The New Year

So how is the new year treating ya'll?? We are doing fine. There was a bit of bad weather and several no school days which Siobhan was loving. Her and her dad built several snowpersons, a dog and some cats in the front yard. It was beautiful. But after a few days we were ready for warmth again. Not use to this cold weather. We had highs of 25 and lows of 17. One would think I was in Oklahoma or somthing. But no! My mom assured me that the high there was 17 and the low was 7! So I guess she was in Minnosota or something. But the sun is shining today and it will be almost 50. Time to pull out the shorts?? We maybe not yet.

Siobhan got an opportunity to go dogsledding with her dad. She was soooo excited as she loves dogs and it is a preoccupation to want one and the reasons why it would be better to have a dog. Last night I heard her tell her mom, "I would have to take the dog for a walk at 7:30 and then I would be ready for bed. It would make me more tired and easier to go to bed." How little minds work. How fun. She did really have a great time as you can see by the picture. This was Rico. Her favorite. She took pictures of all 50 dogs! Some of them more than once. Fun.

Erin is growing like a weed. I think her mom must be putting someething in the milk. She is already almost 24 in long and outgrowing her 3 months clothes and more comfortable in the 6 month ones. She is smiling, laughing, focusing on your face well, grasping objects and today she found her feet!! It will be short order for her to roll and stick those feet in her mouth. We also have fear that she is teething!! She chews everything and is blowing bubbles. She has this "Shark" thing going on too. She will open her mouth wide and then roll her head around like she is trying to get a hold of you with her mouth. It can be a little disconcerting to have this mouth coming for you. So I call it her "shark" behavior. Fun stuff. But man is she a cutie. Once you engage her it is hard to walk away. She has such blue eyes that you just keep looking into them. They are lighter blue in the middle near the iris and then a little darker on the outside. Engaging she is. And she has discovered the keyboard. It is her favorite thing to play with and she gets so serious. She even knows some shortcut keys. I think her daddy has been helping her.

Tanesha is continuing the back to work mode and it goes well for the most part. As Erin gets more antsy sitting she will have to send her to Grandma to hang with. She just wants more entertainment. And sitting in her little chair is not doing it. She wants to be up and moving around so she can see everything and learn more.

As for me, well I am moving forward. It is hard to do that without feeling like I have left Gary behind. But I am trying to be healthier and happier. I am going to a yoga studio and working with a personal trainer for a month to get some better habits. I have been lifting some weights and hiking and doing some other fitness training.

Well better get this out. Erin is in need of a diedy change. So I will try to post some more later on.
Bye

Holidays

Hello all of you out there. I hope your holiday was wonderful and full of love and good times. Especially love.

We had lots of fun and food. Tanesha's parents and sister, hubby and new baby Colton James were there and so we had family around us. Kathy and Dennis also visited with us. They are Gary's aunt and uncle. It was sooo great to have people around me who know Gary and could talk about him and things he did and keep us laughing. I miss Gary daily and sometimes hourly.

Gary's dad (who is also Gary and we have nicknamed him GD Gary's Dad!!) and Helen and Gary's brothers Don and Andrew, all came for Thanksgiving and we had fun. They enjoyed Erin lots and Don and Erin spent some cool time together. He really was fun to watch. It was almost like watching a younger version of Gary with Erin. Both the boys have qualities that are so Gary like it is bittersweet. But I am very thankful for them.

Erin is doing well and focusing on objects and faces with recognition of who and what. She loves her fists and sucks loudly on them at times. She weighed 11+ lbs at the last doctor appt and is healthy. She is so darn cute it is almost painful. How do babies do that to us. Man oh man. And this last week she started vocalizing more and will carry on a conversation with you or her little "Okie Bear" for 10 minutes or more. She has discovered her voice. Fun stuff.


Siobhan went to Chicago for part of the holiday with her dad. So much fun she had!! Sears tower, the zoo, the museum, the Tut exhibit!! Oh how fun. She has cousins and a grandma there and so hauled more goodies back in. So she is back to school today and very tired from all the travel and fun. It will take her a few days to catch up with her new schedule.

Tanesha is back at work. She is taking Erin with her for now. Her employer is thrilled to have her back and will accomodate while Erin is not so mobile. So that makes it somewhat easier for her to feed and care for Erin and get some work in the middle. It is an added plus for her to be able to spend that time with her. And all the folks at work are watching Erin grow and blossom as well. Good stuff.



I am getting settled into yet another work space. I was just comfy in my first one when they sold the building and I had to move. I am now in a space a little farther from Tanesha's work but still within walking distance. I have organizing and unpacking to do still but getting there. My cottage space is still in the development stages but hopefully I will get it done before spring. I will invite all my women friends for a slumber party. That will be fun.

So that is all for now. I hope your new year is a loving and peaceful one. I know that peace is what I would like. Erin is growing and life is settling. That is good. Gary always reminded me in words and deeds that "The journey is the reward". I try to remember that and make each day a reward. I believe that those on the other side of that door are trying to help us, they enjoy what we do and experience so I hope to make that experience a good one for those who try to help me on to be happy on this side. It is only a door away.