This and That

*Thank you so much for all of your kind and encouraging words and prayers. They really brought me comfort during this hard time.

*After saying good-bye to my Grandma, welcoming our entire Robinson side of the family to town, mourning the loss of Grandma together, going through visitation and her funeral, and hanging out almost nonstop with family up until Monday night, my head has been absolutely spinning the last couple of days. It's a lot to process!! Things keep popping up in my head that I experienced with my Grandma, and it all just seems like a dream sometimes! I have been missing her more than I realized I would this week. I never knew what it was like to never see someone close to you again on Earth until now.

*I took James to his 3 year check-up today. It went great, and I'm so thankful for my healthy boy! He's 34.6 lbs (76%) and 38 inches long (62%). His BMI is 75%.

The doctor asked him what his favorite color was, and he said, "Uuuuuummmmm, black." Then he asked him what his favorite number was, and James said, "Uuuuummmmm, 0" (pronouncing it like the letter). Then he asked him what his favorite letter was, and James said, "Uuuuuummmmm, M". I got tickled hearing his answers!

*I forgot to record James' 4 month check-up stats. He weighed 16.6 lbs (76%) and was 25 inches long (50%).

*Jack got his first sickness a week ago since his RSV as a newborn. He had a virus that he probably picked up from me that I probably picked up from being around a bunch of Ladies at the Ladies Retreat. It was very minor with me, but it's been bad with Jack. Poor Jack. He rarely gets sick, but when he does, it's bad! He just sounds awful with lots of gunk in his chest. Thankfully, he's starting to look and act like his old self again.

*I'm about to have another niece!! I'm getting giddy about the upcoming arrival of my brother and sister-in-law's baby girl! Poor Jilinda is 37 weeks pregnant and her baby is measuring 10 lbs already! She's had two different doctors do an ultrasound to make sure, and she's going to have to have a c-section now. Jilinda is a tiny girl who is all baby, too. We're all going to go up and be waiting outside, and I can hardly wait to see her! I have had so much fun watching them go through their first pregnancy, get their house ready, have their baby showers, etc. I will be posting pictures soon of baby Lydia!

Virginia Robinson (1922-2009)

Friday morning, April 24, 2009, my sweet grandmother went to be with the Lord. This was such a bittersweet day. Friday was my birthday, but it was really special to me that she entered Heaven on my birthday. It was also a hard day, because we all lost someone who we loved and loved us back.

This week has been one of the most special weeks of my life. Grandma got sick with pneumonia on James' birthday party night (last Friday). My parents took her to the hospital Friday night, and she was admitted early Saturday. Saturday, my sister and I stopped by the hospital to see her on our way to our Ladies Retreat in Salado. She was happy to see us, but couldn't remember our names. She called us all Mike (my dad's name).

Tuesday, my mom became aware that she wasn't going to get better. She told me I'd better come up there and see her at lunch. I covered Jack's carseat with a blanket (James was at MDO) and went up there. That was extremely hard! I cried looking at my sweet Grandma struggling so much with each breath. I heard the nurse tell my mom that the pneumonia and congestive heart failure were ganging up on her. The thought of two things ganging up on my sweet, Southern, beautiful, grandma just made me so sad. My grandma is so unique and such a character. How could this be the beginning of the end!

I cried more that afternoon and pulled it together to pick up James from MDO. That afternoon, my brother left work early and came down from Frisco to see her. Bryon and Josh watched the kids, and the 5 of us (Mom, Dad, Elizabeth, Michael, and I) had an incredibly special time together. We went to dinner and talked about her, then went up and just sat with her and talked to her. She had perked up and was making more sense. She was very agitated though, and was sadly struggling so much. She kept saying how tired she was.

Wednesday was the last day of awareness that she had. My Aunt Susan and cousin Blair flew in my Birmingham. Grandma knew at this point that she was going to pass away soon. She said over and over things like, "Please don't forget me", "Please love me.", "Your boys are so beautiful. Take good care of them.", "Please let me go.", "You're so sweet." She let my parents know how much she appreciated them taking care of her. She told everyone, "You were such a good boy." :)

Thursday, my Uncle Glen and Aunt Fran got here from New Mexico. Grandma was out all day this day. I told her how much I loved her, how I'd think about her every time I sat at my dining room table, which was hers, how I'd think about her every time I made her famous spaghetti. I told her that she was a good grandma, and that I had such great memories of her from childhood.

She wasn't perfect, but it didn't matter to me now. All that mattered was that I loved her, she loved me, and she was family! She was my only grandparent that I ever knew!

It was so indescribable seeing someone slowly fade from life here on Earth, to life in Heaven. You hear about it all the time, but you don't know how amazing it is until you've witnessed it.

Friday morning, I woke up to my dad singing Happy Birthday to me on the phone, and then telling me that Grandma had passed away at 3:00 in the morning. It was a tearful, but joyful morning.
(holding me)




I have thought about her all week long. I miss her. I miss her beautiful face and smile. I miss her beautiful Southern accent. I miss her hilarious Southern phrases, like "Hi theya, Sugah", and "Lawd have mercih." I miss her hilarious messages on my cell phone, like "Uh, yes...this is gran...mama...Vuh..vuh..Vuh-ginia Robinson. Could you tell Lauren that I need Roberta?"

I'll miss her saying, "Oooooh, you are sweet as sugah!!" and "Come heeya and give Grandma a huuuug." and pinching my cheeks (still) and saying, "Oooooo, I love you, love you, love you, love you!" It makes my heart warm just thinking about it!



She was the quintessential Southern lady. Always gracious, always with her pearls on, always offered you a drink as soon as you came over, always stood outside and waved good-bye until you were gone. She went to college, but never worked a day in her life outside the home. She looooved her "Mutha and Daddy" and would talk to their portraits on the wall. I am so happy that she's with Mutha and Daddy now!

I have never been so aware of how life really does end here on Earth, and I've never been so thankful that Jesus died for our sins so that we can live with him in Heaven for eternity! This has made me want to love those around me better, and this has brought so much clarity to me on what is real and what is not real here on Earth. Watching my grandma slowly pass from Earth to Heaven has been such an incredible, bittersweet gift! There really are no words to do it justice.

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time for our family!

James' Birthday Party Pics!

What a fun couple of days we have had celebrating our little 3 year old!  We packed in a lot in two days and our now celebrated out!  These are some pictures of James' 3rd birthday party.  To view all of the pictures, go to our family photos link on the side.

Happy Birthday, James!!!

My sweet baby is 3 today! I cannot imagine life without my little James in it! He has brought so much joy to us over the past 3 years.

James seems so much more grown up to me lately. He looks and acts more like a little boy now, instead of a toddler. This is SO bittersweet. I have been having flashbacks of my sweet baby who was a huge mama's boy, and my adorable, rambunctious toddler, who was so happy, funny, and energetic. I can't believe that's all in the past! I can't believe I have a little boy!

James still melts my heart as much as ever. He is so sweet. He still likes to hold my hand in the car for as long as my arm can take it before going numb. He is so loving and affectionate...when he wants to be, but especially with Jack. He has to give him kisses and rub his face on Jack's face to take in his sweet baby face. He likes to be held when he wakes up or when he's sad.

This is changing, though. He is getting more independent and doesn't need our affection as much. His before-bed hugs are much shorter, and everything is just toned down. THAT is bittersweet!!

His way of talking is getting so much more grown up. It's much less toddler-ish and much more big-boy. I think he's going to have such a cute voice when he's older. Sometimes he sounds like a teenager to me already!

He is very strong-willed. He is such a challenge to discipline. Sometimes a fun challenge, and sometimes an exhausting challenge! We are using the "Love and Logic" method more than ever now, and it works so well with him. It's working so much better now that he's 3. ONE thing that is easier now!

He also understands so much more, where reasoning is getting a lot easier. We can tell him how much harder it'll be if he does it his way, and a lot of times that'll work! So nice!!

He is also much more moody right now. Sometimes, it seems like he's in a bad mood half of the day for several days straight, but then he will go a couple of weeks of just being an angel!  He has been through so many changes, and guiding him through this time has brought full-on parenting for us.

He loves to be with his cousins and friends. He goes non-stop and has so much fun playing with them! He is so much fun to watch, because he's just hilarious. He says the funniest things and acts so silly.

He is still very verbal. He talks and talks and talks all day. So much to say! He even talks in his bed to himself and things in his room. He remembers and uses correctly words that he hears for the first time. He also uses them in the wrong way. Recently, I said, "Jack, you are gorgeous!" in a funny way, trying to get Jack to interact with me. James didn't say a word about it, but then that afternoon, when I handed him chicken nuggets, he told me excitedly that they were gorgeous. It was hilarious!

He loves to sing and is usually on key! He has such an adorable singing voice and knows tons of songs.

He is a hilarious dancer and loves to get crazy dancing with me.

He is sensitive. He gets his feelings hurt and cries when somebody hurts his feelings. He can usually snap out of it quickly, though, when the situation is resolved. He is sensitive and very aware of other's moods, and reacts to them.

He is sometimes very social and outgoing, loving to be the center of attention, and sometimes a little shy. When he's shy, he covers his face so no one can see him. He gets over it very fast though.

He hates for anyone to mess with his hair. Haircuts are so difficult and doing his hair is always a battle.

He is so aware of everything going on around, and not much gets past him. He remembers more than I do sometimes, and I've even asked him for help before!

He is our little Curious George and gets into everything. He keeps me on my toes at all times!

James just got a big boy bike with training wheels for his birthday and is doing very well on it! He is into soccer, baseball, basketball, riding his scooter, all things cars, trains, books, pretending, animals, making and serving food from his kitchen, helping us clean, running, exploring, going to the "woods" which is the little line of trees in our backyard, going to the park, building things together, and so many more things.

I am so thankful to God for our little James and all that he has brought to our lives. I can't wait to see what all God has in store for our precious boy!

James' last picture as a two year old, right before bed last night.
I asked James how old he is this morning, and he said, "Free (three) with a booboo", because of the booboo on his finger.
We had a fun morning with our newly three year old!
Before school today.
My three year old!

A Happy Easter!

We have had a very fun-filled Easter! Thursday was the kids' Easter party at MDO. It was the sweetest thing how excited James was that morning for his Easter party. Once we got to church, he made a bee-line to his classroom with his Easter basket in one hand and his cookies for the party in the other. He had to hold them himself!

We spent yesterday getting ready for Easter today. Last night, when we reminded James that while he slept, the Easter bunny was going to come, he said, "Yay!....YAY!!!" We woke up early and saw what the Easter Bunny brought James and Jack. He (is the Easter bunny a girl or boy??) also hid eggs all over the living room. James would shake each one, and if it had candy that didn't make a sound, he would toss it like it had no use to him.

My wonderful mama made these inserts for the boys' Easter baskets this year! I bought the baskets at Target, took out the inside, gave it to her, and she did her thing.


I'm so glad that James was willing to cooperate and take these pictures before church, because the rest of the day, he was on the biggest sugar high of his life from all of the candy that he kept sneaking in his mouth.



I didn't notice this until later, but the boys are holding hands here!

After church, everyone came over to our house for Easter dinner. Mom made most of the food, which was all so so good!!! I haven't been that full in a long time! After dinner and dessert, we gathered in the living room to open Nana and Deedah's Easter presents for the kids. Between Nana Anna's Easter gifts, Nana and Deedah's, the Easter Bunny's, and James' birthday this week, James is going to get very spoiled! He is in for a rude awakening the week after his birthday. The kids had so much fun playing together while the adults ate.

After everyone left, we rested and then took our sugar-high'd boy outside to ride his bike and to a pond to feed some ducks.

Happy Easter to everyone!

Yummy Cupcakes!

James and I had fun making Easter cupcakes together today! This is a Giada recipe that was on the Today Show. We split one and they are OH so good!! Here is the link...
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30032083/

My boys in the bluebonnets

This little one has been a ROYAL stinker lately!! Guess how we got him to sit down and take these pictures...

Major bribery!