GranDawn’s Log: Month 22

Dear Nathalie,

My dreams are coming true! You are speaking more!! Mummy has taught you the difference between hot and cold and you can say the words and show that you know the difference.

We have had the opportunity to be in your presence several times… Easter was a thing. and you still had no clue what the hubbub was about but you did hunt for some eggs. This is a unique year in that Easter fell on April 1st…a.k.a April Fools day. In my family, there was talk about hiding empty eggs. Or not hiding eggs at all and sending the children out to hunt for eggs anyway. I’m pretty certain it was Uncle Ray that voiced these ideas.

It is hard to gather all of my recollections this month…I’m not sure why; I know I am tired right now and I just want to get this letter to you complete because Aunt Pixie is DYING to see the videos.

I can’t blame her. You are just too stinking cute. So much so that I needed to capture the cuteness on video rather than just photo. To make up for the lack of photos last month, I believe I have overcompensated this month. It has been hard to choose what to post here. I will start with the stills.

I am going to start with some photos that your Father shared with me:

Look at all the bubbles! Your Mummy loved baths when she was a tot as well.

Speaking of Mummy…She shared this photo of you LOVING THE CAT HARD…so much that we can barely see her in the photo!

Poor Dash!

Here is one that appears to have captured the moment when you were patting the cushion next to you wanting Mummy to come and sit. You do this a lot and even if the space next to you is just a sliver wide we try to comply. Yes, it’s awkward and uncomfortable but if a toddler pats a cushion inviting you to sit…you sit.

In this one, you can barely see you, but Daddy snuck this photo of Papa and me attempting to soothe you to sleep. Back when your Mummy was a wee tot, she loved for me to rub her forehead and face and it would put her to sleep…I was trying that but it was not working. Then I realized that ever since you were very tiny you pulled on your ears when you are tired…so, I started rubbing your ear and the moment I did that… EYES CLAMPED SHUT! It was a MIRACLE!

Now let’s get a bit of video evidence of your cuteness.  This first one, you were doing EVERYTHING possible to NOT sleep.  Papa had taken you outside, more than once, trying to wear you out so that you would drift off easily…but NO…you were not having any of it.  This is a video that makes it look like you are fighting with your coat…the reality is that this is you physically fighting the need for sleep and your coat was the available object. In the end, Papa picks you up and walks you around the house until you fall asleep.

And this is the video where I requested a tissue…

And this is the one where you were carrying Whimsy around the house in a bag…by “carrying” I mean DRAGGING. (this is also a great example of the voice Papa uses when he speaks to Whimsy…and to you.)

This might be my favorite.  You discovered (meaning I showed you) the sprayer attachment on the kitchen sink.  You said “HI” and “Here you go” and “Papa” and “Thank you” and “Bye” and you DRANK FROM A CUP WITH NO LID!  I have much more video of this but this is short and sweet. Also, your hair is out of control…all of the time!

It was terribly difficult to pry you away from the sink and the running water.  But once we did…your clothes were wet so we put you in some jammies and around that time is when night fell and suddenly you started showing signs of fear.  We think it was shadows and darkness.  On more than one occasion something caused you to run lickity-split and full force into Papa’s arms.  Once Mummy and Daddy came to pick you up, Mummy gave you a lesson in Shadows 101.  I don’t think you really comprehended it, but she gave a good effort and with consistency, you may learn over time.

Ok, I think that covers all things YOU for the month.  Until next time NattyBug.

Love you bunches!

GranDawn

Goals Aren’t Mandatory

In a world filled with self-help books and bullet planners and TED talks and life-planning workshops, one might feel a sense of pressure to set goals in every area of their life.  School, Career, Marriage, Physical Health…you feel me?  I’m feeling a bit annoyed by the pressure.  (obviously, this is a “Just Venting” post right?)

So, I am an avid audiobook listener.  It’s what I do while driving alone, or cleaning the kitchen or other mindless tasks so that I can “read” ALL OF THE BOOKS that I want to read while still GETTING THE STUFF DONE.

I am currently listening to Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis.  First, I love this book, and I am not done with it yet…almost, but not entirely. Rachel is REAL Y’all.  Read her stuff.  Anyway, at one point she talks about setting GOALS, and it was in that moment that I realized:  I am thrilled with my career.  I could live the rest of my life exactly where I am and love it; I hope to.  God willing.  This place that I have been called to is my sweet spot.

So, that being said, I want to say that I DON’T HAVE A CAREER GOAL. I never really did. I know I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was little.  As a tween, I envisioned a future where I drove a semi truck (BJ and the Bear was a huge influence…I hearted Greg Evigan back then), specifically a big red semi truck!  I also wanted to look like Judy Landers while driving said red semi truck.

I never said my childhood goals were realistic.

Beyond that… as I grew older my sole intent was to move out of my parents home and be an independent woman…however I could make it happen. I did dream of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher…briefly… until I did not get the job in my early 20s.  That was the first job I had ever applied for and NOT GOTTEN.  I know… UNFATHOMABLE.

I have had MANY jobs.  I believe there is a post somewhere on this blog that lists them all.  Wait…that’s not my point.  I did not then and do not now have a career goal.  I left jobs when it was right for me to leave them and just kept following the path until God used some strange ways to bring me to where I am now. I have had additional jobs while my role at Granger Community Church was part-time; I even considered leaving it when an invitation to become a 9-1-1 dispatcher was extended to me because I needed to think about <GASP> future retirement plans. Yes, it was a life-affirming moment when I was selected to begin a job as a dispatcher…They like me!  They really like me!  Long story short, God called me to stay in this role, but now it is a full-time position. Indeed the dream I did not know I had.

So, when I hear a guru tell me to WRITE MY GOALS DOWN, or even suggest that I MUST HAVE A CAREER GOAL, I want to challenge the idea.  I am where I want to be.  I’m not complacent or giving up or lazy.  I am HERE!  What I will say is that I am always striving to add to my blessing…knowledge.  I have a TON of CEUs for a degree that I don’t have. You heard me…I don’t have a degree!  “But, Dawn…shouldn’t that be your goal?”  and to that, I say “PFFFFFTT”  –  I have no desire to sit through AT LEAST six years of schooling that would include classes that are NOT relevant to what I do.  Also, I have no desire to add said courses to my budget because I am NOT acquiring any additional debt.

Time to end vent…  Do I have goals?  Hmmmm.  Perhaps.  I feel that I have HOPES.  I hope to improve my physical health and overcome the barriers that contribute to any problems.  I hope to have a home that can be the hub for both sides of our family as well as incorporate opportunities to entertain friends. I hope to live until I am 120 years old with my mind fully intact and my body holding up well.  If that sounds lazy or complacent…you are entitled to your opinion.

I, however, feel that I am doing my best to listen to the direction of God and live my life according to the steps He reveals to me.  I know He has goals.

 

 

GranDawn’s Log: Month 21

Dear Nathalie,

If it weren’t for the fact that you managed to steal my phone, open the phone app, change the camera settings to Black&White AND snap this selfie…I would not have a photo of you for this past month.  Seriously, no other new photos of you on my phone.  I was surprised to see this one, I had no clue it existed…your mom has not texted me any either. I bet Grandfather has some… Whatevs

I swear you grew taller this month…I cannot prove that but you look taller.

You have revealed that you CAN use language.  You will repeat words if someone tells you to say them.

You DESPERATELY want to play outside more than the adults around you want to take you outside.  Perhaps we are wimps but we don’t like the biting cold and the weather that goes from blizzard to lovely spring day all in one week.  Some consistency would be nice INDIANA WEATHER!!! DO YOU HEAR US WEATHER???  DO YA?

Not much has really happened in your development from my perspective.  Really hoping you catch on to using utensils when you eat.  #GOALS

Nathalie adjacent happenings:  Mummy finally made it “Facebook official” that Daddy proposed to her LAST month.  The delay was getting the ring sized, letting her nails grow, getting a manicure…all the necessary things for a proper engagement ring photo, right?

Pssst…that (potentially) means you have flower girl duties in your future.  Not until next summerish.  That gives you time to grow out your hair, and lose some weight so that you will look good in photos…oh wait, that’s a note to self.  You’re perfect, ignore me.

I am going to admit this:  Without photos to look at, I am having a hard time remembering this past month in regards to YOU.  I recall what I did…but who wants to see my photos from seeing P!NK in concert, right?  (but for those who do….)

 

Poor photo quality aside…GREAT concert.  Oops, rabbit trail.

I wish I had more to share with you this month Nathalie, but I just don’t.  I will try to do better next time…or at least make a point of grabbing Grandfather’s phone before I write my post.

I love you, I can’t wait until you tire me with all of your babbling and wow me with your use of a fork and spoon.

Peace out Natty Bug!

Love, GranDawn

GranDawn’s Log: Month 20

Dear Nathalie,

I stole this picture off of your Mummy’s Facebook page because…well LOOK AT YOU GUYS!!!  Super. Freaking. CUTE!

For the sake of history, just know that this was the month where we had over a foot of snow pummel us one weekend only to be followed up with warm weather and rain that created a flooding of our area never before seen in my lifetime.  I imagine that Google will still exist when you can read this and I encourage you to perform an internet search for “2018 Flood Michiana” and you will see some great photos and videos.  Lots of people suffered from flood damage to their homes and businesses…people had to be evacuated from some areas…and other people were kayaking in parking lots.  It’s been interesting.

Totally random, and also for the sake of history,

this month, your Mummy was able to get your hair in a ponytail!!  It barely lasted beyond a car ride, but it happened!!

Your grandfather is tickled that you are at his favorite age (truth be known…you are always his favorite age) because you act silly, knowing that you are acting silly and you are big enough for rough and tumble playing but still tiny and cute. Let it be known that Grandfather will always be rougher and tumbler and active than I will ever be…someday you will learn that I am clumsy and easily injured and for the sake of my own well being, and to save you from witnessing something like a Twister tragedy where someone spins and I say “Left leg, BROKEN!” I will leave the rough and tumble to your grandfather and try to take photos and videos along the way.

It feels like this is the month where more and more people are asking “What does she call you?”  When I tell them “Nothing” this is often followed by a noticeable pause in the conversation.  My persistence in referring to myself in long form (grandmother), as well as the fact that I refer to your father and grandfather in long form as well, may likely be the cause of the “Nothing.”  My hope is that one day, you will choose what you call me based on your own preferences.  However, I will not find GRANNY an acceptable moniker;  I won’t, I just won’t.

You still are not using your knowledge of language to communicate verbally.  You definitely UNDERSTAND the language, and you REALLY utilize the word “No” in context. Rumor has it that you say “Yes” and on one occasion when I knocked on a door, where you were standing on the other side, the noises that came from your mouth sounded a lot like “Who is it?”  You still point and do this crab-like hand gesturing at the things you want.  In order to encourage more word usage, I tend to give you things ADJACENT to what I know you want with the hope that you might use your language skills to correct me, but as it happens, you will accept a beautiful paperweight in place of a piece of candy just fine.  Getting the paperweight back was a bit of an effort.

This past weekend you got some face time with Aunt Pixie, we woke her up and of course, she was fine with waking up to your cuteness. I think you respond to her on video calls better than you do to me in person.  She can get you to mimic her in the most adorable ways.  During one moment of the call, I could not see her because I was showing you the phone and you were sitting across from me, you were just smiling and sticking out your tongue and I could not hear anything from Aunt Pixie’s end…basically, she was making faces at you and you were making them back at her…super cute.

I was blessed with another visit from you and Mummy (yes, I do not refer to her as Mother, because that is just creepy) at work this past week…Appropriately dressed in your unicorn poncho.

 

You visited a few open door spaces such as the office supply closet where you fell in love with a step stool and the heartbroken mini-fit you threw as we took you away from the beloved stool was evidence of the quick bond you formed with an inanimate object.  The next open door you entered was that of my friend Mrs. Jeannna…shame on her for having a Care Bear where you could see it…and once you were done with the Care Bear, you formed a serious bond with a Light Saber!  Mrs. Jeanna had to duck and dodge your rudimentary Jedi skills in order to survive, but the force was with her.

This is important…one day, my hope is that you will call me Yoda.  I even have a particular hooded robe that I wear quite often that is apropos to me having this particular moniker.  Perhaps subtle exposure to the Star Wars universe will encourage this.

I can hardly wait to see what next month will bring.  Anything is possible!

Keep working on your Jedi skills!

Love,  GranDawn (Yoda)

GranDawn’s Log: Month 19

Dear Nathalie,

First of all, let’s address the fact that this letter is ON TIME!!!  Yay me!  Now, on to you.  Let’s begin with some general photos of you in all your adorable glory – let it be known that the jammies on the left are from your Grandmother Christine and the jammies on the right (yes, you are wearing a hat and coat with them) are from GranDawn  (both were Christmas presents).  Your grandmothers have good taste in jammies.

 

I have actually spent quite a bit of time with you this month.  Perhaps even more than Grandfather now that he has not been able to see you on Fridays due to his new working schedule. Sad for Papa, but this might give me just the edge I need to begin rising in the ranks of your favorite person hierarchy… muuuuaaahhhahahahahahahah!

On one occasion I had you to myself an entire day.  This is where I learned that you may actually prefer NON-animated television.  You were at my house and the tv was on and we were playing on the floor… Well, I was sitting on the floor and your toys were all around me and you were playing with them and occasionally would babble nonsense words at me or come near me, not so much ENGAGE with me while playing… anyway, the tv was on and since you weren’t watching it – I thought I would put on something that would not cause me to have Barney or Teletubby flashbacks.  I put on a movie called Man On a Ledge… lots of people moving around and SIRENS constantly sounding in the background of this movie.  While you were playing you started replicating the sound.  WEEE OHHHH  WEEEE OHHHHHH WEEEEEE OHHHH – you were cracking yourself up.  Eventually, you came and snuggled me and took over my comfy chair and just sat for a good FIVE minutes watching this movie.  I do have a photo of that moment, but you look so “derpy” (as the millennials would say) that I thought I would save you from the public humiliation of posting it.  So, here are some cuter photos from that day:

 

 

Grandfather and I also had the opportunity to keep you while Mummy and Daddy were working on a Saturday…and captured your cuteness then as well:

 

Then you participated in cousin Hope’s baby shower…you were not really very social except with other kids.  Eventually, I followed you around the building where the shower was being held… you insisted upon exploring every room with an open door, and there were a lot of open doors.  Then, we heard the cry of another tiny person…just a little younger than you.  It was adorable to see you shyly approach her (she may be a baby but she was a stranger to you) and then pat her on the back – just three little pats while looking at her with your head cocked sideways…then off you went to run around and climb steps and chase balls with cousin Jordan.  I loved watching you walk/run around…you tend to throw your arms and shoulders back behind you when you do this…at least on this occasion… it was a cute little posture that I will never find the words to describe…so, here is a video:

Finally, Daddy had the opportunity to explore a new job opportunity that would give him more family time and he needed someone to watch you STAT…so I moved an appointment and told him BRING ME THE CHILD, and he brought you to visit with me at work.  This little impromptu visit gave GranDawn’s friend Mrs. Julie the opportunity to give you some socks and this ADORABLE OWL COAT that I hope you will keep FOREVER!

It also gave you the opportunity to explore MORE open doors… one of which belonged to Pastor Mark Beeson, and little did we know that he was in the middle of a meeting. For the record…Daddy got the job!  Yay!

So, this month, my Grandmother cup runneth over.  

Love you NattyBug!  (Why is it that this nickname stuck?)

Until next month tiny one…keep being you,

GrandDawn

GranDawn’s Log: Month 18

Dear Nathalie,

This month in review includes Christmas!!

First, the usual report:

You repeated me when I said “Uh-Oh”… and if you are accident prone or spacially unaware of your surroundings like the women in this branch of the family are prone to being, you might want to perfect your delivery on that phrase.

Grandfather has been trying to get you to say “Papa” for some time now… and it paid off. You said “Papa” for him on December 16th. (Which is also the day you said “Uh-Oh.” Coincidence? I think not.

Mommy has been teaching you how NOT to HIT people. Especially her.

Oh, I bought blocks and magnetic numbers and letters to have at our house for you. With blocks, you like to try to stack them, but you can tell you have been building with Leggo because you press down on the blocks when you stack them. Ultimately, you like to destroy anything that is constructed out of these blocks. That must be a thing you got from your father; your Mummy just wanted to build things…especially mazes for small creatures. As for the magnets, you like to swipe them down to the bottom of, and then off of, the door and put them in a container – pretty much any vessel will do.

Still no interest in having me read a book to you… Beginning to question whether or not you are my grandchild at this point.

I discovered this THING on Netflix: Little Baby Bum and they are sing-along videos to nursery rhymes. You seem to like most of them. However, they have more verses and versions of Wheels on the Bus than I care to listen. Seriously, if they still exist when you read this, go check it out. You can tell they were stretching for material. There are TWELVE parts to their version of the song! Why? Who needs 20+ minutes of Wheels on the Bus?!?!

Ok, I know you want to talk about Christmas… First, it began with some disappointment, the postal service was overextended, and the gifts from the people who love you in Ohio have yet to arrive.

You really enjoyed the video call from Aunt Pixie, and her gift, a comfy rocking chair, was a big hit for you.

The Giles brunch was where you and Mummy wore matching outfits and Grandmother enjoyed Mimosas because Papa was driving.

The Lovitt lunch is where you received a mountain of gifts from every adult there. So. Many. Things!!! It is also where Daddy hit cousin Jordan in the face with snow and made her cry…he should be wary of her for awhile, she’s feisty.

Then Mummy and I went to see Pitch Perfect 3 with Kimmee and Lauren while you hung out with Daddy.

I fell (it was an icy parking lot) into the Envoy after exiting the theater…spilled a large drink all over Mummy and the interior of Papa’s vehicle and while driving Mummy home she and I laughed so much I was wheezing and crying. Good times.

Until next time…next year…enjoy all the gifts!

Love,

GranDawn

GranDawn’s Log: Month 17

Dear Nathalie,

It seems that posting these letters a bit late has become the norm… I was fully aware last weekend that I needed to write this letter to you and publish it LAST Monday, and then I got sick. Three days off work sick. Have not seen you since last Sunday because I don’t want to infect you, sick. However; I did successfully infect Grandfather!

So, last month I promised to update all things Halloween related. Your first attempt at Trick or Treating was a “trunk or treat” shin-dig hosted by a local church in your neighborhood. You were all cute and ready as we walked over to the designated area… carrying your little bucket and my car keys…but then you saw (DUN DUN DUN) the PEOPLE!

Yeah…you had to be forced to take candy from strangers.

Beyond Halloween… a few changes have taken place around you.  Daddy got a new job!!  He gets to hang out with you on Wednesdays (YAY!), but he has to work on Saturdays (BOO).  Grandfather got a new job too!!  He actually has to work ALL of the weekdays…and misses being available to hang out with you on Fridays when Mummy and Daddy have to work.  However, rumor has it that we both get to hang out with you on Saturdays when Mummy and Daddy both have to work.  WHOO HOO!!  Not that we can’t hang out with you on days that your parents aren’t working, but this is about the new changes in the work and childcare routine.

Thanksgiving was a thing.  You went to two celebrations, one on Thanksgiving day for your Lovitt clan and one on the following Sunday for the Giles clan.  I am pretty sure based on the reports of who else has come down sick that the Lovitt clan is where I picked up THE SICKNESS.  Anyway, you are not in a place where food is a big deal to you…you barely touched food at either of these dinners.  You did not really want to play with your cousins much either.  I even made an effort to take you outside at Gramma Lois and Grampa Jack’s house to let you run around with all of your cousins, and you wanted none of it.  While outside, you insisted on being carried around by me or your cousin Jordan.  Seriously child…what the what?!?!?

Nothing of much interest happened at the Giles turkey dinner other than it will forever be remembered as the year without mashed potatoes… BUT there was LOTS of wine and card games!  There was a heated argument about whether or not men should put the toilet seat down…your Mummy defended women like a WARRIOR!  Oh, and there was a distant future plan about carrying on the middle name.  Mine is Rana, Mummy’s is Renae, and yours being Rhenae… all pronounced the same.  Don’t worry, should you have a girl child, we came up with enough spellings for the next several generations.

I sent a picture of you with Grandfather, taken at the Lovitt turkey dinner, to Aunt Pixie… she thinks you are starting to look like your Mummy again.  You do morph in and out of who you look like and right now you are entering into a looking more like Mummy phase.  It’s all good…you look adorable regardless of who your looks favor.

So, for the record, Christmas is coming.  Grandmother Cristine has already sent a present to you, and it is at my house!  You are going to LOVE IT!!! It is very wonderful.  You should send her a thank you note…I have seen that you have discovered crayons, you could scribble something for her.

The gifts from Grandfather and me will not be quite as elaborate…I have decided that your parents can spoil you with gifts…I will continue to spoil my own children, even though they are grown-ups…because grown-ups like presents too.

Oh, as far as your development goes…Ummm I have not noticed much of anything new except you have little fits where you lay on the floor – face down… nose on the floor face down…for a brief moment and then get over whatever feeling you are having.  No biggie, you are still cute.

That is it for now tiny one.  I expect that come time for my next letter – which will likely be a bit tardy as it too would be scheduled right after a holiday – that we will have lots of fun photos and stories to share.

Love you little one… keep on keepin’ on!

Love, GranDawn

GranDawn’s Log: Month …grrr math… 16…right?

Dear Nathalie,

Time keeps passing by and we are full on into Autumn… my favorite season.  You own BOOTS now!  Not winter boots… fashionable fall weather boots.

You are still not REALLY saying much…in English.  You say things that sound like “Hey” or “Hi”  and then there are all kinds of sounds leaving your mouth but they are not yet making words that we understand.  I am starting to think that you and Whimsy might have a secret language.

You are really figuring out how to climb into things… the toy box… the water bottle package (which is Whimsy’s favorite hiding place).  Climbing over things is good too.  Keeping you quarantined to one space is becoming more challenging.  I really don’t want to purchase baby gates…again.  I prefer force fields, the technology just hasn’t caught up with my preferences yet.  C’mon Elon Musk… you need to get started on the baby accessories!!!  Enough already with the cars and solar roof shingles!!  (Both of which I want and cannot afford)

Moving on….

You are figuring out how to give kisses.  And not the open mouth, and drooly (is that a word?) kind that most babies give… you keep those lips closed and sometimes pucker, but only when you DARN WELL FEEL LIKE IT and that is not often.  Same goes with giving a high five.  You know how… you just don’t appear to be interested in performing on demand.  Which, in the grand scheme of things, this is a good thing but in the world of babies… You are A FREAK  unique.  I swear, I can see the little gears working behind your eyes and you just KNOW I want you to speak to me…anyone really.  You obviously UNDERSTAND words…you just don’t want to use them.

Oh, let us discuss your current hierarchy of people… Mummy is obviously the top dog.  Grandfather may be ahead of Father right now…Recently when Grandfather handed you to Father and went behind a closed door, you exhibited displeasure.  Whimpering… struggling… it was sad…and funny.  I believe Cousin Jenny is next in line – sort of equal to Father since she has you a few days a week.  Then… there is me.  I may even be behind Whimsy.  Heck, I may be behind ALL of the kitties.  Grandfather is of the belief that it is because I have special Grandmother magic that causes you to fall asleep once you spend too much time in my arms.  He thinks you KNOW that I can get you to go to sleep and you don’t WANT to risk that possibility – especially when Grandfather and the kitties are present!

About your education… You still are not wanting to sit down and read with me.  Except recently I received two toy catalogs in the mail and you were sitting on my lap actually looking through them with me.  You even tried to snuggle the stuffed kitties and tigers that were in there.  It was adorable… until….DUN DUN DUN…THE HORRIFIC THING happened.  You were squirming and wanted off of my lap (we were sitting in a comfy chair in the living room) and so I let you wiggle your way down…and (GASP!) I allowed you to slide off and tumble onto the floor!  Like, a WHOLE TWELVE INCHES or something HORRIFIC!  Your little shoulder made an impact with the floor… and (OH THE AGONY) you whined and sorta cried for A WHOLE FEW SECONDS and stood up and started circling the spot on the floor you hit, looking at the spot all angry!  As if:  HOW DARE THE FLOOR BE THERE!  Grandfather WAS NOT PLEASED with GranDawn for ALLOWING YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE PAIN!!!

And yes, this is me mocking Grandfather for his reaction to it all.  Much akin to wanting to call 911 when you were trying to poop.

It may be a good thing that Grandfather and I did not work the same shift when your Mummy was a tot… I am sure he would have had me arrested for child neglect, endangerment… something.  Rest assured… no harm will come to you when Grandfather is on duty.  With me, I will allow you to fall off your bike.  I will let you fall and scrape your knee.  I’ve already let the handle on the See-and-Say pinch your fingers (Muahhhhhahahahaha…Grandfather was not home) and you survived.  I will not allow you to play with knives, the stove, boiling water, rabid animals, strange animals, wild animals, medicine bottles (ahem…not even vitamin bottles), mobile phones, ummmmmm… I will not allow you or force you to interact with strangers, I will always slather you with SPF 100, I won’t let you play in the street or parking lots, I won’t let you go in water deeper than a couple inches and would never leave you alone in water even that shallow at this point.  But the scrapes and pinches and scratches and falls and bumps – Yeah, Imma let you get those. I will apply the ointment and bandages and cold compresses as needed, I might (not likely) even have to take you to get a stitch or two, but I am still gonna let you get minor injuries.  That is how you learn to NOT get them.  And someday… someone is gonna break your heart… but let’s pray for that poor fool right now because God knows between Father, GrandFather, Me and Mummy – that fool better go into witness protection. I would never physically HARM anyone… but ask Mummy and Aunt Pixie… they won’t like me when I’m angry.

Speaking of injuries… not really but this is as close a segue as I’m likely to get… you had your first opportunity to visit someone in the hospital!  Cousin Kimmee had a NASTY kidney infection and they kept her overnight and you were there with many of the people who love her… Party in ER Room 25!!  Yeah, there were way too many of us, but it is our Kimmee, we won’t apologize.

Finally… let’s say a word about the coming holiday.  Halloween.  Yes, you are actually going Trick or Treating… and you are going more than once.  You are going to be a Bunny.  (On the list of things I won’t do… I won’t allow you to eat Halloween candy that has not been thoroughly evaluated for safety…odds are, your parents will eat most of it anyway – so LOTS OF TRICKS FOR YOU!!!)

I think that covers this month…  You rock that Bunny costume Nathalie and I will post pictures of it in the next letter.

Keep being snuggly!

 

Love, GranDawn

 

 

GrandDawn’s Log: One year, 3 months

Dear Nathalie,

I realized YESTERDAY that it was the day your letter was due… and I was busy, this is good practice in delayed gratification.  One WHOLE day late.

Anyway, to be direct, I was also perplexed as to what I would write. I have not SEEN many changes or advances in the past month and I was beginning to have a concern… but Mummy and Grandfather saved your sorry ass  little reputation when in a text communication between the two, Mummy shared that you have finally showed a connection between a sound and an action.  Your first official meaningful sound is….drumroll please…..

“TA DA!!!”

Your Mummy and Daddy were playing with Legos (I am hoping you were involved in this play but Mummy always liked building things as a child) and apparantly upon completion of a project they must have made this exclamation of “Ta Da!” –  hence you are now replicating the action and the exclamation.  Grandfather was witness to this when he dropped you off at home today.  Grandfather is very proud.

Grandfather is also convinced that you are quite the smarty pants.  He is easily swayed.  I asked him if he could provide some evidence of this “smarty pants” behavior and at first he came up with things that you mimicked him doing. Mmmmhmmm baby stuff.  Obviously I have higher standards in what I consider to be smarty pants-esque.  Again  your little reputation was spared (a bit) when he shared that you have learned that certain surfaces are not conducive to sliding while you were pushing the tiny garbage can, that I keep next to our bed, across the floor – it would not slide when the flooring was not tile.  So, you quickly evaluated the situation and would pick it up and move it to the next tiled surface.  Perhaps this is a show of intelligence, however; I will reserve judgement until you begin speaking in full sentences.  (Also, Grandfather did not use the words conducive or evaluated in the retelling of this story but I am confident that by the time you read these letters that you will fully comprehend what those words mean)

Oh, okay… I give… You are a smarty pants. I am feeling all superior today because I completed some tasks at work today…budget proposal, finalized a presentation for Saturday.  (Neither of which I did on my own…pardon me while I step down off of my high horse)

Moving on… photos this month are not what they should be, I made the mistaking of trusting that my phone was still backing them up to the cloud the ONE TIME that I did not check before deleting them from my phone and now ALL OF MY PHOTOS FROM THIS MONTH ARE GONE!!!

I had to make due with photos that Mummy sent to me via text and knew I would like because in one of them, you are wearing the new pajamas I bought for you.  In another you are wearing the outfit Mrs. Shelley bought for you (and BUNNY SLIPPERS!) and in the other one you are BRUSHING YOUR TEETH…GranDawn is all about the dental hygiene.  Also, in that same photo with the toothbrush, you SOOOOOO have your Mummy’s feet.

I love you beyond measure NattyBug,

Don’t pay any attention to my snarky earlier self… you are awesome.

Love, GranDawn

 

GranDawn’s Log: 1 year, 2 months

Dear Nathalie,

I DON’T EVEN know where to start!

You are quite the tiny person now… a toddler if you will.

You attended the Giles family reunion and ran all over the park in your socks because…well…when you can’t walk who needs shoes and shoes cost money and you did not mind and you were not injured.  You did leave cute little baby toddler footprints on the pavement after you walked through a water puddle.  

You also attended some Pokemon Go Gym Raids… the highlight for you: being allowed to play with my Pokemon Go+. You were eventually able to capture your VERY FIRST POKEMON!!  It was a Natu.  Appropriate I think.  Your second capture was Oddish.  (Pokemon humor…but true)

After several outings where shoes might have been helpful, Mummy decided to get you some pretty cute kicks.  Ice blue, canvas mary janes with a bow.  Super cute and apparently you like them enough to take them to Mummy to have her put them on you.   You even stick your foot up to hasten the process!

The highlight for me this month, aside from having you as my Pokemongering sidekick, has been the day you visited me at work and we walked to the end of the building to visit Miss Katie and you FOUND YOUR WAY BACK TO MY OFFICE without out any guidance… you led Grandfather and I right back to where you started.  We are trying to reign in our claims of having a genius, possible future Mensa member grandchild but GIRL IT IS HARD.  You need to do some stupid things to bring us back to reality.  Oh wait, you still try to put sticks in your mouth…nevermind.  AND you still like playing with the cat toys. Reality found.

It has been a busy summer and I have not had enough quality time with you since my last letter.  But you are still as cute as ever and we are looking forward to each moment we have you in our presence.

We love you NattyGirl!

Keep Toddling!

Love, GranDawn

P.S.  I caught myself referring to MYSELF as Granny the last time you were with me. PLEASE don’t call me Granny.  I’ll accept Grammy (that’s like an award, right?). Granny is forbidden.