriend asked. "It sounds like another one of your well-known acronyms."

"Oh, it is," answered the new mom..."FOMO is 'Fear Of Missing Out' syndrome. The new one just never wants to miss out on anything. If she hears a noise of any kind or sees something unsual, she won't nap or sleep and fights the urge off so she becomes a sleep-depraved crankypot!"

Well, I love a mom with a sense of humor. Not only did I had to admit it was kind of funny, but I quickly empathized, "I've got one with FOMO as well!" It frustrates me to no end! She can't sleep in the car, has a tough time in new places, can't handle her freedom should she not be locked in with a sleep-sack and a crib-tent, and has never once transitioned from sleeping one place to another. If she wakes slightly, she jolts herself awake just in case there's something she should know about.

The nasty thing about FOMO is that it doesn't seem to be something they just grow out of. So, good luck to all of you moms of FOMO kids. It's nice to acknowledge and share empathy with each other, and, the best thing is to have a sense of humor about it. It just adds more depth to the wrinkles we're suppossed to get!

Coming Home to Baby

Jon's C2-Greyhound

We got word that my cousin Jonathon will be coming home from Iraq to see his baby a day before he is due. He is set to come home next week and his very pregnant wife is very anxious (as is the rest of the family). Hurray!!

Along with this news came more photos from him. There were also some interesting photos from the air of the bland, sand-colored countryside - the buildings the same color as the land and everything else. A couple more of some sand storms and of them on the base with masks over their mouths to assist in keeping the sand out of lungs, I suppose.

Although it took him a month or more to get there, he's coming home in 2-days along with 2 other men of his squadron. All three men are coming home, early perhaps, to their very pregnant wives and/or brand new kidlets. Should make for a wonderful reunion!

Mommy, I Want a Pony....

Ava and little Sparky

She couldn't have said anything closer to my heart. Bettina likes ponies -- she likes to get on and then get off....get on, get off, etc. She likes to ride because we're at the barn. Ava, on the other hand, asks for a pony or to ride a pony even when there's not one around to be seen. It's on her mind all the time, like Peter Pan or the Kitty-Cat Movie (Aristocats). The only reason she came down from the saddle on this day was that Dean was at the barn also and he was playing with the goats and the piggies. Ava's got a thing for Dean and it's almost stronger than her thing for ponies. I'm not sure that Daddy is comforted by that for long....

Too bad that my camera ran out of batteries before Bettina's ride. Dean was more interested in the goat, bunnies and pigs too take time to ride the pony.

Oh, What a Night!

At the football game with many Class of 87'ers - we got whooped by the rivals, btw.
Thank goodness these things only come once every ten-years!

Our high school reunion - our 20th - was this last weekend. We had all sorts of activities to choose from: a football game, a bar, a golf tourney, a dinner, and a picnic, with other impromptu sideshows and specticles.

Somehow, I found myself on the planning committee. I swore I'd never do it again after the 10th-year, but eventually agreed assured that the financial responsibility was elsewhere. I'm really glad I did it. And, I think that planning now-a-days - with the help of cyberspace - really assisted 1) financially, 2) in tracking people down and 3) in promoting the hype and the inersia to get the party started with lots of icebreakers and opportunities to see what's in store.

The weekend was more than I could have imagined and still, over the course of 3-days, I didn't seem to catch up properly with everyone I hoped to. But, we had a lot of fun, sometimes acting as we did 20-years ago (but, isn't that part of the fun?). Boarders on cliques and pigeon-holes melted away and everyone had a smile on their face. It was a great opportunity to see people and I wish we could do it again -- just as soon as I can recover from this weekend!

Welcome, Mason David!

Two down, two to go....

So, did I mention that I'm the only cousin on my mother's side who ISN'T pregnant? Cousin Holly gave birth to Brody Roman this summer and yesterday afternoon, cousin Jenny gave birth to (formerly secretly named) Mason David (pictured here with my aunt and uncle, now grandparents for the 2nd time)!! I was beat out by half a day and 2-1/2 ounces in the baby pool!! Shucks!

Next month, cousin Jonathon should come home from Iraq to see his second, a son still unnamed, born. We get a month's rest before my sister Ainsley gives birth to baby Braxton. All boys - all this year. Five cousins - four pregnancies - four baby boys.

Congrats to the new parents, Jenny & Tim!! We can't wait to meet your new boy!