All Hallow's Eve

So here we are on good ol Hallow's Eve. What was the reason we dressed up and went around to get candy? Anyone remember? Yeah me neither. But the kids love it. So this year Siobhan is Marie Antoinette!!! It was quite interesting because our Smithsonian came and there was an article on good ol Marie. Imagine that. So we also got to do some history on her. So I guess that is a good thing. Marie was only 14 when she married and that was in 1770 and then she became queen 4 years later. She was not a bad queen just young. Imagine your teenage daughter in that position. She would love to shop and have fun as well. Apparently her husband was only a few years older but a dud! No fun and no ambition. So when things got rough it was her that ended up making the deciscions because he wouldn't
She lost her head at 37 and she had 4 children. One died as an infant. Two were beheaded as well. And the third, a daughter, got traded back to Austria for some other prisioner. She died at the age of 72.
Marie never said, "Let them eat cake!" But was clueless to the plight of the poor.

So see how much I learned about Marie. I did of course try to instruct Siobhan on all of these fine historical points of her choice for the evening but I am not sure how much actually made it into her finely coifed head. Oh well. No never mind.

So Siobhan, Erin, Tanesha and Siobhan's father went down the street for a bit in the hood to see what we got going on here. Erin got to brave the cold in her new little sling that keeps her close to her mother's body. They just returned and all did well. Siobhan had a nice haul for the 20 minutes or so of time invested. Now she is off with her dad to "Friendly Street" , a favorite place for the kids to troll for goodies. Erin is getting fed and I am waiting for the next set of children to pounce on the doorbell. I have dressed myself as a witch. Not a far cry from myself. But with black cape and hat with spiderwebs and spiders hanging from me and the ever wonderful black lipstick. Quiet a sight I must say. Tanesha put Erin in a nice Halloween shirt from Ginny I believe(thanks Gin!) and then we took our pictures. So I will have to post a picture soon.

So back to All Hallow's Eve. Why do we do this? All Hallow's Eve, A History Wikipedia, Halloween. Learn a little and rethink what it is all about. We are creatures of habit, ceremony, rituals and customs. To bad we have to commercialize it all.

Sounds of Love

So what sounds do you make when you hold a baby? We all make some kind of cooing noise or clucking or something. Have you noticed how a baby makes you feel good? If it doesn't then you are seriously dysfunctional. See a shrink!

So in our household I have noticed how Erin's mom, Tanesha coos and clucks when she holds Erin. It is very soothing. A sorta ouuuh sound that conveys a comforting feeling and her voice is ever so soft. It is the sound of love for her child. What a wonderful experience for not only Erin but for me as well. To hear her speaking to her child with such love and kindness in her voice. It would be nice if all mothers had such abilities. Soft voices, warm bosoms and lots of love and patience. What would our world be like then. Much better I am sure.

There it goes that sound. As I write Erin fusses a bit and Tanesha coos. Erin quiets and all is well. Gary would love that sound. He would have such things to write here. More than his mom I am sure. But I try.

We are doing well. All of us. Erin is growning quickly. She seems to stretch the fabric on her little clothes all too fast. She is only 16 days old. She bobbles her head around like one of those bobble head dolls and you have to be aware of the quickness she can move. Her head is heavy with thought and the changing ability of sight and she want to try to focus on all of it. She currently is enjoying the contrast between the open beam ceilings we have. She stares at those and then the headboard on Tanesha's bed. It is a Morracan mozaic with dark wood and lots of geometric design. Very beautiful. Then of course there is the wall hanging that was Gary's that is of a sun, moon and stars motif. It is over Erin's changing table. She enjoys trying to focus on that while she is getting her diaper changed.

She is changing fast. I see her father in her and sometimes while I am holding her I forget where and who I am. I see Gary lying in my arms for a minute and am transported back some 36 years. He is small and life is stretching out in front of us. Man do I miss him. But for an instant he is there, small and sweet and staring at his mom.

But then I go forward and see Erin as a toddler with blonde locks and a cute little dress (not to frilly, Gary!) playing in the grass. Such days to look forward to. Sigh!!

Well that is all for now. Erin is off to bed and I must go and kiss her goodnight. So smoochable she is. Oh at the miracle that she is here. Thank you dear ones that watch out for us.!!

I can hear the cooing sounds as I write.

10 days old!

So here it is just a smiggen of a time laspe and WOW how time goes by and Erin grows!! Just yesterday her mom put a one piece on her and it almost doesn't fit. She is getting longer or maybe she is just stretching out and her full length is reflected.

So when a new baby comes into your life it changes not just your outlook but also your vocabulary and what is sooo exciting. Bodily functions take on a new meaning. The number and consistency. I will refrain from details her to save Erin the embarrassment when she is older to know that her grandmother discussed such stuff on the internet.! But to say the least it is an important thing to know that all of those systems that took 9 months to grow and connect all work!!! And they work well!!!!

So also Siobhan has been doing well with the transition. Not to say that the green eyed critter didn't and doesn't still hit her occacionally but she is working through it and we are proud of her. She is adjusting and we are trying to help her understand that nothing changes in her status as mom's daughter.

With this said I would like to through out there a topic that I feel needs some thought. Do you realize that the word "love" is sooooo limiting. We have only one word to describe a multitude of feelings and emotions. We have so many types of love. "I love ice cream" is not the same as "I love Erin". In Spanish you would use a different word altogether. English is limiting! Conservative is probably the better adjective. Our Puritan heritage would not want us to be overly vocal about love. Unless of course we are speaking of God. Now there is another form of love. We need new words. Anyone got any ideas???

So that is all for now. I got homework to do and I hear Erin so that means I might get a chance to hold her again and gaze into those deep blue eyes that look like the universe lives there.

Oh do I sound like a dotting grandmother! You bet your bippies!!!

Erin is here!!!

Hello world and say hi to Miss Erin Marie Lodge!!!! She is finally here and we are all so blessed by her cute presence. Woopee!!!
I am hoping to journal and post some of her exploits on this until I aquire the skills to build my own site. Yes I am learning to code!!!

So I am attemping to put a picture of Erin on this post and then I will send it out to all. Welcome to the world of computers!!!! Internet and technology!!!!

So she is 6 days old and already holding her head albeit wobbly. Of course this is a grandmother talking. She is sleeping well and all bodily functions work. Mom is doing well also. What a trooper!! Mom is made of study stock that is for sure.

I will try to upload some additional pictures later. For now this is a new arena for me. And for Erin Marie.