My Little Stinker Has A Secret

Gracen is 14 months and has been crawling for a while and we have been trying to encourage her to walk for some time now. She can cruise all over the place, walking along while holding onto furniture, hands, walker toys, you name it. I just thought she liked crawling and that eventually she would decide walking was faster. Well apparently, unbeknownst to all of us, she already knows this and has decided not to share it with anyone! I have seen her on numerous occasions walking when she didn’t know she was being observed, and twice when she happened to turn and see me she immediately dropped to her knees and crawled the rest of the way, acting like nothing had happened. Another time she began to walk right in front of me, Craig and Dylan and as soon as she realized what she was doing she got a look on her face like “Whoops, they’re looking at me, better crawl!” and she immediately dropped to her knees and crawled the rest of the way.
I realized she didn’t want us to know she could walk because then we wouldn’t pick her up and carry her all of the time. She thinks Haven is her personal taxi service, and Haven LOVES to carry Gracen everywhere, but it’s probably because she thinks Gracen is a big doll and lots of fun to play with. I must admit it’s a lot faster to be carried by Haven, or anyone else for that matter, than Gracen could walk or crawl so it’s no wonder she doesn’t want us to know she can walk. I have tried telling everyone not to pick her up all of the time, but my request has fallen on deaf ears, and all Gracen needs to do is sqeak and someone swoops in, picking her up and taking her wherever she wants.
It’s funny how with each baby they all began walking a little bit later, and a little bit later until here we are and Gracen has the system all figured out. Dylan walked at 9 1/2 months, Ciel at 10 1/2 and each baby thereafter walked after their first birthday, so the more older siblings my babies have had the less need they had for walking. It’s nothing new, and our Dr. said it was the same with his children but it’s still pretty funny all the same. To think we’ve been fooled for who knows how long! Also, Gracen really loves boots. She doesn’t care what size the boots are or who they belong to, she wants them on her feet so she can admire herself and see how beautiful she looks in them. I love the way she always makes me laugh, she knows she’s funny! And how she fits the determined spirit of a giant into her tiny little baby body is beyond me. What a cute little stinker!

Seventeen Years Ago Today...

It was seventeen years ago today that my horse Dusty died and I’m amazed that much time has really passed. I was 17 years old, a junior in High School and I loved that horse more than anything. It was such an awful and unexpected loss, but I am grateful for the truly happy memories of the fun I had riding him and the many hours I got to spend with him. I especially remember the Black & White Days horse show we rode in the day before he died where we won the all-around champion ribbon, even beating my riding instructors daughter. It was so much fun and Dusty was at his absolute best, looking so elegant and easily responding to each request I made in the ring. That day definitely ended on a high note with our win and I look back on it with such happiness that I was given the opportunity to compete with him at least once.

Grandpa's Funeral

Grandpa Stevenson's funeral was today and it turned out to be quite lovely. I thought the funeral services were very nice, the flower arrangements were very well done, and I really enjoyed the poem Auntie Lorayne read, it was beautiful. It was especially touching to hear my Dad talk about his own father and some of the stories of Grandpas life, but I also love to hear my Dad speak on any occasion since he is such an outstanding speaker. It was so nice to see all of my brothers and sisters too since we haven’t been together in quite a while, and we had an especially fun time afterwards when we all got together and talked, sharing stories about Grandpa, and other stories in general, laughing and just having a good time with family. It’s so rare that we can all be together that we really enjoyed the time that we had. One of the lighter moments of the day happened just as Heidi pulled up to the funeral home and Livy asked ”Mom is Grandpa in there?” and Heidi replied ”Well just his body is.” With a look of genuine, almost panicked concern Livy asked “Well where’s his head?”. It took a little bit of explaining but we think Livy understands now how it works, also there was a little presentation during the viewing especially for the children explaining about the body and the departure of the spirit from the body at death and such which was also helpful. A favorite moment for me today was when my ex-husband (Chris) very kindly surprised me and sent me the ring that Grandpa had given him when we (Chris and I) were married. I had forgotten about it after all of this time, and was touched not only that he remembered it had been my Grandpa’s but that he would think to give it to me today. When Chris and I were married Granny gave me her wedding ring from her marriage to Grandpa and Grandpa had given Chris his wedding ring from the same and it means so much to me that I now have both rings from my Grandparents wedding. I am truly grateful he would think to give it to me to keep so that I have something so meaningful of my grandparents to pass along to my own children. All in all I felt it was a very good day, it was very peaceful and full of so many good things said and done.

Every Which Way But Walking

Gracen is 14 months old and she refuses to walk. She can pull herself up to standing just about anywhere, balance without holding on to anything, and will walk all over the place if you’re holding her hands. But it seems to be too much hassle for her to actually propel herself on her own two legs when all she has to do is make a fuss and one of her siblings or parents is suckered right into picking her little highness up! I know, I know, I’m a very bad parent. We’re trying some “tough love” to convince her that we’re not her own personal transportation service but so far she isn’t buying any of it! So for now she is content to crawl, roll, cruise, and somersault her way around the house. I think she lacks the motivation so I have to figure out a way to get her going. You’d think by baby number six I’d be a pro, but I do know that all of my babies have done things in their own time and they all learn to walk when their ready. It’s not like they’re going to be crawling in High School or that I’m carrying them to each class, but still, any suggestions because I’m all ears:)