HAPPY 45TH ANNIVERSARY

I drove home this morning from Arlington, taking with me the anniversary gift from The Thompsons A scrumptious Edible Arrangement of oranges, choc dipped strawberries and bananas, cantalope and honeydew melons. It is really yummy and attractive as well. We have plans to go out for steaks tonight w/ friends. Should be a good celebration.

Winding down

This is my last night in Arlington, Lilly is eating, we ate some really good manicotti and salad and bread. N took me to buy MORE lantana plants for the front flowerbeds in Bwd, and she took me all the way to the Apple Store to return the iPhone cover I got on Tuesday, but decided I didn't like. Other than waiting for longer than necessary to be waited on, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

I've been trying while I've been here this week to be "careful" abour what and how much I eat, since I've not been "working out" as I do every morning at home. N loves to bake (as I do) and when I arrived there was a plate of great looking chocolate chip cookies. After looking at them for about a day- I covered them w/ a kitchen towel, so they wouldn't "LOOK AT ME". N thought this was funny and told B. Have I ever mentioned what a smart A$$ B is? He mentioned Friday after he did the mowing, that he has fixed my computer so it wouldn't be knocked off their system. (This has been a twice a day occurrence). I walked to my computer to find THIS on it.


Let's hope Lilly grows up w/ a sense of humor and thick skin- she'll have to-- to hold her own around here. There will be lots of laughing. Always a good thing

While I've been here Lilly has been holding her head up more, has become adept at charming visitors and can sleep through anything, IF SHE WANTS TO.

I'm learning that N and B are wonderful parents who learn new "baby" techniques every day. It is obvious that this baby is wanted, loved and cherished. No dad could be more attentive and helpful that B has been and will be. And Nikki has and will devote every moment to seeing that Lilly is comfortable, well fed and loved. What more could a child want.

A day of loud hiccups

Not only has Lilly had hiccups more than once today, I've had them for awhile. Oh, Well, must be something in the air.
Last night was a combination of good and bad. N and Lily slept, but not in their respective beds. They both spent the night in the comfy recliner in L's room. Sleep, but not really relaxing deep "bed" sleep.

N went to school to check out the report of a break-in in her area of the building. It seems that only about 3-5 rooms were invaded and her area was one of those. Luckily her lap top was stored away in the computer room, which was broken into, but from what she could find out, her data is safe--wasn't taken. She set up the area (I keep saying "area" because she doesn't have a room, she does her thing in a rather roomy walk through closet) for the person that they hope to get as a long-term substitute for her maternity leave til the first of Oct. She organized the space, talked to a few folks, showed Lilly off and we came home for feeding and a nap for N. Lily went for a walk and danced and sang and told stories. She slept about 10-15 min of the hour and a half that N slept.

We have an excursion planned for later this afternoon. N has had her eye on a particular knitted blanket from Babies R Us and we're going to see about getting it. If we do, I'll take it home to embroider it. We have dinner frozen and ready to pop into the over later, brought by one of yesterday's visitors. Last night's supper was also provided by a visitor from yesterday (pork chops and rice) It was quite good. N's friends have been soooo generous and thoughtful.

When I came last Sunday, I brought an antique for Lilly's parents. Maybe vintage is the better word, but it is a baby scale from the 1940's. I was weighed on it, my little brother was and several years later, N was weighed on it.

Not sure how accurate it is after all these years, and NO it isn't electronic and digital, but it IS A SCALE with an interesting "40's" picture on the dial.


I'm going home in the morning and will be "on call" if needed next week. N really wants to do this baby thing on her own.
I wish you peace, and patience, and lots of good quality sleep, My Dear.

A "normal" night

While nothing around a new (15 day old) baby is NORMAL--last night (Wed night/Thurs morning) was relatively uneventful.
They woke, she ate, she went back to sleep. Not a lot of crying, and carrying on. When she behaves that way, she's called Lovely Lillian, not Princess Thunder Cloud.

We're expecting visitors twice today, so I'll try to get the living room straightened and my blow up bed put away.

N suggested that Lily's nails needed cutting cuz she had scratches on her face. I began trimming (while she was awake--big mistake) and I cut the tip of her R thumb. Blood, blood and more blood. And screaming. We got her quiet and calm, got her to sleep and then I took her out for a walk.

That's enough excitement for one day.

Naps and visitors took up most of the day. A "ready for college" friend of N's and her mother came, brought food for dinner (which we froze) and brought some darlin' "mary Jane" socks. They stayed and talked for about an hour.

JORDAN AND LILLY

The other guest is expected a couple of hours later. Time for Lily to eat, for us to eat and a little nap. The second visitor is a teacher friend who also brought dinner--we'll warm that one up for tonite-- She talked about her grand children possibly moving to Lubbock which makes her sad and a little angry.

We hopped in the car looking for an iPhone cover for me (altho' I bought one on Wed. I plan to take it back on the way home Sat. morning- The one I bought, has NO hole for the camera to take pictures and it is just thick and bulky and not what I want.. Today--didn't find one I like), went to Lily's dr. to get a perscription and stopped at a plant nursery to get some plants for the front flowerbed in BWD. We're back home, Lily is eating and I'll be heating the pork chops up in awhile We're wondering how tonite will go. Will we see Lovely Lillian, or Princess Thunder Cloud? Only time will tell!

Princess Thunder Cloud

Tues night/Wed morning was tough. Lily (otherwise known as Princess Thunder Coud) was "cluster feeding" which means demanding to eat every 45 min to an hour. Giving no one any chance to nap.--N was at her wits end about 3 am-- The explanation for this "NEED" at least in the books is a growth spurt is coming and she needs more nourishment in shorter bursts. Really hard on the Mom.

N got some sleep between 5 and 7 and again between 8 and 10. Both are asleep now (3:30 pm)and I hope for a couple of hours.

Earlier today N "needed" to get out of the house, so we went to the bank, to Sam's, to get a milkshake and then home to feed L and get her back to sleep, so N could nap.

We've done 3 loads of laundry and I have some chicken soup cooking. Smells really good. Not sure what else we'll have for supper, but that will be good.

Annie, the cat of the house, is not handling having Lily come to live here. She skulks around, hides in closets, and is generally unfriendly. She and I played the blanket game the first night I was here and she almost seemed her old self. She has never been a lap kitty, so that is not a way to console her. I suppose just as N and B are adjusting, Annie will just have to deal and adjust. Sorry Annie, that's life.




Several groups of folks are scheduled to come visit Lillian tomorrow. I do hope that she behaves tonite, so everyone will get to see her and all of us at our best. Another night like last night, and the visits may be cancelled.

Glad to hear that Bwd got lots of rain today, even if Nick had watered EVERYTHING just before the cloud came.

Trip to Baby Land

For those who don't know, we became grandparents of our first (and probably only) grandchild, Lillian Elizabeth Thompson on July 28, 2009. We made a hurried trip to Arlington to see Lily and her parents the day she was born, returning home the next day.

I am now here in Arlington for an extended stay (5 days) to help N with whatever. I'll fold clothes, fix supper, wash dishes and whatever else needs doing.




Lily has been fussy this morning having had an upset stomach in the night. She ate and is now tucked into her swing getting ready to nap. N needs to nap as well, but I have no way to rock her.

No specific plans for the rest of the day. I need to go empty the drier and fold stuff. I'll have to figure out where to put things away by just finding something like the item I'm dealing with. One thing I've learned this morning is that some receiving blankets (which were bought at area stores) that were given to the baby are really skimpy. N prefers the ones I saved from when she was a baby, or newer, but handmade ones--- those are AMPLE. The difference is about 10 inches to a side with the "bought" ones only measuring 30-32 inches square..

Lillian is having some trouble w/ spitting up her milk. We aren't sure how much she is actually retaining. N is worried that she isn't keeping enough down to gain weight on. A phone call to someone at the dr's office should alleviate fears and worries. And this didn't just happen when N was holding her, B also experienced the huge spit-up as well. We prepare for sleep with a large worry in their minds--The worry of all new parents---What's wrong?

N and B are giving Lilly a bath after her last episode. Maybe she'll sleep better tonite and keep some of her milk down.
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Things got better on Tuesday.
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After talking to a nurse, who gave some advice and suggestions, N, B and Lily did better. She has not had the spitting up problem, she has stayed awake more.

Tuesday morning everyone seemed to be in a better frame of mind. After a feeding L and I went for a walk so her mom could take a shower and have some personal time. I had been warned that at that hour, the adjoining street is very busy, so we stayed on the cul d' sac where the house is. But 3 laps later she and I were tired and a little sticky. After having another meal (every 2.5-3 hrs at this point) we went to the Apple store. Got a cover for my new iPhone. Not exactly what I wanted, but it'll do til I find just what I want.

B's Mom and Dad came by to visit w/ Lily for awhile. So good to see them.

After they left, Lily had another appointment-- to visit w/ N and B's renewal group at the church. Just stayed a little while,--long enough for all the ladies there to hold her and tell her how beautiful and sweet she is.

Home for spaghetti for us and milk for Lily.

I made a flannel quilt for Lillian months ago, and when N got it out to use, it poked her. Come to find out, I had left a pin stitched into the binding. Wonder how many other quilts I have left pins in? That may become my trademark. I unstitched a small spot, removed the offender, and repaired the binding. No harm done, expect whatever damage the pin did originally.

As I write Tuesday evening, Lily is asleep and N and B are in the office. It's been a busy day--- Hope tomorrow will be a contented one.