Friday, January 4, 2013

The Magic of the Ordinary



















 Peek-a-boo with Papaw!




Puzzles after breakfast.


















Audrey's got her game face on!  
This face CRACKS NINNIE UP!!!










Silly time!










Lots of play time!


























Whenever Papaw leaves, he hides money in each of their rooms.  
This time, I was here when they got to hunt them.  Fun times!






On her little potty.










We started to work on potty training with Levi and look who started to join us!
Little Miss Priss did GREAT this week and she goes potty every time we put her on.
Good thing Mama had two potties!  :)










I had to teach Levi the proper use for training pants...haha!







This is a vintage doll bed Jamie found at an antique store while shopping for
vintage kitten decor for Audrey's 1st birthday.  
Jamie also made her little sheets, pillow, and quilt for a Christmas gift, 
using all reproduction vintage fabrics for them.
I love the little decal and the little "abc blocks" in the headboard.










Levi LOVES the bed his Papaw made for him that I brought down here in the fall.  He calls it his "Papaw bed".  He did make the transition very easily from the baby bed to his "big boy" (toddler) bed.



I have spent the last two weeks immersed in my grand baby's glow.

I just thought I'd share a few images and a few anecdotal stories to tell you what I've been up to. 

It's been pure bliss, I've enjoyed every minute, and tomorrow I head back home....the trail of tears.  Saying good-bye is the worst!

Levi told me today "Ninnie, I will miss all my PEOPLE."  He calls all of us from Michigan who visit him as "his people".  He's right, we are his and his sissie's people, too.

My husband and older son left here a week ago, and myself and my younger son got to stay another week.  After his Papaw left last week with his Uncle Mark, he asked:  "Where did my people go?"  I had to explain to him that they had to get back to Michigan and back to work.

This morning when we all got up, I explained to him:  "Tomorrow I won't be here when you wake up, Luke and I will go back to Papaw and Uncle Mark in Michigan."  He responded "Ninnie, I will miss all my people and I want my Papaw!"  

That is the truth, and we shall miss him and his family, too.  


I have learned this from living so far from my babies:  the time spent immersed in their lives 24/7 is the best part of the separation. It's the silver lining I had to look for.  

The worst part is not being here from day to day, in the small ways, but so much of the enjoyment while we are here is waking up with them and being with them until they close their eyes at night, reading them stories, putting them down for their naps...being present for their meals.  It's all so good.

I will see you next week.


 xoxoxox




13 comments:

Sunny Simple Life said...

Sp sweet. I live away from family too and I hate it and I am grown. You know I have an Audrey. My oldest named after my mom. Love the name.

Chasity said...

Such a sweet post! Thanks for sharing :)

Mary Ann Potter said...

The blessing of the Lord on your family simply immerses and anoints this beautiful post, Joni. I am a grandma, too, and I am always so touched by the extraordinary that we find in the ordinary. I have come to fully understand the way my mother felt about my son. Special times indeed...

aimee said...

The "ordinary" isn't only magical, it's totally beautiful! (I'm a long distance grandma too). Wishing you a safe, uneventful drive back to Michigan Joni.
Blessings,
Aimee

Amber said...

What precious memories you made and captured!

Kathie Truitt said...

Ordinary is actually 'extra'ordinary, isn't it? Have a safe trip back home. It makes me sad for you to leave them.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful babies and such wonderful times! We live away from our four "babies" too, they grow so fast. Our oldest is now 16 and youngest is 6 years old. Happy New Year! Kathleen

Jana said...

I know exactly what you mean! Mine all live far away too, but thank goodness for texting, Facebook, phone calls and long visits!

Bonnie said...

I can only imagine how hard it must be to go back home. My children stayed here, where they grew up. Unfortunately, I don't expect to have grandchildren to love. I do have 2 step-great-grandchildren born in 2012 who are precious. I try to spend time with them as much as possible and feel very lucky to have them near.

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mary your sis said...

What a darling quilt and sheets Jamie made for the doll bed! Bless your heart; it's the worst thing to have to leave those precious babies. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Becka said...

I'm just catching up with you after the busy months of November and December.
Your family, especially those babies are so precious. Thank you for sharing them here.
I too am a Grammy, and I love each and every minute of it.
I am really, really lucky enough to have all my girls, and gran-baby girls live close by.
I love the story about the Doll House for Audrey, I am inspired to find similar finds for my gran-baby girls. MY 3 grand-daughters are 3,18 mo, and 3 weeks.
Have a wonderful day Joni-
Hugs

Robyn said...

Oh Joni! I feel your separation anxiety. But I am adopting your philosophy of the best part of separation is the 24/7 immersion!
We had the privilege of keeping our delightful 4 year old grandson three weeks in December, while his mommy trained for her military service..LOVE.love loved it!!