The trip home!

The weekend home for the entire family was an absolute blur and flew by faster than expected. It was an absolutely fun weekend though as Emma picked up right where she left off - asking for Baby TV, treat milk (chocolate milk), and playing with Grandpa. It was as if she never left. Bela has grown so much in the time they were gone and is starting to scoot around. Before long, she'll be crawling. Sadly enough, the weekend came to an end and we had to say good-bye. Jamie got on her train and the Grupp clan flew back to South Carolina. Monday night there were no running footsteps, no requests for more Baby TV, no cooing in the background, no noises of any sort. The fun just came to an end...

Congrats to Jamie and Alex!

Congratulations to you both, Jamie and Alex! You are both official architects now and we couldn't be prouder of you! We love you and miss you!!!

Mom
XOXOX

Latest

Well, this Mom has finally reached her #1 daughter. Whew!!! I guess I watch too many true crime shows as I had her (in my mind) imprisoned and being tortured by her friend Alex's psycho roommate. All this over many phone calls to her this past week and emails that went unanswered. Little did I know her cell phone was dead and she didn't have her charger with her. Not like her at all not to have that cell phone working... We wish her our best this last week at UIC and hope she does very well on all her finals! You're almost there Jamie...

This Grandma had her heart melted this week when Emma said "I love you Grandma" over the webcam. Not the same as chasing her around the condo or grabbing her and giving her a schla-burp on her tummy as she squeals in excitement - but heart melting just the same. We also got to see Bela sucking her thumb and making all kinds of noises! She's going to be just as talkative and active as her mommy and big sister! Poor Braden!!!

As always, Emma started the webcam conversation asking for her Grandpa. She loves her Grandpa just as much as he loves her! One month and they'll be home for Bela's baptism and then a month after that we'll be together in SC. We cannot wait! draft

Communicating via webcam

Last night we finally got to see the Grupp clan via webcam and although there was a minor technical difficulty, it was a blast to see them again! Bela looked so grown up already sitting on her Mommy's lap facing the camera while Emmma whooped it up on her horse, running behind the doorwall blinds, showing the camera her little foofoos, and jumping up and down. I think she was a little excited to see her Grandpa again! Just as Grandpa and I were excited to see them!!! We've been anxiously awaiting that call for many, many days and it all ended too quickly. We can't wait to see them again!

Last day....

Pics from our last days with the Grupp clan before they leave for their new life... We will miss you more than you can imagine but wish you much happiness in your new home. Love you bunches! Big Grandma & Yellow Grandpa / Mom & Dad

Sweet sleepover...

While Braden, Melissa, and Bela visited South Carolina this weekend, Emma got to spend the weekend with us. I found myself laughing and crying all at the same time knowing my time with her was quickly coming to an end. Watching her investigate every cupboard and drawer, playing gitchoo (tag) with Grandpa and watching her little legs trying to round the corners as fast as she could (she can pretty much outrun her Grandpa now), listening to her imaginary telephone conversations, and playing "No more monkeys jumping on the bed" as she jumped with joy were memories I will treasure forever. We soon found out her favorite food was "caroni" (mac n' cheese no matter what time of day, this is what she requests), you don't give her cookies before naptime (sugar equals even more energy), and if you play a song and she likes it, you're going it hear it again and again and again. MICH (I'm a C H R I S T I A N) and WHOLE (Whole World in my hands) were her favorites and she even requested SHOOBY DOOBY (Pennies from Heaven). I think we heard those at least a thousand times until we all knew the words and could sing them with her. Her discoveries for this weekend: that she and her monkey appear on one computer desktop while Bela appears on the other (she was bowled over by that!), that Grandma and Grandpa won't let you fall asleep on the kid's toys at the Westland Shopping Center play area, and that all of Grandma's handles on her cupboards can spin until they're all loose. Oh, how I will miss her mischievious giggles, her constant bursts of energy, and her ability to wow us with her knowledge (me home! as we rounded the corner from Palmer to Linville - now how did she know that?). We will miss holding little Bela, having her fall asleep in our arms, watching her face light up with a smile when we talk to her, watching her breathe as she sleeps. It makes us sad that we will miss seeing Bela discover her hands and feet, find her voice, and be excited to visit Grandma and Grandpa since she knows she will be spoiled here. Guess there will be lots of trips to South Carolina and lots of requests for the kids to be sent back here for extended stays.

You go girl!

For anyone who doesn't already know about Niki hiking the Appalachian Trail, check out her trail journal at: http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=4802. She's my hero and I marvel at her desire and ability to hike the 2,174 miles. Keep her in your prayers that she stays safe...

Slippers & Boots!

Pictures of Emma and Bela from Emma's infamous swimming lessons! Although she tried to be brave, Emma wanted no part of being in the pool.



A visit from Melissa and the grandkids yesterday resulted in lots of laughs as Emma kept us all in stitches with her love of Grandpa's slippers and boots! She managed to clunk her way around the living room in both sets dodging all the various furniture and toys strewn about. Bela was at peace for the majority of time either sleeping or eating. She does recognize her mommy and gives the biggest smile whenever Melissa talks to her. She definitely looks more like her mommy every day...

Little velcro... 2nd sleepover!

Bela is definitely attached to her mommy already showing her Grandma that she wants no part of being cared for by anyone other than her mom. Poor thing just cries and cries. We even tried wrapping her in Melissa's coat thinking her momma's scent would soothe her but to no avail. She knew we weren't her mom and expressed herself so that everyone in our building knew it. It was reliving Melissa's infancy all over again. I'm sure in time, the lactose intolerance, the reflux, and getting used to us will get better.

Emma got to spend her 2nd night away at Grandma and Grandpa's and although it was a slightly rocky start when Bradon & Melissa tried to leave, Melissa finally calmed her down enough where Emma fell asleep and didn't wake up until 7am the next morning. Oh, how I love to walk in the room after she first wakes up! With a huge smile and with her jumping up and down, she starts naming everything she sees showing you how smart she is. After breakfast, it was a trip to Toys R' Us that brought a smile to her face as she got to pick out a ball - a big blue ball as she calls it - which she then managed to carry throughout the store. Her favorites... Thomas the Train set and the Radio Flyer tricycles which she tested out for quite some time. It figures that she was actually trying to figure out how the different components of the train set worked! There's nothing girly about this little one...

On the way home we stopped and ordered a pizza - one of Emma's favorites - and her and Grandpa went on a long walk while waiting for our order to come up. With a red nose and rosy cheeks, she insisted on walking as much as her little legs would take her. She insisted that only Grandpa could hold her hand as I joined their little party. Too funny! On her walk, she found a little piece of bush on the ground and insisted it was a flower which she then took home to her mom with pride as well as her new big, blue ball. Shooby dooby Emma, Shooby dooby!

Congrats to Jamie!!!

Congrats Jamie on your acceptance to U of M grad school!!! See, all that hard work, long hours, and no sleep finally paid off. You're going to be a great architect in the very near future!!! Your Dad and I are absolutely thrilled and so very proud of you!!!

Latest update

It's March 6th and Spring is just around the corner! At least I hope it is. Jamie was home for the weekend for a school field trip. Her stay flew by with visits to her Grandparents and before we knew it, she was headed back to Chicago. I wish it could have lasted longer. At least we found her a winter coat - one that will keep her warm.

Niki's departure for her Appalachian trail hike is fast approaching. We wish you a very safe and wonderful trip Niki! Take lots of pictures and keep us updated on your trail journal and we'll see you in 6 months.

Jamie, Melissa, Braden, Emma, Bela, and I went to see Ron's last basketball game of the year and what a hoot! Bela slept through all the bells, whistles, and band playing while Emma ran the entire track chasing the "kids" several times. By the end, she was sweating but had the biggest smile on her face. She got to touch the big bees on the walls (the Hornet is Saline's mascot), dance to the music, watch the drummers bang their drums, play "gitchoo" with her Dad and Grandpa, and run to her heart's content. I don't think I've ever seen her so excited! Check out the t-shirt Melissa made for both Emma and Bela in support of their Grandpa. Grandpa #1 and Best Coach on the front/back of the shirts. Too cute! Thanks Eent Jeemie for the pictures... If you have some of Bela in her shirt, please send them to me and I'll post them.

Yesterday, I got to watch Emma while Melissa took Bela in for a doctor's appointment. Emma was napping when I got there so she had quite a surprise when she woke up, called out for "Mommy" and Grandma opened the bedroom door. Her excitement at seeing me absolutely melted my heart. After playing with toys, she asked for Siwuwa (Cinderella) and patiently waited for 1/2 an hour while this Grandma tried figuring out the remote controls with no reading glasses. That was a trip! We could hear the movie and I even got it to play in French before I hit the right set of buttons so Emma could actually watch it. She just sat there on the couch listening to the dialogue with a smile waiting for her Grandma to come to the rescue. Whew! I passed that test but barely!

Deja Vu

Too precious for words... Emma is the summer baby - Bela is the winter baby...

Back in business!

Not sure how it happened, but I'm back in business! I can actually post photos again. Bout time!!!

Here are some newer pics of the grandkids... Enjoy!

Until...

Until I get the IE7 issue fixed with not being able to post pictures, I thought I'd let you know the latest.

Last night, we got a call from Emma who can now count to 13. Sounds like she's having too many time outs yet she's learning her numbers in the process. Too funny!!!

Emma and Bela came to visit this past weekend and it's so nice to have a baby fall asleep in my arms again. I didn't realize how much I missed that. She's a cutie and a definitely loves to snuggle. She gave me the biggest smile - one that melted this Grandma's heart and even started cooing. Maybe she'll be a talker like her big sister.

Emma had a blast sitting in her sister's bouncer with her legs dangling off the end. She had more fun in that thing than she ever did as a baby. She got to watch Bob the Builder, her favorite show, and actually sings the part "yes he can" and asked for Cirella (Cinderella). I can't believe how fast she is growing up.

Not sure if we're heading to Chicago this weekend as I'm waiting to hear from Jamie. I pray that if we go there are no snow storms. We've hit some doozies in the past!

As soon as I can post photos, I'll get them up. Everyone stay safe and warm!

IE7 issues

For those that have blogs, DO NOT update to Internet Explorer 7....

Suggestions?

Anyone have any idea why I can't upload pictures to this blog all of a sudden??? Clicking on the Add Image button does nothing...

Waiting for little sister to come home...

Emma and I had so much fun waiting for her mom, dad, and Isabel to come home. The funniest moment happened when she woke up yesterday morning crying her little heart out asking for Buppa, TV, Buppa, TV... She didn't even have her eyes open yet! Too cute. She spent the 2 days talking a storm up on her telephone having all kinds of imaginary conversations (actually starting the conversation saying hello and ending with bye-bye), reading her Bob the Builder book to her pet monkey, playing "Where's Emma" (hiding her face behind her hands, she thinks she's invisible), putting together her puzzles (she's pretty good at the Curious George one), dusting my floors with a Swiffer, and singing songs (Again, Again, Again...). I think Again is her favorite word... Well, maybe not. TV might be her other favorite word. We did try to limit her TV time and even closed the TV behind the cabinet doors, otherwise, she kept repeating TV, TV, TV. She got a little chocolate ice cream from Grandma and at first didn't like how cold it was, but after a quick swish in her mouth, she got a huge grin on her face and thought it was so funny for us to share!

Isabel came home at about 4:30 yesterday and slept right through Emma's squeals of delight with seeing her Mom and Dad again! All you could see was her little face peaking through her car seat cover with a little pink hat saying "Princess" on it given to her by her Great-Grandma. I can't wait to hold her again! Melissa will be posting her photos on her website so I'll hold off for now. Check back soon though as I'll be posting pictures soon. Check out these 2 - one showing Emma reading to her monkey and the other one of her playing dress-up (it's a little blurry but check out her side pocket!).

Isabel has arrived!

Congratulations to Braden & Melissa on the birth of your daughter, Isabel! 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 20" long, born on Monday the 8th at 2:15pm. She is a beautiful baby with a full head of dark, black hair and has her sister's nose. We can't wait to spoil her when she gets home!!!

Christmas 2006

Not a creature was stirring - not even a mouse!


Surrounded by her favorites - Grandpa and Curious George!



The Elmo puppet book takes some getting used to...



Little Olive hasn't made her presence yet but will soon!

All in all Christmas was wonderful! Jamie came in from Chicago and although her trip was short, we loved having her here. We still haven't gotten her to Coldstones yet but next time Jamie, plan on it - diet or no diet! I'm still waiting for my Christmas present but hopefully Little Olive won't keep me waiting much longer.

Love you all!

Updates...

Just to give everyone who is asking updates on the latest...

As you all know, Mom/Grandma Cobb broke her leg during her most recent fall and is still in the hospital. Her surgery, I was told, was successful and straightened out her leg/ankle with the use of a plate and many screws. Yesterday, they rigged up some kind of trapeze so that she could use it to maneuver herself around a little. Last I heard was that today the doctors may be making a decision as to whether or not she will be released to an in-patient rehab center. Please keep her in your prayers!

Ron and I got back from another whirlwind trip to Chicago to see Jamie. Our time with her was definitely not long enough as we rarely get to see her. She looked absolutely wonderful! And this is coming from a mom who worries constantly!!! She was our chauffeur while we were there as neither Ron nor I were brave enough to deal with inner Chicago traffic. Those people are crazy!!! And Jamie drives just like them!!! We really wish we would have had more time with her...

Six days till Christmas and with everything going on, I haven't finished my shopping yet. Not even close! Looks like I might be one of those last minute shoppers this year...

Take care and stay safe!