Bitsy Does Christmas

I'm back.  I told you I would be.  Here we are . . . . All of Us . . . . . In the Same Boat and it's full steam ahead making its way to the big day.  You know, December 25th!  That day when all of us get a lil sappy, maybe even a lil mushy and definitely, a little CRAZY.  We anticipate, imagine, over-do.  Everything we do in preparation of the holiday evolves around making other people happy.  There, I've said it . . . . . YEP, there's the key . . . . "making other people happy".  If we spent more time and attention to that tiny detail all year long, this girl feels like the world would be a better place.

I've thought and thought about the many things that I hope The Webbman, and eventually Murphy and Mae will know about Christmas.  Every year, I think about all the little things that make Christmas "Christmas".   So here I go:

• Growing up in the Murphy household, my Mom never let us forget the significance of Jesus in the equation.  After all, to coin that phrase that grates on my nerves every time I hear it . . . "Jesus is, indeed, the reason for the Season".  If you keep him out front and center, everything else just falls into place!

• I know that this seems insignificant, but "DON'T", as in DO NOT, walk past the Salvation Army person ringing the bell at the store.  Don't drop your eyes like they are going to accost you.  People, THANK THEM!   If you can't give or don't believe it's a worthy cause, simply smile and thank them for working in your community.  Yeah, I know, my own husband cringes when I do this because he is indeed an "eye dropper", a "walk past the bell ringer like they have the plague person", an "I bet they pocket half that money person", but regardless of your thoughts on this, you will feel better if you a) gather change the minute you see them (whatever you have, no amount is too small), or b) simply, make eye contact and say "Merry Christmas".  Folks, they understand.  They get it!

• Work hard at establishing the amazement and wonder in the lil people in your family.  Children bring joy and you have to nurture their sense of wonder.  Establish traditions.  Read the same story every year to them.  Make the same candy for them.  Heck, eat the same candy with them!

• Smile.  Smile all through the Season.  Smile at the sales persons.  Smile at the other shoppers, smile at the annoying woman who hogs the aisle with her buggy in WalMart.  Smile.  You will feel better for it!  You will make someone else feel better for it!

• Always remember that during the holidays, our place is with our family.  Yep, family, complete with all the crazies, all the people we eye roll about the following day, all the people who tell the same stories every year at the Christmas dinner table, all the people who you know darn good and well re gifted the gift they gave you.  Remember, its not about what you get, or the number of things you get.  Christmas is about family and getting to be with them.  If you can't be with them, let them know you want to! They matter.  Make an investment in them.  Be present for them.

• Don 't psych yourself into imagining the perfect Christmas.  Think about Christmas last year and understand that Aunt Sally isn't going to automatically be sane, Uncle Joe isn't going to reincarnate if you lost him last year.  Accepting what IS always makes enjoying the holiday much easier.  I should say, accepting and appreciating what you have (and even what you don't have)!  Life isn't perfect.  Christmas won't be perfect, but it can certainly be filled with joy.

• Bake!  Bake in excess.  Take every cookie sheet out of the cabinet and make sure you get them dirty.  Get flour all over your counter and then EAT the cookies.  Bake with your friends, your family, and even by yourself.  You will feel better.  It creates memories and I can't think of a bad one I have, even when I burned the cookies!

• Go a little slower and listen to what others say.  This is good advise no matter the time of year.  Soak up other people's happy memories and let them talk about them.  Ask them about their Christmas traditions and let them savor in their moments. 

• My Mom always had us write a Christmas List.  She didn't write our Christmas List.  If we wanted Santa to know what we wanted, we had to take some initiative.  She would, however, assist us in the spelling of said items on our lists!  Besides writing the list, she would keep our lists in a shoe box in her closet.  When my Mom passed away, I found all my lists right next to an awful pair of navy blue pumps! 

• Listen to Christmas Music.  Listen to it all.  Sing Out Loud.  You will feel better for it.  Your children and family may ask you to "hush", but DON'T DO IT!  Sing and enjoy the things that are free.  Usher in Baby Jesus with song!  As long as HE doesn't ask you to "hush", DON'T STOP!

That's enough for now!  I've got baking to do and Christmas Music to listen to, but before I go . . . Look at the JOY in this lil guy's face!  Think he is crazy about "his" babies????  I know I AM!

 

 

As Webbman says "cheese", Murphy and Mae sleep peacefully!

 

 

 

Seriously, two of the cutest itty bitty babies that I ever saw!

 

 

The Land That Bitsy Forgot

Sometimes when you least expect it, something creeps up on you.  Sometimes its a bug, sometimes its your panties, and sometimes its a memory.  Memories can go either way.  They can bring a smile.  They can bring a frown.  They can bring a giggle.  They can bring a tear, but the good man above gave us these memories so that we can always hold on to parts and pieces of  life that have managed to touch us.  When you get to be a "Bitsy", a 56 year old "Bitsy", that is, you value every little memory that you can grab hold to because there are quite a few that have managed to drift right on to the "Land that Bitsy Forgot".

I hate being dependent on my memory now a days because it sure isn't what it used to be.  Where am I going with this?  That's a good question.  Sometimes I don't even know, but TODAY, at this particular moment, I'm headed to the purpose of my initial mission when creating this "Webbman Blog".  It was my mindset that by marking the tiny events in our little man's life that they wouldn't creep away from me.  That by documenting even the silliest of accomplishments, that by recording his belly laughs, his tears, and his smiles ....... that one day when I can't quite remember, I can look back and jog all the memories of all the moments that will comprise the life of Webb.  I let grief sidetrack me for awhile on this crucial journey I started.  Truth be told, "grief" didn't just sidetrack me, it ran slap ass over me like a twenty ton freight train, and then just about the time I thought I was dealing with things again, that stupid freight train backed up and ran over me again.  Gosh, its been hard.  Nobody ever told me how I was supposed to act after the loss.  Nobody told me what I could do to help the others in my family with their freight train.  All I know is one day, I looked up and realized I haven't documented ANYTHING in a very long time.  I'm letting my memories get lost in the fact that life can sometimes get in the way of some very important things . . . . . so, with that said, I'm going to make every effort to hop back in the saddle.  I'll be documenting old news with a touch of new news, until I get caught up, so bear with me because remember "This is for ME, not for YOU" :), although it would be nice if you enjoy it too!  I need to have "The Story of Webb" on paper and in this ole girl's head . . . so with that said . . . . . Here goes!

The Webbman is now a whopping 3 years old.  I neglected to post pictures from his "Pirate Party" and to tell ya'll about it.  The Pirate Party was when he turned 2!  I'm a little behind, as I said.  This year he had a "Big Truck/Lil Truck" Party at the Park, and it was in November, so with that said, I feel a little more in control since that was only 6 weeks ago.  The Party was important, but I have even bigger even more remarkable news besides the fact that our Webbman turned 3!  It's hard to imagine that anything could be more important than that, right? Right?

Well, out of the blue, without the least bit of warning (well, we MAY have had a LITTLE warning), The Lil Momma went and had another set of twins on November 23, 2013, and THIS TIME something remarkable happened!  The good Lord let us keep THESE twins.  We didn't HAVE to say GOODBYE.  We didn't HAVE to give them BACK, and there was no sadness for any of us.  You see, just about the time this Bitsy thought she might be feeling sad and lost, and just possibly feeling a tad bit guilty for being so joyful about this second set of lil angels, God reminded me that our first set of twins (Patrick and Drew, born on September 24, 2011) WERE, and will ALWAYS be, right here . . . watching and guiding over our newest additions in their God given roles as guardian angels.  As many times as I questioned God's wisdom, the minute I laid eyes on our newest additions, it was like someone had taken a big flashing Neon Sign and laid out God's plan so clearly in thousands of twinkle lights right in front of me!  All of a sudden, I knew, this was God's plan all along.  So I'm going to try to update this precious project, pick up on my journey where I left off, and do a Cliff's' Notes version of the last year and a half.  I ask that you bear with me and the best part is NOW, I'll be making memories and documenting them for The Webbman AND our two newest additions, Murphy William and Mae McCarty.  We have lots to catch up on, so STAY TUNED.  This Sh#% is fixin' to GET SERIOUS!!

 

December, 2013

Ho Ho Ho.  Santa Webbman hard at play while visiting Honey in Oxford!!

Next stop, Ole Miss!

 

 

 

November, 2013

Happy Birthday to The Webbman, and NO, he didn't eat the whole half a sheet cake!

 

 

 

 

October, 2013

Our Lil Fisherman

Yep, this Bitsy made Webb's' Fisherman Costume, and his fishing pole!

 

 

 

AND NOW, to add some more characters to this story.  Meet Murphy William and Mae McCarty!

  I have a feeling things won't ever be lacking for excitement in The Wonderful World of Webb.  What do you think?

 

 

Here's a sneak peek of the Nursery.

Yep, this Bitsy made the Nursery Bedding too!

 

 

Stay tuned.  Bitsy's back in the saddle ready to ride!

Happy Trails to You.  Until we Meet Again.

Standing Alone with No Signs of a Flash Mob

This isn't really a post about being a long distance grandmom or even anything to do with the Webbman, so STOP reading here if that's what you're looking for :)  

I'm all grown up, so I always thought by this time everything would be all figured out.  The road map of my life would be completely mapped out and there would be no more roller coaster rides on the horizon, but that's not the case.  I believe that the ride is just beginning.  I read a quote this morning and I swear I truly believe the good Lord knows what to guide me to each and every day.  Here it was......just what I needed, right when I needed encouragement and guidance the most:

"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life, you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive.  No matter who you are or what your position is, you must keep fighting for whatever it is you desire to achieve"    George Allen - American Football Coach

So, here I am, at 55, still fighting and it's OK.  I actually enjoy the challenge.  Being laid off a few years ago was a devastating set back at my point in life and the hunt for employment hasn't proved to be an enjoyable ride but to that note, it's given me time to absorb all the things about "me" that I didn't quite appreciate before.  All the things that I have neglected to pat myself on the back about during the ride to this point in my life, so now, I'm patting:

Let's see:

I'm strong.
I'm passionate about people.
I'm a nurturer.
If I loved you in my life, you know it, for better or worse :), and I will always love you.
If I'm your friend, I'm there for you when you need me.  I will not let work or play stand in the way if you reach out to me.
I will say I'm sorry whether I need to or not.
I'm generous, to a fault and put the needs of others first.

It's also given me time to absorb all the things that I need, so let's see on that front:

I need friends and interaction with people.
I need to feel like I'm making a difference.
I need to have meaningful conversation, even if it's with myself.
I need to feel like I'm helping other people.
I'm not a woman of solitude.
I need to take care of myself and put myself first more often.
I need to be part of a family, a nurturing family or not one at all.
I need interaction with friends, yes, this belongs on the list twice :).

Yes, this 2 and one half years of being in the realms of the unemployed and being in Atlanta has taught me lots of things.  It has taught me that if you want to be happy and healthy, sometimes you just have to do things that aren't easy.  Climb hills, mountains, maneuver things that you never predicted and sometimes you have to do it alone no matter how much you wish you had a flash mob standing right there with you.  So, here goes.  Off, I go to start my own flash mob.  Stay tuned.

P.S.  The Webbman is just fine, gearing up for Easter and making his first visit with the Easter Bunny in Oxford this weekend.  And I'm looking forward to the weekend after Easter when I get to hold that precious little bundle of joy and squeeze his lil cheeks and whisper "Bitsy Loves You" as many times as I like!

I'm a Big Boy and the Easter Basket Supreme

Do we EVER get too old for an Easter Basket?  This Bitsy doesn't think so.  There's something magical and fun about the idea of a basket of goodies appearing overnight just for you and even more magical when you factor in the whole "delivered by a rabbit" thing!  I've been working on a handmade Easter basket for the Webbman and I'm loving how it's turning out.  I tried something different this year and made his basket liner out of red felt and have hand sewn royal blue, yellow and green bugs around the outside edge of it, with his name sewn on the other side in case some other person decides they are going to abscond it while our lil man isn't looking! 

The Lil Momma and Drew "Precious" aren't much on the Webbman imbibing in candy and other totally useless caloric intake that his Bitsy includes as a staple in her daily regime, so I've had to "shift my way of thinking".  I've had to "think healthy" and I gotta admit, it's hard enough "thinking" but when you add the "healthy" factor in, it has thrown me into quite the tailspin.  So far, all I've come up with that will have the capability to survive the United States Postal Service is yogurt snacks, goldfish and animal crackers but have no fear . . . . . . . . the meager amount of candy has been offset by the "fun" items that are making the cut.  I can't disclose what the Easter Bunny will be bringing yet because I want it to be a surprise for the lil Momma and Drew Precious, but I can say that they will have fun with some of these items also.  I'll give ya'll a hint, though......................think bugs!

This morning as I was talking with the Lil Momma, we talked about how much he would change over the next few months and she began to tell me about how much he LOVES the back yard.  Their new home has a lovely fenced in back yard area with thick plush grass so I can understand him wanting to be back there.  She continued on by saying that since it's warming up and daylight longer, he really would stay outside for hours and be perfectly content, so much so that when it's time to come inside . . . . . . the lil fella doesn't want to "give it up".  I reminded her of the many times her Dad and I would call her to come inside and she would take off like a flash down the street at a rapid rate of speed.  It was not a pretty picture with her in the lead and her short chubby momma coming in at dead last!  She also began to tell me about how he no longer wants to be "carried in her arms" into Mothers Day Out.  The Webbman wants to walk, alone, independently . . . so down she puts him and stays in close range.  She noted that not only does he WANT to walk, and he DOES, that WHEN he walks, IF he falls,, he picks himself up, wipes off his OWN knees and keeps on going and wants NO assistance on her part!

Yep, He's a Big Boy . . . . . . .

Yep, our lil Webbman is all boy and we're so glad he is just that . . . . . . . "our lil Webbman".  Thank you itty bitty sweet baby Jesus, all the Angels and Saints for the small miracle you have placed in our life and yep, thank you for the divine vision you gave his Bitsy for his Easter basket!  I'm awful proud of it.  Pictures coming soon!

The BIG BOY Haircut

In a little less than 12 days, something will happen  . . . .  Our lil Webbman will be 17 months old!  This feat,  in itself,  is something special, however when I reflect on the last year and a half, I can hardly remember what our lives were like BW (before Webb).  Isn't it funny how children do that (make us feel like they've always been part of our lives)?  They are born and immediately our hearts are consumed with immense feelings of warmth for them.  God knew what he was doing when he brought these precious lil pip squeaks into our lives.  Somewhere between the end of January and now, our lil man went from having that itty bitty baby look to the handsome lil man look.  I think it happened with his last hair cut.  It's a real live "big boy haircut" !  It just happens when you're least expecting it! Whammo, the "baby" vanished and the "big boy" made his debut!

In the next few months, he is going to be jibber jabbering words at us and I can tell you, we will all be amazed at his brilliance.  Me, I'm just waiting to hear that lil voice resound one word . . . . . not just any word, but "Bitsy".  I've been drilling him for the past 17 months and I can't help but believe somewhere, in the deep dark crevices of his extremely intelligent, Albert Einstein like lil Webbman brain, out it's going to pop ........ the word I've anticipated . . . . . "BITSY", and I also have a feeling that that one word is going to wrap itself around my heart and squeeze it like a big ole bear hug.   Of course, I can't imagine anything being better than just looking at the lil man smile!

For those of you who don't know just what "Bitsy" means, let me remind you.

Main Entry:  bit-sy
Pronunciation: \'bit-see\
Function: adjective or noun
etymology:  itsy-bitsy
Date: 1905

Meaning: Tiny (adjective);  One excellent, dedicated, adoring, always there when you need her, "kick ass" Granny, Grandmother, Grandmom, Mother of Child's Mother (noun)

Example:  See picture below:

Bitsy:  One Kick Ass Grandmom and Proud Of It

OK, now that we've gotten that important fact taken care of, I thought I'd simply share two pictures of the Webbman from this week and a short video of him enjoying time with the Lil Momma and Drew "Precious".  I love him (Can you tell?) and I love his Momma and Daddy too (Had that one figured out didn't you?).  Enjoy!

The Webbman Checking things OUT!

See, Big Boy Haircut!

Get Ready for your Heart to Be Warmed . . . . . . . . . .

Oh, By the Way, his PawPaw gave him this "kick ass" swing.  He thinks it's pretty awesome!

Michael, the Arch Angel, the Lil Momma & Cinderella's Slippers

I don't know how it happened.

I don't know when it happened.

But it happened.

The Lil Momma and I have come full circle.  She is "mothering me".  She has become my sounding board, my friend, my protector, kind of like Michael the Archangel. 

I remember when I started down this path with my Mom, but it was for different reasons.  My Mom (the lil Momma's Grandma Carol) passed away in my Senior Year of High School.  My nurturing took on a whole different light than what I see transpiring with the Lil Momma.  She had struggled for years with Cancer and the medicines and such were taking their toll on her.  I'd come in from school and ask her how her day had been only to be told "To sit down and relax....that dinner was in the oven" and "How was my school day?".  Of course, she believed "dinner was in the oven ", but truth be told............there was NO DINNER in the oven or anywhere.  The first time it happened, I went to her and said "Mom, I don't see anything in the oven" to which a very indignent proud woman responded, "Well, somebody MUST have eaten it".  After that first time, there was a second time, a third time and many many other times.  It got to where I just didn't ask.  I just knew I had to high tail it to the kitchen after she made the "proverbial statement" and get the dinner that was IN the OVEN, IN the OVEN.  It was no big deal, and now I'd give anything to have the luxury of scurrying about covering up her decline in health to make her still feel whole and effective in her role as a "housewife and beloved mother", a role she didn't have the luxury of enjoying for the majority of our lives since she taught school and nurtured other people's children daily.  What an amazing woman my mom, Carol Teresa Stevenson, was.

In recent years, I seem to have become forgetful, scattered and unfocussed.  Truth be known, I may have always been that way, but as I get older and as I get more like my Mom (Of course, I don't have the excuse of having undergone chemo and radiation, at least not in the last few years).  The Lil Momma does her best not to come across concerned or aggitated but I'm quite certain I get on her last nerve of the day when she tells me something and I say snippily to her "Why didn't you tell me this before?" and she has to say "Mom, I did.  Don't you remember?" OR I break into a rendition of a story that I find particularly enthralling only to be told "Mom, you told me this already"!  It's taken me awhile to put my "daughter shoes" back on these 55 year old feet and remember what it must feel like to her.  Those shoes aren't particularly easy to wear and they sure don't just slide on like Cinderella's glass slippers.  I'm sure she never dreamed she'd have to worry about, nurture, carry concern, etc. for her Mom, or hell perhaps she's always worried about me and I was just not tuned in enough to notice.  All I can say is, I sure love me some "Lil Momma" and yep, some "Drew Precious".  They run circles around any parenting techniques or skills that I ever exhibited.  They're disciplined, organized, loving and just simply amazing in the rearing of our lil Webbman.  They make it look easy, but I know it's not, and I know I add to their plate and I wish I didn't.  It's just flat plain hell to get old.

NOW, the Webbman.  He is just the epitomy of perfect.  He is the definition of handsome.  He is a walking package of cute!  I don't know when this happened either, but it did.  It seems like I looked up and all of a sudden, he went from precious lil baby to adorable lil man.  No more sissy baby outfits for him.  No more lil smocked jon jons or cutesie stuff.  He's all boy and I have to say................I'm lovin' every minute of it.  Not lovin' it MORE than raising the Lil Momma but lovin' it in a different way.  With Easter coming up, I have some Easter basket assessments to be making.........that is "if" I remember.  Funny thing is, so far, I haven't forgotten one detail about the Webbman or what he may need.  Wonder why that is?  All I can say is I hope my Michael, the Archangel looks like John Travolta.

This is one of my all time favorite Movies.  Enjoy the Clip!

I cannot prevent the "Birds of Sorrow" from passing over my head . . . BUT I can keep them from building a nest in MY hair!

Whewwwwwwwwwww.  It feels like it's been a lifetime since I've blogged, and it kind of has been.  My last little blurb was the last day of July.  Life was going along great, things seemed to be bright and our little family seemed to be 10 foot tall and bullet proof.  Well "seemed" to be is the key word in this scenario.  Just about the time, we all were floating around on Cloud Nine at the prospect of two new glorious lil guys for our family, just about the time we all began to dream about all the joys life held, LIFE came up with a new plan . . . . a plan all of it's own.

I've waited and waited to blog and wondered what I would say to explain the absence of words from "Bitsy".  I've waited and prayed and hoped to accept so many things.  I'm still waiting for the right words to come and still waiting for acceptance so for now, all I'm going to say is I began blogging as a means to cope with being a "long distance grandma", a "Bitsy" who stands outside and looks in and tries to find ways to make my Webbman visits memorable and I need to continue my mission! Ninety days of silence has probably left some serious gaps in the "Wonders of the Webbman", but I'll touch on a few of the high points and leave out the lows because as noted so duly in today's Blog Title . . . .

While, I CANNOT prevent the Birds of Sorrow from passing over my head and perhaps pooping on it as they pass, I CAN do everything in my power to keep those same birds from

 Building a Nest in My Hair!

Life is all what you make it and we need to celebrate every day, even when it's not what we had hoped for, not what we had envisioned.  So with that in mind, here's to "Big Hair" and to finding the indescribable joy of Grand-babies.  The lil critters come into our life, tug on our heartstrings, and nestle themselves into an unforgettable spot - a spot that is coveted by those of us they call "Bitsy, Honey, Grammy, Shug, LuLu and Lovie".  We proudly love and celebrate them each day. 

Stay tuned because tomorrow, I'm going to tell you guys all about Webb's accomplishments over the last few months.  He is one amazing little guy, but I'm pretty sure ya'll all know that already! 

9 Months in WebbLand and FREE Admission!

Yes, I'm going to go for the cheesy phrase . . . . . "It Seems Like Yesterday", because it does.  It seems like we just got the news that our little Meisenheimer Crew were expecting.  It seems like yesterday that we obsessed over nursery fabrics, nursery furniture, names, would we have a boy, would we have a girl, would we have a few boys and girls?  It didn't seem to matter.  Quite frankly, NONE of it seemed to matter when our little Halloween Man arrived that night.  With all honesty, other than the birth of the Lil Momma, that night was the most special, most amazing, most joyful day of this Bitsy's life.  There is no effective way to describe what ensued, but I'm fairly certain that if you're a Bitsy's Bits reader, you know it was just the next best thing to french toast slathered with powdered sugar and butter.  Absolute heaven, the Webbman's Day of Birth and the French Toast!

In hindsight, this Bitsy has spent a great deal of time and effort on what some people would view as "totally unnecessary, completely frivolous" activities, and perhaps those people would be correct.  It probably began before the Webbman was born with my vision of  custom "matching" shirts for the Grandmom's that very classicly read "Webb Thomas Meisenheimer's Bitsy" and of course "Webb Thomas Meisenheimer's Honey".  Don't think we didn't wear them either because we did EVEN to the Outlet Mall.  We wore them with smiles. 

Welcome to the World Lil Man.
  Honey & Bitsy Love Being Grandma's!

And then, there was the 8.5 foot hand painted Stork that I decided HAD to welcome the little family home upon their arrival from the hospital.  As with lots of things that this Bitsy does, it was a great idea, but not real well thought through.  I made arrangements to have it made and neither the young woman who made it or myself factored in that the adorable stork weighed in at 40 lbs, plywood supports and all, and was not cost efficient to ship.  "No Problem" pours off my lips to the young artist who lived in Mobile.  I'll meet you half way . . . . . so off I drove in my Cadillac CTS which quite decidedly made a good "ride for Bitsy" but did NOT make such a good "ride" for Mr. Stork.  After much pleading and convincing, a great big thank you goes to the Manager of the Gulfport, MS Chuck E Cheese who was kind enough to help me stash and store Mr. Stork in their storeroom until Drew "Precious" could come help me "deliver" him in a more appropriate vehicle . . . . .  like a TRUCK!  Irregardless, the Welcome Home Stork was the most beautiful Welcome Home Stork I've ever seen and one day I just know that the Webbman, the Lil Momma and Precious will smile when they remember arriving in Waveland to see his inviting smile by their front door!

Welcome Home from Bitsy!

 Then, there was the bright idea to schedule baby pictures at one week old.  That concept in itself - not so novel, right?  Well, hold on . . . . . I'm getting to the good part.  Remember, I had months to imagine the Lil man, to look forward to all the joy and wonder that would slide right into our lives upon his delivery, so the "costuming and outfitting" began.  What could be more precious that a "sock monkey", right?  Yep, that's right, a sock monkey cocoon and cap were created for the Webbman.  A beautiful pale blue cocoon and snugly cap was created for the Webbman, there were pumpkin hats and OleMiss outfits . . . . . but the critical factor here was Bitsy didn't stop long enough to think about the fact that the Lil Momma and Precious MAY not have wanted their son dressed up like a baby doll.  Bitsy learned on that occasion, but I will say that his pictures were absolutely precious and again, ONE day, I just know that the Webbman, the Lil Momma and Precious will look back and smile at our lil sock monkey and feel that warm feeling that Bitsy did in her heart. 

Webbman in his Sock Monkey Cocoon and Gus.

Webbman in his beautiful baby blue cocoon served for your viewing pleasure on a tray!

I won't say that I learned right away, Webbman and family had to endure "Turkey Caps" at Thanksgiving, embroidered First Thanksgiving outfits, an adorable "Mr. Bingle" outfit which Bitsy took upon herself to use as her Christmas Card for 2010, Happy New Years outfits, Happy Mardi Gras Outfits, Valentines Day outfits, Happy St. Patrick's Day outfits, Happy Easter outfits and yes, we even had a Happy 4th of July Outfit.  Amidst all my joy, this Bitsy will admit that hindsight is foresight and perhaps, the Webbman didn't NEED all of this.  Perhaps, the Webbman didn't NEED any of it, but with both those facts offered up for God and everybody to know, this Bitsy sure loved every minute of her amazingly handsome lil man wearing everyone of them.  I just KNOW that someday again, the Webbman, the Lil Momma and Precious will smile and go "awhhhhhhh" when they look at them, except MAYBE if they show up in years to come in the Webbman's graduation or wedding video.  He may not find the joy in the experience then, but his Bitsy will.  I will always think he was the most amazingly precious Sock Monkey, Pumpkinhead, Turkeyhead, Mr. Bingle lookin', New Year's baby, etc. that ever hit the face of this earth!

Gobble Gobble

Jingle Jangle Jingle Here Comes Mr. Bingle

Happy 2011!

Happy Mardi Gras!  Throw Me Something Mister.

All Aboard the Love Train!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail speeding down the Bunny Trail.

The Webbman's 9 months have included accomplishment after accomplishment and don't think this Bitsy hasn't noticed.  He is one very "accomplished" young man!  He SMILES - and what a smile!  He rolls over and very gracefully if I must say so myself.  He REACHES and GRABS and HUGS.  He SITS UP and throws his plastic balls.  He is the best "bathtub toy splasher" that any Bitsy could ever have. He plays PEEK-A-BOO and he PULLS UP.  He's just about to get the crawling thing down pat too. Right now, it's more of a "dragging" but the "crawling" is right around the corner.  He HOLDS his own bottle and EATS  like there is no tomorrow.  He's in a BIG BOY Car seat now! He's got ONE tooth and another ONE popping out, and by the way, his teeth are beautiful.  He has BABY EINSTEIN memorized and has managed to WRAP all those that encounter him around his finger.  Yes,  he is one "accomplished" young man.   Goodness only knows where 10 months will bring us.  I will say, I believe the Webbman is safe for awhile.  There are no real discernible holidays until Halloween and  I guess you guys can bet . . . . . that Bitsy may be having a few "visions" floating around in the back of her mind.  I'm fighting them though . . . . fighting them really hard!

Splish Splash Webb is taking a bath!

This Bitsy finds herself amazingly grateful and extremely thankful for the opportunity provided in being involved in the Webbman and his parent's lives.  I understand that I am a handful, that I can be just a little "over the top", and yes perhaps even "off the chain", but there's one thing I know for slap damn certain ~ there is no shortage of love for our lil man or this lil family.  Our crew has one great big swollen heart and that folks is one very good thing!

Oh, and WebbLand, it's the best place a Bitsy can be.  One more thing, I'm really glad the Lil Momma and Precious haven't figured out, I'd probably PAY an admission fee :)  Until next time  . . . . . Enjoy your Sunday!

Becoming Comfortably "Wierd" with Being a little "Wierd" & Things I Wish I Told the Lil Momma!

Every Lil Man Needs a Pair of Keds

I don't know about any of you, but I've always spent a great deal of time thinking about all the things I hope I told the Lil Momma.  I mean Life is most certainly a test and I like to believe I raised her believing she could "ace" it, however, like most Mom's, I second guess myself more often than not.  There are so many things I wish I would have known when I was younger . . . . so many things that I hope the Lil Momma has learned or at least witnessed through her Momma's many blatant mistakes.  Things like . . . . . .

• Your thoughts don't need to dictate your life.
• That helping others is the true path to improving every area of your life - business or personal.
• That living in the present and embracing the moment is what's best~not living in the future or the past.
• That nobody can be changed.  People only change because the pain of changing is less than the pain of staying the same.
• Wish I'd known NEVER to actively participate in GOSSIP.  It's the slow death of your SOUL.
• That starting a business doesn't involve as much planning or money as I once thought.
• That everything I ever stressed out about didn't matter much a year later.
• I wish I would have know HOW to plan my "finances" a little better.
• I wish I'd known that what's right for me isn't necessarily right for someone else.
• That "failure" IS an option, it's OK, and sometimes it's even good.
• That "home" REALLY is where the heart is.
• Wish I'd known that "regrets" keep you from moving on.  Move on and be done with it.
• That "intelligence" is not necessarily something you're born with, but it IS more importantly, something that can be "worked on".
• Wish I'd known to just befriend "change"  -  it's inevitable.
• I wish I'd known how to feel comfortably "weird" about being a little "weird".
• I wish I'd known that it's true that honesty in every situation is "always, always, always" the best policy.
• That learning doesn't end when you leave school . . . .
• That the world is as big as you want it to be . . . .
• That the world does not owe you any favors, you have to step up to the plate and be counted!
• That even though women can't really "grow a pair" we should at least be more "assertive".
• That the phrase "Just Try It" has merit in every single situation in Life.
• That the little black dress of life could be altered to fit ME!
• That not being "well off" didn't mean I didn't have a rich life.
• That love and sex are two entirely different things.
• That my thoughts control HOW I feel and HOW I feel affects HOW I see the world.

All these things are things that this Bitsy has learned in her many years of being Bitsy.  Some I had to learn the hard way and some just seemed to pop up out of the blue, however ALL of them are things I hope somehow someway I was able to share with the Lil Momma.

OK, enough because the more I think, the more things I realize I wish I'd known.  I came across this video on You Tube and I know that this young woman's Momma and Grandmom have to be beaming with pride.  Heck, I'm proud of her and I don't even know her.  Way to go kiddo.  You see SHE has the right idea.  Say it before you have them and video it!  We should all be so vocal with the things we want our children to know.  

I didn't mention the Webbman tonight much, but I did buy him a pair of Keds today . . . . . size 3.  Every lil guy needs a pair of Keds and if they don't know they do, hopefully their Bitsy does!  Night ya'll.

I don't know if it's Jesus, but I figure we need to hide the Roundup for awhile anyhow!

Happy Friday ya'll.

It's a gorgeous day in Atlanta, Georgia today.  The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing and well, it's hot as ever lovin' hell but all the same, we still need to count our blessings when and where we can.  On that note, earlier this morning, I sat on our back patio which faces the greens between the 8th and 9th hole of the golf course and sipped away on my iced tea.  Decidedly, a true Southern Delight and a fine end to our week.  As I sat and watched the clouds move, I remembered many years ago laying in the grass in my Mom and Dad's big wooded front yard and making animals and shapes out of the clouds.  My sister and I adored passing time that way.  I have to say, it made me smile.  It made me look forward to laying in the grass with the Webbman and gazing away at a big puffy dragon, an elephant, a giraffe, a pirate ship or maybe even an angel.  Made me smile . . . . immensely :)


Yes, maybe this is Jesus or maybe it's a water sprinkler?

There is one thing I can honestly say I never remember seeing those years ago as my sister and I configured the sky into a sea of fish or a tent of circus animals.  That one thing is a big "Jesus".  What in the name of sweet Jesus is drawing my mind to ponder "Jesus sightings"?  What spurs me to wonder why he was decidedly absent from my visions?  Well, I can't answer that, but what I can say is as I read the news this morning and came across an article about the trumpet vine/kudzu "Jesus" apparition sighted on a road in North Carolina, all I could come up with was the importance of hiding the bottle of Roundup for awhile until the jury is in. 



I mean, MAYBE? BUT, then again, Maybe NOT?

This Bitsy will be the first person to tell you, I look for guidance in anything and anywhere that the good Lord deems to send it, but I've never been one of those folks that notice a whole bunch of Jesus' in inanimate objects.  Nope, not saying it can't happen, I'm just thinking that if Jesus is going to come to me in the form of let's say "food", I don't think it's going to be in a grilled cheese sammich.  If he did, I probably wouldn't notice him because he'd be slathered pretty darn well and covered up with grape jelly.  He wouldn't really stand much of a chance BUT, with that said, apparently SOME people SEE Jesus in their grilled cheese sandwiches.

Yep, the poor thing would be smothered in grape jelly.  I never would have seen him :(

Apparently, these "Jesus" sightings are not uncommon.  The one that I was "not happy with" for some reason is the one of Jesus in the mildewed plaster board.  This particular item was sold on EBay for right at $2,000.  I don't reckon Jesus would think too much of that, do you? 

Yuck, but who knows?

If I were a different kind of person, I'd probably feel left out that my life hasn't been touched with any sort of vision.  I'm a firm believer that God can and does find his way into people's lives in many amazing ways.  For me, it all started walking up the aisle of O.L.G. church many years ago, and from that point on . . . to coin a phrase, the good man upstairs "HAD me at HELLO" :) 



I REFUSE to ANSWER on the GROUNDS that I DON'T WANT TO and Those Stupid Angry Birds

I REFUSE to admit to you folks that TODAY I actually found myself wondering what all the "hoopla" about this "Angry Birds" game is.   I also REFUSE to admit to you guys that I have NEVER EVER played a computer game, a video game ~ No Mario Brothers, No Pacman, No Computer Solitaire, No BeDazzled, No CupCake Wars but these damn "Angry Birds" are all over the place, IPhones, Androids, Mobile Apps, Magazines, even stuffed animals.  This Bitsy finds herself on a need to know basis with these angry lil creatures for the Webbman's sake. 

As far as I can tell, I've managed to live rather fully without the video game experience and with all that said, I REFUSE to admit that the possibilities of understanding and mastering this Angry Birds thing COULD have potential for being a little daunting for this Bitsy.  I WILL admit that, as a "Bitsy", I have considered the fact that BOYS seem to actually ENJOY video games.  They SEEM to find endless hours of entertainment in losing themselves, for example, in flocks of multi-colored birds, that are attempting to retrieve eggs that have been stolen by a group of green pigs.  It seems that the object of the game is to eliminate all the pigs using sling shots, ahh now that may explain the appeal of the game.  Is there any wonder WHY these poor birds are ANGRY . . . . . the little creatures are used as ammunition in the sling shots to "take out" the pigs and the structures that the pigs seek shelter in.  There are big pigs, little pigs, pigs with crowns, pigs with helmets and armour.  There are blue birds, yellow birds, red birds, black birds and white birds.  The only redeeming thing I can see about this game is the fact that there ARE "different" colored birds.  I'd like to give Mr. Angry Birds Creator some credit for the possibility of attempting to instill cultural diversity in the masses by including colored birds, but sadly I would venture to say that I'm giving him far too much credit  :)  The "possibility" of acquiring "cultural diversity" is truly the only thing I walked away from as I worked fervently to figure out the appeal of this most revered game.  On the down side, the birds, in all their multi-colored glory, seem to have their own attributes and skills, just like people do . . . . . but don't get too excited.  Blue birds miraculously separate into 3 birds, black birds have the ability to explode, and white birds amazingly drop explosive eggs, but again . . . . . . don't be getting all warm and fuzzy about the things you'll learn as you play "Angry Birds".  The player, pigs, nor birds don't seem to have compassion, intelligence, sympathy, empathy or any other attribute that I'd like to have my lil Webbman learn, although maybe, just maybe I should give Mr. Angry Birds Creator some credit for the fact that some of the birds are "wingless" and could therefore be viewed as disabled and it "could be" said that they are displaying the determination to rise above said disability, but I don't see the ADA giving Mr. Angry Birds Creator any awards.

I did my homework and there's a possibility that I'm alone in my lack of understanding for these Angry Lil Birds.  Let me share some trivia with you about Angry Birds. You should sit down for this one, it's mind boggling, but true . . . . there are 200 million minutes of this game played each day on a global scale.  I'll admit that those that master it seem to quickly become addicted to it.  I'll also say that apparently after battling pigs for a few years now, the birds entered into some form of Peace Treaty with the little stinkers on video.  I try to be well rounded and want to understand this phenomenon in an effort to be somewhat "hip" for my precious grandbaby, so I thought I'd share.  This video was originally in Hebrew and it was created by the Israeli version of SNL.  Due to popular demand, the Angry Birds Peace Treaty video is now available in English, so go ahead and enjoy it with the understanding that they do drop the fbomb once or twice.  :)

With all this said, this Bitsy did spend several hours trying to build my video game skills, although I don't feel I benefited much from this endeavor today.  If someone would ask me today, just what I did because I adored my grandbaby, I would probably HAVE to say "I REFUSE to Answer on the Grounds that I Don't Want To :)  Damn those Angry Birds..............................................There are many speculations regarding the cause of the recent global economic recession, but we all know the truth.  I would just bet that it should be attributed to the Angry Birds and their effect on the productivity of our work force  :) :) 

Til tomorrow.........................................

Zagats Guide to Fine Dining in WebbLand

This Bitsy has just come back from a 10 day stint in the revered and most coveted and sought after vacation venue of choice - "WebbLand".  I attempted a number of times to get my creative juices to work and "blog" abit, but all I could focus on was how precious my time was with our baby boy.  Every time I plopped down in front of the good ole laptop, I'd hear a growl, a giggle, a gurgle, a shriek of some indiscernible string of sounds which I translated into "Come Get Me Bitsy", although it's entirely possible the lil guy just had gas.  Whatever the Webbman was trying to say, this Bitsy responded in kind with the same growl, the same giggle, the same gurgle and yep even a few shrieks.  I will say, our lil guy has the sounds down pat and sounds adorable when they're coming from him.  Somehow, when they roll off my vocal cords it comes across more like a very large animal in some sort of pain.

Whatever, the case . . . . The lil fella quite rightfully got every ounce of attention I was capable of providing.  We played "toss the ball".  Webb threw it, Bitsy retrieved it.  This went on for some undefined period of time most every day several times a day.  That boy has got one heck of an arm on him!  We read books, lots and lots of books.  Didn't seem to matter which books, he simply likes listening and looking.  Most men could learn from the Webbman - nothing a woman enjoys more than having a man listen to her while she talks, an occasional smile, the occasional giggle or growl are value adding but a one sided conversation can work well for me!

The Webbman has begun to sprout teeth.  He has the most beautiful baby tooth peering out from bottom front center and has another peeking out top front center.  He doesn't quite know why he isn't feeling the love, but he isn't.  Those little suckers are wreaking havoc on the poor lil man, and is taking a toll on the pleasant demeanor of he and his Momma, but as with all baby challenges, the Lil Momma is rising to the occasion and battling teething in full armour. 

The Lil Momma has been working on introducing the Webbman to some "real" food that doesn't come straight out of the "organic" section of the baby food aisle.  Webb found a captive and engaged chef in his Bitsy.  My culinary skills allowed me to offer up fresh mashed sweet potatoes, creamed cauliflower, mashed carrots, fresh peaches pureed perfectly, mashed potatoes and the pie`ce de resi`stance, the true Southern delicacy of baby Lima beans with turkey sausage also smashed, mashed and pureed to perfection!  I am NOT the only culinary goddess in our family.  I would be remiss if I didn't add that Webb's great  "Aunt Miche" offered up some sea salt french fries for his snacking pleasure, and all indications were he appeared to be in french fry heaven.  The Lil Momma offered up some Nilla Vanilla Wafers which, without question, took the blue ribbon for first place with our sweet lil guy out of all offerings.  He even shared some with Gus, the family Labrador, who was happy to have Webb's leftover crumbs.

I'm back in Atlanta now with the hubby and our two dogs.  I wonder what I should do for dinner tonight.  Hmmmm . . . . . . .

A Rat's Ass, A Hill of Beans and All the Tea in China

McKenzie's 10th Bday, Peanut butter Overload and the Birthday Messenger Mouse!

Well, here we are.  Sunday evening - another weekend gone kaput!  Not a bad weekend as weekends go, got to see the grandgirls (the hubby's precious little grand babies that I am blessed enough to get to share happy moments with).  The oldest turned ten years old this year (milestone birthday).  It's a big deal and yes, kind of sad, but I can look back and remember ten and I immediately go to eleven, then twelve, and so on. I can do this NOW, but I'm not sure that I could have done that when she was ten!  It's hard being a Momma and watching your children grow up right in front of your eyes . . . . every day . . . . every minute . . that damn clock ticks!  Time moves on and your little peanut moves on right with it.   I have to say that each year, life with the Lil Momma just got better!  Always something to enjoy, always something that I was surprised by and best of all, if she wouldn't have made it to ten, we wouldn't have made it to 25 and well we wouldn't have the Webbman!  I can't imagine life without him, of course, I don't really try to.  All I think about is cramming in every little moment I can get of the little guy!  So, CRAM I will and CRAM I will until this Bitsy can cram no more!

I am the type of person who does everything, and I mean "everything" to excess - and this especially applies when baking cakes.  It has never been enough to make a cake from the bottom up, along with ice cream.  No, this Bitsy concocts "mega cakes".  I tend to pile so much stuff on the cake that many times it quite certainly has "caved in" from the inside out.  I've had numerous cake explosions - sad but true.  Cake baking according to Bitsy involves too many layers, too much icing and add-ons that probably don't belong on a cake.  At 54, you would think the thought would occur to me to "step away from the cake pan".  Again yesterday, in an attempt to make something special for our ten year old Birthday Girl who loves peanut butter, I made a "Nutter Butter/Reeces Peanut Butter Cup" Cake.  The mission began - Homemade Chocolate Cake with Homemade Peanut Butter Icing - 3 Layers, Mega Icing with Nutter Butter Mini cookies in between each layer and strategically placed on the top.  I can't attest to the "tastiness" of this mega cake because after making it, the last thing I wanted to do was eat it. What I CAN say is I believe the girls enjoyed the rootbeer floats that we made spur of the moment much more than the "cake that ate Atlanta".

In Excess :) - the Cake that ate Atlanta

That's me . . . a birthday isn't complete unless there is a table set with colored plates, napkins, cups, a centerpiece, candles, ribbon, bows, and yes...............the mega cake.  I have always adored parties, holidays, special occasions, and well just the celebration of every day, and thankfully I can continue to do that.  I am counting the days until the Webbman's First Birthday and yes, I've mentioned to you guys in previous posts about my belief that we may need circus animals, and tents, cotton candy and popcorn.  We NEED it all, and this Bitsy doesn't give a "rat's ass" or a "hill of beans" who believes it may be excessive.  Bottom line is I wouldn't trade "ALL THE TEA IN CHINA" for our time with the Webbman.

On that note, I feel an obligation to ask - Do YOU guys know why we even use those terms?  What is it about a "rat's ass" that has made the saying worth repeating so many many times?  What is it about a "Hill of Beans" that causes us to refer to the fact that "We don't REALLY give a Hill of Beans" about something on many occasion?  And by the way, how MUCH tea is there in China - REALLY?  Just wondering?   

Our little 8 month old - Just had to throw in this picture.  I can do that - IT'S MY BLOG!

  Our Extremely Handsome Webbman! 

Hope ya'll have a good Monday!  Blog ya later alligator!

Move Over Sookie Stackhouse and Have YOU Ever Seen a Financially Embarrassed Vampire?

It's 10 p.m. on a warm Saturday evening here in the "hood".  As our schnauzers, Buddy and Baxter, trot lightly, and kind of spastically, behind me on the cart path in one of the many "futile" efforts to get them to attend to their "nightly constitutions", I hear the faintest of leaves rustling in the perfectly manicured trees surrounding the 9th hole.......COULD IT BE?  This Bitsy's mind raced.  I stopped, looked around up past the dip in the path and back toward the 8th hole . . . only to find one dog on the greens obliging my dreams for a productive walk, and the other dog standing behind me looking at me like "What the hell did you stop for"?  As much as I hate to admit it, week before last I heard the same sound, had the same thought and felt the same "racing heartbeat" that I had tonight~only that night, I was walking my grand dog, Gus in the Mississippi "hood".  It was a false alarm too!  Nope, just the breeze, nothing supernatural, nothing even remotely Ann Rice-like, Stephanie Meyer-like, Laura Adrian, LA Banks, or Charlaine Harris related!  I stood there that night too, taking it in, feeling just a teenie tiny bit, maybe just a little bitty smidgen of a tad . . . . . . disappointed.  Yes, I said it, "Where the heck are my Vampire Diaries buddies, Damon and/or Stefan Salvatore" when you NEED them?  I reckon LIFE at 54 can be sadly predictable :(  The little hot young vampire guys are visibly NOT here!

In the midst of a whole slew of new Vampire Series, be it books, movies or cable series, I have found myself carefully examining the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Vampired".  I guess I never really thought about it much.  Being raised and educated full blooded Catholic for all these years, I can assure you, the life of a bloodsucking vampire is not anything that this Bitsy ever gave any thought to.  Why now?  What is it about these Hollywood Hotshots of the Dark that have made them so interesting all of a sudden?  Well, for me, I can lay out every reason.  Things that I never thought about, NOW seem to be so blatently obvious, and with that said . . . I believe that as a Bitsy, the longevity of my life has become increasingly more important to ME! 

Bitsy's Reasons WHY Being a Vampire May NOT SUCK

1. Considering the fact that these creatures live forever is rather appealing from this Bitsy's point of view.  I would not grow older, be no worse for the wear and be around to see Webb graduate from High School, College, get married, have children, watch them graduate from High School, College, get married, have children . . . . . YOU get the picture.  All the while, maintaining my faculties (or at least what I have left of them upon changeover from human to blood sucking creature of the night) and all the while, retaining my girlish figure and good looks :) .
2. The second reason is pretty obvious too.  Apparently, all Vampires are wealthy.  They come from long lines of blood sucking creatures of the night, and everybody knows they do not have to work.  They just travel around the world, volunteer on community Boards, fly around above the trees and "sparkle" nicely in meadows.  The idea of an unlimited source of funding which would facilitate the time spent with the Webbman is increasingly attractive to this Bitsy.
3. Some of you may bring up the fact that anyone who knows Bitsy knows she LOVES the Beach.  You may wag your fingers in front of my newly poutable lucious red lips and my milky white complextion and say . . . . "She's not gonna like the NO BEACH thing", well you may be right, but every Bitsy has to know that in life, you just have to give up some things and the Beach just may be ONE of them.  REMEMBER that with the unlimited tap of family funds flowing around in the beautiful new mansion my entire family will be living in, I can BUILD a beach in  my back yard and have a roof custom designed to filter the sunlight properly so that I will not only LOOK "tan", I'll look "sparkly" and lovely in my new skinny body that comes with the blood sucker package.
4. Another reason is I would never NEED a hole punch.  I could open a can of Carnation milk at any time with no problem.

I would like to add that the "NO" soul thing bothers me.  I'm struggling with my Catholic faith too.  I'm still thinking about that one, AND the idea that all my friends and family are going to die off before I do is bothering me a tad too.  A big thing that is bothering me right up there next to the "NO" soul thing is the fact that I believe I'll lose my interest in food.  Chocolate cake is kind of like blood to me, and I don't think I'm ready to give it up.  I'll keep ya'll posted IF I keep hearing those noises that go "woosh" in the night on my dog walks.  I mean you never know.........the blood suckers of the dark may be eyeing up the dogs and not worried about Bitsy at all!

I know, it's like I say all the time . . . .

"SUCK IT UP" 

but the leather jacket thing is really cool and if Damon &
Stefan come with the package?

Nice Looking Jackets Guys - How can I get into your family?