happy first birthday dillan

One year has passed since you arrived in our world.  What a journey it has been. As grandparents, we have known immeasurable joy and learned many things in the process.  The secret is to go with the flow and don't worry about a thing (3 little birds.)  Our hearts skip a beat when you see us and squeal with delight.  You recognize your family and feel our love. Those big baby blue eyes reflect your soul.

You have accomplished so many milestones lately, especially the art of walking.  Once you found your wheels, there is no stopping you.  It is funny to see you in shoes but you mastered that immediately, just like everything else.   Days are spent exploring the world around you and practicing how to open and close doors, dash up and down stairs, associate sounds and who makes them.  When an airplane flies overhead, you hold up your arm and look up.  When the dogs bark, you imitate them and when you look at flowers in the garden, you touch them and speak in a language only you know for now (or in your case, two languages)  but you are indubitably telling a story.

You helped me make soup which you tasted and really enjoyed. In the last few weeks you have conquered turning on and off the light switches and call it "yite".  Ceiling fans amaze you and your favorite song is B-I-N-G-O.  We dance the polka to that song.

When you come to visit we have the good old sandbox and splishy pool at the ready for you.  Born in the sign of Cancer, you love water and play for a long time in the pool and really like the sprinklers when we take our walks.  You have a healthy appetite and love watermelon and bananas and lately flavored yogurt.  The baby biscuits are a hit, too.

We all made a journey to Brookfield Zoo on Father's Day and you got a kick out of all the amazing animals.  Of course, all of them go "roof roof".  The best part of the whole day for you was playing with the wind chimes at the gift shop. 

On Monday and Tuesday we have special time during my Dillan Days and I must say, I don't know who wears out who the most and there is never a dull moment. Naps do rule!

Sunday we will celebrate your big day with family and friends at the park and make more memories.
Spoiler alert:  you get to eat ice cream cake, too!

Check out those chompers. 

 Life passes so quickly, but we are constantly clicking our cameras to capture the moments that take our breath away, which is every single second you are in our life.  Remember what I say as I rock you to sleep ~ you are big, brave, strong, beautiful, important and loved.  You are my sunshine.  Happy birthday, cha cha boo (ya ya). xo

ch ch ch changes

Life is a balance of holding on, letting go and knowing when to do which of the two.

Amen to that!  So many changes in our pocket of the world.  Steve graduated from College of DuPage with Honors and is headed for DePaul in the fall. Hey, that rhymes! 

 During the orientation, the speaker stressed how important it is to have the students establish a good credit report. Boy, do we know about that. All these years we pounded into our kids to live debt free and cash is king, however, in the big, bad world, you must have some sort of credit established in order to move forward. The secret is to get a revolving credit card, charge a third of the limit and pay it off each month. Use it as a tool only to get on "the books" so to speak so any future financing will go smoothly. Live and learn. 

We have three college diplomas gracing our home and now Steve continues to secure a bachelor's degree at Depaul and Dan will continue his master's through Kaplan.  More to come.

Just let go.  Let go of how you thought your life should be, and embrace the life that is trying to work its way into your consciousness.

When the sun has set, no candle can replace it.   George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones)

Faith requires that we relinquish control.  As the new Wind family expands their nest and spreads their wings to find a bigger home to lay down their roots, it is time to say goodbye to their previous place and hi to another dwelling. Now that Dillan likes grass, he will be free to roam on a huge lot filled with the green stuff.  Onward and upward!

Learn something new every day.  Let go of something old every day.  Dan and Darcy will move into their new digs on Bluebird within a few weeks.  We look forward to this summer project as it is a lovely home with so many possibilities.  Full speed ahead!

Your presence is a present to the world.

You're unique and one of a kind.

Your Life can be what you want it to be.

Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.

You'll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot ... goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's Treasures are people ... together.

Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have health and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.
And don't ever forget...
for even a day ...

 how very special you are...

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you...

Optimist's Creed written by Christian D. Larson

 

A laugh is a smile that bursts :O

 

a slice of heaven

Being with our grandson Dillan is nothing less than heaven.  We don't have to ponder the wondrous blessings bestowed on us when we take one look at this photo which reminds us of the joy he brings  whenever he is in our arms. 

As Dillan approaches his first birthday, he is ready to conquer his world by exploring all it has to offer.  He loves looking at flowers and trees and knows airplanes and lights. 

He mastered climbing stairs and slaps them when he reaches the top.

Dillan and Grandpa Poppie.

Not too fond of swings just yet, but if he is anything like his daddy, he will frequent the parks all the time.

He takes after his godfather, Dan, and likes to drum. 

Grandpa gives him pony rides.

A truly happy mother's day for me.

Now he is an airplane.

And dancing to the Beatles.

He is just waiting to get outside and explore.  He is taking his first steps and will be blazing through the rooms any day now.

Great Grandpa.

He loves the remote.

He is a good eater and pops when he eats his nummies. 

 His first stop is a beeline to the guitar.

Look out world!

And I think to myself...what a wonderful world xo