Mimi Visits the Sickies

On my calendar for this week, was the very clear entry, " Go to Cincinnati for Vivien's Birthday!!"  Hubby had arranged to take the day off and Miss Dixie was taken care of.  Some secret birthday projects were on the sewing table, not quite completed and the card was purchased. 

But then.

Oh, but then.

The Flu Season Hit Upon E/A's Home.

Miss Viv has had a rough winter.

Colds and viruses have jumped on her tenaciously and have refused to let her go.

Her mama has infused her little being with probiotics and good nutrition but dang the germs of the world. They will not let her go.

And to add insult to injury, they decided to hop onto her mama as well.  E/A, not the stoutest of constitution ever since the Grand Hip Replacement Event of '06, usually falls hard to most bronchial germs and this time was no different.

So when Mimi receives The Call, she leaves behind the chaos of her nearly painted living room, to the sick rooms of Cincinnati.  Well, one of them anyway.

Imagine my dismay to have to elongate my visit by three days.

Oh the despair of getting to spend more time with Little Miss Viv when the last visit was when the New Year was only a day old.  Oh my yes.  BIG Sacrifice.  Hah.

With my best Mary Poppins imitation, I have helped nurture E/A back to a semblance of health while entertaining the Birthday Girl as only Mimi can...

We have made bread with the help of a cherry tomato or two and some very helpful measuring tools.  Mimi has even received some very helpful Knitting Tutoring from the facilitator of the Cincinnati Family Enrichment Center's Chix with Stix(www.theplaceforfamilies.com), aka: E/A for my very problematic Knitting Attempt. We have disinfected and cleaned surfaces to discourage the propagation of any other germs that are perhaps considering moving in for the Spring.

She let me know which sponge and rag I could use while she followed me on the floor, scooting her diaper heavy bottom on the hardwood floor.

We have read all the Birthday books that the Mason Public Library could provide.  And now, we wait as the antibiotically protected mama is out gathering ingredients for the Best Birthday Cake ever.  After all, Cousin Lil Lady is scheduled to arrive this weekend for her first visit with her Birthday Cousin and we really need a carrot cake ready to celebrate!

Less anyone ever forget that March 9th is her birthday, Mimi made for her first birthday, a very growable Birthday Crown for her to celebrate each and every year in fine style.  I completely expect to see her wear it every year.  It was made with growth designed right in with adjustable Velcro......

Yes, I believe that if Miss Viv needs Mimi, birthday or not, I shall try to be there....

Grandparenting; the crown of the aged.....

Reporting In...*sigh*

Back in Mitchell.
Thrilled to see Hubby and Youngest Son.
And Dixie.
Having a dog greet you after an absence is a fun thing. Like her oxygen was just delivered.
Love to be back in my home with all it's absurdity.
But........
Oh my. What I left..
The picture below shows the simplicity of my week.
A little girl and her family, learning each day new things, about each other and about how a ten month old sees the world.
Each day, new things that we take for granted but a baby sees as fresh and exciting.
A shot in the arm for those of jaded years.
Then to have the joy of meeting several new lives, well, I do believe I have reduced my accumulation of years by many, many months!
Refreshing.

Hubby and I traveled to Cincinnati following some snow and awoke to more on the Sunday there...
No matter. Warm and cozy and relaxing watching The Grandaughter remember Grammy and Poppy...

Nothing like Vivien to inspire some creativity...Shouldn't we make CoryAnne, the new dolly that I brought her, a dolly of her own? Thanks to Kris for the fun material!

And shouldn't we go to the Thrift Store that Becca told us about, on Monday where everything is 25 percent off? Shouldn't we buy all the old school toys for Vivien's future endeavors? Shouldn't we buy 31 items for 34 dollars? Shouldn't we have a riot doing so?
Yes, we should.

Pretty sure I should measure the summer outfit for The Girlie on her...Pretty sure she will love the Owlie Material purchased with Aunty Baby Girl on her last visit...

A trip to Joanne Fabrics is a must on each visit.
1. It's close by.
2. It's brand new.
3. The staff loves Vivien.
4. All Christmas Decor was 90 percent off.
What?!
Yep.
And not your typical cast off crumbs. No siree. Top notch stuff. See the cart. Full to the brim.
A Debbie Mumm snowman (see him in the cart?), 100.00 for 10.00 for Miss Vivien's second Christmas next year.
Oh we had fun there. A book on crocheting food for Eldest/Admin. A wonderful book on sewing for babies/toddlers for Newly Adopted Daughter Kris.
And we had 40 percent off coupons too.
Uh huh.
Score.

Miss Viv hates food.
Yep.
Coming from a family that thinks, acts, breathes based on our next meal, our Little Miss is quite skeptical of this thing called solid food.
Despite Grammy's best effort to make it appealing and fun, she nixed the whole idea.
Her mama has a nifty little Foodifier that sneaks banana (but not carrots; she was on to mama by then) into her cynical little mouth.
Under the table is another story.
Like a teenager smoking behind the garage, our Little Character found big fun in snarfing the crumbs left behind the last foodathon by her Big People and her little buddy, Will.
Hysterical.

So not all our Thrift shop scores worked out.
Vivie's Papa had some shirts that didn't work out.
So is that a bust? Oh no, she says. Let us repurpose. Let us make two stocking hats and a pair of pants for some little person, ala Made by Rae's last summer post.
Good, good idea. And both Will and Viv looked adorable....for three seconds..(did I mention that Vivien dislikes head coverings almost as much as food?)

Wednesday is La Leche meeting day.
Got to meet an amazing assortment of loving mamas. Young women bent on giving their little one's a good start in this crazy world. Loved meeting all of Eldest/Admin's lovely friends....
Knew about them from Eldest/Admin but getting to meet them and their little ones, was quite a treat.
And Vivien thought that all these ladies and their progeny, were meeting for her! Miss Social visited her friends and willingly gave a smile to those not so well known.
She even played a rousing game of Peek Through the Little Blue Chair with two adorable boy type friends.
She giggled and smiled and played like quite the girly girl.
Loved it.

After La Leche, it was only fitting that we go to First Watch and involve ourselves in some serious breakfast/lunchy type good good food.
With two babies that were nap deprived, this was going to be good.
But thanks to pretty quick service, good mothering on Eldest/Admin and Newly Adopted Daughter, things went well....
Fun times.
Sleep Deprived Vivien proved the trooper she is by embarking on a TJ Maxx extravaganza after First Watch.
Grammy hit some great deals and Miss Viv kept her sweet self highly amused with a bright yellow package of cocktail napkins.
Shouldn't she have some new books for such good behavior?
Of course...

Poppy thought that our growing girl needed some new jammies. Ones with doggies on them would be novel; a break from the pinks that most baby girl's get inundated with...(even though her papa did request, early on, that we tone down on the pink...His favorite: Crazy Dee's green and brown polka dots....)
I loved my play time with the Quick Witted Little Lovely....
Here we were playing whilst mama grabbed some extra zzzz after a bumpy, pre walking night....
Gladly. Two hours of heaven; playing, laughing, learning and Viv instigated cuddling session...Is it really Thursday and I have to leave her????

Ah.
So here we are at the half way point, North Vernon Indiana.
Lunch with Unca Jordan while Grammy tries to figure out how to pack her in the car quickly....
Alas, I know her mama would chase us down the highway without benefit of car if she had to, she's that good of a mommy.....
So we get in our last hugs and smoochies and say till next time(month)
Don't forget me Vivie....We have more fun to make.....

Peeks

Tomorrow, Poppy, Unca Jordan and Yours Truly head off to Cincinnati in our red sleigh to deliver gifties to our Little Sweetie of a Granddaughter.
Not too much, just enough to keep her entertained till The Big Birthday on March 9th.
To be sure, care was given to what country and what type of paint was used in the products selected. We made sure that a renewable forestry was tapped for the wooden products chosen.
Other things were purchased from independently owned companies displayed on many of the crafting blogs I follow.
Lots of good, good sources out there. I am particularly fond of The Pajama Squid. And not just because they sent out squid like gummy bears with my purchases. Or that their packaging is recyclable or that their tissue paper is black and white striped. Okay. It did have something to do with all those things. But mostly was their delightful selection of toys and goodies for My Vivien.
(and it is sure to please the health, environment, safety obsessed (( in a good way!:D, mama, Eldest/Admin ))
Check out their site.....See for yourself....www.thepajamasquid.com

Hmmmmm...glimpses and peeks....Soon to be delivered....

And who is this??
Hmmmmmmm.....

Adoptive Pretend Daughter

Just found out tonight that I will soon be the adoptive pretend mother of a young woman in Cincinnati!!!

Chris (Kris?) is a friend of Eldest Daughter and a follower of my blog...
And now she is applying for Daughter Status!

Of which I give a resounding YES! I love my Adoptive Pretend Daughters!!

Thank you Chris, for all your kind words.....
I will pray for you on your motherhood journey and be guaranteed that you will have an 'in' on needed sewing items on this pregnancy, baby things, and beyond....

Can't wait to get to know you better....

Love,
Your Pretend Adoptive Mama....

Okay.
This is what I woke up to this lazy, family Sunday.
I know you gotta be jealous.
She is, after all, the most entertaining, delightfully charming, enormously wonderful 6 month old ever.
Who else could cause perfectly normal adults to scoot around on their butts on the kitchen floor, following this little girl around, as she just learns to scoot around on her own tiny butt, playing sweetly with her wooden blocks?
Yes, a lovely short visit to Cincy to grab some Vivietime, her parental units and her wonderful Auntie and Uncle...

Fun, Fun time...
*sigh*

P.S. 'New' Things...

Yellow Yummy-ness!
My favorite color has been yellow since I can remember...
I am drawn to it like a magnet (except in cars; cars should really not be yellow. ed. note)
When I saw these dee-light-full tins of 40's usefulness at a garage sale, I practically ran to pay for them, lest anyone knock me over and take them from me...!
I know they are destined for my etsy shop, but I sure am enjoying looking at them for now.....

Organizer/Admin Daughter Gets Her Birdie Sling!!


She never asked for it but when I innocently purchased this fabric when in Cincy with her, I believe most of the people in JoAnn fabrics heard her gasp!! So I did what any sensitive mother would do to her child's subtle hints: I made her a bag with the fabric! Let's face it; she deserves it.....She is my most ardent fan! :D