When I was about 3 years old my neighbors died.  Don and Mimi Lee were my elderly neighbors as a toddler.  I remember them fondly as I do most “well aged” people in my life.  In their house there was always Brachs candy in a big tub under the kitchen sink, why the kitchen sink, I don’t know; a bear rug in the den and something with horns on the wall.  The living room was always sunny and bright, I don’t remember the furniture in the living room, just the brightness.  They had a playroom for their grandchildren, this is where I played a lot, keeping their toys warm until their next visit.

Mimi Lee was a sweet woman, always welcoming, my mom and Auntie Maggie would clean her house for her sometimes, every now and then the yard also.  Don was retired and loving it, being bounced up and down on his knee looking at the thing with horns on the wall was a favorite pass-time.   Mimi died first, this broke Don’s heart and he was never the same, he died a year later.  When Don and Mimi passed their children came and cleaned the house out, dividing items amongst them and giving some things to our family.  I remember them letting me pick something out from the playroom.  There was so much to choose from, their grandkids were very loved; I’m not sure what toy I picked out, but I do remember them bringing over the little red chair for me to have.

My little red chair is older than I am, possibly made in the sixties or seventies.  The frame is metal, the seat is red vinyl with nail head trim.  This chair has been with me all my life, first as a seat in favorite neighbors house, then as my favorite seat in my house.  It’s been with me in every home I’ve ever lived in and even survived a break in, where burglars stole everything in my home, including photo albums, personal items and everything in the kitchen fridge and cabinets when I was about 9 or 10 years old.  It came with me when I was married, Jimmy had his sling chair from college and I had my little red chair.  It’s served as a shelf, footstool, table, kitty chair, doll chair and of course my chair.  

We just got through moving into a new place with two bedrooms, so Chloe could have her own room, so far she likes it a lot.  During the move we decided to get rid of our computer chair as it was pretty much dead and we planned on buying a new one for our new place.  It’s been two weeks in our new place and we still haven’t purchased a new computer chair, so guess what’s serving as a computer chair?  My little red chair. I’m sure Chloe will eventually take my chair over, however, she must understand as long as mommy is alive it will be my little red chair.  Should Chloe bless us with grandchildren it will be in their playroom at our house and when I go home to heaven Chloe can claim it.

Closing my eyes, a toy with a pull string and a teddy bear, leaving the good toys for the grandkids. Mommy said be humble.

This marks the beginning of the next chapter in our journey.  In this chapter I plan on including more of our journey as a family of three.  Mine and Chloe’s bodily separation has made us a family and now she’s coming into her own and beginning to contribute to our family in more ways than just stinky diapers, milk, baby food and all the “joys” included in babyhood.  Now on to potty training, whole milk, solids and babbles turning into words.  Her personality is developing more and more, her curiosity fueled by self mobility.

What world did we bring you into Chloe?  We’ll discover it together, hand in hand, heart in heart, three sets of footsteps following the One’s who were here first.  His footprints are perfect, oh yes they are

I’ve been contemplating how to end this chapter in mine and Chloe’s journey. She’s now 13 months old and all this past month I’ve been looking back over and over again on how far we’ve come as a singular being, two bodies, two souls completing a family of three. How something sacred and human became more than words could ever express.

When I first started this blog, it was in efforts to keep my loved ones informed as well as serve as a loving tribute to my daughter, Chloe. Now it’s become so much more, it’s become a source of reference to some, a form of entertainment to others and most importantly a timeline of who we are and what we’ve become. We’ve made friends in our journey, helped acquaintances, branched out on our own into a different section of the sun’s light. Keeping our love for those close to our hearts, however caring more deeply for our own as a husband, wife, father, mother and daughter.

I’ve been basically putting this entry off, due to the fact I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. I couldn’t find the perfect words to complete Chloe’s first year. I plan on completing this chapter and adding more chapters to our blog, just maybe not as often, then again who knows? When I started I meant only to do this for a year, now I don’t think I want to stop; mainly because I enjoy it and think Chloe will appreciate it one day, secondly because to my surprise people actually read this for reference, to those readers I say a sincere, “Thank You”.

Sooo…

To those who have read our blog regularly, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so interested in Chloe’s life and how we’re raising her. To the readers who used our blog for reference, I hope it helped you and I hope my replies did the same. To my dearest husband, thanks for encouraging me to write this blog in the first place, you know I haven’t written in a long time and I’ve been having fun doing it. Lastly, to my dearest Chloe, what I would say here is to personal, so you’ll just have to read it in a letter you’ll be receiving years from now. Just know all my life has been for you, truly it has, ask your Daddy or your LuLu’u. These past 21 months have been phenomenal. You are the greatest work of art I’ve ever created, terribly gorgeous with a quiet brilliance.

Chloe Blooming Beautifully

During my adolescent years I was very into Shakespeare, especially his poems and sonnets. I remember my first Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I played a fairy in our 5th grade production, I remember making my costume and being very proud of it. Of course I wanted to play Princess Titania, but my classmate Cassie got the part. I wasn’t too jealous, because she looked the part with her naturally wavy blond hair, tall thin frame, what a young girl would imagine Princess Titania to be, besides she had to kiss one of the nerdiest kiddos who played Nick Bottom. (However if you know me personally, you’ll also know I wouldn’t have minded the task too much, either.)

My interest grew more and more after the play, Shakespeare always came easy to me, I credit the King James Version of the Holy Bible, once you read this version of the Bible, you’re understanding of various types of writing come a bit easier in my opinion. I became interested in his poems and sonnets after purchasing a paperback of the collection at an outlet bookstore. I immersed myself in sonnets, learning more than just the popular lines men used for pick up lines and wannabe scholars for kicks.

In my years I forgot the sonnets I loved so much, until my small paperback made it’s way back into my hands. I started to read Chloe my beloved sonnets, watching her eyes look at the pages, listening to the sound of my voice, not knowing exactly what she’s hearing, just words from a favorite voice. I can only hope one day these “words from a favorite voice” become something magical and calming to her, just like they were to me, just like they still are.

So I leave you with my most loved Shakespeare Sonnet.

65

Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,

But sad mortality o’ersways their power,

How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,

Whose action is no stronger than a flower?

O, how shall summer’s honey breath hold out

Against the wrackful siege of battering days,

When rocks impregnable are not so stout,

Nor gates of steel so strong, but Time decays?

O fearful meditation! where, alack,

Shall Time’s best jewel from Time’s chest lie hid?

Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back?

Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?

O, none, unless this miracle have might,

That in black ink my love may still shine bright.

We celebrated Chloe’s first birthday on a hot Sunday afternoon with 45 of her nearest and dearest. Our guests braved the heat and gave Chloe some thoughtful gifts. The kiddos had fun on the playground and getting wet in the sprinkler play area, hamburgers and hotdogs were served and of course cupcakes for dessert! We got off to a late start, even though I thought I had everything ready to go, grilling took longer than expected and Chloe and I didn’t join our guests til an hour later. Feeling terribly embarrassed, our family excused our tardiness and we enjoyed each others company none the less.

The party ended at 7pm with everyone leaving with a few sweet cupcakes to go and my mom and mother in law wrapping things up. The final clean up was made easier with my best friend Darrell, his mom and brother and our close friend Angie helping us load up and make it home in one piece.

Thank you so much for making Chloe such a blessed kid, we love you all!

Yes, Chloe spent her 11 month birthday in the hospital. Chloe had contracted the horrible stomach virus, which has been attacking so many kids and adults alike. Chloe woke up 4 am Wednesday morning, April 16, throwing up, this continued all day for a total of 12 times, till there was nothing but yucky bile coming out! I decided to take her to the dr in the afternoon, by this time she had a fever and was cranky. We were told to basically let it ride, clear liquids, Tylenol for the fever and if she got worse, to bring her back in.

Chloe would not lie down at all, made her feel to queasy, so I spent the night and day sitting up with her on the couch. The next day (Thursday) Chloe wasn’t vomiting as much, but only because she didn’t have an appetite and wasn’t eating or drinking anything and when she tried, out it came. Thursday evening, Chloe began to get weaker and weaker, so I took her into the ER. 7 pm, they immediately seen her and began putting in an IV to administer fluids, she was very dehydrated. They took blood and urine tests and of course came to the conclusion she had the virus. The ER doc, decided since she wasn’t keeping down any fluids, nor did she really want to try and knowing she was super dehydrated, he decided to admit her and keep giving her fluids and “anti-vomit” medication. There was no room for her at this hospital, so they decided to transfer us to a nearby hospital with a pediatric unit.

Midnight, April 18, we arrive at the new hospital and are getting settled in. Side note, Chloe didn’t seem to mind the ambulance ride at all, she seemed intrigued by the various medical supplies. Jimmy and my mom arrive an hour after we got settled due to getting a bit lost in the hospital chaos. Chloe spent the night and eventually was released the following afternoon around 4pm.

Chloe was home by 507pm, her birthday time. It took Chloe a whole other week to finally get over the virus, it was not pretty. Soon after Chloe recovered, she was stricken with bad allergies and hay fever for another 2 weeks! I tell you, the whole month of April wasn’t a very fun time and upset our nightly routines and we’ve yet to get them back. Chloe was spoiled by the bedtime snuggling throughout the night (I had to keep her propped up so she wouldn’t throw up, then so she could breathe easier) the whole month of April, we’ve had a hard time getting her back to sleep through the night. She falls asleep but wakes up once a night (early morning) screaming and wanting to be held. Hmmm.

All in all we’ve been surviving the nights and we’re doing the best we can to get her ready for her own room. We’ll be moving soon, we’re happy and ready for more space, I think Chloe will be happy with more room to play and explore.

Height: 29 inches

Weight: 19 pounds

Today at 507pm Chloe turns 1 year!  Today we’re having a cupcake party for her in the park.  There should be a good turn out of Chloe’s loved ones, we’ll see how it goes!  I’m sure it’ll be great!  Spinkler fun for the kids, burgers, dogs, music, candy and cupcakes!  Fun stuff, right?  I’ll right more later, YAY!

As of March 18, Chloe is 28.5 inches long and 20 pounds even. Her diet is about the same, only know she’s trying out a lot more table food. By this point, she has tried spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, chicken, ground beef, scrambled eggs, steamed veggies (squash, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, and string beans) , beans, yams, watermelon, potatoes, chicken soup, potato soup, crackers, cheese, cheerios and a bit of bread. She wears a size 12-18 month size pants/shorts and a size 18 month shirt/dress. Wears a size 4 Pampers diaper and Pampers brand wipes or Target brand wipes. Of course you all know she’s using the potty too! She’s almost done using her third bottle of baby wash and I still have plenty more where that came from! Her hair is just past her shoulders and I’m able to put it in ponytails. She still isn’t into television, even though I’ve attempted to let her watch, she just can’t get into it. ( Thank God, hopefully she’ll stay this way for a long time! ) She enjoys music as her favorite form of media and is still in awe of Peter, Bjorn and John ( “Young Folks” to be exact). She crawls, climbs and cruises the furniture, waves “bye bye” when you’re not looking and can give kisses.  She says “Da” for Daddy, “Buh Bye” once in a great while and still smacks her lips to say mama, otherwise she’s a happy babbler and likes to sigh a lot.  She’s into “reading” her Bible she received for Easter, it’s been her favorite book as of late, she likes to flip through it forwards and backwards. She likes to pet the cat every know and then, but mostly they ignore each other. She’s very cautious of her surroundings, but after about 15 minutes, she warms up. Still only has 6 teeth, four bottom, and 2 fangs, although she has been teething the past couple of days. Her way of teething now consists of biting my knees (ouch) and attempting to bite my toes, she also enjoys having a “ring-a-link” in her mouth to bite down on. I expect her top front teeth should be finally coming in any day now.

I can’t believe in 8 more days she’ll be 11 months! Then a year! Oh my! Here are the latest portraits of Chloe, these were taken March 12, 2008, so they’re slightly less than a month old.

Pretty Chloe in her Easter dress her Grammy (my mommy) gave her!

Funny Face!

Cute kid! I think we’ll keep her!

Chloe’s Easter pose. Recognize the basket Shelley? How about the bunny Cheyenne? (Sorry, couldn’t figure out how to turn the picture around.)

My favorite! I love this picture of Chloe!

“I’ve had enough Mommy! I’m ready to go home!” Chloe’s expression says, as she crawls toward me.

Just so you know, Chloe has now been using her potty every morning at 10ish for 5 weeks, giving me one less soiled diaper! YES! Sometimes in the afternoon she’ll beckon to use the potty by having a dry diaper, so I’ll let her use her throne successfully then as well! Her throne is a pink Baby Bjorn Potty Chair. We like this throne for our princess, because of it’s high back “armchair” design, giving her lots of support to happily do her royal business!

I don’t like to say I’m potty training my baby, rather I’m listening to her cues and supporting her efforts. I think with proper guidance and patience, she’ll completely get the hang of it soon enough, leading our family to a diaper free world! (At home at least) !

Three weeks ago Chloe said good bye to her Amby Baby Hammock and hello to a crib.  Surprisingly the transition was easier than expected.  She stayed in her crib most of the first night, until about 2am, after which I brought her to bed with us (Jimmy and I) for the rest of the night.  The next night she stayed in till 3 am, before I brought her to bed with us.  This routine continued every night for about three more nights, each night increasing the length of time in the crib by one hour.  By the end of the week, she learned to stay asleep in the crib through the night until 6am.

Deciding to move Chloe into a crib was easy, her length began to make her nights in the hammock a bit uncomfortable.  Months of putting Chloe to bed easily began to be more of a chore as it would take her a very long time to get settled into sleep.  She would toss from side to side, shaking her hammock up and down, trying to settle in, once she got settled, she maintained sound sleep until morning.  Nap time in the hammock was still serene, bedtime; not so much anymore.  The final straw was when after leaving Chloe to “self soothe” in her hammock at bedtime, I noticed she suddenly got quiet, I thought maybe she finally grew weary of “crying it out” and fell asleep, much to my dismay she began to cry again, this time a different cry.  I went in to check on her immediately and found her on her tummy in the hammock, trying to flip herself onto her back again!  “This is it”, I told myself and Jimmy, definitely time for a crib!

Thursday, March 13, Chloe and I joined our friends, Marina, Rahman and Margaret (Marina’s mom) for lunch at Olive Garden and then to USA Baby to shop for a crib.  God smiled on us this day, cause I found an awesome convertible crib, a Baby’s Dream Omni Convertible Crib in midnight black!  I was able to purchase the crib on clearance, even better I took the floor model for even cheaper!  Very proud of my find, I easily purchased an expensive crib for 75% off the regular price!  We’re so grateful to Marina and Margaret for shopping with Chloe and I and also to my best friend Darrell for picking up and delivering the crib the next day, what great friends we have!

Chloe now happily sleeps through the night until 630-7am in her new crib and wakes with a smile on her face cooing  and babbling at us to wake up!  All in all, a happy transition!