Hey little boy, this is your Emmy and I want you to understand how very loved you are so I am writing this blog hoping that someday when you are old enough to read it you can better grasp the idea of unconditional love.

Two years ago, after a really long wait you were born.  Your daddy had been teasing everyone for the last several days about mommy being in labor.  Fairly early on that Satruday (Emmy’s early, not the rest of the world) your daddy called to tell us that mommy was in labor.  I went and woke up Boppy and we got to the hospital as quickly as we could.  When we walked in your mommy’s room she was curled up and in a lot of pain.  I held her hand and talked to her as we waited for the doctor to come in and give mommy something for the pain.  The doctor came in and gave mommy a shot, and she felt much better.  Now she was ready to see you.  After several hours you decided to show your little face.  I was there with mommy and daddy when you were born.  I cried when I saw you because you were so precious.  Mommy and daddy were so proud of you.  Mommy held you, then the nurses wanted to clean you up a little.  After your mini bath your daddy held you.  Finally, I was able to hold you and I knew right then that our relationship was going to be extra special.  I handed you back to daddy and went to tell Boppy, and Pa and Granny that you were here, healthy, and absolutely beautiful.  When they were allowed to see you, Pa said you were the prettiest newborn he had ever seen.  You were a funny little monkey.  When you were born you were licking your lips.  You wouldn’t stop.  Your little tongue was out a lot more than it was in.  You looked like a human lizard, but it sure made you easy to find in the nursery.  We just looked for the baby that was licking his lips and that was you!

After you were returned to mommy’s room we all began making phone calls.  Everyone in the family had wanted to know the minute you were born.  We called your aunt and uncle first.  Then we called all the great aunts and uncles.  Everyone was so happy that you were finally here.  You were certainly worth the wait.  You have made your daddy happier than I have ever seen him in his life, and I have known him since he was born.  Your mommy has been the best mommy I have ever seen.  She did everything just right while you were in her tummy and she continued to do everything right after you were born.  I came to your house the first week that you were there and helped you and your mommy.  You had a lot of naps on my chest that week.  I napped too on occasion.  You also had a lot of company.  Everyone wanted to see the new baby. 

Grandpa and Grandma couldn’t come.  Grandma was too sick and it was hard for her to leave home.  On Father’s day 2007 we took you to Harrison to see them.  It was your first big trip!  Grandma and Grandpa were thrilled to see you.  They couldn’t wait to hold you.  We took pictures.  It was hard for Grandma to hold you on her own, but we helped her and she couldn’t kiss your head enough! You will need to remember how much she loved you and we will tell you through the years because Grandma died shortly after that.  Since then Pa passed away too.  You and Pa were always buddies.  He could make you laugh like no one else.  You still recognize Pa in pictures but as you get older you will need us to tell you about Grandma and Pa because you won’t remember the love they shined on you.

You, my dear, have become the family toy.  When you walk in to Emmy and Boppy’s house it is all about you.  Anything you want is yours.  When your Uncle comes in from Chicago he wants to see you first.  He gets mad that mommy and daddy have such an early bed time for you because he can’t play with you enough.  Just between you and me, he would never have enough time to play with you.  When your Aunt moved back she needed to see her little man.  You hadn’t seen her in six months, but you picked up right where you left off.  You called her by name and wrapped her around your little finger.  You love to run through the house and boss us all around.  You love to tell us to “come shoot basketball”, “let’s walk Emmy”,   and now that it’s summer you are begging to get in “big water”.

You my very darling, blue-eyed boy are loved to the moon and back by more people than you can possibly count.  You have at least two angels in heaven watching very closely over you, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they made sure you lead a blessed life.  You charm the people you meet with your smile and beautiful eyes.  You are sometimes very friendly and sometimes very shy.  The outgoing part of your personality comes from your daddy.  He always has enjoyed meeting new people.  The shy part of your personality comes from mommy.  She is outgoing with family but she doesn’t really enjoy meeting strangers.  So when you feel shy, just remember you get that from mommy and it’s okay.

I can’t wait to see what all the years ahead have in store for you.  I am looking forward to every phase of your growth.  I can’t wait to brag about every little move you make…what do I mean wait?  I already brag about you to anyone who will listen.  Our family has bored everyone we know with stories about you and what you have done or said.  You are my little monkey man.  You earned that moniker when you were born and it has stuck.  You will always be my first grandchild and I will never stop loving you.  No one will.  Once you are a part of this family you are stuck.  You can always count on us.  You will always have a shoulder to cry on, arms to lean on, an ear to hear your complaints, and someone will always be there for you no matter what.  You were born to a strong and loving family.  You are already a strong and loving boy.  You are free with hugs and kisses because you have received so many you think everyone does that.  That’s a good thing.  The best is when you come for a kiss out of the blue.  

You melt my heart little man.  You are the perfect blend of your mommy and daddy.  You are the cutest little monkey in the jungle.  You are our personal comedian, and now you are two.  Two whole years have gone by since I first saw you in the hospital.  My love for you has grown, and I was pretty sure it couldn’t.  You remind of your daddy sometimes and take me back to when he was a little boy.  When you blow me kisses or even get on to me the love meter rises.  I don’t know how high that meter goes, but I have a feeling it is infinite.  So to you on your 2nd birthday, I wish you health and happiness.  I won’t wish you love because you have more than any other child I know.  Trust your heart and listen to your parents and you’ll be fine.  (If you ever have a run in with them just let me know.)  Now go eat chocolate cake and blow out your candles at least 20 times.  Happy To You! (that isn’t a typo, that is how you are currently singing the birthday song.)  I love you!   

 

Why do weeds flourish where flowers don’t?  As you’ll recall I recently blogged about doing the yard work.  It is not something I live for.  The yard is almost finished now…the honeysuckle vines have been trimmed back and the trees have been pruned (I mean tree…we only have the one).  I watered the petunias last night and noticed that it is already time to weed.  The height of the petunias hasn’t changed one iota, but the weeds are ready to take over the beds.

I try to approach weeding in the same fashion that I approach plucking my eyebrows.  If you check everyday for strays and pluck the offending hairs each day you don’t have to spend a lot of time in pain from the plucking.  So, each time I walk out into the yard I stoop and pluck all the little weeds and nut grass that I can find.  This works with my eyebrows, but weeds don’t adhere to the same growth policy.  They can absolutely take over the yard in the space of one night.  It is ridiculous.   One of the weeds that loves our yard has a huge but shallow root system.  It starts with a center that looks like a spider web and then it sends tendrils shooting out from that.  Luckily when you start to pull it up it comes easily and it looks like you’ve done a lot of work because it covers so much territory.  Unfortunately, it grows right back.  I swear if I had the time to watch I could actually see these things grow, no time lapse photography required.

Our yard (especially the back) consists of tree shoots the squirrels planted, honeysuckle that I planted years ago that has taken over the fence and a considerable part of the yard, nut grasses, and dandelions.  It is impossible to pull all the weeds.  If I did we wouldn’t have a yard.  Of course, we cut way back on yard when we installed the in ground pool.  We further diminished the green by pouring a basketball court.  If the hubby has his way the remainder will soon be home to a putting green.  Don’t tell him, but if he thinks I have done all this stinking yard work so he can spend hours out back putting he has lost his effin’ mind.  First of all, he won’t maintain it,  secondly, when would he ever find time to be out there?  He spends every daylight waking hour on the real golf course.  Lastly,  my daughter and I have decided to plant a vegetable garden in the area that used to house the pear trees.  As for the rest of it, I’m thinking rocks…a lot of rocks.  I know they will grow well back there, because they already do.  They won’t require mowing.  In fact the only problem with rocks will be The Precious throwing them in the pool and at the house.

One additional problem with the yard work is the fact that I can only work out there from about 7:00 p.m. until dark.  I can’t tolerate the heat like I used to.  Since there are no trees out there the sun just beats you down.  If I am in the pool with my big old sun hat on I can manage, but out there working in the sun gives me a migraine.  Here’s the real clincher though…we have lawn people who come by and treat our yard for weeds and nut grasses.  I pay them every month for their services, and then take a margarita out back and cry over the sad state of things.  I mean, if the pros can’t make a pretty yard happen what chance do I have?  You know the old joke…my  chances are somewhere between slim and nun…and Slim is out of town and the nun is cloistered. 

Oh well, The Precious is having his birthday party on Saturday and after that the yard can go back to hell where it came from.  After Boppy found a snake out there I pretty much lost interest in the tallest weeds anyway.  There is a pile of wood out back where Boppy either built something and had left over wood, or where he thought he was going to build something and that just didn’t happen.  Either way I would like to see that go, but I’m not going to be the fool that moves it.  Are you kidding?  If I bent down to pick up a board and the wind shifted or (God forbid) I saw any…ANY movement I would mess myself, and I don’t think anyone would volunteer to change my pants.  Of course that is assuming that the heart attack wouldn’t kill me.  We plan on taking the last of the dead leaves and vines to the mulching place on Friday…I plan on doing as little of the lifting as possible, because the other problem with yard work is…It hurts!   I’m old, arthritic, grumpy and sore.  The less I have to do at this point is just about enough. 

The bottom line is when I say the yard work is done, I mean until next year.  Maintenance is not my forte.  I will make it look as nice as possible for now, and then let it go again until next year just like I always do.  Then next year when it looks just as hideous as it did this year I can bitch and moan about it again.