Nona Marie, a beautiful woman

Nona Marie and Omar T. Crabb

Nona with my oldest brother, Michael

Nona Marie Hyatt Crabb was my grandmother.  She was beautiful. She was beautiful inside and out. I remember as a child sitting on her lap and admiring her.  She had snow white hair, that always seemed the perfect amount of softness, fluff and curl. Her eyes were brilliant blue and extra large.  My mom always told me I had my Grandma's eyes, and I have always felt that my eyes were my best feature. Her skin seemed to glow with a soft year round tan, and her jaw line was square... I always wanted my jaw line to be square. She had perfect fingernails, always filed and unbelievably white.  She used them to give the best back rubs, and you didn't even have to ask her for them.  Grandma was patient, very very patient.  I don't ever remember her griping, complaining, or even hinting at dissatisfaction.  She exuded a sense of calm and contentment that most people strive their whole lives to achieve. Her home was my favorite place in the world. My grandpa and her built it, and called it "Our Elusive Dream."  It was a beautiful simple home in Ingram Texas.  It was in hill country. Full of deer, rocky earth, and lots and lots of trees.  Their land was full of places to explore and play, not to mention the animals that they kept. Emu's, goats, lots of birds, and even baby deer from time to time.  I never wanted to leave, and I always told them that I would live there some day too. I did mean it. It makes me sad to know their home was sold, and others live in it now.  I can't stand my house to be dirty, because I often think "grandma would have this place looking perfect."  I think of her everytime I wash a fitted sheet, what a disgrace that I wad them into a ball instead of folding them crisply as she did.  The older I get, the more I realize that I am not much like my grandma. Or at least not as much like her as I wish I were.  I complain a lot, and I interrupt people when they talk.  I get short and snap at Adam or Jack when I am frustrated.  I don't think Grandma did that.

Grandma and Grandpa as I remember them.

When she would visit us when I was little, I would relentlessly follow her around and ask her to play games with me. Checkers, monopoly, LIFE, etc.  She would sit and play with me for hours.  Who does that??? I would play maybe one game with a kiddo and then get the heck outa dodge!  I loved my Grandma, and I still do.  I admire her, and wish so much to grow into the woman she was.  This is why I begged Adam to let us name our daughter "Nona."  The name may not be popular, some may think it strange. But to me it is perfect.  Perhaps our NonaJane will have a little of Nona Marie in her... if so, she will be a beautiful woman.

My Grandfather comforting my Grandmother near the end of her life.  She had Alzheimer's.

SMILES

 I have been waiting for baby girl to smile at me for weeks.  Endless hours of holding, cuddling, rocking, and nursing her without any clear recognition.  She would smile at the pictures on the wall, or the curtains, or even other people it seemed... but not me.  That is until TODAY!!! (6 weeks and 4 days old)

Nona woke up happy as a clam this morning and spent nearly an hour smiling and talking to me.  Well this just figures, because I go back to work tomorrow morning.  POOP. But that is okay, because I know we are at the very beginning of an exciting ride.  Everyday it's gonna be something new. I LOVE it, I am excited to see her personality unfold, to see her learn about her world, to explore, and play.  This is going to be a FUN and WILD ride, and I think we are ready for it!
Nonajane Susanne, we LOVE you, and are so excited to play with you!!!

Sea Life

 This weekend was the first weekend we have spent at home since Nona was born... or so it seemed.  So rather than sitting at home and relaxing like normal people might do... we decided to head out for a DAY-O-FUN.  This is the way it is around our home.. if we sit still for more than half an hour we all get bored and go crazy. Especially ADAM.  I can usually keep myself busy with household chores, but Adam does not deem this to be an exciting adventure.  Thus, we went to the aquarium. PLUS, most things are free for kids under 3.  We better hit up every theme park and tourist attraction we can before September.  Then Jack will need to get a job. 

 The SEA LIFE aquarium was really beautiful.  The tanks were gorgeous, and they even had open tanks where you were allowed to touch the fish.  We touched star fish, and other weird looking crustaceans and crab like things that I don't remember the names of.  Jack was enthralled anyways.

Jack being a "hoot" (is that even a real word???)

We didn't forget the baby. I think she enjoyed the tanks :) And she was appropriately dressed with little whales all over her onesie.

My goofballs

Overachieving parents force bicycle training on child

Daddy's way of encouraging Jack to try the bike :)

Did I ever tell you that I learned to ride my bicycle without training wheels when I was 3? Well if I haven't I have now, and it is a great source of pride for me :) Unfortunately I don't actually remember doing this, I thought I just always knew how to ride a bike. Kind of like reading, I don't remember learning how to read. BUT I do remember feeling annoyed by the other kids in kindergarten who didn't know how to read. Ugghhh how snobbish was I at the age of 5??? My parents, however, remember me learning to ride my bike quite well.  Apparently I nagged my Dad to take the training wheels off so I could be like my brothers.  He thought I wouldn't be able to do it so he DID take them off.  Then I apparently thru a horrid perfectionistic tantrum and stayed outside kicking the ground and trying OVER and OVER and OVER again all by myself.  Before they knew it I was out there riding the bike... their plan failed.   Anyhoo this isn't supposed to be about me.

Fixing the Training Wheel

no worries, he does have a helmet...

 The point is we decided the other day it is time to get Jack out on his bicycle!  I told him "Won't this be fun? You could ride your bike instead of riding in the stroller!?" Wow, major backfire.  He immediately broke into tears saying "I love the stroller. I want to ride in the stroller!"  It took a few minutes to convince him that he could still ride in the stroller anytime, but the bike was just for fun.  I don't really think we convinced him... so much as just forced him to get on the bike and like it.  Adam had to test it out and show him how it is done.  I'm pretty sure I clearly stated "I don't think that's a good idea... your gonna pop his tires." Well, he didn't POP the tires but he did strip the tire of his training wheel... pretty funny when Jack said "Hey! You popped my wheel off!"    So we did a few trips up and back in front of the driveway with Adam yelling "No, pedal AROUND, FORWARD NOT BACKWARD."




 So the lesson ended in a few quick minutes.  Luckily Jack will not be 3 until September... so we've got time for him to beat my record.

Great Grandpa Jack

Baby Jack meeting Adam's grandparents in September or October of 2009

NonaJane and Mary Jane

I'm kinda jealous of Adam. Can you believe all four of his grandparents are living? Jack recognizes them all by picture and in person! As of 6 months ago we could have said they were all doing well, but unfortunately his grandpa Jack Schwatken (who we named our son Jack after) took a sudden turn for the worse.  It is hard to say where it all started. At Christmas time he complained of unexplained weight loss. Then he started to lose his balance and had some falls. We think he must have hit his head with some of the falls, but he didn't tell anyone that his head was hurt.  His balance got even worse, he had drastic memory loss, and affected speech which led to more falls.  He got to the point where he was falling several times a week, but was not always telling anyone when he fell.  He eventually ended up at the hospital where they found blood on his brain.  They placed several drains to remove the fluid and excess pressure.  They tried to let him return home, but due to his confusion he started to become combative and irrational with his wife.  To her dismay she had no choice but move him into a nursing home. 

Nona seemed to have quite a few smiles for her great grandpa.

Over the weekend we decided it best to get down there and introduce NonaJane, as his condition seems to only be deteriorating.  His face did light up when Adam entered, and he was emotional during our visit.  He knew who we were, but had a very hard time talking.  He was not able to participate in conversation, but could respond to simple yes no questions. I know it was hard for Adam to see his strong grandfather whom he has always admired in such a fragile state.  These are the times when I think about how cruel TIME is.  Time goes by so fast, our babies grow up before our eyes, our own lives seem to flash by each year. Yet, without the passing of time we would not get to experience the new lives that God blesses us with, like sweet NonaJane.  I am so grateful that we decided to name both our children after our grandparents.  It honors their lives, shows them how much they meant to us, and shows our children the meaning and importance of family.  

We took Grandpa out to the courtyard, but the visit really exhausted him.  This picture is at the end of our visit, Adam is getting ready to push him back inside to his room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish time could stand still when everyone is healthy and happy, but we are thankful for the lives we have been blessed with, and so thankful for Jack and NonaJane. May God bless them with long and happy lives like the grandparents whom they are named after.

Thanksgiving 2009.  Jack, his great grandparents, and his cousins Madison, Emma and Molly

Father's Day at the Lake

Is that a baby on a beach??

Week 5 of NonaJane's life has been a busy one marked with some pretty significant events.   We headed to Joplin so she could meet her Great Grandpa Jack Schwatken and Great Grandma Mary Jane Schwatken (post on this to come)  and she took her second trip to the lake house to celebrate father's day. This trip to the lake house was much more exciting for me because my incision is finally healed and I was free to swim. Luckily there are no pictures to document this, as my appearance in a swimsuit is still less than appealing.  I did take advantage of the water and spent time treading water, swimming laps between the docks and attempting to lose all 10 pounds of baby fat in one day. Which my mom kindly informed me is not possible.  O-well you gotta start somewhere.
Saturday evening we all  (including Mema, Papa, Uncle Mike, Aunt Julie, Ethan, Henry, Luella, Adam, Myself, Jack and Nona) braved ourselves enough to venture out.  We visited a sandy beach,  witnessed Mema getting drunk, and then headed out for Bar-B-Q where the restaurant was completely out of brisket and burnt ends. What? Is that not a normal sentence?
How can a bar-b-q place be out of brisket?

Okay  maybe Mema being drunk is an exaggeration, but my mom and I share a common characteristic that one beverage equals giddy behavior and a good time.  See pictures below for proof.

No worries, no foul play was gonna happen here. Nona was guarded by an intimidating Papa and Uncle Michael

Jack, Luella, and Henry collaborating nicely

Henry Jack and Ethan swimming together (the three in the middle of this picture)

Where was Mema during all this beach action??

That face looks pretty incriminating!

Jack's shirt reads "My Dad Rules" and Nona's says "I LOVE my Daddy"

When we returned home we enjoyed delicious brownies a-la-mode that Julie had made and shared father's day cards with Michael, Papa and Adam.  Pretty lame for them as no actual gifts were given :) They received the gift of LOVE and APPRECIATION.  Does that count?

Is Nona and Jack making the same face here? Hilarious!!!

Jack showing Nona his love

Nona retaliating in a not-so friendly little sister way...

Jack continues to absolutely love his new baby sister.  He has also shown marked improvement in being "gentle" and "nice" to her. His squeezes have become softer, and his kisses lighter.  We did have a biting incident... not really sure what happened there but Nona's foot had the teethmarks to prove it. Jack seemed a little shocked that Nona tattled on him. Yes son, she does have a pain response and will let me know when you hurt her. Lesson learned. 



This week Nona also had her pictures taken professionally. We haven't seen them yet but I know they will be amazing. Nona was alert and happy for the pictures.  I think she might have caught a few smiles too. Can't wait to get them and share them!!! Nona also rolled from her tummy to her back twice this week, and slept 6 hours straight on 3 separate nights. At this rate I am not going to get in as much middle of the night TV viewing as I imagined.  Now when will I catch up on all my DVR'd tv shows??? HAHA. I am not really complaining, this is sarcasm.

Anyhoo... we really had an awesome time at the lake house this weekend, and want to tell Adam "Happy Father's Day!" We love YOU. You are an awesome Dad. You're fun, adventurous, playful, sweet, caring, hard working, and best of all you love us! 

Even though this picture is blurry... I  wanted to share how sweet Nona's cousin Henry is to her.  He loves to hold her, and is by far the gentlest sweetest kid with her!  He takes the time to admire her little fingers and toes, and so patiently holds her.  What a cutie pie!!!

Hormones are wierd

Nona's first bottle. 4 1/2 weeks old.

I discovered the other day that I am crazy. I've noticed this about myself at other times as well... but I blame hormones. Because that is better than blaming myself. Over the past 4 weeks I have whined about how often I have to nurse Nona and how much time it consumes, how hard it is to do in public, etc. etc... yet the other day I pumped so that we could introduce Nona to the bottle. (She will need to take pumped milk from a bottle the days that I work.)  As I watched Adam and Jack give her the bottle I immediately felt SAD! I was sad and jealous all at the same time.  Feeding her is MY job! I am her mom, and the only one capable of nursing her.  Apparently I am prideful of that. Shame on me!  Nursing is MY time with Nona, and I am thankful for it. My hormones got the best of me and I actually took over and fed Nona the last ounce because I felt that Adam and Jack were not "doing it right."  Good thing I will be at work so Adam and Jack will have the freedom to feed her as they please without me hovering over them!  Lesson learned : I am selfish.  Despite my gripes and complaints... I truly LOVE nursing my baby.  I nurse her because it is best for her.  I nurse her because it is best for me. And most of all, I nurse her because I love it. But that doesn't mean I won't complain about it :) 

Caught a bit of her smile on camera! Her full smile is MUCH cuter with dimples and all. (also please note the beautiful burp cloth from her Aunt Julie)

Hanging out pool side

Nona's FAVORITE nap position

family reunion time!

A small portion of those who gathered

Every year on the first weekend of June Adam's mother's family gathers in Iowa for a family reunion... and it is pretty awesome.  Adam's mom, Sue, has a LARGE family. At first it was overwhelming because I could never remember who was who and how everyone was related... but now I have it down and LOVE opportunities to spend time with them.  This year's reunion was bittersweet with the recent loss of Patty, Sue's youngest sister. But the Hight family seems to have an amazing resilience, they take things in stride and are grateful for each other.  Jack's great grandparents, Myrl and Sylvia also lost their 2nd born child shortly after his birth.  I asked Sylvia about this during our visit, and her response was "It's a part of life... you just have to keep going."  She also talked about how most of her children were born at home.  Pretty sure she is a tougher woman than I could ever dream of being.

NonaJane admiring her GREAT grandmother Sylvia. 

Jack and NonaJane with their Great Grandparents.  NonaJane is their 30th born great grandchild.

The family reunion is held on Sunday at the park in Schleswig Iowa. This year Adam's cousin Tracy and her husband Mike invited us out to their pond on Friday and Saturday for some fun in the sun, food, alcohol and camping.  Doesn't get much better than that!  Jack and the kids enjoyed their sandy beach, boating, and fishing.  The adults yapped away, burned ourselves in the sun, and Adam and I attempted to keep track of our children.  Turns out 2 kids are MUCH needier than one kid.  Particularly with a newborn in tow.  Luckily just about everyone wanted their turn to hold her... so really I think I got off pretty easy.  They just passed her back off to me every time she needed to nurse.  It worked out, AND she is such an AWESOME baby that she slept 5-6 hours straight each night! Adam and I are wondering if the gentle swaying of the pop-up camper didn't lull her into a nice little coma each night.

Mike and Tracy's cabin, with our pop-up camper in the background (not to be mistaken for the extremely nice 5th wheel in the foreground)

Jack enjoying the beach area before the arrival of ALL the kiddos and their toys!

The hard part for me was having to nurse in public for three days straight.  By Sunday afternoon I had teared up and told Adam "I'm just so tired of nursing out in public!"  No matter how careful I am to cover, I still feel strangely exposed.  I did appreciate all the help and generosity that his family showed me.  I also got lots of compliments for taking my 4 week old camping... I always appreciate compliments :)

NonaJane and Daddy napping in the camper.

Teeter totter fun at the Family reunion LAST year! 2011

Teeter Totter  fun at the Schleswig park this year :)  (Boy has mommy got some baby weight to lose!)

 We are looking forward to our next trip to Iowa, time to see Adam's family, and more camping at the pond! 

My apology to Jack

So awhile back I posted about my frustration with potty training Jack.  Well I feel I owe him an apology. It's almost as if he knew I publicly ridiculed him... and he deserves to have his name cleared in the books.  It probably wasn't more than a week after I made that post that he looked at me and said "I feel like a big boy now."  Which was apparently his way of telling me,  "I am going to use the potty now AND in my perfectionist way I will no longer be having accidents".  It turns out my son IS smarter than a puppy.  I knew it :) I never should have doubted him. Now when he is older and reads thru these... he will know that I have apologized, and how proud I am of him now and always.  I love you Jack Wilder Schwatken.

You're a pretty awesome big brother

You're so much fun

and you're too cool for words.