Diva's Diary

Missing You

2012-02-08T09:48:00.001-08:00

Dear Emma,

Poppa and I were just talking about you and how much fun we had this past summer when you and your Momma came to visit. We are getting excited about our visit to Canada and our visit with you.

Poppa is prepared to read you lots of stories and play lots of games. Diva is good at singing silly songs, puzzles, crafts and of course baking (do you think you could help me?)

We want to see your room, meet your friends and spend time with you doing the things you love to do.

We will be there in just a couple of weeks. We pray for you every day and send you virtual hugs and kisses.

Missing you more than hot Krispy Kreme Donuts

Your Diva and Poppa

Coming your way

2011-12-16T13:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Emma,

Here's some more decorations on our Christmas tree. How do you like my fat country angels? They are made of tin. I have 12 of them. There are four different kinds. I think I love them because they are fat and cute like your Diva and I love country things.

We also have a golden nest on our tree. Our news letters are called "News from the Nest". We gave each of our supporters a Nest ornament so they will think about us and continue to pray for us. We have 6 of them on our tree. I love our birds and bird feeders in the yard. The nest is a place of refuge so it has a special meaning for me. Our little home is cozy like a nest.

I also sent you your Advent Ribbon along with your Mom''s and Dad's. You"ll be able to tell which one is yours because of the ornament on it. It's a little girl with toque, scarf, and blond pig tails just like you." I think you will like the surprises hidden in the little boxes. I'm hoping that customs didn't open them this year like they have in the past. Poppa and I miss you very much and wish we could be with you and your family this Christmas. There are 12 of packages (like the 12 days of Christmas). Do you remember helping your Momma make a Ribbon for Diva and Poppa last year? Diva has never had anyone to make an Advent ribbon for me. I was really honored and so pleased that you made it for me. I hope you like yours.

We love getting your drawings and pictures. Diva and Poppa decided to do some art work for your refrigerator. Poppa thinks it's fun that you raise worms so he thought we should draw a worm for you. Do you like his baseball hat? I think he is cute. We hope to see your worms sometime. Do you name them? I know you take them to your garden in the summer.

Diva and Poppa just sent your Christmas box out Thursday so you should have it soon. Diva has been one busy Santa's helper so I'm really tired . I am so glad to be able to sit down and enjoy the decorations and our tree.

We miss you and love you.

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas,

Diva and Poppa

Our Moravian Star

2011-12-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Emma,

This is the star that is on our porch during Christmas. It is called a Moravian Star. Poppa and I got it in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania . I have a small one on our Christmas tree.

Poppa still has "your princess lights" on the porch to. Your Diva really likes lights. It makes me feel happy inside.

We love you, miss you and hope you are enjoying the Christmas lights in your home.

Ho, Ho, Ho,

Diva and Poppa

Christmas Decorations at the Nest

2011-12-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Emma,

This is the Christmas wreath on the front door of our little Nest. It has buttons, yarn, bright bits of material and small snowmen, and gingerbread men on it with a big raffia ribbon on it. It looks very welcoming to our little country home. Do you know who made it for me?

It was your very crafty mom. She made it for Diva one Christmas and now I put it on our door every Christmas. I love it because I know how much time it takes to make a gift. It is one of my special Christmas decorations.

This is my Emma Angel. I bought this ornament last year because it reminds me of you. I love her yellow braids and her winter coat and hat. I know it is very cold in Canada so it makes me think of you bundled up in your toque and coat in the snow. I love her smile and I love your smiles too. I hope you are enjoying the lights, the trees and fun of Christmas time.

We miss you very much and pray for you every day,

Poppa and Diva

Look who's on Diva's Christmas Tree

2011-12-02T13:49:00.001-08:00

Dearest Emma,

Poppa and I put up our Christmas tree this year and guess who is on our tree? Maybe this picture will help. Yes my darling Emma Bug, it's baby Emma. This was taken your very first Christmas.

You were so little. Our very own angel.
You make Christmas so much fun for us. You make Christmas fun for your Mommy and Daddy too.

Here you are in 2008 (your second Christmas). We love looking at your smiling face and remembering back to the lively toddler you were. You loved having books read to you and sitting on your Poppa's lap. You liked trying to pat JJ and Lucy but they would run away (silly kitties!)

Here's your 3rd Christmas picture. I
love the candy cane colored scarf. I love your pig tails and the
big smile on your face. You changed every year and we love seeing your picture and remembering the wonderful time we always have with you and your family.

This is your picture from last year. I love the happy look of
surprise on your face and I love your pretty dress. Diva found
that dress for you and what a sweet surprise to see you dressed in it for your Christmas picture. You just started going to school and we enjoyed hearing all about your new friends and about your wonderful teachers Miss Chris and Miss Mona.

Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures with us. We look forward to seeing your new picture this year.

We love you very much.

Your Poppa and Diva

Poppa's New resized ring

2011-11-28T11:25:00.001-08:00

Dearest Emma,

Poppa and Diva have been married for 38 years. When we got married we exchanged rings. I gave Poppa his ring and engraved inside of it it says JKW to CTB 7-14-73 . Those were my initials and Poppa's initials and the date we got married.

I never take off my rings. The only time I didn't wear them was when I was pregnant with your momma and my fingers were too swollen to fit. I took my rings off while I could still get them off.

Poppa however has had to have his ring cut off , two times now. The first time he was in Haiti and his finger got a cut and began to swell because of infection. He cut it off so he would still have circulation in his finger. Last week Poppa cut off his ring again. This time because his knuckles have swollen from arthritis and started cutting off his circulation again. Poppa had the jeweler enlarge his ring two sizes to a size thirteen. The engraving is gone from inside his ring now and I can wear his ring on my thumb (but it keeps sliding off) .

Poppa has big hands. My hands are very small compared to Poppa's. Poppa always has nice warm hands especially when I'm cold. I like to hold Poppa's hand. I always feel safe holding Poppa's big hand. I hope you will always feel safe holding on to Poppa's hand too.

Love and Kisses XOXO

Diva's Best Birthday Gift

2011-11-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

a Princess Picnic

2011-05-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Emma,

Poppa grilled outside tonight and we ate on the porch. Poppa had
the twinkle lights on the porch because he knew you would like them.
He calls them Princess Lights. You wore your princess dress and earlier you had on your cape and crown and stood on the sidewalk and waved at all the cars that went by. I had to laugh because most of the farmers just drove on by but all the ladies smiled and waved back.

You have that effect on everyone. You make them smile and forget
about their busy day. What a sweet girl you are. We watched Beauty and the Beast again tonight.

We went to Gypsy Hill Park but didn't get to stay for very long. We will have to go back tomorrow.

We love you Princess Emmalee!

Strawberry picking

2011-05-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Emma,

Can you guess what we did today? Finally, we got to go Strawberry picking in the fields near Diva's and Poppa's house. The fields were still pretty muddy. I know my shoe got sucked off my foot while walking out to pick. You were very good at picking the big red berries and very good at eating them too. It didn't take us very long to pick two big flats of juicy red berries. Can you imagine what good things your Momma will make with these berries? My mouth is already starting to water just thinking about it.

I love this picture of you enjoying the sweet red strawberry. I'm so glad we were able to go picking with you and your sweet Momma. We would have been very disappointed it we hadn't been able to pick berries.

Look what your Momma made for breakfast when we got back home.
Yep, strawberry pancakes with extra berries and whipped cream. Yum! What a special treat!

It took us quite a while to wash the berries and put them in the refrigerator. We will take some back to Auntie Suzy (she loves strawberries almost as much as you do!) Won't she be surprised!

Now to make some strawberry pie!

What fun to have you and your Momma here at the Nest.

Looking forward to spending the day with you.

We love you Berry much!

Diva and Poppa

New Bird Bath Bowl

2011-05-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Emma, One of the things Diva likes to do is to sit at my desk and watch the birds at the bird bath and at the feeders. JJ and Lucy love to sit on my desk and watch the birds too. Poppa calls it Cat TV.

I especially like the red birds (Cardinals) and the tiny little Finch. Poppa and I got tickled at you whenever you see a Robin you always say, "Look Diva, there's an American Robin". Do you have Canadian Robins?

Today we went to the hardware store to replace Diva's bird bath. The water freezes in the winter and the bowl cracked in two. I was very happy to know the hardware store sells the bowl part of the bird bath. It is made out of concrete so was really heavy. Poppa got a cart to put it in to take out to the car and bought me a really pretty red geranium. I love this picture of you and Poppa. You are such a good helper. I call this "Princess Power" . Thank you for helping me take care of our neighborhood birds.

Looking forward to going berry picking tomorrow.

Love and kisses,

Diva and Poppa

Ice Cream at Willies

2011-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Emma,

What's more fun than eating soft ice cream with sprinkles?

Eating soft ice cream with sprinkles with YOU of course.

What's a trip to the Nest without ice cream from Willie's with my favorite girl in the whole wide world. Isn't it amazing that out of all the little girls in the whole wide world....we got the best one? I got the rainbow sprinkles and you got the chocolate ones.

You wore your princess cape and crown and we tried to eat the sprinkles off before the ice cream melted and slid off. We like Willies because you eat your ice cream outside and if you make a mess the birds love it.

What a fun day!

Your Poppa and Diva

Fun Friday

2011-05-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Emma,

Today is day 4 and is picture day. One thing that Diva really loves is to take a yearly picture with you and your momma and daddy. You are growing up so quickly and changing so rapidly. Today we are going to see Miss Vanessa who takes amazing pictures at our local Walmart. Your Momma has you in a very pretty dress with a beautiful daisy headband. Poppa has on a bright red shirt to contrast with the pink blouse I'm wearing. Your beautiful Momma has on a white blouse, now all we need is your handsome Daddy to make the picture complete. Thank you for the beautiful smile on your face and for cooperating so nicely to take the pictures. I know you got tired and I want you to know how much I love seeing these pictures when I can't be with you.

Always know that Diva and Poppa love you dearly and pray blessings over you every day. You are an extraordinary young lady and constantly amaze us. You bring us such joy. we love you so very much.

Your Poppa and Diva

Your personal cheerleaders!

Making Cookies for the firemen

2011-05-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

Dearest Emma,

One reason I love you so much is because you are very generous and like to help other people. Diva and Poppa live close to the New Hope Fire Department and you decided that you and I needed to make the Firemen some chocolate chip cookies. I loved baking cookies with you and you were so excited about sharing them with our local firemen.

We went over to the firehouse and you gave the cookies to the firemen. They let you sit on their big red firetruck and blow the siren. We discovered that firemen like cookies. Thank you for sharing with them.

After we went to the firehouse we ate at Chick-fil-a in Harrisonburg. Mommy wanted to do some shopping so we went to the mall.

Mom likes to go shopping and you were a very good girl. After several hours of shopping we shared an Auntie Anne Pretzel with cheese sauce. Your momma used to work at an Auntie Anne's Pretzel store when she was in college. I bet if you ask her she will show you how to make one.

You also enjoyed riding on the merry go round only the ride was over much sooner than you wanted it to be. You picked the prettiest horse to ride and patted its head when the ride was over. You liked the mall, it was a fun place to run, dance and wiggle.

When Poppa got home we all went to the Green Valley Book Fair. It has lots and lots of books. Last year for Christmas I sent you "Llama, Llama, mad at Mama" book which you like very much. Your own sweet mama found two more Llama books for you. "Llama, llama, red pajama" and " Llama, llama home with Mama ".

Your Poppa and I are very glad you like to read and love books. Both you mama and your daddy love to read too. Diva likes to tease Poppa and tell him he would read the toilet paper if there was anything written on it.

We had a very busy and fun day. The week is going much too fast. Hopefully we will get to pick strawberries while you are here.

We love you little girl,

Your Poppa and Diva

Fun Time at Divas

2011-05-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Emma,

Today we went to the Fishersville Library. You put on a yellow hard hat and built the structure you are standing next too. I think you had just as much fun knocking it down after wards . We brought home a big snack of princess books to read and also brought home Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. You brought along Tangled so we certainly had our share of princess movies.

I love that you can be a complete princess one minute and in the next you enjoy running, jumping, knocking down buildings or working in the garden.

We ate lunch at Chick-fil-a. You like the fruit cup, and the crinkle cut fries. You especially enjoyed the kids play area with slides and a pretend car. You made some friends with other little children and was sorry to have to go home.

We went to pick lettuce from our garden as well as a few tomatoes. It has been raining all week and you were disappointed that you couldn't go pick strawberries. The fields are too muddy. Maybe we will get to go later this week.

We bought groceries at Walmart and you momma was excited about buying some foods you don't get in Canada like Crackling Oat Bran. We bought some food to grill out when Poppa comes home tonight. We had California Turkey Soy burgers and lots of salad from our garden.

That evening I got to watch Beauty and Beast with you. It was the very first time you had ever seen it. It was so much fun watching you experience the same movie that I took your momma to so many years ago.

I thought you might get sacred when the Beast was on the screen. But not you, you squeezed my hand and said, "It's alright Diva, the beast is really nice." I love that you can see the good in people even when they are acting like beasts. You are quite an amazing young lady Emma.

Your Poppa and your diva love you very much.

Off to Diva's hours in the country

2011-05-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Emma, Here we go....off to Diva's and Poppa's house. It is an 8 hour car ride but you handle it like a champ. You really enjoyed the portable DVD player so you could watch movies with your head set on.

We also stopped in Easton , Pennsylvania and went to the crayola factory. What fun it was for Poppa and I to watch you color, and make a hat and draw with chalk on a big side walk.

Poppa and I had been before but it wasn't nearly as fun as it was going with you and your momma. You really liked the giant crayons and your mom let you pick out all kinds of pretty color crayons to take home with you.

Poppa bought you a tied dyed shirt from the factory. On the way home you and I played crazy pretend animal games in the back seat while Poppa and your Momma talked. We both laughed and laughed and were so silly. I like being
silly with you. You always make me smile with silly faces or animal noises.

You were one tired little girl by the time we got to Diva's and Poppa's house. We are so glad that you are here with us for the whole week. We have so many things we want to do with you.

Tomorrow we are going to go to the library. We can check out 100 books at a time. Wow, we will certainly be reading lots of princess books. Maybe we can take out Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast.

So glad you are here with us at the nest,

Your Diva

Our first Diva Camp

2011-05-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

Dearest Emma,

You probably don't know this but all my life I've wanted to be able to keep all my grandchildren for a week of "Diva Camp." This is our first Diva Camp with your cousin Oscar and Baby Charlie. You and your momma flew to New York from Canada in a big airplane. Your daddy had to work so he was at home missing you.

Your Auntie Suzy and your momma went out to lunch together. They rarely get any sister time so Poppa and I held our first Diva Camp. Oscar loves cars and trains and most anything with wheels.

You both played with cars on Auntie Suzy's dining table while baby Charlie watched and tried to chew on the toy cars. I was so proud of you as you shared toys and helped with Baby Charlie. You were very gentle with Charlie and made him laugh.

Poppa and I love that you are kind to smaller children. You make them feel loved and special. We are so proud of you . Thank you for helping make our very first Diva Camp a fun day for all of us.

Love and Kisses,

Your Diva

Happy Birthday Princess Emma

2011-01-18T19:10:00.000-08:00

Dearest Darling Emma,

Today you turned four years old. Where has the time gone? I remember holding you as a baby, singing to you, sharing secrets and reading stories. You look so beautiful in your princess dress and crown.

You momma tells me that you love the story of Sleeping Beauty and like to watch the movie every day. Poppa and I love to hear you sing the songs from the movie. We wish we could be at your party with your friends .

What fun to have Princess Aurora to be the hostess at your party. I'm sure all your friends will enjoy dressing as their favorite princess.

We want you to know that you are the queen of our heart and we love you dearly. Save a cupcake for me.

xoxo

Your Loving Diva

Happy Birthday Emma

2010-05-14T12:33:00.001-07:00

Dearest Emma,

I can't believe that you are two years old now. It seems like just yesterday your Poppa and I were anxiously awaiting your arrival into the world. Now we can't even remember what life was like before you.

We loved watching you with your cousin Oscar this past Christmas. It is hard to get our family all together

Emma turns two

2009-01-20T12:30:00.000-08:00

The Divine Miss Em is two years old now. She had a Blue's Clues Birthday Party with her friends. For those of you who have forgotten or never knew...Blue is an animated dog that leaves paw prints (or clues) to her owner Steve. (Yes, gentle reader we prefer Steve videos to the current host Joe.)

Blue has animated friends.....Magenta (a pinkish version of Blue only with glasses) Periwinkle (a bluish cat) , Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper and their children Paprika and baby Cinnamon, Tickety -Tock (yes, a clock), Green Puppy, Mailbox, Shovel and Pail and many other friends. Em knows all the songs, and motions and loves to watch the show.

Her very talented Momma fixed a Blue's Clue Cake. A big blue paw print. Emma loves cup cakes so you know she enjoyed digging into the blue iced cake. I have to laugh at this picture of Emma with blue lips!

Happy Birthday To Our Sweet Girl Emma!

Christmas in New York 2008

2008-12-30T06:34:00.000-08:00

Coolest Uncle Ever

2008-12-23T05:56:00.000-08:00

Dearest Emma,

This is your Uncle Andy. He lives in New York City and comes over to Auntie Suzy's and Uncle Tim's whenever you are in town.

He wants to be the coolest uncle ever so he has started a new tradition with you. He started bringing you a Gerber Daisy. He says, "Beautiful girls should be surrounded by beautiful flowers."

Not a bad start for a bachelor Uncle, eh? He's also the one that gave you your first introduction to the Mets baseball team and your first Mets outfit and hat. He may even take you to a Mets game when you are older.

Be kind to Uncle Andy, he doesn't have any experience with how to entertain a toddler so you will have to teach him. Give him sweet smiles and I bet he will sit down and watch "Blue's Clues" with you.

Emma's First Christmas

2008-11-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

Dearest Emma,

Your Poppa and I are so excited that we will be able to spend Christmas with you and your Momma again this year. It should be lots of fun with baby Oscar too. You practice on being gentle and I'll count the days till you are back in our arms. We love and miss you. Your Diva

Fall Babies

2008-11-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

These are my favorite fall pictures of my two favorite grandchildren. Poppa and I are counting down the days till we see you again. Diva

Your Second Halloween

2008-11-02T19:52:00.000-08:00

Dearest Em,

I love your Halloween costume. You make the cutest Raggedy Ann I have ever seen. I'm sorry I wasn't able to see you all dressed up. I love your pictures so I made you this album. You made your Diva and Poppa smile and giggle. We love you very much and can hardly wait to see you.

Your Diva

Your First Halloween

2008-10-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Emma Bug,

Sorry it took me so long to do a scrap book of your first Halloween. You were such a cute little bug.
I can hardly wait to see pictures of you in your costume this year.

Thoughtful Oz

2008-10-25T03:08:00.000-07:00

Dearest Em,

Allow me to introduce you to your tiny cousin Oscar. He lives in New York with your Auntie Suzy and Uncle Tim. He is one month old now and is growing rapidly.

He sleeps a lot, eats a lot, poops a lot and is just finding out what "tummy time is all about." He has sweet smiles, dark muddy blue eyes (which will probably turn dark brown) dark hair, and a sweet disposition.

He will soon have his first Halloween. Your Auntie Suzy loves Halloween and has been known to even dress her kitties in costumes. I wonder what costume she will have for him this year?

I'm hoping you will be good friends and have many adventures at Diva's and Poppa's house. You will have to teach him a few things (like how to wrap Poppa around your little finger) and where Diva keeps the toys. You can even teach him how to dance, color, and how to pick strawberries.

I love you sweet girl and am so glad little Oz will have you for a playmate.

Now your Diva will have her favorite girl and her favorite boy!

Looking forward to seeing you in your Halloween costume.

Your Diva

A digital scrap book of our berry picking

2008-10-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Another busy day of play

2008-06-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Emma at play!

Emma, Becky and I decided that a girl could never have enough strawberries so Mom went picking while Emma and I played in the parking lot with the rocks. We banged them together and sang silly songs, we stacked them up and knocked them down, we threw them and we scattered them. By the time we were tired, Mom had 14 dollars worth of berries picked . SWEET!

Poppa was eager to show off Miss Em at the Mission so she made a guest appearance. She was a big hit. She rummaged through some stuffed toys and came home with a lime green stuffed dog . She enjoyed riding in the laundry carts the most, especially when Poppa would push . I'm not sure, who had the most fun! Poppa has a pretty big grin on his face!

Emma enjoyed playing in the grass at the P. Buckley Moss Museum the most. She loved rolling in the grass, picking up leaves, checking out sticks and rocks and just reclining. This is one little one who knows how to relax.

Emma learns about Art

2008-06-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was another learning day for Miss Emma and her very knowledgeable Poppa. They set out to create a masterpiece for Diva's refrigerator (which has never featured a young budding grand child artist before!) Poppa decided that she was into Contemporary or post modern art with a definite flair for the abstract . She worked very hard and was most diligent with her choice of colors. (This Diva can hardly wait to take her to the Crayola Factory when she gets a little bigger.)

Mom and Dad took a field trip into Harrisonburg and Waynesboro using Poppa's GPS. They really enjoyed being able to get around so quickly by punching in Sonic, Walmart and Target. The GPS certainly has made our life easier.

Diva has plenty of pictures to choose from. Now all I need is a
magnetic frame to show it off. More fun today. We ate all our berries before we could make our pies so looks like it's back to berry batch for us today.

Emma Learns about the Wind

2008-06-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Poppa and Emma were sitting on our porch swing this afternoon discussing politics and world affairs when sudden showers appeared making the temperature drop and the wind pick up.

Using every moment for a teachable moment, Poppa decided to teach Emma about wind by letting her feel the wind blow and watching Diva's ribbons dance in the wind.

The discussion was rather one sided but went a little bit like this:

Poppa: Emma did you know that wind is the fastest growing source of electricity in the world?

Emma with soother in her mouth says nothing but reaches out for the pretty ribbons beginning to dance in the breeze.

Poppa: Some experts say it can sometimes be the cheapest form of any kind of power. Generating power from the wind leaves no dangerous waste products behind. Best of all, its supply is unlimited.

Emma with her finger in her mouth begins to contemplate the validity of this statement while Poppa explains further.

What followed was a discourse on wind farms, the jet stream, global wind patterns, plus land and sea breezes. The discussion was possibly more than one little explorer could handle, so of course she ran to her Diva and instantly fell asleep. Some how I think I got the best part of the day. I got to kiss her little head, hold her close and whisper prayers over her while she slept. It amazes me that she seems to be growing right in front of us. I miss my baby but I'm enjoying this bright inquisitive little person.

A Berry Sweet Day

2008-06-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

We went strawberry picking today. The fields were very crowded this morning and the sign said they were picked out. We were disappointed but decided to head to the Farmer's Market in Dayton instead. This was the cutest thing at the Farmer's Market.

We ate lunch at the Thomas House which features Mennonite Cooking. The food was good as always and their rose bush was bursting with color. I tried to get Emma to sit down by the rose bush but she would have none of it. Lucky for me Mom sat down and held her so I could catch this picture of my girls. Aren't they both gorgeous? Not that I'm at all biased!

We decided to stop by the strawberry field on the way home and buy some berries. This time they were open and we were ready to pick. Emma and I examined all the rocks in the parking lot before sitting under a big shade tree to eat grapes and swap stories. Mom and Dad made short work of picking. It was so much fun watching Emma discover Strawberries.

Hmmm....What are these?

I think I'll take a closer look!

Maybe I'll just poke one.

I'll just try one!

The many faces of berry addiction!

Needless to say Virginia grown Strawberries are delicious and picking them from the field is half the fun. Emma decided Dad needed some help picking so she went out to help. All in all it was a berry sweet day....now to find some strawberry recipes. I'll post pictures of our creations tomorrow.

It amazes me how much Emma can communicate without very many words. She said the word, "Birdy" while watching the birds eat at the feeders and points to the cats and says "kitty". When this girl gets her words I'm sure she will have many stories to tell. Sure wish I had half her energy!

Mr. Wonderful and I have to work till noon tomorrow so we will have to have an afternoon adventure. Stayed tuned.

The Wading Girl

2008-06-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the Divine Miss Em wiggling and dancing in the new wading pool in the back yard. Mom bought her this swimming hat, shirt, and skirt all on sale at Target. The water was very cold but our girl danced and waded to her heart's content.

Hopefully the sun will warm up the water tomorrow for another wading session. If not Poppa and Dad hung the baby swing from one of our cherry trees for her enjoyment.

I'm sure there will be more pictures coming and Mom even took a video of the splash party. We had strawberry pancakes for supper and I've got a recipe for strawberry pie from my mom that you know we will have to fix.

More adventures will have to wait till Saturday afternoon as Mr. Wonderful and I are working with volunteers Saturday morning.

I did notice Mr. Wonderful reading the story of the little "Red Hen" to Emma before dinner. Of course he added suggestions on how the little red hen should have diversified her efforts , obtained a small business loan, and employed her friends to help make a marketable product thus adding to the economy and multiplying profits. What a guy!

Second Full Day with Emma

2008-05-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

Emma loves bubbles so naturally her Poppa had to buy her a bubble gun. She likes to pop them and is pretty good at blowing them too. It was fun to watch her chase the bubbles in the wind.

Yesterday was a catch up day for sleep. Jet lag hit mom and dad pretty hard. Emma hasn't adjusted to the time change and new bed yet either so has been very restless and waking frequently. You know if baby doesn't sleep neither do Mom and Dad!

Berry picking is scheduled for this afternoon. I think Becky was a migrant worker in another life. I've never seen any one who can pick berries faster than she can. My mouth is already watering for field ripen berries.

Ever the educator, Poppa had to show Emma all the different trees in the back yard and explain each one to her. She liked the feel of the leaves except for the pine needles. She was attracted to the Maple leaves....do you think it's because she partly Canadian?

Outdoors can be exhausting and even little explorers need a break. Poppa and Diva did our best to wear her out. Why do they call it babysitting.....you never get to sit?

Mom and Dad took a much needed break to go to a movie and dinner while we took charge of the little one. We got lots of smiles, and stole lots of kisses. Bath time was fun, but cuddle time was even better.

Check back with us tomorrow and see our"berry special" girl in the Strawberry Patch.

First full day with Diva

2008-05-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

Our Canadians arrived right on time and Miss Emma went right to Poppa . (They have a special connection....she bats her eyes and he turns to mush!) After collecting baggage and several attempts at putting the car seat in correctly, we were off to Chick-fil-a ( Becky's favorite). On the two hour drive home, all of them fell asleep in the back seat ( hey, it's a long plane ride and Momma are the last to get any rest!)

Wednesday was spent shopping for the girls, and Barnes and Noble for the Daddy. Emma was quite patient riding in the buggy while Mom bought replacement dishes (broken from the flight), baby food, and lots of things she doesn't have in Canada. Conversation went something like this..

Becky:....."Do you know how much I pay for this in Canada?"

Me: "No, I don't have a clue."

Becky: "At least twice as much"

Who knew how much excitement you can get from baby wipes and cereal? Needless to say there were many conversations that started this way. The merchants were pleased to take our money and the car was packed by the time we got home from shopping and grocery buying.

Lunch was spent at (you guess it! Chick-fil-a!) Emma delighted her Diva with her new trick, drinking from a straw! Any guesses who bought her the Daisy bib? I was also introduced to baby place mats. Plastic colorful mats that have sticky strips that you peel to stick to the table and keeps it from sliding. Emma loves finger foods and loves feeding herself. She enjoyed the freedom and mom enjoyed the clean surface. Clean up is easy too, just by rolling up the uneaten food in the mat and tossing it.

Emma enjoyed our big back yard where there is always a new discovery. She liked the grass and enjoying rolling in it. Poppa especially liked her new hat. No outside retreat is complete without a ride in the new red wagon. Emma and Poppa took it out for the inaugural ride. It was hard to decide who had the best time....Emma or Poppa!

Last night we ate at Cracker Barrel....this time both a Mommy and Daddy favorite. We made a quick trip to Target for a wading pool for Emma and some allergy medication for Mom. Both Emma and Mom have allergies. Em is cutting more teeth so this Diva wiped lots of runny noses and drooly chins yesterday.

Emma loves her bath time but we only have a shower. Leave it up to Poppa to come up with a way to keep our baby happy and clean. He bought a small pond liner for a water feature that is black plastic and fits inside the shower. As you can see Emma liked the concept really well! When she is done it is easy to empty the water down the shower drain and easy to fill from the shower head. Emma slept all night long which definitely makes for happy parents. More adventures today! Stayed tuned!

Count Down to Virginia Visit

2008-05-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

The Cats are all looking out the window and waiting for the Divine Miss "Em". They had better get their rest in now. I'm sure she will find them fascinating and will want to play chase. JJ will be a nervous wreck for the next three weeks . Lucy is a little braver. They may want to retreat to the basement or attic till they get used to having a little person in the house.

Pop pop spent some time putting the little red wagon together for his girl and bringing down the high chair, changing table, baby bed, Emma chair, and assorted toys. The wagon has a back and also a safety belt! He still needs to hang the baby swing. We've heard from reliable sources that our girl is a real swinger.

This Diva is prepared to be on the run for the next few weeks. Miss Emma is a free spirit and likes the wide open spaces. Fortunately we have a big back yard for her to explore and plenty of time to make discoveries.

These anxious grandparents are all set to have big goofy smiles for the next three weeks. We leave this afternoon about 2 o'clock to pick up our Canadians in Richmond about 5 p.m. First stop after the baggage claim?.....why Chick-fil-a, of course! Stay tuned for the adventures of Diva and Em. Keep us in your prayers as we travel.

Coming this spring!

2008-03-11T09:17:00.001-07:00

Dear Emma Bug.....Just got the confirmation that you are going to be bringing your momma and daddy to come see us May 27th.

Your Poppa and I are so excited that we are counting off the days. I'm glad you love New York because you know we will have to go visit your Auntie Suzy and your Uncles Tim, and Andy.

You are going to be the big girl cousin. How bout that? I know you are used to being the little cousin in Canada but here you will get to be the oldest. How fun is that?

I'm wondering if you will chase Diva's fat Cat JJ? I bet they will run! I can hardly wait to chase after you myself.

I wonder if your Momma will take you Strawberry picking?

Miss you sooo very much. Sending you hugs and kisses!

Your Diva

Hello!

2008-03-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

Hello....Is this my Emma Bug?

Look at you Miss Thing? You are walking and are such a clever girl. Every now and then your sweet momma will ask me if I want to babysit you. I always laugh and say:"Sure, come on over!"

How I wish we lived close by so we could watch you grow. You are changing so rapidly now and learning new things every day.

Will you even remember us the next time we see you? You would enjoy seeing all the baby animals in the nearby farms. We would practive our animal sounds. I bet you will be good at them.

Your Poppa misses his girl too! Be sweet to your parents.

Miss you soooooooo much,

Your Diva

Your First Birthday Photo Album

2008-01-20T06:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Emma Bug,

Your Poppa and I were very disappointed that we were not able to attend your first birthday. Your Momma is really good about sending us pictures so I made you a digital scrap book of your party. Hope you enjoy it. Your Diva

Your First Birthday!

2008-01-16T10:00:00.001-08:00

Dearest Emma Bug......It's almost your birthday! You will be one year old. It's a big celebration for you and your momma and daddy. No doubt they will be thinking about their journey to the hospital in the very worst of weather so you could be born.

They will probably remember long sleepless nights and adjusting to having a brand new baby in the house. They will probably think about all your firsts...your first smile, your first solid foods, the first time you turned over by yourself, the first time you were able to sit up by yourself, the first time you pulled yourself up, the first time you crawled and so many more first. They will probably come to the conclusion that you are one remarkable grrrl (but then we've always known that!)

You are passing by babyhood now and launching into the world of being a toddler. This year you will master walking, running, climbing, eating with a spoon, climbing stairs, and many other things that will surprise and amaze your mom and dad. You will begin talking and putting together words and sentences. You have always been able to communicate but this year you will learn new skills and the world will grown a little less threatening as your skills increase.

I hope you enjoy your party and being the center of attention. We look forward to seeing your pictures and videos of your big day. I hope you know you are loved and prayed for every single day. You have made a huge impact on your Diva and Poppa.

Missing you more every day,

Your Diva

Reading With Diva

2008-01-07T16:44:00.001-08:00

Dearest Emma,

It won't be long till you have your first birthday. You have grown so quickly and have learned so many new skills. What a clever girl you are. I could hardly believe that you were crawling the last time I saw you. I loved hearing you laughing and giggling while you made your way to my waiting arms.

I miss reading to you. Your momma tells me that you enjoy books and I am so glad to hear that. There are so many wonderful books to share with you. I hope you will enjoy some of the books that your momma enjoyed when she was a baby. I know she has a copy of "Baby's Birthday!" I read that book so often to your mom that I still have it memorized. I wonder what will be your favorite book.

Your Poppa and I miss you and love looking at your pictures and telling each other our favorite Emma stories. Know that you are a special little girl and we love you with our whole hearts.

Your Poppa and Diva

Emma Meets Santa

2007-12-13T08:30:00.001-08:00

My dearest darling Girl.....What a joy to witness some of your "firsts". You are growing so quickly and learning so many new skills. Very soon you will be walking and running in every direction except your Diva's arms.

It is really hard for your Poppa and Diva to live so far away from you and your parents. It saddens us to know we will be missing your first birthday soon.

I love watching you crawl. You made my heart smile whenever you smile. You remind me of another little girl.....your sweet momma.

Your Poppa and I miss you so much. Thank you for your recent trip to Virginia. We enjoyed having you for your first American Thanksgiving and for my birthday.

Know that your are dearly loved and cherished.......Me miss you!

Look how you have grown!

2007-09-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

Dearest Emma Bug,

What a difference a few months can make. Look at you sitting up all by yourself so independent and so clever. You know that your Diva loves your little overalls too (they remind me of another little grrrl ....you sweet Mommy.)

Of course both your Poppy and I become big piles of goo whenever we see your sweet smiles and your face light up whenever you see us. We are so happy to be able to spend 10 whole days with you and your parents. I promise to spoil you and give you lots of kisses. We'll sing songs, read books, and tickle you too.

We love you so much, and what fun we will have! Hope you are all rested up because we want to squeeze a lot of Emma time in while we are here.....We have lots of memories to create in a short time so don't be surprised if we hug you a little longer and take more pictures of you than necessary. Just indulge us.....we're first time grandparents and don't know any better.

Love you sooooo much,
Diva

Sunday Seven.....The Family Edition

2007-06-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Sunday Seven....Emma meets the family!

1. It's been a busy week with Emma meeting the rest of the family this week. The picture above is Emma with her Uncle Andy (Mom's little brother) and Auntie Suzy (Mom's little sis) at Auntie Suzy's library.

2. This is Emma and I at my desk. Since Emma is half American, her Diva had to buy her a 4th of July outfit in Red, White and Blue. Emma has been very therapeutic for me the last few weeks. I will certainly miss all of them when I have to take them to the airport next week.

3. Emma is intrigued by Uncle Tim's full beard. She really loves her extended family. Family means lots of kisses, and lots of arms to be held and cuddled.

4. Uncle Andy and Emma seem to be hitting it off together. Andy was a little nervous about being around babies but was soon won over by her smiles and coos.

5. Who Knew that babies come with a warning now days? Emma shirt says, "Caution, may cause Sleepless nights" maybe we should ask her mom and dad if it's true.

6. Becky was really glad to see Jerry after being gone to a martial arts conference all last week. Jerry surprised her and arrived earlier at Grand Central Station.

7. Poppa is still her favorite. They seem to have a special connection.
All in all it has been a fun week with family. We leave tomorrow to go to Virginia Beach to visit with great grandmother and great auntie Barbara. Emma has really been the star of this US Tour.

Blessing till next week........Daisy

posted by Lazy Daisy at 9:07 AM | Permalink | 11 comments

Is this face cute or what?

2007-06-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

This is the best medicine for a weary heart. Our little Emma loves her bathtime as you can see by the big happy smile. We are on our way to New York today to meet the uncles and auntie. This is one of my favorite pictures!

Sunday Seven...Emma Edition

2007-06-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 03, 2007

A weekly meme for giving thanks and/or for noting important events in our lives. If you want to join in click here.

1. I've had a whole week of Emma. Look at that face and tell me there is no God! She is a girl of a thousand faces.....each one guaranteed to melt a heart of stone. Her smiles and giggles are contagious and very therapeutic. Her Poppy has become very protective of her too. He does the silliest things to make her laugh .....it makes me laugh too.

2. Darling daughter and SIL went strawberry picking in the strawberry fields down the road from us. They picked over 13 pounds in a very short time. We have been enjoying strawberry short cake, strawberry pie, and strawberry muffins. Don't they look scrumptious? You just can't beat field ripened strawberries!

3. This is our Emma and her Daddy playing "So Big" to make Diva smile. It's amazing how many baby games we are remembering now that there is a little one in the house. Our animals haven't quite figured her out yet. Our dog likes to lick her toes and the cats wonder why our laps are always occupied now.

4. These have become my new best friend....crutches. Did you know that it is impossible to carry a crying baby on crutches? This has been one sad reality for this Diva. So I get Emma when she is happy and playful and easily entertained. (Maybe this isn't such a bad trade off after all?)

5. This is Emma and her Poppy involved in discussion. He tells me

that he and Emma discuss quantum physics and "this little piggy". Emma recently awarded her Poppy" a first" and initiated "Peek A-Boo" by pulling her blanket over her face and then down again suddenly. She giggled when she saw his amazed face.

6. I had the MRI on my knee this past Wednesday. I should hear the results this week. We are hoping to go to New York to see Emma's uncles and auntie. So pray that I have good news from the doctor. My left knee is still swollen and bruised so I won't be surprised if surgery is in my future.

7. For now I am quite content to hold my baby and steel kisses from these sweet cheeks. Emma is wearing her "Mets" outfit for her uncle Andy. Emma really likes the men in her life so I think I know two proud uncles that are in for a treat. Auntie Suzy will get plenty of Emma time too. Blessings on all of you from one blessed Diva.

Making Monday Memories...with Emma

2007-05-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

Making Monday Memories.....

How do create an instant love affair? Here's our recipe.

Take one part baby,
One part longing grandparents

Mix in time, distance and desire.

Add financial difficulties and personal injury.

Slowly let it simmer for 4 months.

Add in passports, international travel, and a" 5 minute meltdown 10,000 feet in the air".

Sprinkle with jet lag, a very tired Mommy and Daddy, lots of luggage and baby items and present it wiggling and cooing to an appreciative audience.

Then stand back and listen for the "ohs and awes" and rave reviews.

Well, at least it happened that way with us.

Miss Emma is everything we every hoped for and then some. Yesterday we got to babysit for about 4 hours and found her to be delightful, entertaining, full of energy and yes....we found out our baby has a temper too!

Girlfriend absolutely adores "Poppy" (but then, so do I). Mr. Wonderful was so funny and delightful. When he held her and walked with her on his shoulder she snuggled really close and both of them were caught up in an invisible dance of adoration.

He would smile over at me and say, "Am I doing this right?" I would smile back and say, " Do you hear any complaints from her?" Emma is very generous with her smiles and girlfriend loves to make sweet baby noises. If she takes after her Momma and Diva she will be talking up a blue streak by the time she's a year old.

We are totally smitten by our first grandchild. Everything she does is delightful. Mr. Wonderful laughs at her smiles and coos and is instantly transported back to the time when we were first time parents. He has all the right moves now and much more confidence in his "baby reading" skills. It seems to me he walks a little taller and is much more observant to her every gesture.

Watching people play with babies is now one of my favorite past times when not actively engaged in the game myself. Life is amazing, looking at this incredible gift from God we can only imagine what she will see and experience in her lifetime. Today I am content just to lavish love and affection on Miss Emma and "steal kisses".

Labels: Monday memories

Monday Memory

2007-05-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

Making Monday Memories.....

Diva meets Darling

2007-05-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

Dearest Emma.....At last we have you in our arms . We were so excited to see you and your very tired parents at the Richmond Airport at 11p.m. It had been a hard day for all of you and I was so afraid you would take one look at me and start screaming for your Momma.

I wouldn't have blamed you and I had already made up a number of excuses to explain away your behavior but to my great surprise and delight you let me hold you. You seemed to think Diva's wheel chair made a great rolling stroller . You rewarded us with some toothless grins and we were totally captured and captivated by you.

I was surprised at how blond your hair is, your pictures make you look like a redhead. I love your azure blue eyes and your smile that could light up a city block. You are such a big girl. I adore your little chubby cheeks and your giggles could make a statue smile.

You have a definite personality already. We found you to be enchanting as well as equipped with a fine set of lungs and definite likes and dislikes. Watching you jump in your jolly jumper has become one of my greatest joys and holding you in my arms is the best medicine ever.

Watching you sleep, is like a whispered prayer. I've been waiting for you all my life and just didn't know it. Watching you grow and experience new things this next three weeks will be so much fun for us. I know you will not remember this visit but your Poppa and I will never forget the "first time we saw your face!"

All my love my darling Emma girl!
Diva

Countdown to the Divine Miss Em!

2007-04-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Emma Bug,

Every time I think I have found my new favorite picture of you, your mama and daddy take even cuter pictures. Trying to find a favorite is almost impossible "cause you get better looking each day!" How is that possible?

The tickets are purchased and you all will soon be flying to Virginia into our waiting arms. Do you know how hard it is for your Diva to wait? Almost impossible!

Your Auntie Suzy and Uncles are already getting excited to see you too. We have so many new experiences for you and it will be much fun to see you do so many "firsts".

Poppa and I laughed and laughed at your first "music video". Who knew you would be such a good dancer in your jolly jumper. You Go Grrrl! We definitely were delighted at "our bouncing baby grrrl".

We are counting the days till we can pick you up from the airport and then "Let the spoiling begin!" Know we love you so very much and consider you a gift from God.

Get plenty of rest girlfriend....you will need it for this wild and crazy side of the family.

All my love,

Diva

Thurday Thirteen...What Miss Emma has learned!

2007-04-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

My grand daughter Emma is 10 weeks old and here are 13 things she has already learned!

At one minute old: The world is a really big place and I'm already the center of it!
One hour old: Dad has already taken 100 pictures of me.
One day old: I love my Momma's voice and her touch is nice too.
Two days old: Daddy gets a "goofy look" on his face when he holds me.
Day three: Milk's in! Oh boy Let's Eat!
Day four: So this is where I live?
One week old: Momma's cranky when she doesn't sleep.
Two weeks old: At least they don't expect me to be on a schedule yet.
Four weeks old: Man, they go crazy when I smile at them. Such a big result for such a small effort. I like this.
Six weeks: It's alright Mom, don't feel self-conscious about my "infant acne", I don't.
Two months old: Mom feels guilty about letting me sleep on my tummy but I sleep so much better and so does she.
Two months old: Ouch! That's not fair....two shots at one time!
Ten weeks old: Just wait till my Diva (grandma) gets a hold of me!

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Labels: Thursday Thirteen

posted by Lazy Daisy at 5:36 PM | Permalink | 7 comments

My Easter Emma.....

2007-04-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

Dearest Emma Bug,

Look at you Girlfriend. You are getting so big and now have the biggest smiles for your Momma and Daddy. Your Poppa and Diva look forward to seeing new pictures of you each week as you are growing and changing so rapidly.

This will be your very first Easter. Easter is such a special time!
It is a time of new life.....everywhere we look in our country home there are new babies. You will like the baby lambs, calfs, baby goats and even new kitties that live under our shed.

The flowers are starting to bloom and the dull, brown scenery is starting to turn green and spots of colorful flowers are starting to pop up every where. Your Poppa and Diva are already starting to dream of our summer garden with lots of fresh vegetables and yes lots of Daisies too!

We are working on an Easter box of you and your parents. Yesterday your Poppa and I were able to go to our favorite place (The Green Valley Book Fair) and bought all kind of wonderful books for you and your momma.

The one I liked best for you is called What I Like About You by Colleen Ludington. It has wonderful pictures and perfectly describes you. I liked these lines from the book.

"You're a gift sent to me from God up above,
Perfectly , delightfully created in love.

When I am with you and when we're apart,
You're always here with me- right here in my heart.

You have a purpose no one else can fulfill;
No one can replace you-no one ever will.

We are so excited about seeing you sweet face soon. Hope you feel better soon. It has been an eventful month for you with your first immunizations and first cold.

Know we pray for you every day and can hardly wait to hold you in our arms.

Your Diva

My Little Red Hair Grrrl....

2007-03-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Dearest Emma Bug,

Oh my goodness, look at you Miss Thing! All dolled up with the bluest of eyes and is that red hair I see? What a precious, dear, sweet face! How I long to hold you, kiss you and pamper you and your parents. I think for now that this is my favorite picture of you.

Your Auntie Suzy and I have an exclusive club for the Blue Eyed Girls in our family. Since we were the only two we were the only members. We are thrilled to see your bonnie blue eyes (inherited from your daddy I'm sure!) We may have to have a special ceremony to welcome you into our club.

I think we are slowly making plans to come see you and bring all of you back with us for a visit. Your Uncle Andy, Uncle Tim and Auntie Suzy will be so excited to see you in person. We may have to draw numbers to see who gets to hold you first!

I'm waiting on my first smile from you. Hope it comes quickly once I have you in my arms.
Your poppa is already talking about taking you to all of his favorite places. He is just as eager to show you off too.

Sleep well little one. You are growing and changing day by day. Such a talented girl. We love your videos. You can tell your Diva all the secrets you've been keeping.

We love you Emma Bug.
Diva

Sharing Secrets......

2007-03-07T05:30:00.000-08:00

Dearest Emma-Bug,

Your sweet momma just sent me this picture of you and Eh? already sharing secrets! I love it! I'm sure he will never tell any of your secrets no matter how much honey I offer him.

I love your outfit too. Auntie Suzy loves shopping for her little neice and I think she did a really good job.

You are growing up so quickly and changing week by week.

We are so anxious to see you in person.

Miss you more than we ever thought possible. Let your mom get some sleep( she's a lot more fun when she's rested. )

Know you are loved, cherished and prayed for every moment of every day.......Your Diva

Happy Valentine's Day Baby!

2007-02-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

Dearest Emma Bug....

Look at you Miss Thing! You are growing way too fast for me. Yesterday was your very first Valentine's Day....the first of many. I went on my very own Valentine hunt to find you the most perfect "First Valentine" Days card and gift. Sure wish we could have been there to watch you explore your gifts.

I saw your video that your mom and dad made of you accidently turning over! I was so impressed! Now tell me darling, has your Daddy been teaching you Kung Fu already? (It's ok, just whisper it to me, I won't tell!)

Today is your Poppa's birthday and I bet I know what he wished for......to be able to hold you in his arms and to talk to you. For his birthday his big sister sent him his favorite pie and a book he loved as a little boy. It is called "Scuppers the Sailor Dog" and he already has plans to read it to you.

Tell Momma not to eat pizza for a while as it upsets your stomach. Oh, I see you've already told her and your Daddy!

Sleep well, my darling girl.

Hugs and Prayers coming your way.

Your Diva

Happy Birthday Becky and Emma

2007-02-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

Thursday Thirteen..About Becky

Thirteen Things about Becky that I hope her daughter inherits!

1.Today is our daughter Becky's birthday. This is her first birthday as a new mom. As a first time Diva and lover of Fairy Tales these are the gifts I hope your daughter inherits from you.

2.The first thing I see and is still true about you is that your smile lights up your face and electrifies the whole room. I am reminded of this comment.....Sitting in a cafe this afternoon, a random cute bearded old man walked by and said: "I hope the baby has your smile." I hope so too!

3. I hope Emma inherits your love of book and a hunger and thirst for knowledge. I laugh knowing full well her nursery theme is golden books and she already has wonderful posters on her walls of great children's book. I wouldn't be surprised to see her cutting her first teeth on a cardboard book. I love this new picture of her with her new book. It certainly gave her Poppa a chuckle too.

4. I pray that Emma will always feel loved, cherished and protected. I love this picture of you kissing your sweet Emma's head while she is sleeping peacefully. I pray that she will always feel safe and secure in your loving arms.

5. I pray that Emma inherits your sense of adventure. I never hear the Dixie Chicks song "Wide Open Spaces" that I don't think of you. I hope she is as
fearless as you my darling "Warrior Princess"

6. I hope she inherits your beautiful head of hair.....it took you a long time to grow hair and were pretty much a cue ball as a baby.. She already has a pretty good start in that department. (yes, that's you at 18 months!)

7. I hope she has your sense of humor (that you inherited from your dad). I hope she can look at a "Far Side" Cartoon and laugh hilariously.

8. I pray that she will react as strongly as you do at injustice, and cruelty and will be an agent for change in her generation.

9. I hope she has an active imagination and always has some creative outlet for it, whether it's making up stories, drawing, or building with Legos.

10. I pray that she will be a leader and an independent thinker just like you.

11. I pray that she will be physically active and enjoy participating in sports. Can you see Emma as a young soccer referee?

12. I pray that she will always keep the lines of communication open with you even if you don't agree with what she is doing. I always loved that you didn't shut us out of your life. I love this picture because I was on the other end of the phone and can hear her "little noises".

13. I pray that you can give her Wings and Roots. Happy Birthday Becky.

A little pillow talk?

2007-01-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

Dearest Emma Bug,

I saw this picture of you and your darling daddy and my heart just melted. Here you are less than two weeks old and you've already captured your Daddy's heart.

What secrets are you sharing? Are you telling him all about your marvelous Mommy? It looks like you are getting your point across by the goofy grin on his adoring face.

You go girlfriend! Did you know that babies are God's way of growing parents? I'm seeing them change and mellow every day too. What a good influence you are having on both of them. Babies tend to smooth off the rough edges on us.

Know you are a blessing and are blessed. Poppa and Diva pray for you everyday and long to see you and hold you close.

Your Diva

Who is Cuter? You or your Daddy?

2007-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

Look at you Miss Thing! My darling little Bug!

All decked out in your soft red blanket sleeper that your Diva picked out for you. I love your hat too. I so fell in love with this little sleeper when your mommy and I were shopping for your arrival.

Your Diva adores snowmen and this little sleeper is definitely got winter scenes and snowmen. Your Poppa says I have a thing for fat white men and he is so glad, cause he is one!

Your Momma and Daddy got you all dolled up for your first "public" outing. I'm sure you were the queen of the mall already. Hope the Paparazzi weren't overwhelming.

I think you look cuter in your sleeper than your daddy....What do you think?

He's a silly guy sometimes but no one will ever love you more than your Momma and Daddy. He is so proud of you and very protective of his sweet Emma.

(I'll tell you a secret Em.....flash him a smile and he will totally melt and move heaven and eath to do whatever you want him to do. Just remember, you didn't hear that from me, okay?)

My arms ache to hold you.

Your Diva

Waving Emma!

2007-01-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

Look at you waving to your Diva!

Hello Gorgeous! How's my Emma Bug this morning.

Your poppa and I are having so much fun looking at your pictures and watching you grow and change so rapidly.

Your momma tells us all kinds of stories about you and I've heard you hiccup on the phone. Even that sounded cute.

Can you tell I'm helplessly in love with you?

Woo Hoo....Look at you!

2007-01-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

Look at you Miss Thing,

This is the first picture I've seen of your hands, arms, legs and feet. Woo Hoo, what a good looking baby you are!

Love the hat and booties too.

It's amazing how wide awake you are and how sleepy your parents look. I hope you are breaking them in gently they are old you know.

I heard you got to meet your grandma and grandpa Peters tonight. I'm sure they fell in love with you instantly too.

You seem to have that effect on everyone.

Sleep well little one......your momma needs some rest too.

First pictures.....

2007-01-20T17:44:00.000-08:00

Dearest Emma,

Did you know that your Diva believes in love at first sight? No, silly girl, I'm not talking about your Poppa (even though he is very cute!)

The first time I experienced love at first sight was when I first saw your momma. All new and perfect straight from God. I fell head over heels in love with her.

I was so worried when I was pregnant with your Auntie Suzy. How would I ever love another child as much as I loved your mommy? But you know I fell in love at first sight with her too, and with your Uncle Andy. It's amazing how such a tiny person can expand your heart instantly.

I was in love with you when we first heard you were on the way. Your mommy was on the phone with us when we first saw your pictures and guess what? Diva and Poppa are instantly in love with our little Emma. I love this particular picture as it looks like you and your mom are sharing secrets already.

You are so fresh and new that you probably haven't discoved what an amazing mom you have. I suspect you already have many of her characteristics and it will be so much fun to watch you change and grow.

Do you like your house and your room?

Know you are loved, cherished and so welcomed into our hearts and our lives.

Your Diva

Hello my Baby, Hello my Sweety.....

2007-01-19T08:29:00.000-08:00

Hello my precious baby girl! My Emma Bug!

Your Poppa and Diva keep checking our email every hour looking for your first photos. We are so thrilled that you are finally here and we can see you, hold you, and whisper sweet nothings in your little tiny ear. If I were there in person you would have such chapped cheeks from all your Diva kisses.

Knowing your momma, I'm sure she already has kissed every inch of your sweet face and even your tiny toes ( which your mom says you like to kick out from under the blankets). I'm sure your daddy has held you in his strong arms and marveled at his part in helping God create such a perfect little person.

Your Poppa found this little baby bee at "the mission mall" yesterday for you. Diva is being selfish and keeping it for herself to remind me of my Emma Bug.

Do you like your name? I think it's beautiful and just perfect you.
Emma
The healer of the universe.

What a strong name. I can already imagine you bringing people together.

Missing you soooooo much!

Your Diva

Is it Today?

2007-01-17T12:01:00.000-08:00

Dearest Baby Bug......Is today your birthday? It just might be! Your momma has been feeling contractions all day yesterday and her doctor thinks that today my be the day that you arrive.

We are so excited at the "Big Unveiling".

Just wanted you to know that you are all "prayed up" and that we already love and adore you.

Be good to your mom......it would be nice if you decided if you decided to pop in and say hello!

Rest up my angel....exciting times are coming! Diva

Got ya covered......my baby bug!

2007-01-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

13 ways to be a Fantastic a ~~Granny~~ Diva

Always carry lots of pictures. Don't wait until the baby is born, start with the ultrsound images and go all the way through graduation.
Listen intently to other people talk about their grandchild. This is not as easy as it sounds.
Select a proper grandma name that 1) you like, 2) the child can pronounce and 3) will not be embarrassing when it is shouted loudly in the grocery store.
Ask God to bless your grandchildren and pray for them every day.
When your grandchild is fussy or behaves poorly, always have a good excuse.
My favorite excuse is "The poor little doll is just so tired. And you would be too if you had been hauled around all day. Another good excuse is" "The poor little angel is cutting teeth!" These two are good but you need a good spare or two for really tough times.
You will want to have special nicknames for them as they grow, but continue to call them by their name. We all like to hear the sound of our own names.
When something gets broken at your house, remind yourself and your grandchild that people are more important than things.
Get a bigger purse-a small suitcase will do also-so that you can always pull out a new toy, candy or distraction of some kind at just the right moment.
Think back on your own grandmothers and try now to realize just how much they loved you. At the time you had no idea of their deep love because it is unexplainable. You must experience it for yourself.
Have Grandma Camp one week every summer. Plan cookouts, crafts, sports, and all the things kids love. For the following week shedule a massage, plenty of bed rest, and post a sign that the kitchen is closed until further notice.
Never miss a chance to tell them you love them. The days are short and years pass quickly. What a better way for them to remember you than, "She always told me how much she loved me."
Give a "Grandmother Shower" for your friends who are new to the club. Bring baby things for the the new grandmother to keep at her house.

Close up and personal!

2007-01-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Baby Bug.....Yep, it's your grandparents. I included the picture as you probably remember us talking to you while you were still in your mommy's tummy.

Just wanted you to know we are thinking about you and are so excited that your arrival is soon. I know you are warm and snug and are growing stronger and longer every day.

Always know that you are a much loved child and prayed for every day. Be blessed. Diva and Papa

Farewell for now.....

2007-01-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

Derest Baby Bug,

It was so hard to leave you and your parents. Diva and Papa are back in the Daisy Patch now with tickets to come see you or bring you and your parents to come see us.

On our way home we had the opportunity to delay our flight for 2 free round trip tickets anywhere that Northwest flies. You should have seen your Papa jump at the opportunity to see you for free. We truly believe that it was a provision from the Lord as we certainly had no idea how we would be able to save up the money for another trip any time soon. Not only did we get free tickets but we also got free dinner, breakfast and they put us up for the night at a very nice hotel.

It was truly a wonderful gift and we are very excited about seeing you soon.

We are tired from our travels and missing you and your sweet momma and dashing daddy.

We were happy to help set up your room. What a lucky baby to have such a wonderful place to grow and play. You already have a library of exciting books that will take you as far as your imagination can carry you. Your Papa is already eyeing the Big Book of Trucks to read to you. He likes to make truck noises that will make you giggle.

Sleep well, and let your Momma get some rest too.

Missing you muchly,

Your Diva

Meet a new friend and secret keeper.

2006-12-25T09:14:00.000-08:00

Dearest Little One,

Today is Christmas Day 2006. We opened gifts last night and your mommy and daddy opened many books for you and a big ole bear your Diva calls ( Eh? or as I call him A). I saw this bear months ago and had to have him for you.

I bought the sweater for him yesterday....it gets cold in Canada. He is very soft and has a sweet funny face. I like his soft fat tummy and big black nose. At first he may be bigger than you are but that will quickly change. As you can see he is guarding a box of blocks.....he's already working for you. He may be trying to sneak a sip of gingerale from your dad so you may need to watch him when he's by himself.

Your momma has already let me feel your kicks. You are getting bigger and stronger and soon we will be able to hold you and see your sweet face. I'm sure your Poppa already has plans about taking your picture sitting under the Christmas tree like he did with your sweet momma on her first Christmas. Rest well my darling angel and know that my dreams are sweet because of you.

Soon yes very soon.....

2006-12-20T18:41:00.000-08:00

Dearest Babykins,

Yes, I'm actually here in Canada and I've been talking to your momma's tummy so you will know that your Diva loves you and know my voice. Your poppa is here too and has been making repairs around the house.

Today we took you shopping for your nursery. It was so much fun to see all the baby clothes, and baby items. It won't be long till I can hold you and have a face to face conversation. Your momma bought a basket holder for you. It will hold your bed and will also rock you to sleep . Your daddy and poppa put it together tonight and after much convincing we finally got a picture of your parents by your new bed.

It is so much fun seeing you. I bought you your first Christmas ornament and one for your mom. We will be washing your clothes and setting up you bedroom soon.

You are definitely making your presence known. We love you and are so anxious to see your sweet face. Rest well my darling and let your momma get some rest too.

It's Just Me.....

2006-11-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

Dearest Baby Dumpling,

Today is a Thursday and I'm sitting in front of my computer with my bunny slippers on thinking and praying for you.

I've been looking at pictures of your momma's ever increasing belly and marveling at how much you are growing and developing. Your mom tells me that you are late night kicker (possibly practicing your kong foo moves with your daddy or maybe you are more the soccer type.)

Your mom was quite the kicker too. I thought she would either be a ballarina or a soccer player. She did turn out to be an awesome soccer player and the first female teenage soccer ref (but that's another story for another day!)

Your are quite remarkable already. Your momma and daddy think about you, plan for your arrival and dream dreams about your future. Even your Papa brought home a toy for you today that I'm sure we will be storing for many years till you are old enough to enjoy it. Your Diva has picked out clothes, sleepers, books and toys for you too.

I'm sure you know your momma's soothing voice by now and she has exposed you to the Dixie Chicks in concert. I bet you'll know all of their songs before you are 5. (Uncle Andy swears he was the only 17 year old boy to know all the lyrics to "Dancing Queen".)

My days are full of thoughts of you. We are marking off the days till we can hold you in our arms. (I might have to wrestle your momma though....You'll like her, she's a bit over protective, very socially conscious, passionate personality and totally in love with you.)

Hugs and prayers today and always.......Your Diva

No It's Not the Great Pumpkin!

2006-10-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

Good Grief Charlie Brown....it's your Papa!

Dear Baby Bear....Here is your Papa in the Pumpkin Patch by our home. This particular pumpkin is called a "Cheese Pumpkin" because it looks light orange like a wheel of cheese.

Papa is wearing a flannel shirt and I think he looks like "The Brawny Man" from the commericals.

This is your Diva's favorite time of year.

I talked with you momma today and you are definitely making your presence knows. Be nice to your momma....she really works hard and she loves you so very much.

Hmmmm.....I'm getting hungry for pumpkin bread, muffins, pies, or for that matter pumpkin everything.

Diva's Flashback

2006-10-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

Dearest Wee One,

Every Monday I post a "Monday Memory" on my other blog. Usually they are family stories or stories of your diva as a child. This week I posted a story about your momma. Your Momma was the most wonderful baby ever born (or at least we thought so ). We were instantly captivated by her. She was our greatest accomplishment and we watched her with breathless anticipation. Your Papa and I had been a small part of helping God create a living breathing miracle.

Like most nervous new parents we let her sleep in a bassinet right next to our bed for fear we might not hear her in the middle of the night! At first she would only squeak a little as she would wake for a feeding. As she grew bigger and stronger so did her cries. Soon we were able to distinguish the hungry "feed me cries" from the the "I need to be changed cries".

As our confidence grew, so did she. Soon she had a lusty mad cry that signaled " You'd better take care of me NOW or else!" She was very good at training us to meet her needs. For the most part she was an easy baby to raise and we complimented each other for our extraordinary "parenting" ablility.

So, we were not prepared for our child's noiseless cry. We were in a large district church conference and our 8 month old creeper was in the nursery with lots of other preachers kids. The nursery was small and there were lots of babies. The main assembly had just gotten out and mother's were on their way to pick up their offspring.

As I entered the nursery I noticed that your momma was playing on the floor. I also noticed that her mouth was wide open in terror, tears were pouring out of her eyes and yet there was no noise coming out of her mouth. Her face was beet red, and her eyes were bulging.

I also noticed that there was another mom gathering her child's diaper bag and standing on my baby's hand.

My maternal instinct took over and faster than a charging NFL linesmen I pushed the offending mother off your momma's hand ( and nearly through the opposite wall.). I grabbed my noiselessly screaming baby and blew in her face. It caused her to catch her breath and then the loudest, most ear-splitting noise erupted from her that caused everyone (even the very angry offending mom) to stop dead in their tracks and pay attention to what had just occurred.

Your Momma began wailing and so did I. (Both of us were inconsolable.) Fortunately another mother had also viewed the incident and was explaining the situation to the astonished nursery attendant , the offending mother and to your Papal who was wondering why his mild mannered wife had become a raving charging lunatic.

Needless to say that was the last time your momma was in that nursery. Nothing was broken or bruised (including the other mother) but I felt like the world's worst mom.

Moms and Divas hate to see their children hurt, or scared. It was a horrible experience for both of us that day.

Seal of Approval

2006-10-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Look what I made today. Bet you didn't know that your Diva could do her own art projects.

Thanksgiving is coming.....

2006-10-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

Dearest Dumpling,

Thanksgiving (Canadian) is less than a week away. It won't be long till your mom is breaking out the pine cone turkeys and when you are older you Diva is expecting to see one of these from you.

It's a turkey made from your handprint and footprints. Ask your momma dearest (she's very crafty at these kind of things!)

Guess what Diva and Papa are thankful for this year? That's right Beloved.....You! Diva has been waiting for you for a very long time (and not very patiently I should add!)

You are the glue that makes two very different hearts a family. Your arrival will turn a head-strong grrrl and a hermit boy into a Mommy and a Daddy. Your arrival will turn this silver hair old lady into a dazzling Diva and a hard working missionary into a proud Papa.

Yes you.....even now you are making an impact on your world. We are all in breathless anticipation of your arrival.

Keep strong, keep growing, be blissed,

Diva

Diva' s Kitties.....

2006-09-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Sweetie Pie....Allow me to introduce Diva's Kitties.

We live in a small house (The Nest) in the country. Because it is an older house we occasionally have field mice that like to come into the house and take up residency in the fall and winter time.

The first year I saw one of the little critters your Diva let out a blood curdling scream that even your Papa could hear. I demanded that he get me a cat for Christmas. So we began to look for kittens.

We finally found a litter of kittens that had been born in September and were looking for a good home. Papa picked out the orange marmalade one as he had already caught a mouse at 3 months old. "That's my boy", said Papa and we took home "Buster". There are times that we still call him Buster (especially if he has been naughty....Papa will say, "Look here Buster, we don't do that in this house!").

Diva named him JJ. We used to have an orange marmalde cat named "Joey" so JJ is short for "Joey Jr." JJ was just a little ball of fluff when we brought him home.

Diva's Dog Spot.....did not like JJ and was always growling and acting mad. Your Aunt Suzy and I decided that it would be nice for JJ to have a playmate (since Spot was old and grumpy) and Diva really liked the small grey tabby cat (JJ's sister).

Papa wasn't convinced that we needed two kitties. He finally consented and we were able to bring home Lucy Cat. It was a good decision as they have known each other all their life. They play together, box each other, trap together, jump on each other, cuddle up together to sleep, and are the best of friends.

As babies, the kitties would climb into the Christmas tree and sleep on the branches. They both like to cuddle....(especially JJ) . Your momma enjoyed playing with them the first Christmas we got them.

Both are inside Kitties and don't have front claws. JJ will like you instantly. Lucy will like you especially if your Papa is holding you. Lucy Cat adores Papa!

What Day of the Week will you be born?

2006-09-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Dearest Babykins.....What day of the week will you be born? There is a old rhyme that talks about the day of the week . I've included the verse so you can look at it.

Can you tell from the picture which day your Momma was born? If you said, Wednesday then you are right. According to the rhyme "Wednesday's Child is full of woe." Your momma is no quitter though. She may have cried some times but she quickly found a way to solve the problem. ( Your Mom is one clever lady!)

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child must work for a living,
But the child that's born on the Sabbath day
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that your Diva was born on a Saturday...."Saturday's child works hard for a living."....sigh, I've got my fingers crossed for you babykins...hope your mom hold out for a Friday!

Grape Grandma?

2006-09-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

Dear pumpkin,

It's fall here in Virginia and the weather is cooler. Your Diva adores fall as much as she adores you. My front porch is covered with bronze, yellow,and maroon mums and today I bought a pot of my favorite daisy mums. I also bought a small pumpkin.

It's small and cute, just like you!

The leaves are just starting to change color and its time to bring down the quilts from the attic as the nights are cooler.

Your Papa and I have been canning produce from our garden. It has been a very long time since I last did any canning. We had a bummer crop of tomatoes and peppers so Diva made some home made Salsa. It's hotter than I normally like so I bet your momma will like it.

We also made grape jelly from the grapes on the grape arbor. Papa worked really hard to get rid of the Japanese Beetles that invaded it last year. I was delightfully surprised at what good jelly they make. It is hard work however and seems to be a two person job.

Papa brought home a juicer which made it much easier. For a while Diva was afraid that we were going to have to paint the kitchen purple. (Did you know that Grape juice stains? Trust me it does, so do your mommy a favor and be very careful with your sippy cup when you get one ok?)

We made two batches of jelly last night and will probably make one more batch from our grapes this year. Silly Uncle Andy told me he wants Strawberry Jelly. Diva told him that was fine but we didn't grow any strawberries in our garden. (Hmmm.....I noticed that the strawberry fields down the road have already put in their plants for next spring. Maybe I'll talk to Papa about putting in strawberries?)

It's a good thing that I'm your Diva or else your Papa would be calling me your "Grape Grandma!" When you are old enough to have peanutbutter and jelly I will make sure you get some of Diva's Divine Grape Jelly for your sandwich.

Love you more than all the good things about fall.

Your Diva

Grandchildren don't make a man feel old; it's the knowledge
that he's married to a grandmother. ~G. Norman Collie

A Look at the future?

2006-09-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

Dearest Wee One,

This is one of your Diva's favorite picture. It was taken at your momma and daddy's wedding reception and the little girl is your cousin Jenna.

I love this picture because your parents positively glow in their love for one another and your cousin Jenna reminded me of you.....(boy or girl....just my future grandchild.) The fuzzy effect makes me think of future events.

I picture you as having laughing brown eyes like your mom and brown hair like your dad. I can see you as being bright eyed and clever. (Of course you're clever, look who picked out to be your parents!) I can picture you so vividly in my mind's eye and can hardly wait to hold you, kiss your little head, and breath a prayer of thanksgiving over you.

Keep growing, keep safe, be blessed.

Diva

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild.
~Welsh Proverb

Two Left, Two Right!

2006-09-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Dearest Babykins,

Did you know that your Diva has gone into training just to be part of your life?

This old bird is exercising, walking two and three miles a day and even eating healthy.

I'm losing weight and working at getting some extra energy so I can keep up with you.

What a good influence you are and you haven't even made your appearance known yet!

Papa is in the best physical shape of his life from lifting boxes. He is very strong too!

Take it easy on your mom.....she needs her rest.

Love ya loads.....Diva

Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just
a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric. ~Pam Brown

Seat Covers!

2006-09-10T10:50:00.001-07:00

Dear Baby Dumpling,

Your momma just received a "care package" of items that pregnant mommies crave and can't seem to find. Some of the items were food items, (granola bars, wintergreen tic tacs, fried apples) and several were "pretty panties" from Victoria Secrets. ( I'll tell you her secrets later, I promise!)

Not only did your momma receive pretty panties....she was also able to find "Seat covers" for you too. She was so excited to find cloth diapers for your cute little baby bottom. When your mommy was a baby the cloth diapers we had were long rectangles that you folded different ways and pinned together. ( No one told me that there were different ways to fold them depending if you had a boy or girl...believe me it makes a difference!)

When your mom was old enough to "potty train" we told her that Big Girls got to wear "pretty panties". She was so proud to wear pretty ruffles on her panties.

We lived in a small town in Montana and there was no nursery. There was no bathroom at the church either so everyone would use the bathroom in our house. One Sunday your momma had "to go potty" and an older lady in the church( Aredale Cisco) took her for me. She commented on how pretty her big girl panties were.....your mom was very confused as I had told her that was one of the advantages of using the potty. Without batting an eye she looked at her and said, "Don't you wear pretty panties?

"Well, yes, I do" she replied, "But not as pretty as yours!"

What was the first thing your momma announced to the whole church after coming from the bathroom?....."Momma, Mrs. Cisco doesn't wear big girl panties!"

Mrs. Cisco never volunteered to help again!

Back Rubs and Chocolate Chip Cookies....

2006-09-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Cookie.....(That's because you're the sweetest thing around!)

By now you are probably thinking poor Diva. She doesn't know my name. Your darling Diva has "pet names " for everyone and you will have so many.

Don't be surprised if you get the name of "Cookie Monster" as we are a cookie lovin family. When we were dating your Papa told me, "If you can bake a decent chocolate chip cookie and give a good back rub, I'll marry you!" Silly man had no idea that I was the world's best back rubber and cookie maker! He soon learned and asked me to marry him about a month after we first met. (You see, your Papa knows a good thing when he sees it!)

Your Uncle Andy loves to have his back rubbed and will pull up his shirt and say, "Woman, start rubbing" when he sees me. Uncle Andy loves Oatmeal Scotchies.....(he doesn't share cookies or pizza well, so don't be offended.)

I make a mean oatmeal cookie with cinnamon chips too! You and I will have to experiment and come up with some new cookies. How bout sugar gummy worm cookies? Hmmm....I'll have to do some more thinking on that.

Why you have a Diva instead of a Grandma

2006-09-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Dearest Pookie,

It did occur to me that some where along the line you will be asking...."How come I've got a Diva instead of a grandma?"

Simple answer: You were very lucky sweetie!

Maybe you will have friends that call their grandmother by a different name. Some of my friends call themselves "Granny," "Nana", "Meme", "Nanny", "Oma", "Nan", "Gram", "Grandma", and one even calls herself "Honey Gram."

According to the dicitionary a Diva is a female opera singer. ( No, that's not me unless you happen to hear me singing in the shower.)

A Diva is a person who controls what is going on in her environment and most especially her inner circle. Your Diva is bigger than life and the stories I can tell you kiddo! I'm hoping to be someone really special in your life. I want an active part in your life. I want to sweep you away on excursions, bake cookies with you, make up stories and corny jokes, have playdough in my hair, play trucks, climb trees and kiss away your boo-boos.

A Diva is a Star and I'm prepared to be the "twinkle factor in your life".

Meet your Uncle Andy.

2006-09-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

Dearest future soccer player, (your mom says you kick her frequently!)

You will have many uncles in your life...(since your dad has 3 brothers!) None of them will be more fun than your uncle Andy.

Uncle Andy is your momma's baby brother. She was almost 4 years old when he was born. When your mom was about 10 she got very angry at me because I didn't have any babies for her to take care of. Your mom has always been a "baby" kind of grrrl.

She has always taken care of her brother and sister (even when they didn't want her to!). I remember your mom putting baby Andy in the baby swing to keep him from crying when he was only a few weeks old. Since he could not sit up by himself we would put pillows around him to prop him up and to keep him from falling through the leg holes of the swing. It was hard for me to do much less a 4 year old child. I was downstairs at the time and did not see her do this. When she told me, "Brother was crying so I put him in the swing." I went running upstairs thinking he would be upside down or would be sliding out of the swing any momment. Imagine how delighted I was to see him sitting perfectly content swinging in the baby swing with pillows around him in just the right places.

Uncle Andy loves sports and likes coaching soccer. He adores video games (but don't beat him as he hates to lose) he loves pizza and every Sunday night is pizza night. He loves Reese's peanut butter cups (but doesn't like chocolate, so go figure?). He loves the Disney character "Goofy" and has always loved "Superman" and the superheroes. He has a crazy sense of humor (very much like mine) has a developed a love for "Tea" with Tipolo Honey . He is a charmer and a head turner. I don't think he knows any strangers! He is good looking and a good dresser. He can create great games and will give you "Mets" clothing and hats. He can be very sentimental and he will be your uncle "fun".

Don't be surprised if he already has a Mets hat for you as well as sports equipment.

Meet your Papa!

2006-09-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

Dearest Baby Cakes.....(Yes, it's another nick name for you.) Let me introduce you to your Papa. (Isn't he cute?) Your Diva thinks so....and has thought so for the last 33 years.

Like most grandfathers he may appear to be gruff and grumpy. Actually he is pure marshmellow and an ole softie! Your momma figured that out right away.

He is a really smart man and loves to tinker in his basement with tools and electronics. He does not like to be defeated by a problem so will keep working on a solution for a long time.

Papa has a "droll" sense of humor. You have to be pretty smart to understand why he thinks the situation is funny. Fortunately your momma will explain why Papa is laughing as they share that same trait.

Papa loves to teach and explain. (Warning: Papa talks in letters and numbers that have meaning only to him. Diva has found that the best way to handle this situation is to smile and nod like you understand. It makes him happy, he will rub your head and tell you how smart you are! Trust me on this!)

Papa loves to read. He knows a little about a lot. (Note: take all your "Why?" questions to Papa.) However you need to know that if for some reason he does not know the answer he will make one up. ( no, not really lying, just an interesting story to see if you will believe him.....it's a game he likes to play.)

Your Papa is strong and you will be always be safe and protected in his arms. He will cry when you are born and the first time he sees your little face he will be instantly in love with you. Don't be surprised if he tells you the story about how your momma slept under his handkerchief when she was a baby. It's one of his favorite stories.

No one will love you like your Papa Charlie. He has been praying for you ever since we knew you were on the way. He has lots of wisdom and can make anything go. He already has plans in his head about building you a fort or a playhouse. You will be blessed to have him in your life, loving you and cheering you on.

Meet you Auntie Suzy!

2006-09-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Dearest Little One,

I thought I would tell you something about your Auntie Suzy. She's your momma's younger sister and as differentfrom your mom as any two sisters can be. You'll really like her. She knows the best songs and books because she is a children's librarian. She'll have to teach you the "popcorn" song ( it stays in your head forever!).

Your Auntie Suzy loves to travel and knows the very best places to investigate. When she came to visit your momma and daddy the very first time, she had a list of things she wanted to see.....One was a mountie! As you can see, Auntie Suzy always gets her man (just ask Uncle Tim!)

Auntie Suzy loves Halloween and makes costumes for herself, Uncle Tim, and her big roly poly cats Pan and Juno. You'll meet the kitties, especially if you like to crawl under the bed (Juno likes to hide under their bed, especially when Diva comes to visit.)

Juno has a little pink nose......but when her nose is red WATCH OUT! That means she is one mad cat! I think Auntie Suzy should write a children's book about her funny cats. What do you think?

Oh my darling baby....the world is full of delightful surprises and so many people that are anxious to be part of your life. Do know you will be loved and cherished.

Player yet to be announced!

2006-09-01T05:13:00.000-07:00

Dearest Little One,

Your Diva and your Papa waited all day to hear about your first picture. What a good looking baby you are! You are growing and maturing. Your parents were very glad to see your face and know everything is developing normally.

You are a very modest baby however, so we still do not know if you are a boy or a girl. Your parents think you are a girl. If so, you can pretty well bet that you will be your Daddy's Little Princess and the delight of your momma heart. ( Here's some hints on how to handle your parents.....look pleading and adoringly at your daddy, and give you mom a logical argument.)

If you are a big bad boy then the same advice hold true only in reverse. You will definitely be "you'r Momma's Boy" and the delight of your Daddy. ( Hints on handling the folks still apply.....look pleading and adoringly at your momma and give your dad a logical arugment.)

Know that you are loved and prayed for on a daily basis. We are anxiously awaiting your arrival and we are already truly, madly, deeply in love with you. Diva loves "surprise packages" , Auntie Suzy knows lots of stories and songs, Uncle Andy will keep you laughing and your Papa (though he may look gruff ) will melt like a marshmellow at one of your smiles.

Thursday Thirteen....Cause for Celebration

2006-08-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

Why Daisy is Looking forward to being a Granny Diva

I adore my kids and can hardly wait to spoil their offspring.
Babies are such fun and when they cry you can give them back to their momma's.
I love to buy toys and books.
They make Christmas so much more fun.
They have the cutest clothes.
It's an opportunity to see your child as an caring adult.
I can use some of the acquired knowledge I gained while raising their parent.
I can break out the apron and bake cookies again.
I can watch all the kid TV I want and say, "The baby was watching it!"
Babies think you can do anything.....so you do!
I can read some great children's book like "Is Your Momma a Llama?"
Babies are so trusting and their laughter is contagious.
What could be better than a little hand curled around your finger?

Peeking under the blanket.

2006-08-30T00:03:00.000-07:00

One more day till we get to " peek under the blanket" and see if you will be a boy or a girl....regardless you'll always be your Diva's darling.

They say that everytime a baby is born, a grandmother is born too. I've been waiting my whole life for you and it may be a good thing that we don't live close by you. If we did you would certainly have chapped cheeks from all the kisses I would give you.

When your momma was born your Papa was so proud. He called all our relatives to announce her presence. He taped recorded their responses so I could hear them. We will have to look for that tape.....you will laugh and laugh when you hear it.

Speaking of blankets......because your mom was born in February and because Papa and I are from the south, practically all of her baby gifts were blankets. Every time a package would come your Papa would say, "It's another blanket!" Sure enough he was right. I guess people thought that we were crazy to live in such a cold climate. We had enough blankets to share with other babies and enough for your Auntie Suzy and Uncle Andy too.

What's in a Name?

2006-08-29T05:19:00.000-07:00

Dearest Sweet Pea.....(Yes, it's another nick name your Diva will be calling you!)

Just two more days till we know if you are a boy or a girl.

What a wonderful world we live in to be able to take a picture of you in your mommy's tummy. Your momma was a "surprise" package. We did not know she was a girl till she arrived.

Diva was thinking pink and hoping for a little girl.

I wanted my first child to be a girl because there were no granddaughters in my family. My parents had two grandsons (Steve and Phil) but no little girls to tickle and love. My Dad (your great grandfather) had secretly told me after his second grandson was born, "I guess I'll have to wait till you get married to have my girls!"

Did you know that naming a baby is really hard work?

Diva and Papa used to watch a popular TV program called "The Waltons". It was a show about a family with 7 children . Several of the children had double names such as "John Boy" and "Jim-Bob". We were being silly one day and decided that if your momma was a boy we could name her "William Wallace" and call her "Willy Wally".

My Dad's name was Wallace and your Papa's Dad's name was John so had your mom been a boy we had decided her name would be "John Wallace" in honor of both grandfathers.

Rebecca was a name that both your Papa and Diva could agree on. The only Becky's we knew were people we liked, so the name had pleasant memories associated with it. I thought the name "Becky Bennetch" was the most beautiful name in the world. We wanted her name to be distinguished so we used the Biblical spelling of Rebekah.

Your momma's middle name is Joanne.

Your Papa was a school teacher when Diva met him. He was shy and awkward. He taught Physical Science and Drafting at Norfolk Christian Academy. He was befriended and mentored by a lovely lady named Jo Branning (who was a single mom raising two boys). Jo had a wonderful mind, was the head of the science department, and always good for a free meal. So part of your momma's name is in honor of Jo Branning.

The "Anne" part of your momma's name is in honor of your Papa's dear sister Auntie Anne. Your Papa and his sister are very much alike and he deeply loves and adores her. So your Papa came up with your momma's middle name and named her after two very brilliant independent, women he admired, in hopes she would have some of their zeal and spirit. (Boy, did he get that one right!)

I know your mommy and daddy have been thinking about your name for a long time. It will be a special name for a special baby.

I love you.....your Diva

Nick names.....yes your momma had one too!

2006-08-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

Dearest Little One,

By now you probably know that you had a "nick name". Your mommy and daddy call you Shnodda Nas ( meaning little "snot nose") which is a term of endearment for a small child.

But did you know that your mommy had a " nickname name" too. Her pre-birth name was "Bozo", Bozo Bennetch!

Bozo the clown was a cartoon character that your Diva and Papa watched when we were children. Bozo had big feet and your mommy was always kicking me letting me know she was ready to come out and play.

When your Diva first met your great-grandmother, "Marne" she looked at me and said, "I've always wanted grandchildren with red hair." (Yes, Diva dyed her hair even back then and the dye always gave me red highlights!) So calling your mommy Bozo was a special way of preserving Marne's memory of having red haired grandchildren.

However, your mommy had very little hair(and it wasn't red) when she was born! Your Diva used to put a small tab of corn syrup on her head and stick a matching bow so people would know she was a girl. Even when we dressed her in frills, and ruffles someone would say, "Fine looking boy you've got there!"

Your mommy was born in a farming and ranching community. Apparently farmers give their female pigs extra iodine so the little piglets will have fine red hair all over them when they are born in early spring. The extra hair helps to keep the piglets warm.

When the farmers saw your bald headed mommy they used to shake their head and tell me...."You needed more iodine in your diet!"

Look at your mommy's hair now. Isn't it gorgeous and long? It will make great handles to pull when you want her attention.....Just a thought.

I love you! Your Diva

Hello from the Daisy Patch

2006-08-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hello my darling little one. I started this blog to let you know how excited your Papa and I are to welcome you into the family.

I am your momma's momma also known as your darling DIVA.....no grannies here ! You have been long awaited and prayed for in advance.

Your mom told us of your arrival on Mother's Day.....she called to wish me "Happy Grandmother's Day!" I told her she was mean, as that is news I have always wanted to hear and I really thought she was teasing me. When I found out that you were indeed on your way you could hear me scream all the way to Canada.

We were visiting your Auntie Suzy and Uncle Tim (hmmm.....that's the first time I've ever used those names before....) in New York. Your Auntie Suzy had just graduated with her Master's Degress in Library Science and Technology and we had gone to her graduation. We were all together when we heard the news (even your Uncle Andy). We were all excited and happy but your mommy made us promise not to tell anyone until she was sure about her new job.

Do you know how hard it is for your Diva not to say anything about your arrival? Uncle Andy immediately put the news of his "uncle-ship" on the internet. Imagine how surprised I was to get a phone call from my very best friend (Miss Sue) asking who was your momma?

Her daughter had read Uncle Andy's blog on My Space and everyone thought that Auntie Suzy was going to be your momma. I was so surprised to be asked about your arrival that I didn't know what to say other than "How do you know about our baby?"

Finally in July, you're mommy told me I could tell all my blog friends so the first post on this new blog was how I announced your arrival.

This is a very big week for your Papa and I as we are anxious to hear if you are a boy or a girl.

We have already bought you some toys and books and can hardly wait to see you in person.

Always know that you are a special baby......and that we love you very very much.

Guess Who?

2006-08-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

It's About Time!

Guess who is going to be a ~~granny~~ DIVA?

If you said me....give yourself 5 points. I actually was told the news on Mother's Day. How exciting is that? Our very first grandbaby!!

I told my girls they'd better hurry up and get started before I lost all my ~~grandmother~~ Diva skills. Guess I'd better start practicing baking my famous chocolate chip cookies to sharpen my skill set.

Our Canadian daughter and son-in-law are the proud parents of this little miracle coming late January of 07.

So you can bet this ~~granny~~ Diva is saving her pennies to attend the big event. Mr. Wonderful is excited also and says he's never slept with a ~~granny~~ Diva before.