Looking Back part II

"A child is someone who passes through your life

and then disappears into an adult."

Yesterday's blog made me think about my own girls and how quickly their childhood passed. So, get ready....if you're a mom, you will understand. If you're a Senior, you'll have to indulge me.

Most of you know we have twin girls. What a shock when the doctor told us there were 2 live babies instead of one. It's a miracle that they arrived healthy and whole, 7 weeks early weighing 4 pounds each. We almost lost them three times during the pregnancy. They were so tiny that Ron could hold one in his hand. We both cried the first time we held them on Tues. morning after they were born on a Sunday afternoon. What fun we have had with twin girls.

The day Bella was born, we four new grandparents walked in and we all cried--except Bella-- as we got our first look at this wonder of wonders. It IS different becoming a grandparent. I watched my daughter and son-in-law immediately be graced with all they needed to love, nurture, protect and guide this new life they had created. On that day, the world changed for all of us.

We each held her, looking intently at every incredible detail, oohing and aahing over every yawn and stretch, toes, and fingers and rosebuds lips. It was such a gift to hold her at 35 minutes old after she arrived, literally, to the laughter of her mommy during the few pushes to bring her from the safe cocoon into the waiting arms of her daddy. NO cry from Bella, just wide eyes, taking in her new world.

I've always loved the way a baby looks sleeping. Here's Emily as a baby (with the bottle) and then sweet Bella the way she loved to sleep those first months. Just as my mother had done, I saved my baby clothes and my girls' to pass on to them. I have precious little dresses that my mother made and now Bella has worn them. The little pink Peter Rabbit sleeper was Emily's, and the doll Emily is holding was from her first Christmas, and now she has it to give to Bella. That's Emily sitting, wide eyed, in the red dress, at three months old, and then Bella in it at 2 months old.

Little Miss Allison surprised me one day by not being on the blanket where I had left her. She playfully pulled the bedspread back, and there she was!

My grandmother made these little ponchos and this photo cracks me up of them looking at each other. I wonder if they think they're looking at themselves in the mirror. They always have a "mirror" of themselves for trying out clothes, or new glasses, so they can see what it's going to look like.

Since no one except me and my mother could tell them apart, I embroidered their initials on little red hearts that I pinned on their clothes. Below is Emily with granddaddy, and then Bella with grandpa Ron.

This is their 2nd birthday and they enjoyed sampling the birthday cake, and now........here they are at their last birthday in January. They made a cake for each other. Sweet little girls who became sweet, wonderful, young women. We are so blessed. Thank you Lord!

Dedicated to Allison and Emily for 28 years of great joy in being your mom.

The Gift of You
From the moment they placed you in my arms,

My love for you overflowed immeasurably.

How is it that I was chosen to be given such a great reward?

No certificate, no degree, no promotion or praise,

Can compare to you --

The gift of life....

I anxiously anticipated each milestone you made,

But yet I knew I must savor each moment,
Because they passed so quickly;

I realized you would not always be so tiny and fragile,

And I knew you would not always be dependent on me. .....

As I stand and watch you now,

And watch you intently,

I am in awe of the miracle of life--

Enriched by your presence,

And thankful to God for

The Gift of You

As I stand and watch you now,

Capable and strong, independent & loving,

I am in awe of the miracle of life.

Enriched by your presence,

And by your commitment to your Heavenly Father

and your earthly family,

I am thankful to God

For blessing us with the gift of you

as our daughters.

love, mom

I love sentimental things--heirloom items that have been in our family for many years. I have some wonderful dishes that belonged to each of our grandmothers. My mother kept a delicate tea set with tiny cups and saucers that were my grandmother's that will become Allison and Emily's. I have my great-aunt's scrapbook from the 1910s and '20s--I know, a century ago, but it is full of vintage postcards with the original stamps and postdated. My mother kept all the dresses and booties and coats she made for us, as well as our dolls. I couldn't wait to pull out that box of treasures when I became pregnant with our girls. When they outgrewn their clothes, especially those heirloom ones made with such love and care, I boxed them and their special toys up in a box for each one. How fun to get that box out of the attic this passed Christmas and give it to Emily.

In the above photo, Bella has on a dress and little jacket made by my mother while she was waiting for me to arrive. This outfit is what Bella wore when she met her great-grandparents, and my mother held her in it--speechless-- and of course more tears. The significance of the dress and jacket were especially poignant at that moment. So why keep all that "stuff"? Each individual piece of that "stuff" has a story to accompany it--usually about the person and their sacrifices made to purchase or make it, or that it was part of their everyday life. They didn't know it would become something treasured. We have so much that we can't comprehend that a century ago, our family had the bare necessities.

To MY MOTHER -- Being a "nothing"!

My mother kept a photo album for each of us as we grew up in addition to her own. I continued that when my girls were born and now, they have several volumes of photos of their entire life. What a great tradition. Thanks Mother for all those hours of sewing every thing we wore. Our house was less than 900 square feet, with she and my dad in a double bed, a baby bed at the end of it, and a small day bed for my youngest sister. There was barely room to walk around their bed. To sew, she had to set up her Singer machine and work and she could turn around and the kitchen table was right there. For us to eat, she had to put it all away, and then start over. Amazing! What a woman--the ultimate homemaker. Her house was always immaculate, she sewed and cooked, canned fruits and vegetables for the freezer, did laundry for 6 and did her own ironing (until we learned at an early age), kept up with 4 kids, was active at church, and never missed different basketball schedules for 4 kids, sometimes going to a game 4-5 times a week. She cooked full meals for a growing family and kept up with my dad who was a farmer. She never had time for herself--it didn't occur to her to go have lunch with her friends. She was totally a mother and homemaker and that was her goal, and she is the BEST.

Once, my youngest sister, after hearing my other sister and I talk about what we were going to be when we grew up, said in her 4-5 year old voice "I'm going to be a nothing like momma!" Nothing could be further from the truth. She wasn't a "NOTHING" -she was Martha Stewart before anyone even dreamed of Martha Stewart.

"Her children will call her blessed"

Mother, I love you dearly and you are my example of being a wonderful mother

love, Patti

p.s. I think that's the end of reminscing.