Monday, December 31, 2012

2013? Bring It On!!

2012 brought great news - Morgan and Desiree are having a baby.  2013 will bring the BABY!!  For years, Hollis called me a "baby freak."  I hated it when he said it - I don't want to be any kind of freak.  The facts however, cannot be denied.  I really, really love babies.  The only ones I'm related to that have come along since I had my own all live very far away.  This will be my first nearby related baby since Curtis was born 24 years ago.  That's a pretty long wait.  Here are some of the things I cannot wait to do with this little guy just in this year alone:
Mid to late April - he will be born.  I am sure I will annoy his wonderful mother to no end going on and on about how he looks just like his father.  I will try not to but every fathers mom does this.  I will try not to bug Des with my observations.  Very soon - in the first month or so - I look forward to having that little guy asleep on my chest, just like my babies used to do.  I love it when you pick up a newborn and the pull up their knees and put their arms up over their heads to stretch.  They grunt and squeak - it's just adorable.  My grandson will do that and I will treasure it.
May or June - he will come to my house on Sundays for family dinner.  I will have to share him but he will be here with his Papa and uncles and great grandparents and I will savor it.
July or August - he will giggle.  Smiles will be all over the place but sooner or later he will laugh out loud.  I hope it's when I lift him over my head and lower him toward my face - that used to make his dad giggle.  It will bring back great memories.
September or October - he will be trying to crawl and Ayden will be hauling him around.  I can see this in my mind.  Ayden and Ashton will be great big brothers but at age 9, Ayden will be the one to hold him on his hip and this little guy will pat his brother and smile.  Once he's mobile though, he will chase and be chased by his brothers - maybe up and down my hallway.  That will be a hoot!
November or December - he will start eating food.  I will sit in front of his high chair and every time I move the spoon toward his face, I will open my mouth wide.  I won't be able to help myself - I've tried with other babies.  Oh, and when I pat him after a bottle, I will burp - I always do.
I'm not sure when he will first spend the night at my house but I hope it will be a very regular event.  I want to love him and watch over him and just let him know how glad I am to have him in my life.  I hope he will come to feel the same way about me.  I figure it will be 2014 before he says "Omi" or "Papa" but he will and it will be very hard to not give him anything he wants in the whole wide world when he does - except soda.  I won't give him soda.
Baby Wooldridge - 16 wks
Prior to his arrival, there will be sewing - lots of sewing!  I will crochet for him and craft for him.  That will be pretty fun too.  People keep asking me how many quilts one baby needs.  I shall endeavor to discover the correct number.  
So I have some events mapped out for the year.  They are the things I anticipate when I am going to sleep at night.  I hope each of you has some events mapped out.  Maybe you plan to travel or change jobs.  Maybe you're going to move or learn something new.  I plan to bond with a baby - because I am an enthusiast of the highest order when it comes to babies!  I wish you all a wonderful new year.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Advent and Acolytes

Today is the 4th Sunday in Advent.  All but the center candle is lit on the Advent Wreath.  There were no greens yet in the sanctuary but there was our usual Eucharist.  There is a family of 3 at St. Margaret's.  The dad of the family is deployed for a year to Kuwait.  The mom and the 10 yr old daughter of the family hold down the home front and we are all watching Dakota grow up.  We like to think we are keeping an eye on them for the dad while he's gone but they seem pretty able to cope on their own.  This morning just after the procession of one priest, one acolyte and two lay Eucharistic ministers, while we were still singing the processional, I noticed Dakota had her mom engaged in an earnest but quiet conversation.  Then Dakota left her mom's side and tiptoed to the sacristy.  Shortly, she emerged in her acolyte gown and filled the empty acolyte spot on the side of the church that didn't have one.  I glanced around the congregation to see several knowing smiles.  When we went to take communion, I asked Mom if that had been Dakota's idea.  She said "Oh yes.  She asked me why there wasn't a second acolyte.  I told her whomever was scheduled must not have been able to make it and she said 'But Mom, I'm here!' so I told her to go get vested."  One little instance of awareness.  One little act of initiative.  A willingness to serve without being asked.  The knowing eyes of others present at the worship.  It was small but it impacted me deeply.  It all matters.  Maybe just to those of us who noticed, but it matters.  I caught up with Dakota after the service.  I told her that I really appreciated her role in the service this morning.  I told her that back in the 1970's, I was the first girl to be allowed to acolyte at my church.  She could not even grasp that.  Today I am just thankful that I saw an act of service by a 10 year old girl.  May she never loose her willingness to serve.