Baby Pictures

Shari 1948

Jaime 1980

Mia 2007

Mia's first birthday in Jaime's dress from the picture above - November 2007

Scanned some old baby pictures. I can't help myself with this new scanner!

Grandma, Daughter and Granddaughters at 4

Shari (Sherry) - about 4 - 1952

Jaime - 4th Birthday - 1984

Mia (Jaime's daughter) - about 4 - 2010

Jill (Jaime's neice) - 4th Birthday - 2007

Best Christmas present ever yesterday. For the second year in a row, I requested some of my friend Alan's time for Christmas. If I were rich, I would immediately put him on retainer. Not only did he remodel my entire house a couple of years ago when we could afford to pay him, but he has since fixed my plumbing and my computer on several occasions. Yesterday, he cleaned up this old laptop which was barely running. He also got my scanner working. Over a year ago, my daughter-in-law gave me a used combination printer, scanner, copier and fax machine that was replaced at her job. I have used it as a copier, but I didn't have the manual or the software needed for the rest. Alan found a cable, downloaded the manual and the software and got the thing to work. Now I need to buy $70 worth of new printer cartridges, but the scanner works. Now I can scan old pictures. Woo Hoo!

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Everyone says that Jaime, Mia and I look alike and here is the proof. The resemblance between Jill and me is not as strong. At least I thought so until I added her picture with the rest.

Piano!

Jaime's boss and my friend, Linda, got a new piano and offered Jaime her old one. They moved it to my garage yesterday with great fanfare. The piece that goes in front is leaning against the side. So now it is waiting for the closing on Jaime and Aaron's new house just a few blocks behind mine. I have always wanted to learn to play and I think it would be good for the kids to have lessons. I can only pick out "Chop Sticks" and "Heart and Soul" right now.
It needs tuning and some TLC, but all the keys work and we are all drawn to the garage to plunk on it. The kids are fascinated.

Jill Can Ride Her Bike!

Finally got rid of the training wheels. First you want them to sit up, crawl, walk, talk, learn to use the potty, learn to read and eventually drive a car and go to college, but besides all that you hope they can make some friends and learn to swim, dance, roller skate, ride a bike, maybe play a sport or a musical instrument. Anyway, Jill can swim, dance and roller skate and now she can ride a bike. Good job, Jill! Edited to add: I never learned to skate and I always regretted it. It looks like so much fun.
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I confess to holding my breath during many of these milestones because I want so badly for them to do well and be happy. I have only fleeting moments of wishing they were small again because I am so glad for their progress. Lord help me not to hang on too long, to help too much, but instead to encourage their independence. That is hard for me to do. (See previous post entitled "Codependence".) Edited to add: Swimming is the worst. Especially that stage where they want to do it themselves, but spend more time under water than on top. But they MUST learn to swim as soon as possible especially since they live in Florida.