A few hours with the 3Cs....

Jami invited Tyler and me to her house yesterday to spend some quality time with the kids.

It was amazing. We'd not been able to spend much time there previously just because life sometimes does that. Saturday was the CD release party and Jami's mom's birthday (Happy Birthday to you!). Sunday was Mother's Day and Jami had had plans with her family for that day. I don't remember Monday. Does anyone out there know what I did Monday? :)

Anyway, back to the most beautiful children in the world...

What I find most amazing is how friendly they are. I did not expect any of them to actually want to snuggle or anything for a while. I was so wrong. Caitlin let me hold her and carry her the first night I met her, which was Thursday. Cameran was so funny when I saw her again on Friday and she beat all that yesterday. I was stunned when cute Christian (Christian the younger. Can't call him little, he's a man of six now!) assured me that he could remember me from the Ronald McDonald house. That was December 2006. However, I'm convinced because he told me I cursed. I know, I know, I have the mouth of a sailor...but how does my six-year-old grandson remember that? I know I'm going to be in trouble with Matthew now.... *sigh*

Back to yesterday's scene of the crime...One of the best memories I have of yesterday is Cameran jumping in (not-so-cute) Christian's arms when he walked through the door. She said, ever so softly, before she snuggled his neck, "I've missed you." Besides hearing her say, "Daddy" which always gives me goosebumps, this was amazing to hear.

She has always been such a Daddy's girl. Even when she was a baby she would roll all over the floor to get to him. Before that Jami would tell me that Cammie would arch her back and yell for Christian to get her. So funny. So very endearing. Especially for this Nonni

Her language is amazing. Keep in mind that the last time I saw her she could not hold up her head. That was when she was 16 months old and had just been diagnosed with her cancer. At that point, however, she was doing better than when she'd just been diagnosed, at which point she had the physical abilities of a two-week-old. When Matthew saw her, about a year ago, she was barely pulling herself up on furniture. I think when he saw her she was getting more chemo, but may have been just the IVIG treatment. Either way, she was moving, but not running as a typical almost-two-year-old. So, hearing her laugh, watching her run, seeing her climb trees, all of which she did yesterday, that was all a pure miracle to me. I will never cease to give thanks for the miracle that is my first granddaughter.

As for Caitling...ah...perfection. I'm not sure if it is because she's the third child, or just her personality, but she is so charming. She is absolutely willing to be adored but will allow you to show her books and she'll demonstrate such an ability for mimicking that it is extraordinary. She is just starting to really talk. I need to work with Tyler to have him teach her how to say Nonn. Christian the elder taught Tyler how to talk...so I think it's only fair that Ty teach his niece how to speak.

I always tell Jami that the girls look like me, but in reality I think that Caitlin is such a beautiful mix of both parents. She has exotic almond-shaped eyes that are a chestnut brown. She has beautiful blonde hair just like her daddy and grandpa Normie had at that age. It is even curly like theirs was. I have to ask Rin if Normie had a curl on the back of his head....Her complexion is pure peaches and cream...much like her daddy's was. Too bad she also has his ginormous hands, LOL. Big old hands on a little bitty girl. My hope is that she can grow into them. That will make her about 6'4" and only 11 months old....hm....perhaps I should rethink that? =>

Cute Christian showed me his garden yesterday. Tomatoes, zucchini, parsley, basil, just to name a few. I took some photos of the plants with Christian. He was so proud of everything...and has a right to be proud!

If you look at the photos you'll see a beautiful woman with blonde hair in some of the photos. That is Jami's great aunt Kay. Extraordinary woman. She helps with the kids. Not sure how she manages all that energy.... I adore this woman. She and I took the girls for a walk and it was so wonderful. I really enjoy talking to her. She is truly one of the most intelligent women I know. I hope I am as wise as she is when I grow up.

Ok...let's see. I could go on and on. But I should shower. It's almost 11 am and I smell. Josh, Joe, Jared, Tyler and Christian were up last night playing music and the X-Box so I had a hard time falling asleep. Of course they're all still alseep so this may be my only chance for the shower. I should really grab opportunity while it knocks.

love,
deb