Love, Love, Love

I know everyone thinks their grandchildren are the cutest.

I know everyone thinks their grandchildren are the smartest.

I know everyone thinks these things.

The difference with me is that it is true.

:)

What? you say?  I'm pretentious you say? Well, yes I am, but no big surprise there hmm?

All I have to say to any of this is look at this face and tell me I'm wrong.

Boy Baby-Doll
8 lbs 10 oz
21 3/4 inches

BTW - aren't those the cutest little man-boobs you've ever seen? I kiss his head a thousand times.

His momma is a Warrior Princess and his daddy is a dad extraordinaire.

You Belong to Me

We are on high alert right now waiting for our Baby-Doll, grandchild. It could be any minute.

ANY MINUTE

The thought that I could be singing like this with our new little Tater Tot soon is overwhelming. Yeah I know I don't play the ukulele, but is that important? Hmm?  ;)

Meanwhile, enjoy this. It's just about the cutest thing I've seen in weeks.

Love These Like She Loved These

The weather has turned.

That's okay by me. As I've said, I do love summer, but grow weary of hot days. I have always enjoyed the dreary, rainy aspect that some fall days have. And I enjoy entering a different portion of my closet.

I spent one dreary, fall day at the auction of my dear friend Reechie. She and her adorable husband Neily sold their farm and are moving far far away. Maybe to return part-time here, but maybe not.

:(

I saw her grouping of luncheon plates and whispered to my friend Deb-oh-rah, "Don't let me bid of those."

Then about 30 minutes later I made her promise to ignore what I had just said.

Hello!

I used to own this set (or one just like it) way back in the day although I didn't have any cups. When I left my wasband I didn't take these with me. I mourned them the minute I left them with him. Along with a lot of outfits and such I impulsively donated. What a doofus.

So . . . I bid on these. I bid against Neily's daughter. I bid aggressively and got them. I apologized to the daughter, but said, "These were going to be mine!" She can find another set. Frankly, they are all over the place. My beautiful, tiny friend Shelley-Belly told me her daddy used to broker these luncheon plates (and other styles) back when she was even tinier.

While Neily was carrying these to my car (smooches to a gentleman) he said, "You know, if I had known you wanted these, you could have had them!"

I just grinned at him. I liked buying them from their farm. Now, as I told Reechie, every time I have guests and serve snacks on these lovelies I will think of her and her gorgeous farm.

When I got them home Pup simply said, "What is this gristle?" That's his word for all my treasures. He's kidding. I think.

:)

It's Saturday! I am attending a baby class with my ready-to-pop Bella (that baby is so close I can smell him!) and then off to the office with Pup for some rearranging. What are y'all doing?

Shower Her with Love

Bella and her Grandma

My daughter, Lorenzo, and I hosted a baby shower for the Baby-Doll at my house last weekend. Barnabee jetted off back home on Thursday (her son came to Minnesota to accompany them on the plane - so nice!) and I have talked to my dad a time or two since they arrived home. He sounds so tired. Now that he's back home I am trying to not worry about what is going to happen next. I have no control over that so . . . so . . . I don't know what! I'll think about that later Miss Scarlett.

So the Baby-Doll shower. Thursday evening, after Pup and I drove Barnabee to the airport where I nearly lost their luggage, (that's another story for another day) Lorenzo and I braved the huge and efficient Costco and Party City for shower food and fun.

Friday evening Bella came over to help me clean Chez Emerson (lovely girls I have) and watching her work around her growing belly just fills my heart with unbelievable joy. I am seriously in love with this baby. It's a little scary. I'm going to relish being a Gigi. Whoooha! Love love love - all you need is love.

On Saturday morning Lorenzo and Bella came early to help set up. Lorenzo came bearing little naked-baby ice cubes (omg - so adorable we were dying), makings for mimosas, and a million other things. (I could tell the story of the adorable RM - Lorenzo's boy - having to come not once, but twice to our house bringing things forgotten, but let's leave it that he's an amazing man and good in a pinch. You have to love a man that will be there for you even though he'd rather not. Smooches to RM)

Lorenzo is a very linear thinker. Thank god. I'm a very randomized thinker. Thank god again. Bella is very diplomatic. God is good to me.

Between all of us things got done although at one point while I was hunting down tiny scissors for a shower project I heard Lorenzo exclaim, "Where is she now??" I have always wished my brain worked in a predictable way, but it doesn't. I weave and bob rather than march along. Very, very easily distracted. I think this feeds my creativity. I like this explanation much more than any other that could explain my brain. Ha! I am laughing! Thank you God, yet again.

The shower invitees were my family, Bella's in-laws, my wasband's family including his wife, Pup's family, all my friends that have known Bella - new and old. Yes, we did it all in a swoop. My longtime and lovely friend Reechie thought me insane. I told her, "It will work. It will." And it did.

I didn't get a photo of it, but at one point, both of my mother-in-laws were sitting in a large chair together and I couldn't resist saying, "Both of my momma-in-laws are here!" If this makes anyone uncomfortable I'm sorry. The two of them looked happy. I hope they were.

And even though I did shush one of my sister-in-laws (oh I am such a pain in the ass) the afternoon went well. Bella received lots of lovely things for the Baby-Doll, we ate really good, and it was fun to see people that I haven't seen in ages.

Only one person from my family came and that was a wonderful surprise for all of us. My lovely, lovely niece (my brother's daughter) and her two gorgeous and energetic daughters. That meant a lot to Bella and to me that she came. It couldn't have been comfortable for her and I love it that she put that aside.

After the shower, my friends Deb-oh-rah, Shelley-belly, Teri (Bella's godmother), and wasband's wife stayed along with both of my girls. We sat in the living room talking like girls talk and the laughing and stories were endless entertainment for Pup who pretended to hide in the office "working".

We suddenly looked up and saw that it was 10:30! The shower had started at 2:00. I got a note from Teri a day or two later stating that it was not only the most fun shower she has ever attended, but the longest as well. Ha!

I am blessed.

Tequila and Love

We've been  home from our family vacation for a few weeks now.

Daisies!

Sitting area in our lovely room. 

Important poolside reading. 

Views from room. 

Lobby

Pup got us the most beautiful room we've ever had. We were directly on the beach and were right above the little pergola where people were married every day. About five weddings on the beach every day we were there. I'm kinda estimating. There was a gorgeous setting off of the lobby where ceremonies were held as well.

The week was full of the usual shenanigans that accompany being away from home with endless amounts of free alcohol at your disposal. I won't mention any names, but one of us (could have been me) drank too much during the day at the pool and when she went back to her large and lovely room she swayed and tilted a bit in the shower wondering to herself, "Am I going to do the Mexico in Mexico?" Code for unbecoming behavior. She recovered enough to go to dinner with no ill effects. Score! Ha!

Hanging out with our kids was the best ever. We got to know the boys so much better. I'm in love with everyone in our family. We are so charming!

The boys, and sometimes the girls, played catch in the pool, we floated in the pool, we sunned ourselves like turtles by the pool.

We would get gussied up and go to dinner every night. We walked along the beach in the gorgeous dark, we did shots at the outdoor disco-like area. Even Pup did a shot or two. We laughed.

Our little grandbaby, safe in his momma (yes, it's a boy!) had a fantastic time as well. I hope Bella didn't find the rest of us too obnoxious. I'm certain she did a little bit.

When can I go back?

What Happens at Gigi's, Stays at Gigi's

I love how sometimes I click in here, the empty "new post" page - white, blank, and waiting for me to fill it with my words; but I have NO IDEA what I want to say.

Many times during the day, I'll have a stray thought. A thought about how I feel or a thought about an idea or a thought about a rant. I think, "You should jot that down. Write about it later." Then I don't. The thought runs away. Typical!

Like right now! Nothing in particular I want to say. Or plenty I want to say, but can't settle in and do it.

Random Thoughts

• Run and see Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr is so adorable you want to put his little nugget body in your pocket and keep him with you forever. The movie is wonderful. I love this franchise!
• I also loved Oblivion. I don't want to put Tom Cruise in my pocket though. But I did enjoy this movie. It was unexpectedly sweet and sometimes Sci Fi really floats it for me. Not always. This time it did.
• Parts of southern Minnesota got over 17 inches of snow last week. It snowed here in the cities, but we missed that kind of accumulation. That makes me happy.
• Yesterday, even though I was working in the home office on a deadline, the warm air and sun outside was making me very very happy.
• My daughter Bella is having a baby. This is not a random thought, but it randomly sprints into my brain at least 20 times a day. A baby! Baby baby baby. I cry about it all the time. Tears squirting out that contain my joy.
• My grandma name is Gigi. Thank you to all the southern grandmas that use that name and who ever knew that I'd be thanking The Tumbler for learning about that particular grandma name. One bright spot among a couple from the experience of working there. Gigi is perfect. I used to be known as G.G. - the Graphics Goddess - at my corporate job by a few people. I'm taking it!
• Bella said I should be Glamma. We stole that phrase from Goldie Hawn years before one of the Housewives started using it! I kinda love Glamma as well.
• On this kick - I am trying like HELL to not be annoying with my Bella. I want to touch her belly all the time and I have to curb all my intentions to pummel her with information. Take a breath and sit down Deborah. Done.

See? The random thoughts turned into an announcement. Our family will soon be enjoying fighting over a baby. Pup and I are winning. I am the momma's momma. Who can argue with that?

Ebb and flow today my hooches. Gigi is in the house.