Less Than Six Weeks

Since the big baby announcement on Christmas Eve...(I cried, but of course I did) we nicknamed this babe Fetus Fawson. The entire family was deliriously in love with this pregnancy from the beginning. The due date is drawing closer now...less than six weeks away. We can hardly wait to meet this little girl!

My daughter...first born love of mine...is so perfectly a mother.

As I watch her with her children, I admit I feel a tinge inadequate of my own mothering through the years.

She is actively engaged in every aspect of her children's lives.

They are her world right now. She makes every moment a teaching moment filled with fun...and treats on occasion!

Cass has always been a lover of knowledge...now that she is a mom, she has expanded her learning to the stage of life she know finds herself in. She continually notices her children's developmental stages and challenges them to progress.

Weekly she can tell you the size of the baby she is carrying...eggplant, cantaloupe, or cabbage as the days pass. This attention to mothering, from the daughter who as a teenager once told her baby brother to "Shut up baby" when he cried incessantly.

She is strong and brave and good...and her example does not go unnoticed. During a family hike a few weeks ago, pregnant mommy and brave little Olivia were the first to cross this frigid river while we all stood around discussing whether or not we should. Where I may or may not have ridden piggyback on Dean's back...all to keep the camera dry of course. See...I told you she was brave!

What doesn't come natural to her she quickly gains expertise.

One of my favorite things about my beautiful daughter is her love for books. If you sit down to read a book with Olivia and Henry...the first thing they will do is tell you "book jackets off." Something about that drives them crazy, I think their Daddy Bob started it.

The next thing you will notice is that both of them can tell you the name of the author and additionally the name of the illustrator for every book they read.

And oh how they LOVE books.

They get that love from their momma.

From the moment the miracle of motherhood became hers...she has been completely wrapped up in it. Wow...has she had her hands full over the last 3 1/2 years.

And her hands are about to get more full! Do you think Olivia and Henry have any idea how their little three-year old world is about to change?

No...but they have no idea how wonderful it's going to be either! Gorgeous expecting daughter...I love you with all my heart. And I am so thankful you made me a Nanny Goat! 

Also...this last photo thrills me...so happy I learned how to use a camera!

Mother's and Other Mother's Day

The calendar annually dictates that the second Sunday in May be set aside to celebrate Mothers. But I hold a strong conviction that you should not need a calendar to tell you when and where to express love to your mother.

As a young mother with four little people under my feet and various extended family requirements to attend...I didn't love Mother's Day. Admittedly...it's true!

As an older, wiser mother of four almost adult children (I'll let my kids decide who and who is not adult at this point) I have adopted a different view of Mother's Day.

I am unequivocally grateful to be a mother, but I am also abundantly thankful for all the "other" Mothers in my children's lives.

Such as the amazingly artistic woman with no children of her own who taught all three of my girls voice and piano. The weekly lessons both musical and non-musical helped define my daughters as they grew from teenagers into young confident women.

This sweet teacher gave each of them something I never could have on my own.

From neighbors to close friends, special aunts to grandmothers...all have a piece of my heart for loving and shaping my children as they journeyed into adulthood.

So while Mother's Day is still a bit of running around to this place and another...

I am spoiled with a delicious meal orchestrated by my thoughtful husband,

pampered with sweet gifts,

and am the recipient of treasured notes of love.

It is also important to me today that I express a thousand thanks you's across this small world. Blessings to all the women who have helped and continue to help me mother my children and another thousand thank you's to all those assisting my daughter in the same motherhood adventure with my grandchildren.

And to these two little people Henry and Olivia...thank you for playing along while Nana took photos of you in this little spot of heaven. Happy Mother's Day!

Fun Momma

The Teenager and I stepped through the familiar back door of home; we could hear Olivia calling for us "Ah"? When you play this game with Olivia you are supposed to answer with your own "Ah"! It is something she invented herself. Following the voice of my little cherub grand daughter, you might say we were a bit surprised and delighted to discover...

Momma and Olivia playing in the old Buzz Lightyear Pop-up tent!

Already I can see...Momma Cass is one of those mommas...a fun momma!

Almost instantly Chet crawled inside to play alongside his niece baby.

With a little coaxing, by that afternoon we had convinced Olivia to pass through the "Escape Hatch" into outer space. Although she was entirely unsure of the safety of the hatch.

I love to watch Momma Cass play with her babies. She giggles and talks and reads to them constantly. Olivia has already read more books than you can imagine.

Seriously...can it be that many years ago that Chet spent hours upon days playing in the Buzz Lightyear tent? Seeing his long lean adolescent body stretched from end to end through the play tent, it seems utterly impossible!

Cass his become a mother of two babies almost in the blink of an eye.

They require a LOT of work.

Believe me...this Nana knows just how much work! Every single day consists of a million diaper changes, half a million bottles, spitting up (we have affectionately nicknamed Henry...The Vomit Comet), several changes of clothing, naps, tub time, meal times, doctor appointments, teething, chasing the crawling Olivia, etc, etc, etc.

Yet amidst all the responsibilities required with two babies that are just six months apart, Momma Cass always finds the time to immerse herself in play with these little ones. 

And this day...a visit to the park, with some assistance from Uncle Chet of course.

If you ask me, I'm not sure who had more fun...Olivia, Cass, or Chet? Henry was napping in his car seat.

Slide after slide, moment by moment, Momma Cass enjoys every single aspect of motherhood. I wondered that she might miss the intellectual side of working in the outside world. Amazingly, Cass has funneled all her energy and intelligence into raising beautiful, healthy and happy babies. And she's really good at it! Olivia and Henry envelop every second of her life...and she couldn't love anything more!

Olivia sure likes The Teenager Uncle Chet, even if he constantly pulls funny faces at Nana's camera!

Each and every day, Momma Cass can hardly wait to show her babies the joy in every part of their little worlds. One evening while staying with Nana and Papa they were both finally tucked snugly into dreamland in their separate cribs, Cass leaned over and said "I miss Henry and Wittle Wibbins (Olivia's current nickname)"!

And for a moment I think she almost considered waking up one of them to play with.

I said..."almost"!

Sleep well my Momma Cass. Tomorrow morning begins early...another day filled with your beautiful babies!