So one thing I am noticing about this thing called grief is that it seems to get harder at certain times of the year....the holidays being one of them. So many memories are made at the holidays and not having you here to make them is incredibly difficult. One such memory is the any-moment-now arrival of your Stacey Jo's first baby. Little Choate as we call him (I will let her do the name reveal) is one loved and cherished little boy already and we haven't even met him! It knocks me off my feet every time I think about the fact that you will never get to meet him. I have 3 such memories of you meeting my children and it seems so unfair that you don't get that with Stacey's firstborn. Mommy is doing her duty in spoiling him and we are all going out there to help her out for the first few weeks, but it's not the same without you here. You've been gone so long now it sometimes feel like you were never really here. Yet that deep hole in our hearts is a constant reminder that you did exist and nothing will ever be quite the same. We will all do our best to talk to little Choate about you and let him know that his amazing grandpa loves him even though he never got to meet him here. What I will always remember about you is how much you loved your grandkids and took on the roll of grandpa with pride and joy! Thank you for giving my kids 4 amazing years with their grandpa Wayne! You impacted their lives more than you will ever know during those 4 short years.
Some long overdue grandkid updates: Colin is now 7 and he is an amazing big brother! Sure he doesn't always love being the oldest and having the most responsibility but he bears it like a champ...most of the time. He is doing amazing at school and piano and I am not just saying that because I'm his mom. He catches onto things so fast and just blows me away with how quickly he picks up on new things. He has already finished one book in Sparks and is barreling through the second. He is doing great at soccer and loves that both him and Bryan play now so they can practice together. Cecily is 5.5 and growing like a weed! She is catching up to Colin in size and just as eager to learn. Cecily's strength is that it might take her a little longer to pick up on something new but when she does...she never forgets it. She plays piano, has finished one Sparks book as well, is breezing through her first grade work, and is becoming an amazing little helper around the house. She LOVES when I ask her to help me clean or organize something...we will see how long that lasts. Owen is almost 4 and this kid is FINALLY getting the hang of potty training. It's been a struggle like it was with Colin but he is doing much better and dare I say may be potty trained by his 4th birthday. He is doing preschool work and Cubbies. He can memorize things that I never thought were possible and he is coming to terms with the fact that he isn't going to get any more milky turns. Lucy is 2.5 and this girl is just a gem! Joy after sorrow has been the theme surrounding her birth and she has lived up to her Verse. She is so passionate, caring, spunky, adventurous, and lights up a room. She loves to make people laugh, always looks for who she can take care of even if it's just a hug, and loves to wear tutus over her pants. She loves to copy everything she sees which is both great and scary! I hope she never loses her incredible spirit to take care of those around her! I am loving getting to know this girl and being her mom is simply the best! Lincoln is almost 8 months and I can hardly believe it! He crawls and has 4 words in his arsenal. Mama, Dadda, Ba-ba (Brother), and Boob (It sounds like Boom and he says it when he wants to nurse). Bryan is pretty proud that he has successfully taught two of our children to say boob before they were 8 months old. He seems to be very extraverted, likes eye contact, hitting things/people, talking, and when he is upset he SCREAMS not just cries. It's more like an angry growl really. He is either over the top happy or HULK SMASH! This could be interesting! hehe
Then there is me...I am ok. As I said before the Holidays are tough. A month ago I was great and felt like I could take on the world and now I kind of want to just stay home and cry while I eat some room temperature ice cream. Did I mention I have a crown that hurts like the dickens? I am not a fan of dental work and this stupid crown has me VERY grumpy! It hurts all day and all night. I need to go back in but after months and months of this I am kind of over it and feel like just dealing with the pain for the rest of my life or just pulling the freaking tooth out myself. I am looking forward to seeing Stacey and being there for baby Choate's birth! I don't know what I am going to do when we have to leave...I am seriously considering smuggling him and Stacey in the van...Chris won't notice right? If you could put in a good word with Jesus that I need my kids to sleep....I'd super appreciate it! Getting 3 hours a night for the last few weeks is starting to make me a crazy person...seriously!
Well I have a feverish Cecily who needs some momma time. It goes without saying that I miss you intensely and I love the heck out of you!
Your Favorite Second Born,
Carley
Some of our family pictures...aren't they so grown up?!
