Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow...

There are many things we can’t control in this life, and this one of those things. Our pastor, the Reverend Joy Ledoux has been re-assigned by the United Methodist Church to a church in the Emory area. Having grown up Methodist, re-assignment is something that happens frequently to the preachers in my life, but I am still sometimes dismayed by the decisions that are made.

We joined Winters Chapel UMC earlier this year. From our very first visit, we felt so welcomed there and could tell this was one special group of people. Lucye was baptized by Rev. Joy with water from the Jordan River. Rev. Joy always left us with a thought-provoking message during each service. She has inspired us to leave our comfort zone and serve in ways we’ve never considered before. But our journey with Rev. Joy had only just begun…and there lies the problem. As I told her on Sunday, our loss is certainly someone else’s gain. I know she will help others in their journey… We will miss you and Jim! The Loverins….

You Say It's Your Birthday....

Ahh...Breakfast with the Beatles...a tradition we start tomorrow AM by moving the pink iPod alarm clock from the nursery to the kitchen. I just can't imagine a better life than: Breakfast with the B-Lu, the Beatles, and the Bob (not nessa in that order).
Yes, we all survived birthday number 1 last Saturday, and I'm just now recovering enough to blog about it. In attendance were the great grandparents from Ohio (Kitty and Art), grandparents in from CT (Marilee) and Savannah, GA (Allan and Gloria), our Roswell Howard family (Jo and Paul), two great aunts (Jojo and Beverly) from Marietta, GA and Tybee Island, GA, respectively, and last, but never least, the Cumming Four (David, Vicki, Katherine and Andrew). And, of course, our dearest Anna. We had a pizza party, and actually ran out and had to have more delivered. Marliee made Lucye this adorable Dora (the Explorer) cake...decorated freehand mind you...and the pictures should be up on the website this weekend. Lucye did finally decide to make an appearance (the party started at 4:00pm; she awoke from her nap somewhere between 5:00-5:30pm). Everything was going pretty well until we strapped her into her booster seat in the dining room (mistake #1) and all started singing (mistake #2) Happy Birthday. She lost it....We knew better...she is such a sensitive child. With everyone staring at her and fire and singing...sensory overload! And she had no idea what to do with the cupcake...no one else had started eating so she smacked it on the floor! Ha! She calmed down pretty quick though (thank goodness) after being whisked away for a few minutes of peace and quiet. Later, safe in her kitchen, she watched us eat more cake and did try it then. Milestone: First pure refined sugar ever (that we know of). She also indulged in her first sampling of pizza ever. We were so proud! Toys and clothes....I can't begin to list them all and can't thank everyone enough...For those gifts we got from those not in attendance: Can't wait to read the Caterpillar book to her from the Loverins in CT and Isabel actually got her a push buggy car to ride around the house in....And I know she'll love the new CD from the Sergis. See website pics....This weekend we have BIG plans....to relax. Love to you all and thank you for helping us in so many ways get through "the year of the B-Lu".....Aud and Bob

Walking Tall Part 1

Mommy: It's true. Mark your calendars. Lucye walked by herself (a whole 2 steps) from the couch in her playroom to the end table where her CD player resides. She points to the player for music all the time now, and this time she just walked towards it. Then later, right in front of my very eyes, walked two steps from her play house to Isabel. I was soooo proud. She is trying!!! Her legs are short so her outfits have extra material at the feet, making this an incredible feat (or feet-hee hee).
Lucye: Mommy pulled a funny this AM at breakfast. She said "Lucye, honey, we can't do a pony and gun show every morning for you....." Now exactly what a "pony and gun show" is, I have no idea. I guess it's something you get to go to when you get older. Maybe when I'm five, please?
Anna: So this happened...to give you a little background...Lucye likes to feed me puffs under her chair after dinner. Often she hands them to me or sometimes tosses them to me. I like that. So this weekend, Lucye tried to "feed" me her plastic toy doll called Strawberry Shortcake. Daddy was really sick and grumpy-face said "Lucye, that's not food, Anna doesn't want that toy." If you could have seen the look Lucye gave Daddy! She cut her eyes in what was a classic Allan Eitel look as if to say "Don't you tell me what that dog wants..." If only I'd had my paw on a camera!

Hello, My name is Lucye and I Have Stranger Anxiety

Hello, My name is Lucye and I have stranger anxiety. There I said it. Last night when Dawn came over, I had a classic case. Sitting at the table having dinner, I was fine when she stood in the doorway and admired me. And I was even amazed and fascinated that another person was in the house and watched her with awe and wonder. But when she got closer, I started bawling.

My mommy and daddy have talked to the doctor and done a lot of reading on this. The doctor says it is perfectly normal and a very good thing in many respects (although it terribly upsets friends and family members who want nothing more than to be close). It means I am very sensitive (with these parents....go figure). It is also an excellent means of protection, because if someone tries to take me (a stranger at the mall) I will not go quietly!!!! Pick another kid. It is very unkind, if I start to cry, to force the attention on me. It will not make me quiet down; it will only upset me further. I need to get to know you and trust you first. This takes a while unfortunately, and it will not happen overnight. So please keep your distance until I am more comfortable. Please, please, try to understand this is not personal. If mommy or daddy wisks me away from you, try not to get your feelings hurt. They are only trying to relieve me of the stress. It's not personal. I will get over this phase at some point and embrace anyone my parents trust. Be patient with me....I love you all (really, I do)!!!!

P.S. Oddly enough, I seem to be perfectly fine with all dogs and all kids.

Service Pak 1 Coming Soon

What a joyous day. Lucye is getting better for sure. Only one sneeze (and that was probably from the saline I shoved up her nose)! And, this morning she --for the first time ever--drank from her small Dora plastic cup with a top! She has succeeded before with small Solo plastic bathroom cups, but having her drink from them all day long would not be feasible. She likes to swat at it, which results in many wardrobe changes. This is a real breakthrough for us because she would never put plastic things in her mouth before (besides a bottle)! Funny how life changes what you get excited over.....
While discussing the upcoming day off from work (and no nanny), Robert commented on how hard it might be for me to take care of this "version" completely alone all day long. This version? She is now apparently in the same category as a software package! This means next weekend (her birthday) will be the SP1 version of the B-Lu...
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it...Psalm 118:24

Sick Baby

We had to ask the grandparents to stay in Savannah this weekend so they wouldn't get sick :-( The B-Lu has now had her first diagnosed cold. We thought it was allergies because Mommy took her out on the screened porch Tuesday evening to water plants during the warm weather. That night the congestion set in. And it just got worse and worse...coughing and sneezing and the most pitiful watery eyes you've ever seen. But her apetite was good, no fever and her spirits were high. We called the nurse on Thursday and she suspected allergies (tree allergies are in the extremely high range). But Friday AM upon awaking...gross...green snot (don't read this if you aren't expecting details) so we took her in to see Doc Brown. She said it wasn't allergies because the Benadryl/Malox (also called Magic-in-a-Bottle) we had been giving her wasn't working miracles at night and she had a lot more congestion than was typical with an allergy. She told us to keep the room cool, 3 nights of nose drops (yes, you can repeat the dose during the middle of the night if needed) plus Tyn/Motrim and no Vicks Vapor scents. So, although she has a cold virus, at least she should be over it in 10 days and we can resume all outdoor activities. She hates not being able to go on the porch and stroll the neighborhood and walk Isabel (well, be carried) to the mailbox when she leaves every day. She is an outdoor baby for sure! Bless her little heart. This whole episode has scarred her Daddy for life. He loves her soooo much and it kills him to see her so sick (only she doesn't act that sick). Get well soon my love.....

Exciting News

Hey Lulu,
It's me Mama. I'm trying to stay up later now and fill your family in on everything going on in your life. I'll do my best. You are having special visitors from Savannah this weekend! No tossing your cookies like you did this AM. But since we think it was the applesauce, we know not to serve it to you now. Your delicate constitution can't handle all that acid. It's okay...one day you'll be able to eat all sorts of things...namely Krystals with the rest of us....Goodnight sweetheart...I love you!