It's Long Overdue!

It has been a very busy life for a past several months! I am going to try to update, please forgive me that some of the photo's will be out of order. I will do my best!! :)

Karin and Steve had purchased numerous strollers for their growing family. When Kien came to be with us, so did those strollers. When I go to doctor appointments, I usually will bring the double stroller where the seats sit side by side. Typically it's hard to maneuver through doors. So, my lovely husband found a garage sale that happened to have a stroller that has a seat for an infant car seat. We had the exact car seat designed for that stroller! So, we of course had to test it out. Even Kien liked his seat! It is SOOOO easy to push and turn.

Heehee.. Gabe has a curly swirly!! So did Jeremy when he was little! SO CUTE!

Kien really should be taught how to put a hat on! He saw daddy and Jeremy wearing his hat backwards once and now Kien thinks this is how you wear a hat!

Gabe sleeps much sounder when next to me. Greg was being sneakertive before he left for work.

On this day, Brandy and I went to get our hair cut. We both wanted something different. Brandy LOVES her do. I was going to get something similar, but I have had the same hair style for YEARS. The "HUGE" change was just to cut it to where I had no more layers and made some bangs. No photo's for me though. Jeremy doesn't want a hair cut. He has grown a birds nest! Pick my battles right? :) I do make him get it trimmed at least! He's still my handsome boy!

My babies are growing up! I love them so much. It's a wonderful bittersweet experience to have two older children and two younger children. God has blessed me beyond measure. Maybe by the 4th one I will have all the answers... NOT!!!!!!!! LOL

Here are some snap shots. Gabe was chillin' in his swing.

Here is what I think is the combination of a smile and a wink! :)
Couldn't tell if he was protesting or reaching for mommy lol
Kien insisted on holding on to my hand while we ate together. How sweet!
Yum! He loves Pringles.
Kien is so cute! We had just heard a train's horn in the background...

Gabe just laying around.. He sure likes to bat his hands around.

New eTrade Commercial with Baby Gabe

E*TRADE Trading Baby 2008

Cathi's Aftermath

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

When I arrived home, I had this email from Cathi:

"Today was very interesting for me. I returned home shortly before 11 AM (from taking me, Nina, to the airport) to find that Duke knocked over the grey bins (things still packed from the floor project and not resettled) and had cans and dog bones all over the place. (smart doggie!!!) In Kien's room I found all containers that had treats in them GONE!! So I cleaned up what I could and then of course Gabe was starving, so I had Kien play while I nursed. Then, Gabe fell asleep so I helped Kien clean up and we ate lunch. Then, Gabe awoke right as Kien was going down for a nap, so I gave him a bottle. Then ... oh yes... it was BOTH of them that were ASLEEP!!
I began putting scrapbooking things away (also still in bins from the flooring project) and finished cleaning up Duke's mess while popping on facebook and email in between. Right as I got back into finding things to organize, Gabe woke up. I very quickly started a load of towels. Then, found that Gabe had the stickiest poopy ever! So, I nursed and put Gabe back to sleep. At 3:30 I woke Kien up and got him a snack to eat while on his sofa. NOW, the rules have changed. He can no longer have a snack in the family room. He dumped his goldfish all over and stomped on them crushing them into the rug and all over the floor. I made him sit on the sofa while he watched me vacuum them up. I also moved the rug over where his toy box was (and did a MAJOR vacuum) because I am afraid he is going to ruin the floors by being IN the toy box dumping --throwing-- toys on the floor. At least with the rug, it has some sort of cushion. Well, in moving the rug I then -unbeknown to me- touched my eyes and then my eyes itched terribly and watered badly. *SIGH* "

Poor Cathi... However, I know she is wrongly accusing poor little Kien! He would not have dumped his snack and stomped on it!!! Duke must have done it!

Grandma Has Gone Home

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

When I got Kien out of bed this morning, we went into Mommy's bedroom and I lay him down next to Gabe, and said, "We have TWO babies! See our two adorable babies, Mommy?" I don't think we had ever lain them side by side before. Kien looks a bit apprehensive about it -- like he wasn't sure what to think.



After breakfast, we headed for the airport. I had told Kien yesterday that Grandma would be going home to Grampy today, so I asked him this morning what was happening. "Airport. Grampy. Miss him." As I hugged and kissed him goodbye in his carseat, he thought he was getting out too and was a bit upset that he couldn't go into the airport. Leaving is always sad...

But I am GLAD to be home with Grampy!!!! :) We have to pick up Guinness in the morning from the pet hotel.

Happy Second Anniversary!!!

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

Today marks two years since a very happy, fun day.
The Rehearsal with Mr. & Mrs. Texas.






This morning, I babysat Gabe while Cathi and Kien went shopping. It was an easy job. This is what he did for two hours while I did laundry.

As Kien napped this afternoon, I worked on my list of chores to complete before leaving tomorrow.
This evening, Brandy and I babysat while Greg & Cathi went out for dinner. Before they left, the kids went with me to Braums (hamburger and ice cream place) to select our dinners and desserts, then brought them back to the house to eat at home. Yum!

When the happy couple returned, Kien and I went to the garage to say "goodnight." We saw some wildlife! MLE, we need some identifications please!


Among our bedtime stories tonight, I read Noelle's book, "The Story of a Heavenly Princess" to Kien. During my month here, we have talked about Mommy Karin; "Uncle" Steve and Kevin came to visit, and we have looked at pictures together on my computer of Kien's life over the past year. He seems to remember more than one might think at his age! Cathi told me that he called Aria, "Princess Aria," yesterday! I never said that to him, but Karin used to call her, "Pretty Pretty Princess." While reading the story of the Mommy who brought him from Vietnam to America, he said, "Miss her." !!!! Then I told him how much Daddy Greg and Mommy Cathi love him and wanted him from the first time they say him, and that it was God's plan that he be Mommy Cathi's and Daddy Greg's little boy, because He took Mommy Karin to heaven to live with Him.

It's hard to get a good picture when they are so silly! LOL

Never a Quiet Moment

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

This morning, I took the Odyssey in for warranty servicing. Thanks to Karin for buying the superior extended warranty allowing me to have a free rental car for the day!
Kien has TWO fireman's hats on his head and is attempting to add a third.

Then he intended to put a hat on Duke, but missed his head. ha!

This afternoon, Cathi had a dental appointment. While Kien napped, Grandma played with Gabe. He was a bit fussy and definitely hungrier than Mommy had indicated!
The Big Blues:

Fortunately, he likes Grandma's singing.

Brandy leaves the house at 6:15 AM to be at band rehearsal before school. After school is Swim Team practice. A very long day!
Tonight was Jeremy's Parent Meet the Teacher Night at school.

Later this evening, Gabe was enjoying some Mommy time.

A few minutes before this shot was taken, I was holding him and he was fussing. Daddy picked him up and he stopped right away. He knows Daddy much better than he knows Grandma.

Several friends have emailed me recently mentioning that I must be tired. I have denied that, but today, I have to admit that they are right! Time for old Grandma to go home and sleep in her comfy bed without Duke on top of her plus crowding her off a double size bed!

It's Mainly Textual

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

When I was ready to retire to my pull-out sofabed in the living room late last night, something electronic was losing its battery power and blasted two jarring rings every 5 minutes. I was stymied by what was making that noise. I suspected it was on the high kitchen counter near my laptop, but I couldn't find the offending electronic medium. I didn't know if I would ever get to sleep. I would start to doze, then "BA-BOING" would split the silence. I finally managed to fall asleep between electronic blasts, only to awaken an hour later to the 5 minute interval sound bursts. Then I managed to sleep until 5 AM and awakened to quietness. The thing was dead! OK... I will open this up to guesses as to what the offending object was! I'll post the answer tomorrow in the comments for today.

The backyard neighbors have allowed a woody weed vine with large leaves to encase their fence and cascade profusely over Greg & Cathi's side of the fence. This morning, I rose before Kien awakened, to go out in the cool of the morning to chop it back out of our sight (for a week or two). Then I started to work on weeding a planting bed Cathi established, but she has been too sick with the pregnancy all this year to do anything with it. Within a couple of digs, I knew that this job was beyond my brawn, but I stuck at it to see what I could do when fire ant bites began burning my wrists and legs. Pesky things! They aren't called fire ants for nothin'! I told Cathi that she needs to pull out the brick edging she put in and mow between the shrubs. Forget the planting bed!!!

However, the front foundation bed, which I weeded my first week here, is looking good now. The Monkey Grass and Stella D'Oro lilies are blooming! Unfortunately, Greg chopped back the mum left over from their wedding flowers two years ago, so it will not be blooming this year.

Kien was a bit out of sorts this morning. He has had considerable potty success since I have been here (nothing to do with me!). So Mommy bought M&Ms for rewards. However, now he asks, "poopy toilet," ALL the time!!! And he will sit there forever hoping for success (and candy) which has not been forthcoming recently. That was the routine again this morning, but no one wants to spend their day sitting in the bathroom with him. Mommy suggested that he might need a nap. With the next burst of tears, he said, "nap."

I had planned to take him grocery shopping with me, but I went alone. After lunch, I hoped for a nap to make up for lost sleep last night. But you know the life of motherhood: as soon as you lie down, you begin to think of all that needs to be done. My major chore was to repaint what I had touched up yesterday with the wrong paint! A couple of years ago, we worked out graduated tints of grays from dark to very light for the various rooms and to highlight the Spanish style archways. As a result, it is very difficult to figure out which paint goes where. It seems to fall to me to be Ms. Touchup when I come to visit.

I am still dealing with the insurance companies over the fender bender while stopped for a train on Aug. 18 in Greg's Odyssey. It appears that the retired Marine who hit the guy behind me and pushed him into my (Greg's) bumper made up a story for his insurance company after we all agreed on what happened and jovially pointed fingers at him for causing the accident. He now says the sandwiched guy hit me, which caused Semper Fi to hit Mr. Subway. One flaw here: Brandy and I felt only one big jolt. I can't get the officer to return my call, so I marched to the police department to get a copy of his report only to learn that he didn't write it up since the damage was minimal. Now I need to track him down when he returns after some days off.

I am into simple cooking. I planned out several easy recipes before coming as I knew I would be chief cook during Cathi's recovery. One meal which I expected would not be a favorite was Chicken Pot Pie. I made it anyway on my waning week. Surprisingly, everyone was excited about it. Shock! Plus I made a big fruit salad to go with it. Kienie Bean LOVES fruit. So after his share of pot pie was devoured and everyone else had left the table, he continued with lots of fruit -- especially the watermelon!

I love the way he pushes his little feet against the bottom of the tray!

Sunday

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

I began the day with a nap! ha! While waiting for everyone to be ready for church, I konked out for about a half hour on Kien's nursery floor while Jeremy played with him. I was aware of Kien climbing on me from time to time, then Jeremy put a comforter over me and took a picture.

Jeremy caught this shot of Kien too.

What great family dogs!

Brandy taking her Sunday afternoon nap with Daisy!


Cathi had to take Brandy shopping. Meanwhile, Greg and I worked on restoring the house while Gabe slept and Kien played. He escaped from his family room "jail," and played the Wii drums. (Turn up your sound to hear him singing!)

I mentioned to Greg that Kien and Gabe are going to need a play table. He said he saw one recently that he liked, then tried to find it online. He found a Handy Manny one which intrigued him since Kien likes tools (to his Daddy's amazement and enjoyment!). But we had never heard of Handy Manny. Greg set my laptop on a bin and looked him up online. We discovered that Kein knows Handy Manny! LOL Greg played a couple of YouTube videos and then this Bob the Builder one.

Men! Greg set up Gabe with the remote.

Daddy LOVES his little boy! :)


I got to babysit him tonight! They went to their church small group meeting with kids except for Gabe and Jeremy who was playing with a neighbor. Gabe likes grandma! :)

BEDTIME

Mommy read their favorite story to Kien tonight -- "HICCUPotamus". Karin loved that story too. I never "got" it, but it IS cute when Cathi reads it (I never did hear Karin read it).


Then they wanted me to read another favorite of theirs -- An Elmo "Where's Waldo" type of book.

First Day of Recovery

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

This morning, the grout was dry enough to be mopped. Jeremy occupied Kien while I worked. Kien was quite happy until I snapped this photo.


After the floors were clean, I was ready for other projects of the day. The first was to take Duke and Daisy to have their nails clipped. They were far too noisy on the new wood floors. Jeremy and Kien went too.
The dogs wanted to get into the front seat with Jeremy and me.


Kien had fun seeing the puppies and kitties that came to the vet's.

Jeremy giving Duke a treat for being a good boy.

Kien giving Duke another treat.

Here is Gabe enjoying sitting near the table while we had lunch.

This afternoon, I took the mini-van to Discount Tire for a rotation and two new tires. One was worn and one (my flat from Easter time) was causing the low pressure light to come on this week.
Brandy and Jeremy's Dad's mother came to visit this afternoon. The kids enjoyed seeing their "Nanny," and Kien knew she was a nice lady! They demonstrated their guitar skills and Brandy showed her some band videos.

Gabe thought she was OK too!

We managed to unpack some bins and move towards settling the place.