Blessed With A Richhart!

Saturday, May 30, 2015

My baby is having a baby!

I've realized over the course of my life that there are many things about being a mom that people neglect to tell you about. So, I'm here to serve you people of the Internet with a few little things I have learned through the hard-knocks of this adventure of Motherhood.

Boys love to talk about anything related to the potty. You can always get them to laugh or divert their attention from shots, stitches or their broken arm being set if you crack a joke that is potty related.
Girls are going to cry. About everything. Sometimes the only thing to do is let them cry, cry with them or pat their back and gesture to your husband that you have no idea what this about but shut the door on your way out!
Sometimes your kid will get bullied and those mama bear hairs that stand up on the back of your neck and that instinct to personally take out the bully needs to be quickly curbed because you're going to need to talk your husband down as he's planning an ambush all on his own and he's serious.
Girlfriend drama starts early and pretty much never ends.
Boys LIKE to hit each other. And wrestle, and jump off stuff, and climb stuff and light stuff on fire. Be sure to have good health & home owners insurance.
Auditions or tryouts are NERVE WRACKING FOR A MOM! Doesn't matter what it is. Dance team, basketball, drill, student government, scholarships you name it! It's easier to audition yourself then wait on pins and needles worrying about if you have the right words to comfort them if they don't make it and the time, energy, money and carpool schedule if they do.
Driving is awesome - once they actually survive the first few months, you adjust your budget to the additional insurance premium for a 16 year old and their first snow storm.
Friends matter. A lot. Do everything you can to be the Kool-aid house. Know their friends and get involved in their activities. Volunteer for everything and enjoy those one on one moments in the car after you drop off all the friends. And it's very possible that three teenage boys will be sitting in your kitchen playing Minecraft on three different computers talking in what you assume is a foreign language since you can't make heads of tails of anything they're saying to each other. But the point is they're HERE. In your home!
No matter how cool you use to be - you're not now. And when you use their lingo - you'll sound stupid. Just don't go there.
College drop off hurts your heart - don't listen to country music for the drive there or back. You. Will. Cry . This is the first time (besides EFY or camp) that you won't be waiting up to make sure they're home safe and tucked into their messy, unmade bed. That you'll be short a number or two in your mental head count for semesters at a time and when the come home - they're no longer the young girl or boy your dropped off but a young adult use to living on tehir own.
Roommate drama happens for boys and girls. Girls will call home and want to read you blow by blow text exchanges with said roommate. Boys will tell you about it months later when they've been home for a while in and off handed way and shrug.

I'm realizing I could go on and on but the title of this blog entry is the real reason I'm writing. You see? I am on grandma alert. As in I may (or may not) graduate to Grandma status in the next 24 hours. (Contractions 8-10 minutes apart) Now there's something NO ONE EVER TELLS YOU ABOUT!

Is there even a book about it?

"How To Be A Fabulous Grandma 101"

Because I'll tell you - I'd read it!

First off there's that earth shattering moment when your daughter (or son) tells you! If you add all your adult birthdays and Christmases together it does not even come close to the excitement you feel! It's incredible. And if they tell you in a sushi restaurant full of patrons and you have to tap that excitement down? You just might want to explode - that or run from table to table telling everyone, "I'm going to be a grandma!"

Then there's the morning sickness and your baby girl is sick and you remember so well and you cannot pitch hit this one for her. It's her baby. Literally.

The fun part is the shopping and shopping and did I mention shopping? (I am trying to make a mental note of what I've spent so I'm sure to do this for each of my babies 1st baby. One thing I want to be for sure is fair grandma.)

But as of Thursday night (membranes stripped, contractions started, then stopped, then started again) we've been waiting and it's killing me!!! I mean auditions and tryouts were bad but this? This is REAL LIFE! My baby girl is having her own baby and I get weepy just thinking about it.

And worried?

Oh. My. Gosh.

If I hear one more horror birth story I'm going to scream! I don't want to think about the what ifs. I just want both of these baby girls safe and healthy and here!

I'm two hours out from the hospital and today is the official due date. I was six days late with my first and so I don't want to get there too early and wait for 3-4 days - I mean, I really want my son-in-law to still like me after this event. I'm just on call - waiting for that call - and my heart jumping into my throat ever time I see Kam's or Cam's name on my caller ID.

I spent the day running errands and then stress shopped. (Again with the shopping.)

I've got ONE more blanket to finish the edge on - but I was saving that for the hospital because if my baby girl is anything like her mama - we will have plenty of time.

And now, I'm stress blogging.

I did that a lot those first years of Alex being home. It was cheap therapy AND I have loved looking back and remembering - I would have forgotten so much - and I realized that I want to remember ever moment of Baby Harper's entrance into this world. I want her to know I love her. I have loved her from the day I found out about her and she was only as big as a poppy seed.

And despite not knowing a thing about being a grandma - except the example of a few fabulous grandmas of my own - I pledge to be the very best grandma I can and I can't wait for tea parties, bubble baths in my claw foot tub and sleep overs.

'"Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. "

My hearts been going in 5 different directions for years.

Six directions once Cameron joined our family and now?

Part of my heart is with my Harp.

This is for you Harper Leola - I hope you read it someday maybe when you become a grandma too?

Dear Baby Harper,

This is Grandma Wendy. Just writing you the first letter I've ever written as a grandma. I just want you to know how wanted and loved you are.

And it's time sweetheart.

Say your goodbyes to heaven little girl - give those sweet grandmas of ours one last kiss and tell them that I know I have big shoes to fill but I'm ready - your mama and daddy are ready too. They're going to be amazing parents. They're amazing people and you are going to LOVE them!

Don't be scared baby girl - we're here for you.

I can't wait to see your sweet face - be strong - birth is not easy but you're a strong one. (I've seen you kick your mama's tummy.) You're going to do great.

Your mom and dad and I will be there the minute you take your first breath and we along with your other grandmas and grandpas and many aunts, uncles and cousins will love you forever!

God speed my sweet grand-baby girl.

Love,

Grandma W

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Catch Up!

I haven't written for awhile but that doesn't mean that things are slow around here!

In the last month we have secured SIX jobs.

Austin @ Winco -in the deli - mostly frying chicken (but hoping to get on with an airlines as a flight attendant in the near future)

Devree @ The U (summer camp counselor - plus she still works for Chuck a Rama)

Alex @ Murray Rec & SL County (working as a life guard)

Rylee @ Coldstone & Precision Sleep Center (cleaning)

Whew!

Kambree is due to have Harper in 12 days! I am on terminal hold until she arrives! I tell everyone, "Yes, I'll be there....unless my grand baby decides to come!" Every time I see her or Cam's name on caller ID my heart jumps into my throat!

Austin had his shoulder surgery in April and is almost back to full use - he had SIX anchors in his labrum. (Due to an old snow boarding accident) He is looking to move out with friends this summer.

Devree finished her first year at Snow, returned home and is working furiously to make money this summer to return to school. She keeps telling me how she'll be Harper's #1 babysitter.

Alex's JV Water polo team took 2nd place and he's joining the swim team next year. He is also going to start rebuilding/repairing his Camero this summer. He's super excited about that and he's promised me the first ride (once it's actually running) and we're going to play the Dead Milk Man's 80's hit "Bitchin Camero".

Rylee tried out and made drill team at Murray High and practice has already begun and will continue all through the summer. She's excited for drill but it was sadness and tears at her recital as she had to hang up her tap and toe shoes.

James is currently between contracts and super busy repairing and updating our house and cars. I am still selling real estate, serving in young women's and attempting to keep everyones schedules on one calendar and get my busy 15 year old to and from drill and work.

We've been very blessed and so looking forward to being grandparents!

Here's an facebook post I wrote recently:

Things I'm learning about raising a mechanically inclined son:
1. Do not put out white hand towels in the bathroom closest to the garage.
2. DO remind him that school clothes are not to be worn when popping the hood for ANY reason - including just checking the oil.
3. Investing in an industrial size box of large disposable gloves MIGHT make his hands look clean enough to eat a sandwich -but only if he remembers to wear them.
4. Acting interested in car parts/paint jobs/accessories requires you to dig deep into your acting/paying attention skills.
5. Going to the Pick N Pull - is fun?
6. Tranny's, blocks, front ends, spark plugs - doesn't matter how hard you pay attention - you're going to use the wrong word and ask an impossible question that will earn you an eye roll. You might as well just not say anything.
7. While driving with the family he'll point out make, model & year and then debates horsepower with his dad - You on the other hand will ask "Are we talking about the cute blue car with the Mickey Mouse family of five vinyl?"
8. And last but not least - he knows where your hood pop thingy is better than you do, visually inspects for low tires every time he gets in your car and is the best to have around when you leave your lights on or need to fill up at the gas station.