Missing My 6 O'Clock Baby (And Mommy...)

Dear Caitlin,
     Five weeks came and went.  I anticipated it for many months and now it is over and in its place are so many memories that I will hold in my heart forever.

I came early and complained often about the weather.  And I'm not gonna lie, I still don't have fond memories of the weather, but I suppose I will look at it as a part of the overall experience.  I'm not sorry that I came early, although Holli decided to come one day past her exact due date.  I'm not sorry because I got to spend those two weeks with you as my only daughter before you became a mother, yourself.  I got to talk with you, laugh with you and anticipate with you the arrival of your first child.  And now...I find myself missing the TWO of you even more than I could ever imagine.

One of the things I miss most is the little "6 O'clock Routine" we had gotten into before I left.  You would feed Holli during the night, but then at 6 O'clock in the morning I would look forward to you bringing her into my room, where I told her all of the secrets of life and then tucked her snugly into the blanket that I had knitted for her, laid her beside me and we both went back to sleep...

I got to be there for a lot of "Firsts", but realize now that I will most likely miss more of them than I get to participate in...so it goes when we are so far apart.  That, however, will not make those "firsts" any less significant in my eyes as a YaYa...

This was on the day of your "first" doctor's appointment.  In two weeks time you  had already gained about a pound in weight and a half an inch in length.  We went out to lunch afterwards and then shopping and here we are in a little coffee shop, where Mommy and I had coffee...and you had milk!

The night before I left was filled with packing my bags, staying up late to watch one last movie with you and getting as many hugs and kisses from Holli as possible.  I knew that the next morning I would not be able to have my "6 O'clock Baby" time; I would, sadly be at the airport by then.  And so, I decided to leave you a message on the refrigerator for when you returned from dropping me off...

And so, now, I find myself waiting for the next text message that might have a picture of Holli or our Skype dates, where I can hear her little grunts and cries and see how much she has grown in this very short time...

Awww...This sad little text message was the first one you sent while I was still at the airport waiting to fly home.  You said that Holli was sad that YaYa was leaving too.

And this is the sweet picture that I took just before we left for the airport; everyone seems to think she looks just like a baby doll here.

"

"Sleeping Beauty"

Oh My, Holli...How you have already grown!  Look at those chubby cheeks; I sure wish I could reach through this screen and kiss them!

Skype...What can I saw about this technological invention?!  Except that I LOVE it!  I like to think that you recognize my face and voice.

No, I'm not gonna lie; this is difficult.  Difficult being so far away from the both of you.  Constantly being in a "waiting state"; waiting for a text message, a phone call, a Skype date, a visit.  But I ANXIOUSLY await these things.  I anticipate the moment that we can get together so I can soak up every new memory.  I miss you both terribly and I can barely wait until we see each other again (here in the SOUTH!)

   Remember that a baby might hold your hand right now, but they will hold you heart forever...

      OR...If you're very fortunate, like me, they will hold your hand AND heart for a LIFETIME!

Loving you girls and missing you terribly!
               Mom/YaYa

 

Finished Baby Furniture...And Awesome Nursery Decorations!

Dear Caitlin,
     The time is getting close now for Holli's arrival.  It seems like this pregnancy has just flown by!  You are now 36 weeks and next month by this time, you will be a mommy...

Dad finally finished all of the furniture and we are about to have it crated and shipped to you...

I think it turned out beautiful and what a great heirloom for Holli to one day pass on to her children!

I can't wait to get there to help you decorate the nursery too; you have made so many cute items for it.  I think that this is YOUR "Nesting" stage (this crafting  until the wee hours of yours...)...

                                                              I LOVE this rug you made.

I'm telling you, you should really make some of these items for your Etsy shop...They are SO CUTE!

Well, I am desperately trying to finish some things up around here so I can possibly fly up there around the 19th.  Ryan is coming in this weekend and I think we are going to drive over to Texas on Saturday so we can order his groom's cake and book the place for the rehearsal dinner.  There is SO much on my agenda these days, but they are good things!  Holli's arrival, Ryan's wedding and then Beckett's arrival.  I am so excited to be there with you...but do you think it might turn spring there too before I come?!  Yea, I didn't think so (sigh...).  Well, I have lots to do but just wanted to drop you a few lines.  I love you and miss you and cannot WAIT to be there with you, even in that miserably COLD weather...(Ahhh, a "Mother's Love" that you will soon know)!
                                                                                       XXOO,
                                                                                        MOM

Hold On, Holli...Don't Come Yet!

Dear Caitlin,
     With your false labor pains and stomach virus last week, you really put us in panic mode...especially your dad, who is desperately trying to finish painting the baby furniture!

                                            OOPS!  He got a little of that paint on his face.

If Holli will just work with me and give me to your 37th week, I think I will be finished up with everything I have to do here and be ready to head there to wait on our sweet baby girl with you.  Along with the furniture that Dad has been working on, I have also been finishing up some knitted items...and, of course, bought a few necessities...like hair accessories!

                            Here's the sweet little hat I knitted her to wear in the hospital.

                               I'm working on the bootees too...hope I get them finished in time!

                 I have one edge left to knit on this little blanket; I can't wait to wrap her up in it!

I got online and checked out the yoga studios there so I can continue with my work-outs while I am there for over a  month; I think I've found one I like and actually spoke to them in an e-mail.  But you know what is really going to get me?  That COLD weather y'all are still having!  Most days it feels like spring here already.  The birds have come out in the morning and started singing and little green shoots of plants are peeking out of the ground.  I know I won't be able to bring my shorts...or even short sleeved shirts, but maybe if I bring my colored jeans it will make it feel like it's spring, if only to the eyes.

By the way, this is the longest we have ever been apart; I haven't seen you since you left here right after Christmas...and by the way, I don't like that!  Even when you were in college in Texas and when you studied that semester in D.C., I saw you more often.  You're just going to have to tell Kevin that after Holli arrives, y'all are going to have to visit me more...after all, she needs to get to know her Poppi and YaYa.  And, as you may or may not know, Poppi has really high expectations for her.  He is always saying, "Holli and Poppi are going to be really tight.  She's going to be my rocking baby...she's going to sleep in our bed with us"...and numerous other things!  Poor little Holli, she doesn't even know what she's in for yet!

Well, I must go now because I have a date with the gym this morning and then it's my day to drive Mam-Maw around, so it is going to be a very busy day for me.  I will, however, try to text or call you later.  I MISS YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!
                                                                                      Love, Hugs and Kisses,
                                                                                                      MOM

A Sneak Peek Of Baby Holli's Furniture...

Dear Caitlin,
     I has been busy around here with Mam-Maw being hospitalized and me starting to finalize the details on Ryan and Allison's engagement party.  Dad, however, has stayed focused on making Holli's baby furniture.  AND, he has given me permission to actually give a little "Sneak Peek" of his progress...

                       Here's a shot of two of the pieces; the chest of drawers and dressing table.

                                                                 Up close shot of dresser.

                                                        Up close shot of dressing table.

  He actually got the door made for the dressing table this week and is about to put the wicker in it.

  The baby bed is next.  He has been working on the scalloped pieces for the head and foot board.

OH...And look what Mrs. Linda brought over for you.  This was a chair her sister was getting rid of; it is about 50 years old.  Isn't it cute?!

I love this picture of Dad.  The sky had turned a little darker, rain had moved in and a chill was in the air; it sort of cast him in silhouette.  Notice that he moved all of his building items inside the garage.  Hurry up, Poppi!  You still have a bed and bookshelf to build...And then the painting begins!

              Baby Holli is growing more every day and at 31 weeks, the official countdown is on!


I really hope that I get to fly up there to see you one more time before Holli gets here...even if it's only for a few days!  I really do miss you and have missed getting to rub my hand across that growing belly of yours and tell Holli how much Ya Ya loves her. and can't wait to meet her.  Remember, I love you to the moon and back...And that's a very long distance!
                                                          MOM

An Heirloom From Poppi To Baby Holli...

Dear Caitlin,
     As your tummy grows bigger and bigger (finally at the 30 week mark...), I grow more anxious each day to hold sweet Baby Holli in my arms.  And as I have been knitting frantically to finish her little blanket, hats and other items, your dad has been creating an heirloom of his own for his precious little grand daughter too.

When you two began talking about the prospect of Dad making all of Holli's nursery furniture, I knew that he could do it; there was never any doubt about that.  What has surprised me most, however, is the joy it is giving him as he creates it.  You sent him the specifications and he has searched diligently to find Queen Anne legs and wicker and all sorts of things to make this treasured heirloom for Holli,  his only daughter's daughter.

Living in the south does have its perks too; we have had temperatures in the 70's, along with sunshine this week and Dad has set up shop outside of his shop!  There is wood and equipment everywhere and each day he gets up and goes to work.  And the smile...Oh, the smile on his face as he finishes each item.  Then, he calls me out to look at his handiwork closely, pointing out the fine details.    BUT...Part of the deal is that you not see any of the furniture until he delivers it to you.  And you KNOW I am dying to do just that!  I can tell you that the chest of drawers is almost complete and it looks AWESOME!

A parent's love for their child knows no bounds...This, I know.  And you, too,  will become a parent very soon and know this truth for yourself.  I cannot wait for you to see this beautiful baby furniture that your dad is building.  It will not merely be furniture, but a family heirloom that begins with Holli and will hopefully be passed down for many generations to come.

                                                                                                            I Love you and Miss you,
                                                                                                                 (VERY MUCH!!!)
                                                                                                                            MOM

Putting You On That Plane Will Never Get Easier...

Upon driving away from the airport this morning, I have come to terms that putting you on a plane back to Ohio, over 1200 miles away, will never get easier over time.

I have loved having you here for over a week but as the time come for you to leave, it always makes me sad.  I suppose even the weather this morning reflects my feelings,  since the rain only seemed to pour harder as I pulled away from the airport.  I really hate that in the last couple of days that you were here you got that terrible cold that seems to be going around.  Be sure to call you doctor as soon as you can to see if there is anything you can take for it...And REST and try to stay out of the snow and cold too!

***I am going to miss not getting to sit with you each morning and sip hot tea and coffee.
***I am going to miss seeing that big belly of yours grow bigger each day (I think it grew more in the time you were here!).
***I am going to miss running over and putting my hand on your belly to feel my sweet Holli Reese kick.
***I am going to miss you not being here to run errands with me.
***OK...I am REALLY going to just miss EVERYTHING about you.

I don't think I will be able to make it back to Ohio until possibly the first part of February because there are so many things coming up that I need to tend to:  Mam-Maw is having a stress test on Jan. 7th and I also have to plan Ryan and Allison's engagement party and their rehearsal dinner.  I'm sure when I do get to come, though, it will be bitterly cold and I don't know HOW we southern girls are going to deal with that sort of weather!  (Not well, I suspect...).

I will be getting the rest of your Christmas and baby gifts to Justin so he can ship them to you; I know you want to get your Cricut as soon as possible and I cannot wait to see what cute projects you create using it!  When you start feeling a little better from your cold, let's try to Skype so I can get to actually talk to you and see your belly and don't forget to call me after you have your glucose test done next week.  I guess I need to take advantage of getting up so early this morning and start on the mountain of laundry that is all that is left of everyone's visit home from the holidays.  And then I suppose I will head to the gym for a little yoga and Pilate's...back to my regular routine.  That routine is what helps me get by when all of y'all leave after visits; you will only understand this when Holli and your other kids get older and move away.  It is not easy to have an "empty nest", however, it is just another normal passage of life that one gets somwhat used to.  I LOVE you VERY MUCH and will MISS YOU SO MUCH EVERY DAY you are not here...
                                                                               MOM

Dear Daughter, Please Teach Your Children The "TRUE" Meaning Of Christmas...

Dear Caitlin,
     As I sat in church Sunday and listened to the sermon, I decided to write this post.  You know that I am so in love with the Christmas season and it's not just because of the decorations, festivities and gift giving.  It is because of a tiny baby born so many years ago...The Christ Child.

It saddens me to think of the children out there who have no idea what the "True" meaning of Christmas is.  I was raised in church, therefore, I knew that I would always raise my children in church and with Christian values.  That is why one of our Christmas traditions has always been to honor the "True" meaning of the season by focusing on the Christ Child that was born to save the world.

I love the tradition of our family gathering together on Christmas Eve and heading to church for that annual service.  You were born in December so I think the first time I ever took you to church was for the Christmas Eve Service that year.  The Christmas story is always read from the Bible, we sing carols and then each family lights a candle on the tree at the front of the church.  I find myself sitting and reflecting during that time about how blessed we are.  Blessed to all be together, blessed to be healthy, blessed to have roofs over our heads...but mostly blessed that we have a Savior who loved us enough to come into this world as a tiny baby and then die for our sins.

It is my prayer that you will raise your children in church.  Teach them not about "religion" but about a "relationship" with the Lord.  Teach them the "True" meaning of Christmas...This is the thing in life that is important.  This is what will bring meaning and peace to their lives.  This is an everlasting gift that you can give your children.


"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"
Luke 2: 10-11

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you this first year you are so far away from us.  I am so happy that you will be back in the south only one week from today!  I cannot wait to see you and Baby Holli and celebrate her upcoming birth with your baby shower and then Christmas.  I LOVE you...and miss you MORE!
              MOM