Catching Up. One thing at a time.

As written on 10.16.12
There are a lot of things you say or do that I text to share with daddy while he is at work. I keep all these texts as a way to sort of record these things by date. Most are just cute/funny things that you say or ask me, TOO cute not to include here. Sooo, here goes.

10.10.12
On the way to daycare this morning, when we got in the car, you asked if I had the "Ladies and the drinks song"  No, I do not have this song. No, we cant listen to this song.
Look it up. Trey Songz, "2 Reasons"
Its only a little funny, cause you have no idea what they are talking about in the song.
And for the record, its not me that you heard that song with to begin with.

You went to bible class with Nana tonight. When you got home you told me that you learned about what Jesus was wearing. .  . "and his clothes are scary. (long pause) Like he's going to do like THIS (insert karate chop arm movements)"
I'm thinking because his clothes were probably a robe looking outfit with a belt that must have looked like a karate outfit to you?

10.11.12
When I got home from my hair appointment tonight, I walked in the door and you were on the couch looking very suspicious. I looked around and asked, "Where's daddy?" You looked around very dramatically and told me you didn't know. And then daddy opened the coffee table thing and you both yelled, "BOO!"
{I HAVE to figure out how to put the pictures of it in here. HILARIOUS.}
Then at bath time, you asked for the purple foot scrubber and proceeded to scrub the bottoms of you feet and tell me, "I need my feel to be nice and soft."

10.13.12
Mom, "Taylor, do you want to play soccer?"
Taylor, "Well . . . I don't have any soccer CLOTHES, but I guess I could try it..."

Time Flies {shame on me}

As written on 10.15.12
Almost a year has gone by since I last wrote you, and I am so ashamed.
It has been a ridiculously eventful year. Events big and small, and I will do my best to journal as many as I can remember, and since I am a year {a whole YEAR!?} behind, I will just post them as I remember them and without any fancy editing.

First and foremost, we got a new house, AKA, you got a new bedroom!
You and were driving home from TeeTee Summers house last November and saw a house for sale. Daddy and I had been casually talking about wanting to move to different neighborhood and hopefully something bigger with a pool. When I saw THIS house had a pool we grabbed the house info sheet and took it home to daddy. You walked it in the house and said, "Daddy, can you buy this for me please?"
Long story short; we closed escrow (the house is finally ours) the day before Thanksgiving (11/23/11) and we cleaned and painted and repaired non-stop until we moved in the day before my birthday (01/08/12).
It was pretty emotional to move out of our first house and the house next door to Nana & Papa. But they didn't plan to live there too much longer, so it made it a little (just a little) easier to leave. It has been life changing to say the least. We now have to drive to day care (gasp!), and cant just wander over to see Nana in the evenings when you and I are home alone and bored.

"Bump, Bump, Bump"

One evening about a month ago while just you and I were home (daddy was at work), our washing machine over-flowed. Like, full on flooded the laundry room (gotta LOVE indoor laundry), most of the dining room, in front of the stairs and part of the front living room with at least a half inch of water. You and I were in the kitchen and back living room and didn't have any idea this was happening. The doorbell rang and when you ran over to see who it was (Pap, Matthew & Janhi, Matthew's friend) you slipped and fell on the water. WE HAD NO IDEA! Thankfully, you were not hurt at all, and quickly popped back up while saying, "I'm okay!" in true Taylor fashion. But I, on the other hand, was completely shocked/flabbergasted/scared/frozen. I scooped you up, let Matt & Papa in the house, ran in to turn off the washer, which was still "filling" at full blast, and then turned back to the rest of the house to assess the situation. I just held my hand over my mouth and kept looking around going, "Oh. My. Gosh." I didn't even know where to start to begin the clean up. Papa, Matt, & Janhi, immediately got towels and the shop vac and started cleaning up.  I was still frozen. I just kept looking to see everywhere the water went. Hours and hours of baseboard painting, cutting and installing flashed thru my head along with dollar signs. Thankfully it barely touched the edge of the brand new carpet. I finally called Jennifer and she brought over her shop vac and together we got it all cleaned up with minimal damage at all.
Now, the reason I tell you this whole ordeal . . . You have now recently developed an irrational fear of the washing machine. Not unlike your medical equipment fear; It. Is. Hilarious.
At some point since it flooded the washer has gotten off balance (completely un-related) while washing a load of clothes. One time it got off balance and started making a thumping noise and you were on your dads lap in a split second, before he even realized what in the world you were afraid of. He took you in the laundry room to demonstrate, and you wanted NOTHING to do with it. Crying and holding on to him for dear life. No. Joke.
Then yesterday I was putting a load of towels in and you were panicked. Panicked, I tell you. You asked me non-stop, "Mom, is it going to make the BUMP, BUMP, BUMP?? I mean, I'm not afraid of it, but please don't let it make that BUMP, BUMP, BUMP, mom."
You asked me every few minutes during that load of towels if it was done, and every time in a different way. "Mom, is the washer still going? Mom, is the washer going to flow over? Mama, when will the towels be done? Mom, I think I don't hear the washer, is it done?" When it finally WAS done, we went in to switch it to the dryer and your face of relief was so ADORABLE. Like you had made it thru, LOL. (It broke my heart that you were THAT afraid of it, and I couldn't communicate to you that it the washer, or the water in it, would never hurt you.) Then you casually asked me if I was going to be putting another load in. When I answered , "Yes, I have sheets to wash." You immediately looked up at me like a dear in the headlights, panicked {AGAIN}. I didn't realize at the time, but I must have told you that this thump (or "BUMP, BUMP, BUMP" as you call it) happens most often with sheets or towels.
My poor baby. I wish I had a picture of your face when I told you it was sheets next. PRICELESS.

Originally written 1/18/12

TED,
I am so SO sorry I've neglected my writing to you. I havent actually written anything since right before Halloween and all these things have happened in our lives. Audrey's mommy had baby Clay, We had our first 'Holiday Season' without grampa Dennis, you had surgery on a cyst on your thyroid gland, we bought a new house, worked on it for a month, and finally moved into it last week. You've got a new bedroom, and all kinds of new toys from Christmas (including a dancing baby that has been "napping" since shortly after Christmas cause she danced so much that day, lol).
I have been logging all these little clips in my head of the funny things you say or comment on, and I really need to get them recorded so I dont forget.

Last night you were looking at pictures of Justin Bieber and quite a long stare you asked me to cut out the picture for you so you can hang it in your bedroom. Seriously Taylor? You're THREE! You dont need to start hanging pictures of boys in your room already!
Then you went on to ask me if he had a girlfriend. When I answered Yes and told you her name, you wanted me to look up pictures of her for you so you could see what she looks like. Pulled up a picture on my phone and you held her picture up next to your picture of Justin and said, "They are SO cute!" as if you thought they looked cute together. I couldnt help but giggle at you. (Which you DO NOT LIKE)

Last week you told me, "Grampa Dennis went too soon. . ."
And a few breaths later finished with, ". . .He didnt even get to see my new room, and he didnt take his guitar!?" Bless your little heart. You saw his guitar is in my closet and are VERY concerned about why I would have it instead of him.

Daddy had ankle surgery shortly after your surgery and had to be on crutches for a few weeks, or "cruchers" as you call them. You were deathly afraid of the chrutchers for a few days. It was so ridiculous that it was comical. You didnt want to even be in the same room with them. Since I can remember, you've been afraid of all things 'medical'.

To be continued...

Wedding, Heaven, & Pumpkins.

Originally from 10.26.11

TED,

Just a few snippets before I forget to record them.

I don't have ANY idea how you fell out of your bed last week...oh wait, yes i do. This is how I found you the other morning when I came in to wake you up.

I found you having a birthday party (below) for your babies at Nana's night before last. You are pointing to the birthday girl and insisted that we take her home to our house for her birthday. ;)

I told you Friday night that we would be going to a wedding on Saturday night. My Aunt Penny was getting married. You had NO IDEA what a wedding was, but after I told you we could get you a new dress you were game! 










We decorated pumpkins last night for daycare.

"GG and Grampa Dennis are together?! They are even gon stay da night?"

 

In the midst of cutting out the faces at the dining room table you asked nana who the people in the picture are, and quickly before she could answer, you explained that you knew grampa Dennis in the picture, "But who are those people with him?" Nana explained that they are grampa Dennis' brothers and sisters. You stared at the picture for just a moment before then asking "Is that Heaven?"

"If I let my light shine I can go with them"

That's right my dear Taylor. Let your light shine so you can go be with GG and Grampa Dennis in Heaven some day.

I love you the mostest,

Mama

I'm Here

Pretty girl,
   I've had a rough month and I am sorry I havent written. Truth be told, its just hard. My heart still hurts because I miss my daddy. But in his honor I will try to write, however brief it may be, as often as possible. Because your grampa LOVED (and i mean LOVED) the idea of me blogging about your growing up so that you could read it someday (and people like him could keep up with his funny, insightful, observant, little princess).
   I know that you can tell that I need you more than ever this past month. You are glued to my side and very snuggly. <3 Because I am just not ready to elaborate/put into print some of the things that I want to tell you about grampa, I will just journal some random/funny things. ;)

This evening we were putting money in your piggy bank. For some reason you have been quite concerned with filling this pig up. Here is our conversation as we were putting the coins in (only silver, per your instructions). If only I could express your tone of voice...
You: "mom, I'm totally gonna fill this thing up!"
Mommy: "I know. what are you going to do when its full?"
You (with a 'duh' shrug of the shoulders and look on your face): "Buy something.."
Mommy: "well, what are you going to buy?"
You: "Raisin bread. . . we dont have any, so I think I should buy some."

On our way home from daycare you and I usually check the mail. Last year when this was fairly new to you, we went to check the mail and there was none. Your response to this new (to you) instance was "Oh no! Mama, there isnt any mail! we better go to the store and buy some!" Because thats how things work in your head. If we didnt have something we needed, we put it on the list for the store. Bless your heart.

Nana was dropping you off with me at my office yesterday afternoon. As you two pulled into the parking lot you said to nana, "Hmm, I wonder where Allan's car is? Maybe he's driving a different car today?" Allan is my boss. How you have ANY idea what car he drives is beyond me! You are the most observant kid I have ever encoutered. Ever.

Taylor, these little conversations with you, your observances, and conclusions are one of the gazillion reasons your grampa jumped at any chance to spend time with you. He constantly told me that your little brain was a sponge, and he could just see yours absorbing things. He wanted every minute of your life documented so HE wouldnt forget any little thing.
He was ecstatic at my starting of this blog. He made me promise to email him the link ANY time posted on it. So I've had a hard time with the thought of blogging and him not reading it. But I know he's still watching your brain absorb things, and I know he is still amazed. My greatest fear, dear Taylor, is you not remembering him. It's the little things that I fear you forgetting. You two always clinked your glasses before taking a drink and saying "cheers"
Your grampa was an A-MAZING daddy and in turn turned out to be an even more AMAZING grampa. When you were just over a year, you fell on nana's front step and cut your lip. There was blood and you cried of course, but I think I was more traumatized than you. Grampa just happened to call a few minutes after it happened and I told him about it. Sure enough, not even 5 minutes later, there was your grampa at our front door with popcicles for his princess to help mend her hurt lip. This is the epitome of your grampa. For now, I will end with one of my favorite grampa and Taylor stories.

Last year sometime, grampa came over to watch you for mommy and daddy's 'date night' and there was a baseball game on tv, Cleveland vs. New York. Grampa, being from Akron-near Cleveland, is an Indians fan, and daddy is a Yankee fan. Daddy and I left for dinner while you and grampa went about your business. When we got home from dinner, we walked in from the garage and you jumped up off grampa's lap in the rocking chair, running towards us while yelling, "Daddy! Cleveland five to two!"
HA! Cleveland had beat the Yankees and grampa spent a better part of the evening trying convince you to say that to daddy when we got home and sure enough you came thru for him. ;) He could NOT stop laughing with pure excitement that you remembered it EXACTLY how he told you. Then, a couple months ago grampa came over just to hang with us. When you walked out of your room to the living room where he was sitting you said to him, "Cleveland five to two." He was again amazed with you, and excited all over again of that evening you remembered what to tell daddy when we got home.

Taylor & Grampa at a Rawhide baseball game.

I love you most,
Mommy

P.S.
Please forgive me, Taylor, for not quite being ready to talk aloud about grampa being gone yet. It still hurts my heart so much, and I dont want you to associate grampa with mommy crying. So I haven't taken every opportunity there has been to talk about/remind you of grampa things. I know you dont quite understand what all is going on. You just asked me night before last if daddy and I could go to dinner so grampa could come over to play with you. And last week you asked nana if she missed grampa dennis, because you knew your mommy missed her daddy. But understand this, your grampa loved you beyond what words can express.

Last Week.

My darling Taylor,

Mommy has had a very sad week. As I explained to you, grampa (my daddy) has gone to heaven and we wont get to see him anymore. This heartbreak has only been helped in the past 10 days by your little voice and big hugs. Your grampa loved you VERY much! I'm still very sad, and miss my daddy very much, but I do no ever want you to forget how much he adored you. This is you two at the end of July when he was watching you because nana was on vacation. More later, when I have a little more energy. I love you darling Taylor.

Mommy