Emma and Avery

Emma and Avery

Jan and Baby Emma

Jan and Emma, Feb. 2, 2014

Emma's First Christmas

Sweet Baby

Emma, almost 2 months old

Friday Five: Randomness Galore

RevKarla brings today's Friday Five to RevGalBlogPals:

Wow, this second Friday really snuck up on me!   But it is here, in all of its glory, right?  So…here we go, another random Friday Five!

Jan holding Emma

1.  What’s up?  How are you?
Last week I spent in Austin happily holding new grandbaby Emma, and this week I have felt exhausted. What has developed is that my RA probably was reacting to the Humira shot being three weeks apart instead of two.  (Go here to see the story of that experiment that began on Sept. 30.) I successfully managed to go several periods of three-week intervals until this week. Fatigue and pain in my hands and feet were returning, so I am back to the two-week schedule.

I am glad my rheumatologist encouraged me to try this experiment. I am also grateful that these miraculous drugs (methotextrate and Humira) are available to relieve my RA symptoms.

2.  If you were a Panda Bear that could speak  O.k., even that is too random for me.  You are moving to a new office.  You can only take five books with you (pretend there is no thing such as kindle, nook, etc.).  What would they be BESIDES the Bible, which is already written on your hearts, yes?
Five Books:
Praying with Psalms by Nan Merrill

Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird

Beyond Words by Frederick Buechner

The Awakened Heart by Gerald May

Gratefulness: The Heart of Prayer by David Steindl Rast

3.  If you had a superpower that could give you a five hour retreat, and you could go anywhere in the world to spend those five hours on retreat (because you have superpowers, ya’ know?), where would you go?
 I can't be specific and should be--someplace with an unobstructed view of Oregon beach or tall trees in a simple setting. I guess I'm too realistic and can't imagine anything right now.

4.  What piece of music, song, hymn, etc. are you diggin’ right now?
As I am still taking piano lessons, I was surprised that my piano teacher had me choose two Christmas songs to learn to play. In retrospect, it makes sense to start learning them now! So I am reveling in the learning of "What Child Is This?" and "Angels We Have Heard On High." I keep singing them to myself.

5.  Use the following words in a sentence (or two):  Tangle, dribble, hook, Panda, shark, smile, worry, island

The worried Panda is tangled in the net hung by a hook from the wharf on the island as the smiling shark circled around. In contrast, his oblivious owner dribbles a ball down the walkway.

I am so excited!

I am excited because I get to spend the next week in Austin, helping with my new baby granddaughter, Emma. I hope I'll be able to hold her frequently and often.

Plus, I want to help Momma AA and Daddy DC in any ways they would like. There may even be some fun time with Avery, the new big sister.

I'll be going to Austin on Sunday after church, leaving Chuck behind.

We have a new hybrid car, which has bluetooth capabilities, so I could talk to friends while I drive. That looks like it will be fun, too.

I feel so lucky that it is my turn to go and help!

My son posted a picture of baby Emma with their dog Sampson tonight:

 

Sweet

Avery holding baby sister Emma, almost 3 days old

Emma's Grandparents

Thanks to son DC taking pictures of the grandparents!

Blessing of a Second Granddaughter!

Today at 12:40 pm daughter-in-law AA had Emma Faith in Austin, TX. Emma was 6 lb. 5 oz. and 17 inches long. Chuck and I are rejoicing that she and her momma are doing well.

Son DC posted this picture of his two girls at birth. They look pretty similar though one picture is almost three years old.

Emma and Avery

Soon, Very Soon!

Soon Avery will have a new baby sister! We are waiting for this October baby to arrive.

Avery, AA and DC

Avery's School PIcture

Avery's recent school picture. She is 2 years old.

Two Visits to Austin in October

October 6, 2012 Grandpa and Avery

 Here is a picture of Grandpa Chuck playing with Avery at a park near her house in Austin three weeks ago.

In three weeks, we noticed Avery talking with multiple words and using more words. Her verbal skills are blooming, and she won't be 2 years old until Thanksgiving.

Her parents like to do things with her on the weekends, because she is in school all week while DC and AA are at work. As a mother and grandmother, I really like to watch AA and DC parent Avery.

October 29, 2012 Avery

 This week our daughters from Seattle AE and KA are visiting in Austin, which is why we drove to Austin this past weekend.

Yesterday Avery's parents, oldest son DC and his wife AA, took us all to a pumpkin patch on a farm in Marble Falls, TX. There were all kinds of pumpkins around, with activities, such as this tractor to ride on; bouncing on bouncy "berry fields" (which scared Avery); and painting pumpkins.

Chuck with DC and Avery before her bedtime.

Although our two youngest (of four) children could not join us in Austin, we really enjoyed being with our oldest children and their beloved partners--with Avery! Avery is the star whenever we are all together.

Before we left Austin today, Chuck and I met DC and Avery at her school. I was glad to see where she goes, as I have been impressed with all I have heard about its modes of operation.

Avery!

Avery at School

Avery shouting "Hooray!" during her school's parents' night, with her mommy and daddy nearby.

Avery Today!

Avery. Sept. 5, 2012

Nana

I liked this on pinterest because "Nana" is the name I chose to be called by my granddaughter Avery. It's interesting that in my experience mothers seem to prefer to choose their "grandmother names," but dads do not care so much.

In my immediate family, my mother chose to be called "Grannie" because she had fond memories of that particular grandmother. I wanted to be "Nana" because of the connection to my mother's mother, who was always "Nana" to me. Although the reason she was called "Nana" was more mundane, as my much older cousin George (her first grandchild)  mispronounced "Grandma" and so she became  "Nana."

Avery's other grandmother chose to be called "Mimi," so the grandmothers have gotten their choices. Not sure what the grandpas will turn out to be called, but Avery will figure it out.

Avery and Nana in Friday Harbor, WA

Look!

Remember that MJ got a new camera for her graduation gift from college? She takes superb pictures with it. We all take many pictures of 19 month old Avery, but we think this is one of the cutest ones that MJ took:

Baby book and "reader"

My granddaughter loves babies, so we sent her a book about kissing the baby. Here she is looking at it. We hope to visit her and her parents soon.

Easter Pictures

CB and Avery

Avery

Son DC with Avery

Visiting Avery

Jan and Avery

March 2, 2012

We visited Avery this past weekend in Austin. My dear husband CB knew I wanted a new profile picture with Avery, so he kept taking pictures. Usually I am the one who is not photogenic, plus it was hard to get both Avery and me in a close-up.