05-27-11

Two posts in a week. This is crazy!

Our March of Babies team, Yeah Babies marched on April 30th and raised $3000. We did amazing. I am still just so proud so I am saying it again!

On Wednesday, May 25th, my grandfather would have been passed for 3 years now. I am shamed to say that on Sunday, it was the first time I have been back to his grave site. Being busy these last couple of years isn't an excuse. But it was all in good timing. I got to introduce his great granddaughters to him. It was a very special thing for me to be able to do that. I just really really wish he could have been here to meet them. I can imagine it now, from the moment they looked at him, he would already have both pinkys wrapped. Much like their momma did! He would have thought they hung the moon. The girls remind me of him. He struggled many years before he passed away. He had seizures and about 15 years prior he had a really bad seizure while driving and nearly died. He was in horrible shape. He had brain damage, broken bones, broke his neck. He was in rehab for a while and had to learn many things again. He had to wear a neck stabilizer that had screwed in his forehead and back of his head to stabilize his neck. Eventually, he had a fused neck. He had many other problems resulting from that wreck but he was a fighter. That man endured so many surgeries and setbacks and still he pushed through and never once did I ever hear him complain. He just said that it is what it is and he was just happy to be able to watch the Braves. He was a character. He would have loved to laugh at and with the girls. He was just as goofy and light hearted as they are and it would have been a good fit. It is amazing how I can just imagine it so clearly in my mind. He was one of the strongest men I have ever known and I was amazed daily with his ability to be positive. I have that same feeling with the girls. They are amazingly strong and to survive what they had to just to see their first birthday is truly wonderful to me. I believe my grandfather and the girls to be one in the same when it comes to being strong. Visiting him was a good thing. I look forward to telling them about him one day.

On Wednesday night, Brooklyn decided it was okay to let go from Mommy's hand. She stood on her own without wavering for 30 seconds. Although, I would argue that it was 10 minutes, time seemed to stand still. It was great. We all clapped for her...even Quinn. She was so excited too. I believe only because we were yelling YAY and clapping. We are almost there. Walkers! How exciting and nerve racking!

Richard was home Monday morning with the girls. They slept til 10:30am. Why can't that happen on a Saturday morning? Anyway, we have a baby gate up when you go into the kitchen. Well, he was changing Q and B was roaming in the kitchen. Richard returned to the kitchen to see that she had opened the dishwasher and pulled the bottom drawer out and then crawled in it and was sitting in the middle of the dishwasher. This is why there is a baby gate leading into the kitchen. Walkers are gonna be so much fun!

Last night, 05-26, Brooklyn got her first fat lip. She is attempting to stand up from being on her knees. She is on her knees and bouncing up. Well, last night she fell forward and did not catch herself. She face planted the hardwood floor. Richard swooped in and picked her up. She cried for 10 seconds and lifted her head from his shoulder and blood was discovered. I freaked. But it wasn't coming from her nose. It was her mouth. She seemed to wonder the funky taste that was in her mouth and didn't worry about the fact that she just bit through her lip. It was HUGE! She even had a chunk of lip hanging from the backside (mouth) of her lip. She was just a licking that fat lip. I let her suck on ice to see if the swelling would go down. She would lick it and seemed unscathed by her fat lip with a chunk hanging from it! Tough chick!

I have a strong feeling that this is just the first of many bumps and bruises. She is a climber. She has found a way to climb onto the couch. She just now figured out how to do it without the assistance of a toy or their princess couch as a stepping stool. We are doomed! This past weekend, we were at a restaurant and she tried to escape. I am a bit OCD. So I take the high chair covers when we eat. Most restaurants do not take pride in cleaning their high chairs. The covers have straps to buckle babies in the seats. Well, Miss Brooklyn was not gonna be restrained. She stood up in her high chair and climbed on the table to sit. All the while, dragging the high chair cover behind her. She is truly a monkey! She is just so curious and intrigued with people and things that she will go to an extreme to get her hands on something that catches her attention.

Miss Quinn has perfected her gymnast skills. She has been attempting head stands for the last week. Last night, she really started perfecting her tumbling skills. It almost seems like she has a routine. Brittany told me this morning she would tumble and do head stand and then clap for herself when she is done. She is becoming a little attention hog! When she is on her head, she will move around and look at you, upside down, just to see if you are looking at her.

These little girls are growing up so fast. Brittany has been teaching them to blow kisses and it is adorable. They will wave bye to you and say bye on occasion.  They are becoming little girls! Love them!