My Journal
I got two wonderful gifts from Julia and Rebecca for my birthday yesterday! Julia sang me the entire "Happy Birthday To You" song. So cute! And Rebecca slept ALL night! Hurray!
I am chipping away at the things on my "to do" list. Yesterday there were over 50 items on it. 38 this morning, and now down to 27. I am almost all packed for the trip! I wanted to get that out of the way so I can concentrate on enjoying Julia's birthday party! Can't wait!
I went to TOPS tonight. I lost 3 more lbs making a total of 11 lbs lost in one month. I am so happy about it. I enjoy the group so much. Joan and I walked yesterday night and also tonight after the meeting. Tomorrow I am going to bible study at night so we are walking at 6 A.M. Billy Horne is coming tomorrow to install our new back door and also finish the moulding in the bathroom and front rooms. That will be great. So we will be trying to stay out of his hair and maybe go shopping.
Julia did great at dance class yesterday. It is just so much fun to watch her. Ms. Leslie is so good with the children. I love to watch her too! She introduced them to Alice In Wonderland yesterday. They were just fascinated. They are going to be little oysters that the Walrus tries to eat up. She showed them a picture of the costume they are going to wear. It is adorable! The program will be January 26th & 27th. I want to find Julia a Children's book version of Alice and Wonderland too. After her class we visited with some of the other girls and their Mothers for a few minutes and the two we invited to Julia's birthday party said they would come. Then we went on a walk in the park across the street just Julia and me. We have been doing this every week after class. We go walk around the fountain and then sit down at a shady picnic table, Julia has a snack and we talk about dance and everything else she wants to. It is so nice to have that special time together. Mrs. Harris has been keeping Rebecca. She was O.K. before, but yesterday, she cried a lot. I hope it will work out. I really like watching Julia's class also because I then know what to work with her on during the week.
Sunday, September 10th, 2000
It has been a really busy weekend, but a good one. Yesterday we spent most of the day in Valdosta. I did some shopping and we visited with Aunt Starr. Julia had a great time at Aunt Starr's house. She stayed there and I took Rebecca with me. I found Rebecca a Blue's Clues Outfit to wear to Julia's birthday party. Really cute and it was on sale 40% off. I love that. Both girls slept most of the way home from Valdosta and then Mark and I put them in their beds and they slept some more. I got busy with laundry, housecleaning and working on party preparations and my scrapbook. I also stayed up until about 4 AM continuing with those tasks after the girls went to bed about 10 PM. I just never catch up and never have enough time! Such is life I guess.
Today we went to church and enjoyed it. Julia is doing so well in her class! After church we went to Camilla with Mark to pick out some stain for our new front door. He applied it today and I really like the way it turned out. We got some Chinese food there for lunch and did a little grocery shopping at Winn Dixie. On the way home Julia and I were noticing the many beautiful clouds in the sky. Her Sunday School lesson had been titled, God made the clouds and the sky. They did a cute art project with cotton balls for the clouds. I was asking Julia about the Sunday School lesson and I said, "Who made the clouds?" She replied, "Noah!". And then, "And God helped him". Mark and I laughed to ourselves. The other day we were singing a song that we have on tape called "Who Built the Ark?" And then the words are "Noah, Noah". Later that day we were reading a book about Noah's Ark and I asked Julia, "Who built the ark?" And she said, "Noah, and God helped him." I was really amazed. She is so funny. Tomorrow is dance class. So we're looking forward to that.
I am so excited about getting to go home next week. Julia's birthday party will be on Saturday and then we'll leave early Sunday morning and meet Dad in Nashville. So I've got to get packing along with getting ready for Julia's party this week. Lots of things I need to do and it's already 2 AM so I'll add more here later, I hope! Monday, August 28th, 2000
Back in the Saddle Again!! Yesterday we got a new computer! Mark completely surprised me with it. Julia had dance class yesterday. Rebecca stayed with Mr. & Mrs. Harris while I took Julia to dance. When I went back to pick up Rebecca, Mrs. Harris told me that our neighbor, Mrs. Law, had called and said someone had left some packages for us at her house. I thought that was odd as I hadn't ordered anything, but didn't think much of it. When we got home I was scurrying around fixing dinner, etc. Mark came in and we ate then I mentioned that his mother said we had some packages at Mrs. Law's. He played right along with me, not a hint that he was expecting anything. I cleaned up the girls and thought he had just gone out to work in the yard or something when here he came carrying a huge box. He also had a huge smile on his face. It still didn't dawn on me that he could possibly be bringing in a computer. After the second box came in and he said, "Happy Birthday, Honey!", I started jumping up and down and getting excited. I still can't believe it! So last night while I went walking with Rebecca and my new walking buddy, Joan, he and Julia (who was mostly interested in the boxes and the packing materials) got it all set up. The first things I couldn't wait to do were load ICQ and check in with my Stay At Home Moms Board. Also, I set up a new E-mail account with Hotmail. (pammark@hotmail.com)
Now I've got a lot of catching up to do! We have been really busy around here these last few weeks. One of the best things is that Julia is potty trained now!!!! Hallelujah! I am really thrilled about this. She is just maturing so much all of a sudden. Starting three sundays ago she has been going to her Sunday School class with out me with no problem at all. And she is taking Ballet which started August 20th. Her first dance class was joy to behold. She did wonderfully! She wasn't a bit afraid or timid. She loved it. Her ballet teacher, Ms. Leslie, and the two assistants, Chelsea and Sarah, are fantastic. I feel so blessed that we have such a great dance program right here in Pelham. She has been practicing every day. And everyday she tells me she wants to go to dance class. She gets so excited when Monday comes. She has a black leatard with pink tights and pink ballet shoes. I am brushing her hair every day hoping that it will be long enough for a little bun by the time of the recital in June. There are five girls in her class: Madison, Rebecca, Noelle, Alexis and Julia. They are all adorable. Madison and Rebecca are also in Julia's Sunday School class.
Rebecca is walking all the time now. She is also talking. Some of the words she uses often and well are: Mama, Dada, Baby (for both doll babies and human babies), Dog (both real and stuffed), Bye Bye (+ waves), Night Night(+ lays her head down), Banana (sometimes just Nana - real and in books), Uh Oh (when she drops something), Mimi, Grandpa, Mema, Papa, Duck, Elmo, Yum Yum, Hello (to people and whenever she puts a play phone to her ear), Annie, Rub a dub a dubba dubba...(while washing hands), No (when she doesn't want something), Now (after washing hands or changing diaper - mimicking me because I always say that). She also gives kisses now - very cute! She still is not sleeping through the night which is trying at times. I am headed to the Gently to Sleep board at Parent Soup at my next opportunity to get some advice. She is still nursing and I am also headed to some breastfeeding sights to make a decision about weaning. I am considering going to a LaLeche group which meets Which meets Wednesday mornings in Albany. She feeds herself very well even using a spoon and fork fairly well. She has been staying with her Mema and Papa for short stints and doing much better which is a big help.
I went back to my TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss club two weeks ago. I lost 5.5 pounds the first week. I was very surprised. All I did was cut out bread and sugar, cut back on portion size a little and walk everyday. I love the group. I have found a great walking partner, Joan Due, who is a delight. She is the one whose sister-in-law, Glenda, works at Roland Manor where Grandma D is. We have a lot in common and the walking time just flies by. Mark has been very supportive, and he's done a great job taking care of the girls, even giving them their baths and getting them ready for bed while I'm out walking. It is a really nice and much needed break for me with the weight loss being an added bonus.
Pelham is also starting a Fine Arts Club and I have been to a luncheon and a meeting for that. Very interesting and enjoyable. We meet at the country club on Wednesdays. The food at the luncheon was delicious and I had a very enjoyable time visiting with different people. I sat by a woman who is our local dentist and think I may take Julia to her. She said three is a good age to start. Anyway, the program was presented by a group from the Thomasville Cultural Center. I learned a lot. They have a lot of great things going on there such as Art & Photography exhibits, family art and craft days, festivals, piano, violin & voice lessons, etc. Our Fine Arts Club is going to attempt to bring more of these kinds of opportunities to Pelham and Camilla as well.
We are trying to put together the 50th Wedding celebration for the Harris's which is scheduled for October 1st. And I've just started planning for Julia's 3rd birthday party which will be the 16th. So things are pretty hectic around here. I desparately want to go home to Indiana when they turn my Mom's Cochlear Implant on September 19th. I don't know how at the moment, but I'm still hoping. Her operation went well, recovery was rough at first it sounded like. It was hard for me not to be there. I got to talk to Mom on the phone for the very first time ever a couple weeks ago which was awesome. Everything seems to be happening all at once. So I guess all I can do is take one day at a time and make the most of it.
Thursday, September 6th, 2000
Finally I've bounced back! I have been really dragging and feeling so exhausted for several days, but last night started feeling much better. Good thing too because I have lots to do! Julia's birthday party is a week from tomorrow. There are so many little projects around the house that we wanted to get done before then. Will do what we can I guess. Also, I am so excited that it has worked out so that I can go home to Indiana! My friend Joan is going up to Nashville, TN where her mother lives that week. She has a big van too. I just think it is a miracle that she is going exactly the same time I wanted to go! So we will be leaving the day after Julia's party and I've got to be packed and ready along with getting everything ready for the party.
We are doing Blue's Clues for the party and I think it's going to be really fun! We went to the party store in Tallahassee and got all the supplies. Lots of neat decorations and a couple of games too. Julia and I just made a list of all the people she wants to invite and I am working on the invitations. There are 10 children (not counting Julia and Rebecca) she wants to invite! I imagine they won't all come, but hopefully it won't work out to be too many. There's Will Snipes (age 2), Kayla Sealy (age 3), Jamie & Ramey (age 3) (twins from Julia's Sunday School class), Rebecca & Madison (age 3)(from Ballet and Sunday School), Jesse (age 3), Leslie (age 6), Ridge (age 2)(my friend Vivian's (I used to work with her at the PBOE) little boy also in Julia's Sunday School class), and Kyle & Kendra (Joan Due's grandchildren ages 4 and almost 2). So it should be interesting! She also wants to invite Ms. Becky and Ms. Sandra. And of course, Mema, Papa, Aunt Starr, Amy and Thomas. Will miss Mimi and Grandpa who won't be able to make it. Starr is bringing the birthday cake from Valdosta which will be a big help.
I went to a women's bible study class at church last night. It was very good. They had a group of teenagers to babysit and Julia did great for them. Rebecca stayed at home with her Daddy. Tonight I am going to help with a TOPS booth at the Elementary School Community Resource Fair. Joan's daughter, Venette is going to keep the girls. Joan and I have still been walking together everyday with the exception of a couple of rainy ones. It feels so good to get some exercise, and it is a pleasure to talk with her too! I have lost 7 1/2 pounds so far since I have been walking and rejoined TOPS three weeks ago.
Rebecca is napping now and Julia is watching a T.V. program so I don't have long to write. Julia and I have also started having school in the morning while Rebecca naps. We are working on letters and numbers now. She is very interested in learning. She already knows the names of all the letters so now we are working on sounds (phonics). She already knows all her colors, shapes and counts well. Sometimes we do arts and crafts too. She has been doing great on the potty! What a relief to only have one to change diapers on now! Well I'd better go start school with Julia.
