Emmy's 4-month update

Emersyn is by far easier than Grace as a baby, and Grace was a great baby, so we are blessed. The only difference seems to be sleep schedule. Emmy got used to being awakened every three hours and although she can sleep for longer stretches, she tends to do that whenever she wants, rather than whenever mommy wants.
She's 15 lbs 2 oz and 25 1/2 inches long at 4 months. She's rolling from tummy to back and almost from back to tummy. She has amazing head control and had her first ear infection this week. She LOVES the swing, and Grace wasn't a huge fan. She tried rice cereal for the first time this week, and we'll have to spend a good amount of time getting used to it but she didn't reject it entirely.
Here's a little bit of her talking with her hands....in her mouth!

Emersyn's Arrival

When I was pregnant with Gracie 5 years ago plus, I started having high blood pressure and increased liver enzymes ( a sure sign of preeclampsia) at week 20 - 4 1/2 months and 1/2 way through the pregnancy. Not good. I was monitored very carefully, put on modified and then strict bedrest, and she was delivered by C-Section on the first day of week 37. 7 lbs. 8 oz, 19 1/2 inches long.
We tried for many years, finally resulting in this current pregnancy. I have been issue free (mainly) for the first 32 weeks. Awesome. Thought I might avoid preeclampsia this time. It can happen. Oh no. This little sassy girl not only contracts pre-e, but gets a severe case called HELLP, which stands for high blood pressure, increased liver enzymes and low platelets. So when I had a dr. appt last wednesday scheduled but knew my dr was concerned that I'd get pre-ec again, I moved the appt to Monday. That resulted in near daily tests, lab work and monitoring. I really don't mind because I would recommend my dr to any and everyone (Sielaff if you ever need one) and I know he'll take great care of me. He delivered Grace, cured my mom's cancer and saved my life this very week.
So this Monday, I had another dr appt, a day shy of 34 weeks, and went into the appt, prepared to be monitored afterward - book, water, in hand. I hadn't been feeling well, and the drs (Sielaff and Carroll - who is my distant relative - and my primary physician) consulted and decided to put me on aldomet, a high blood pressure medication. Once I started on that med, I began having some palpatations and racing of the heart, but not the pulse, and shortness of breath. I recorded it all and told him of my struggles Monday, so up to Monitorland again I go.
Then he ran lab results and the second time the girls asked me what, if anything, I had eaten that day, I knew I was going to have surgery.He came in and explained that although he wanted to get to 36 weeks, Emersyn and I were in danger. I had come down with HELLP syndrome and it appeared to be caught early, which if isn't results in a seizure in the mother that can kill both mother and child. She had to be delivered today.We weren't concerned about her size as she was measuring at least two weeks ahead of schedule, but her lungs....
He knew the best chance of my daughter's lungs doing well was to be at St. John's so he sent me there via ambulance, but wanted to do the C himself. This doesn't happen very often - that a doctor takes over the operating room of another hospital and that a hospital lets him for a patient, but that happened for Emersyn and her family. We were transferred to St. John's via ambulance (we were the second/third patients in it ever - it still had the "new car" smell - weird, eh?). Upon arrival, the EMT noticed some palpatations, so we got an EKG (Emersyn's initials mixed up) when we arrived, then prepped for the OR. Ryan quickly packed a bag and brought it to Springfield. Gracie stayed with my parents and the Keiths made a mad dash from Pincknveyville, yet again. Last time - we promise!
So by 11:30 p.m. (appt started at 4:15, remember) we were in OR, and had a horrible anesthesiologist (long story short, I was polite but shouldn't have been when I stopped counting pricks at 40), and after 30 minutes, he finally let someone else try, who got the spinal in my back in one try (thanks, Nick!) and away we went. Emersyn came into the world groggy because of the anti-seizure medication, but mostly healthy - just needs time for her lungs to develop.
Cardiologists came in today to ask if we planned on having more children. I said, "I don't know, can we?" He said, "No. It's only going to increase in severity and then you'll have two girls without a mother." End of discussion.
So my two beautiful girls, their awesome daddy, and the two pups and I will ride off into the sunset of Campus View Drive just as soon as we can get Emersyn home.
I've been to see her in NICU and sobbed. She is by far the biggest kid in there, but she's still so fragile. She's mainly breathing on her own and the dr. says she should be off vent within 24 hours. Then she can eat whatever mommy is providing so I better start eating great protein.
In the meantime, we watch my family members love on this little blessing. (Little is a relative term in the NICU - she's the bully of the group at almost 7 lbs. :)).
There's the story so far....Glad to be here, glad to have my girl, can't wait to meet her face to face.
Love you! :)

Always in my heart

Transition is a rough thing. I keep thinking about how things are going to change with this new baby. I wonder if this is the last time I'll do certain mommy and me things with only one child. It's been me and Grace for over 5 years, and now there will be another precious thing. So I'm trying to remember the things she says now, since I assume with kindergarten and newborn in the fall, I'll have my hands full.

Today's was precious, as is she.



Ryan was playing the Wii and wasn't doing well, so he made some noise, that prompted Grace to go check on Daddy. By then, "Tiger Woods" Keith had recovered and was doing better, so he said, "I think Mommy's crying. Go check on her." She came running and told me that "Daddy said you were crying." I said, "No, I wasn't crying, but I did miss you." She responded, "Mom, that's silly. Don't cry. I'll always be in your heart."

Of course, then, her mommy was crying, a sobbing crying mess. It's been a struggle to explain to her all the things that are changing, why she can't climb on mommy's lap as easily as she used to or as roughly, why she'll probably get a new bedroom (although bigger, she wants to keep the smaller one), etc. but mommy's rollercoaster of emotion has been the worst. She's pretty sensitive so many times, she just cries with me.

As we approach the halfway point of this pregnancy, the fatigue is easing a bit, although I'm looking forward to April when I don't have to be at the school doing rehearsal, but I also plan on taking advantage of a great Master's opportunity and pursue my Master's in Educational Technology online starting then, so we'll see. If I don't, I'll kick myself for not trying.

The emotions, on the other hand, are kicking up. And the thought of my baby having to be under to have her tonsils removed puts me over the edge. I need to stay away from the internet....too many times I catch a story about one going wrong....trust in Him, trust in Him.

Dancin in the Streets

We in the Keith family have a lot to be grateful for. Our little girl is such a gift, and so very smart - almost too smart. She's doing well in her dance class too.




We are due at the end of July with baby #2, whom we've been praying and trying for for over 3 years. We hope to find out next month what we are receiving, but healthy is by far the only request.



We have stable jobs in an unstable market and unstable environments where our friends don't, we have more than enough to eat and a roof over our head. We have a Lord who loves us and forgives our humanness, even if our peers don't.

God is so very good.

My little singer

Gracie's take on iCarly

So one of our household's favorite tv shows on Nickelodeon is iCarly - I think for the most part that it is clever, funny and educational in an entertaining way. It does have some namecalling and bullying in it, but it is intended for an audience older than 4. My 4-year-old, however, LOVES this show.

Here's her take on the characters:

Big Love

It's been a pretty spiritual week for Grace. She witnessed her first baptism and her first wedding, in different churches, with different people, but you could easily tell God was present in all of us.

Baptism took place at Mamaw/Papaw Tallcake's church with a girl in her pre/early teens. Their interim pastor got all dolled up in his wading trunks and moved to the baptismal pool.

Grace: What's that?
Me: That's the baptismal pool. That's where Ashley's going to be baptized.
Grace: It's a pool?
Me: Yeah, but it's a special pool.
G: Oh, it has fishies in it?
M: No, no fishies.
G: Sharks, then?
M: Nope. No sharks. It's holy water.
G: Hmmm.
She thought a bit and listened to Brother Noah say Ashley had chosen to go to heaven at the end of this life because of this decision.
G: Mama!! She gets to go to heaven!
M: Yes, she does, honey. When she dies, she'll go to heaven, if she follows God's rules.
G: Me too?
M: You bet.
After the immersion,
G: I wanna go in there.
M: You will, honey. You will. Someday. (with tears in my eyes)


At the wedding of a very grown-up Brady Gerdts, whom I've known for the last 7 years or so, and his beautiful bride Emily Rowden Gerdts.
G: Mama, I wanna see the princess.
M: You will. She's coming through those doors.
G: Is that her prince?
M: Yep. That's Brady.
G: Prince Brady.
M: Yep.
G: What's the princess's name?
M: She's Princess Emily.
G: I love her. She's so pretty.
M: I know. This is when they get the ring.
G: I want a ring.
M: You'll get one, honey. When the prince marries you.

At the end of the wedding, the bride & groom escorted the guests out.
G: I wanna hug the princess.
M: She wants to hug you too.
G: (beams with pride)

Emily: I don't think I've ever met you.
G: You're so pretty.
E: thank you. (hugs her twice) (Grace beams the whole night!)

At bedtime,
G: Mama, when I get big, I'm going to have a big white dress.
M: Yep.
G: And I get my ring.
M: Uh-huh.
G: And a cape (she calls the veil a cape); and a crown, and I want Daddy to be the prince.
M: Daddy's my prince, honey. You'll have to find one of your own.
G: And I'm going to be beautiful, like Princess Emily.
M: You already are. And you love God, like Princess Emily does too.
G: (matter of fact) I know.

A mom can't ask for anything more.

Keeping safe

So Grace and I have a nightly ritual. We read a book, turn off the light, talk about the day, things for tomorrow, briefly, then I lay with her quietly for a few minutes. The perks of only having one child. So during our quiet time, especially during days when she's missed me during the day, she asks to hold my hand during our quiet time.
What that means is, she has me lay my hand on her tummy, and then she lays her hand on my arm. She's been doing this off and on for several months, but last night was the first time I asked her why she did this.
Me: I love you, Milly. (my nickname for her - silly milly baby girl - reduced to milly)
Grace: I love you too, Mommy.
Me: Just three minutes, okay?
Grace: Okay. Mommy, can I hold you?
Me: Sure. Why do you do this?
Grace: To keep you safe.
No pauses, not a thought except the truth. And safely kept am I.

Happy, happy birthday, baby

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Gracelyn.
Happy birthday to you.

And many more.

And baby turns four...

In seven days, our little girl will be FOUR years old. I know it's not that long ago that we were anticipating her arrival, wondering how the next few and more years would turn out. I just didn't really imagine loving something as much as I love my girl. I am so very proud of her and glad that I'm a girl, so when I tear up writing that statement, it doesn't get me mocked! She's really so very smart - shockingly smart. She's so excited to be a "big girl" and thinks she's able to be four and five on the same day so she can catch up to her big girl cousin Madison who will start kindergarten in the fall. Slow down, my big girl. There will be plenty of time to grow up. One of my students used woods class to make a huge doll house that will eventually turn into a book shelf when she's older and maybe be passed on to more kids or her kids when she's old enough (like 40) and she's getting a bike for her birthday. This summer will be swimming lessons, tumbling and dance, and will fly by, but for this morning as I listen to her answer Diego's questions on the TV and laugh at those silly monkeys, I look back at her beginning.

Papaw Bobcat

While reading through an animal book while putting Gracie to sleep, we came across a bobcat and a leopard. Here's the conversation:

Mommy: See, a leopard has spots all over. This bobcat only has spots on his belly.

Gracie: Like Papaw Tallcake (my father-in-law).

Mommy: Huh?

Gracie: Bobcat is like Papaw because his name is Bob.

Mommy: (laughs) That's true, honey. I thought you were telling me Papaw had spots on his belly.

Gracie: No, mommy. That's silly!

150 Random things

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.

1. I am doing 150 because I've been tagged by 10 or more people and this should end it all!
2. I really love reading these about other people whether they tag me or not.
3. I LOVE to make people (especially high schoolers) laugh ... and I get paid for it!
4. I put on a pretty good show (I think) of having it all together at the same time being real.
5. I want to become my mom or a lot like her.
6. My sister is amazing at so much, but she doesn't know it: motherhood, wifehood, graphic arts!
7. I miss Gracie's Aunt Kristi every day - it still hurts and always will.
8. I remember EVERY second of my trip to Italy and my quick trip back.
9. I used to love hospital dramas until I spent almost 30 consecutive days in the waiting room of one.
10. I never thought I would get married or pregnant.
11. I assumed I would never make it to 30 - just could never visualize it.
12. I love my husband so much it hurts sometimes.
13. We have created a very stubborn little girl!
14. I haven't cut Gracie's hair since she was born - it now reaches her tushy and tickles her in the bathtub when I wash it.
15. I find it laughable but flattering that when I left Amboy some people thought I was having an affair with a student.
16. I find it laughable but flattering that my husband is in a "friend" competition with me and I didn't even know I was playing. (For the record - I'm winning 459-243).
17. I am impressed (but not surprised) that he knows 243 people and got them to add him to Facebook in less than two weeks.
18. I have an amazing in-law family.
19. My mother's name is Gay and my mother-in-law is named Gayle.
20. Much of my sense of humor comes from my mother, although I am much quicker in wit than she.
21. She used to call my friends' houses and say, "Hi, I'm Gay, is your mother home?" It was always a hit!
22. I now say I have two "Gay" moms.
23. I have excellent gaydar.
24. I am currently back on Weight Watchers (which works for me) but plan to keep a little junk in the trunk!
25. I want to be pregnant with a second child almost as much as I love my first one.
26. Still with me?
27. I love directing theatre - always have - but it's a lot more difficult with a family than it was when I was single.
28. I know my daughter will want to be on the stage - she's a lot more confident than her mother was around her peers.
29. I am not a smoker, but I have fond memories of the smell of my mother's cigarette wafting down the hallway after she thought we were asleep. Now I can't stand cigarette smoke.
30. I never knew how much it hurt my mother to lose my sister until I had Gracie. I cry a little bit every day about that.
31. My biggest fear is that something will take Grace away from me.
32. I'm trying to keep track of all things that Grace says that are cute (from thinking Ryan swims at work because he has to wear a suit - so she thought swimsuit) so I can remember them forever.
33. I love hearing from my former (and current) students to see how they are doing. I hope I served them well as their teacher.
34. I am, however, pretty horrible at remembering names - thanks to my mother as well. Inherited trait.
35. I must have a friendly face as I was constantly asked for directions when I lived in NYC.
36. Some days I can't believe how much of a big city person I am.
37. Therefore, it's shocking at how I married such a smaller city person - hates waiting in lines, etc.
38. I fear for the day when I will lose one of my dogs as well - I realize they are not human but they are my fur babies.
39. I fear for all the stresses my high schoolers face every day and how it gets to them - I want to save them from so much pain!
40. It is difficult for me (because I give so much of myself in the classroom) to separate the personal and the professional - so when someone attacks my teaching choices, I take it personally.
41. I work with some AMAZING teachers and some not-so-great ones who need to RETIRE or move on already.
42. I would like to write my memoir someday, but fear no one will read it. Would you?
43. My daughter's preschool is run by some amazing professionals who do not get benefits - which is very sad to me.
44. I grew up a Republican in Republican Lincoln, IL, but I voted for Barack Obama and would do it again every day.
45. I type over 100 words a minute because while learning to type in high school, I would sit in a class that bored me and type everything the teacher would say on my "imaginary" laptop (they hadn't been invented yet).
46. My idea for an ideal student desk would have a built-in laptop with touch screen for typing so it would make no noise - I have a feeling someone has already invented it - but I'm just saying.
47. I learned how to T9 text last year and it changed my life!
48. I still cannot do it as quickly as my students but I'm quicker than my husband.
49. I can't stand that my husband keeps empty boxes for years.
50. I'm surprised he can stand that I keep papers everywhere.
51. I never want to move again, but probably will.
52. Hang in there - 1/3 of the way done.
53. My favorite candy is Reese's Peanut Butter cups - which are incidentally 5 POINTS apiece on Weight Watchers.
54. My husband split his pants when he proposed and I still think it was the most romantic moment of my life - because it was so real.
55. I miss my Beverly, my Lisa, my Nell Bell and soon-to-miss Kirsten.
56. I'm still angry at Chelsea for leaving the country and me.
57. I am a teacher because of the way Kathy Stoyak teaches Spanish - with passion, energy & love.
58. I am a teacher also because Sheila Armitage was an idiot and I knew as a junior in high school I could do a better job - so I did....and I do.
59. I am not conceited - just confident.
60. My skin crawls when I read professionally made signs with grammatical and/or spelling errors.
61. I hate when I make a similar mistake - but know that I do...and life goes on.
62. I find it very easy to not sweat the small stuff after going through losing Kristi, because after that, most of it is small stuff.
63. My mother kicked cancer's ass.
64. Gracelyn's name came to me in a dream.
65. I don't think I will have a son because I can't visual it.
66. I want to continue with the Y in my daughter's names so Kirstyn is up next - Kirstyn Keith - isn't that cute?
67. My husband does not want to name any children with the letter K.
68. My husband and I met online.......he wooed me with words.
69. It irks me when people ask if I really like Elvis that much to name my daughter Graceland.
70. I do, however, love Elvis.
71. I grew up on the music of Elvis, the Beatles, Alabama, Dan Folgerberg, Barry Manilow and John Denver.
72. I still LOVE most but my favorite is Barry Manilow.
73. I am in the extras scenes with Adam Sandler in "Anger Management."
74. I saw Barry Manilow in person at the Rosie O'Donnell show in NYC.
75. I had front row seats for Weird Al Yankovic at Chicago's Navy Pier.
76. Gracie has listened to music since before she was born - and listened to the same lullaby CD since she was about 6 months old.
77. I am so addicted to it that I longed for it when I spent the night away from her in Chicago.
78. When Grace and I went down to see Ryan's parents without him for Christmas, he played the CD when he was alone at night.
79. Chipper was named because we love baseball so much.
80. When we picked him out of the pound in Sparta, he also pranced around the other cages, flaunting the fact that he was going to a home.
81. Pepper was free, but hasn't been since we brought her home.
82. Pepper's favorite spots to lay down are in the thresholds of doorways. Pretty inconvenient for anyone else since she's 125 lbs.
83. Because Ryan's been so busy covering the governor, my students knew I bought a Wii before he did ... and they told him.
84. Ryan doesn't feel it necessary that I share about myself/my family/him as I teach.
85. It's my favorite part of why I do what I do.
86. I got a B in my final semester English class at EIU because although I had A+ papers, I didn't have any class participation.
87. My professor told me if I spoke up in my final class, he would give me the A. I took the B. Chicken? Yep.
88. I got over that as soon as I started teaching and realized that I was pretty fun.
89. I now have people ask me to please be quiet.
90. I have all the seasons of "Friends," "Gilmore Girls," "Seinfeld," and "The Simpsons" so far, but really want "Growing Pains" & "Moonlighting."
91. My favorite book/novel/play to teach is Shakespeare's Hamlet.
92a. Oprah gave me a Kindle.
92b. Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.
93. I love the movie "Steel Magnolias." I almost thought about the name Shelby, but I wanted something more unique.
94. I have watched "Days of Our Lives" off and on since Bo & Hope first met.
95. I love Tagalongs Girl Scout Cookies.
96. During the year that someone tainted GSC with some metal, I couldn't sell them for anything!
97. I took that personally.
98. I need to clean out my closet.
99. I did not complete this list in one sitting.
100. I applaud you if you're still reading...and clap wildly if you find it remotely entertaining or interesting.
101. I think Rose Dunphy (a former student) is hilarious and wish I could claim some credit for her success.
102. I have former students in almost every section of the world who still want to have contact with me.
103. I have former students who definitely do not want to still have contact with me.
104. I have former students who have scared the bejesus out of me and hope they don't know where I live today or hold grudges that they have invented.
105. I think Steve Carell is a comic genius.
106. I also like Seth Meyers but miss Amy Poehler on SNL.
107. I recently met Jessica English from WICS and she wasn't very personable to me or my students.
108. I think anything can be a lesson taught in an English class.
109. I do not like it when people who know nothing about education tell me how to teach my class. It's not like I'm walking into any law firms instructing anyone how to prosecute the case....although if you're interested, I do have ideas...
110. I love parents who LOVE their kids, but give them the freedom to make mistakes.
111. I do not love parents who SMOTHER their kids.
112. I do not love parents who shelter their kids thinking they are saving their kids when they are in fact harming them - although I understand the impulse.
113. I do not love parents who do not know their kids.
114. I hope Gracie and any other subsequent children trust their Aunt Julie as their "cool aunt to tell stuff to" because then she will tell me.
115. I have tons of different ideas, usually at the same time, that I cannot prioritize them.
116. I think people's bodies grow up after high school, but most of their minds stay the same.
117. I love romantic comedies - the cheesier the better.
118. I hate horror films - only one I watched recently was Salvage because a former student had a lead in it and it debuted at Sundance - and I even fast forwarded to just his parts so I wouldn't be scared.
119. I love thrillers.
120. While living in NYC, I saw over 30 Broadway and off-Broadway productions and at least 100 movies within weeks of their release - and I loved every minute of it.
121. I am a trained photographer from the International Center of Photography in NYC.
122. I was planning to be on the top of the World Trade Center towers on 9-11.
123. I wanted to live in NYC because of David Letterman's set.
124. I believe in answered prayers - it's how I explain my husband and daughter.
125. I believe in unanswered prayers - it's how I know my sister is not suffering any more.
126. I love to watch sports and am thrilled that my family supports my lack of ability in playing them.
127. I wish I had my master's degree already and dread paying for it.
128. I wish I had the ability to heal people's hearts with one touch.
129. I love when I'm the only one awake in the house, but it does make me sleepy.
130. My right hand tingles when I have a cold coming on.
131. I have never broken a bone.
132. I have only stayed overnight as a patient in the hospital when I was pregnant.
133. I love teaching Journalism - it's what I wanted to teach in the first place when I graduated from college 13 years ago.
134. My husband knows more about it than me. :(
135. As soon as I complete this list, I will think of another 150 in 24 hours.
136. I will probably not post them, however....probably not.
137. I have taken a photograph that numerous photography scholars in NYC told me would sell thousands of copies...and yet, I've done nothing with it.
138. I joined Eastern Illinois University's honors program so I could register early (with the athletes) and take overload classes (like photography) for free. Then I dropped the program.
139. I was president of my dorm in college.
140. I ran for president so I could move in earlier than the others and not have to bring my stuff up 9 floors worth of stairs.
141. I lived in the same dorm room for four years...with three different roommates.
142. I was a relatively normal sized child until my parents got divorced.
143. I feel in some ways like I raised my sister Julie...and I mix up her name with my daughter's a lot.
144. I think many people who share the same first name have similar traits...which makes it very difficult to pick out baby names.
145. I did not originally like the switch to the new facebook, but it has grown on me....and I like to stalk people on here.
146. My husband likes to grill so much he wants to open a restaurant that has only grills in it and call it "Grill This."
147. I like clever restaurant names - like "Wok This Way" and "Batter Up" for a bakery - don't steal that one - it's the title of a pastry shop in my first screenplay.
148. I've written a screenplay - it's a romantic comedy set around the baseball diamond.
149. It's not very good.
150. I love you and thank you for your time.

Sneaky Claus

So about a week before Christmas, Gracie’s teachers decided to have all the students “write” a letter to Santa. They then posted the notes outside the classroom so parents could see them without their preschoolers noticing.
Gracie’s note said: “Dear Santa, I have been a good girl this year. I would like *a “big, big” teddy bear *chickens *a new car (for Barbie) *princesses and tinkerbells. Thank you.”
Well, Mommy had shopped on Black Friday and had the new car for Barbie, the princesses and tinkerbells all covered. By “chickens,” my daughter meant “DaDonald’s” chicken McNuggets, so an Arch card will work for that. The “big, big” teddy bear had me stumped.
Due to winter play practices, the next time I had to go shopping for Christmas was when I had Grace with me. On Monday, Dec. 23, I took her to see Santa for the first time. She was a trooper, climbing on his lap, telling him what she wanted – which included the teddy bear yet again – and receiving her candy cane, all before I had time to get out the camera. She really surprised me, so we were shortly on our way to Walgreens.
When we walked in, she noticed the “big, big” teddy bears all along the aisles. I asked her which one she asked Santa for, and we continued our shopping. When we got to the front to check out, I whispered to the clerk, while Grace was playing with a Rudolph ornament to be purchased for her stocking, “I need some help being sneaky.”
I then told her that I had a black trash bag in the car and wanted to buy one of the large teddy bears and was hoping she could do that while I took the first load to the car, and then I’d come back in the store with Grace and help them taking out their “garbage.” She smiled, I gave her the cash for the bear, and we went out to load the car.
On the way in, I explained to Grace that around Christmas it’s good to help other people, and I was going to help Walgreens by taking out their garbage.
When we went back in, the clerk apologized from afar that she got swamped, but she still came over and took the trash bag from me, then the manager of the store took it, winked at me, grabbed a bear quite swiftly from the top of the shelves and took it over to the photo area to ring me up. Grace was paying attention to a “Hannah ‘Ta’tana” popcorn bucket by the front doors, and didn’t watch the humorous task of having two grown men shove a large teddy bear into a trash bag again and again.
They brought me the “trash” and my change and we went out to the car again with my profuse “thank you”s and smiles for all.
I strapped Grace in her car seat and then put the trash bag into the car. When I did that, she said, “Ew, Momma. Stinky.”
I thought, “Not stinky, Grace. Sneaky.”

Our Christmas letter 2008

Dear family and friends,
We hope this letter finds you happy, healthy and warm in the glow of the Christmas season. I cannot believe I’m actually attempting a letter prior to the 25th of December. Trust me, it’s not because I have the time to use in this manner, but I do have the cards printed, so I guess I had to do something about it!
Let’s recap the year: We were enjoying our first winter on Campus View Drive when Lincoln, in mid-January, received about 8 inches on top of frozen ground overnight and our basement flooded with about 2 feet of water. Ryan luckily was NOT electrocuted when he went downstairs into the water, even though much of his guitar equipment was plugged in and pulling electricity at the time. Although our insurance didn’t cover the losses, we were fortunate to only really lose a Christmas tree, several Gracie books and toys and 15 or so sets of guitar strings and pedals. All, of course, have been replaced, but it was a mess for a while.
In July, Ryan was honored with the Charles Rowe Award from the Associated Press for his series on bridges (after the collapse last summer) and on the retirement system in Illinois. He, at that time, also had decided to pursue a management position in his field and left the AP after 7 ½ years. He moved about 100 feet in terms of office space, but now has increased job responsibilities and more say over how he covers the Statehouse as the Capitol Bureau Chief for the State Journal-Register. It’s already been a busy year, thanks to our Senator being elected President, and an even busier month, thanks to our Governor losing his mind and his freedom. While he’s trying to be home more, as the boss, he takes more pride, it seems, in what is put out there by the paper, so he works harder. He also does a weekly TV spot on WAND-TV News at 5 on Thursdays out of Decatur. I don’t think he likes being in “my” world, but he’s doing a great job! As far as I know, the Governor hasn’t asked for his resignation unlike many of the Tribune editors, so he shouldn’t be mentioned in the affidavit!
I began this school year (my 6th at LCHS and 11th overall) taking on Accelerated Sophomores and a new class called Media Communication. I am thrilled to use my journalism degree again, and my 20 seniors have added an online-only school newspaper on our school’s website (www.lchs.k12.il.us) and are learning the ins and outs of the news business. We also plan to begin doing live-to-DVD morning announcements, skits and advertising in the coming months for our school and post them online as well. Lots of changes on the school front – friends left, new classes, new superintendent & schedule, censorship of my book choices, etc, – but so far, so good.
Now, for the Gracie update. She is 3 ½ and started going to preschool this year. She is LOVING her school, teachers and friends. She is learning a lot of new things, and it is very exciting for her mom and dad to be able to ask her questions and get complete answers (although we have also started lying about things – blaming Chippy and Pepper for her messes). Her room got a makeover this summer to “Cinderelly” blue and she upgraded to a double bed full of pillows and loveys. She is VERY close to mastering this whole potty training business – FINALLY! She is very anxiously awaiting Santa this year, helped put up the new Christmas tree and is obsessed with all the Baby Jesuses she can find in any nativity scene. Her Christmas concert scheduled for this week was postponed, but I have loved hearing her sing Christmas carols and teaching me the sign language to “Silent Night.” How fun and sweet! Chipper is still being a great big brother. At four, he is very relaxed and settling in to our house and routines quite well. He, however, ruptured his ACL last week
and has to have surgery to repair it on Christmas Eve. We have amazing veterinarians who love Chippy very much. In fact, this will be his second surgery this year – he had to have kidney stones removed (avoid Ol’ Roy food as much as possible if you can) – but he came out like a trooper, so we know he’ll be back to his 80-lb. self in no time!
Pepper is the youngest of our furry brood and she topped 125-lbs of love at her last checkup. She and Chip are truly best friends and have a lot of fun in the snow together. Chip is still trying to play, even with his injury, but our Miss Pep gets bored when he just tries to play with his front paws! Our sneaky little girl has been pretty trapped since we expanded our fence this summer, but she did manage to get her extra largeness outside the fence by squeezing UNDERNEATH it! We are still astonished at how she did it, but one second she was on the same side as us and the next she was in our neighbor’s yard.
2008 has been a painting year – we painted Grace’s room, our dining room and our bedroom. I still have other projects in mind for our house, but Chip’s surgeries have tapped out some of those funds. We wouldn’t trade him for anything, though, so it’s all worth it.
Gracie also added two baby girl cousins since we last wrote, Abigail Keith was born before 2007 was over and is days away from her 1^st birthday, and McKenzie Lyle Atwood (Julie & Kris’ third) was born in February. Should be an amazing Christmas with all her cousins!
We wish the best for you and your families always. God Bless You & Yours!
Love,
Ryan, Jennifer, Gracelyn, Chipper & Pepper Keith

Dandelion Whine

While at preschool on Wednesday, some teachers rushed over to Grace, panicked. Her back was to them, she was hunched over and it appeared she was gagging, choking or vomiting. When they arrived to see her from the front, she was holding a dandelion and was continuously blowing its petals away.
The teacher asked if she was okay. "Yeah, I'm just blowing my dandylion."
"Are you making wishes?"
"Yep."
"What are you wishing for?"
"For my mom to come back."
"You know what? Your wish is going to come true," my hero Barb said. "She's going to come back and get you, just not right now. Your mommy always comes back."
"I know - after lunch, after nap, after snack," a melancholy 3-year-old responded.
At 3 or 34, our wishes are the same.
I know my mommy always comes back. I'm so grateful I still have my mommy. I love her so much; she's one of my best friends.
I'm also so grateful that although I know she wanted to be by my side day and night, she still believed so much in what she taught me to trust me to be on my own.
I moved across the country to follow my dream, and now that I'm a mom, I know how much that killed her to give her blessing, but she did.
She loved me and she let me go, like the petals on a dandelion - into the wind, to do what God had willed me to do.
I hope Gracie and I are like that too, love our time together and let each other go when we need to, and that I won't have to wish on a dandelion for that to be true.

Barbie's kingdom comes

So Grace is addicted to any and every Barbie movie we can find. Her most recent choice has been Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper, which plot follows two Barbies, one born in a castle, one poor. Thus the title. Anyway, of course, the princess is kidnapped so the pauper goes to pretend she's the princess while the princess is found. The princess escapes captivity but has to convince everyone who she is. I left at this point (about 50 minutes in) to make dinner, leaving Grace to watch the rest on her own.
Within 5 minutes, she came to me in the kitchen, hands on hips, and informed me, "This is my kingdom."
I laughed. "Oh, no, little girl," I said. "You may be the princess, but mommy's the queen. This is MY kingdom."
What else will Barbie teach my little one? :)

Preschool doesn't teach them phrases, does it?

So the first day of Vacation Bible School this summer, Grace came home calling Ryan a "jerk" and saying everything was "Stupid" including my dad. Thanks VBS. We had the talk and her namecalling didn't last.
I know that phrases catch on, and so far, this has been my favorite one:
Last night while getting down from a chair, Grace got her foot stuck behind her, so I helped her get down, and she said, "Thank ya, my darlin'." Three times, she said it. I think we'll hope that one sticks rather than the other ones!

Another one bites the dust...

So today was day 12 at the preschool. We marked day 2 of not crying when mommy left and day 1 of going pee pee on the potty. AND she went twice. So exciting. She got the Ken doll that has been sitting on top of the bathroom shelf since Martin Luther King day...after I wiped the dust off, of course.

Preschool - Week 2

So week 2 started pretty well. Miss Grace is still having a hard time letting go of Mommy. She skips, runs, jumps all the way to the door, then when we get inside (because she's there before 7:30) she has to go to a holding room, which has all ages of kids. She'd rather go to her classroom, so we throw Fit #1. Fit #2 is when mom attempts to leave. I wait until her teacher shows, but I'm not going to be able to do that forever, so we'll figure it out. I know that she's fine by the time I reach the car, but the image I'm left with isn't pretty.
Walked in yesterday (Day #9) to pick her up and was told, "Mom, we need to talk" by the teacher. She had been hitting and kicking, and was in time out twice. Well, Miss Grace then didn't get TV privileges and had other things taken away. I think she got the message. She was still pretty happy at bedtime, but while watching Barack's speech, her gag reflex kicked in - while she was sound asleep - and she woke up covered in puke. So she began to cry. I went in with her and she puked again. I stripped her and the bed and threw everything in the washer and re-clothed her and her bed, and she was back to sleep within 10 minutes or so. I think she was most upset that she couldn't go back to bed right away. She woke up this morning quite happy and slept the rest of the night without coughing, so I guess the Baby Vicks does really work!
School started with students for me. So far, so good. I'm getting used to my schedule, but not getting used to Chelsea and Ed being elsewhere. That will take more time, I'm afraid. 5 years of habit is hard to break.
Ryan's job is going well, but he's working longer hours since he's the boss. He's got the same work ethic I do when you're in charge of something - get it done right and how you want it. That stuff takes time. We just miss him, that's all. Darn him for being gifted in writing. Write that novel and you can stay home! :)
Today was a better day for Miss Grace - no hitting, no kicking, and she said, "Mom, are you proud of me?" I didn't tell her that I'm proud of her all the time, but of course I'm most proud when she's a nice girl....which she was today. A three-day weekend and then we start all over again!

Gracie's new house

On a recent Wal-Mart trip, we went looking for something to go over the "crop circles" in our backyard created by ours and Gracie's pools. We were thinking swing set or something like that. All choices were gone on swing sets. It's too late in the year, but for hot-blooded people like Ryan and Grace, the best time to play outside is the fall - breezy, cooler temps and shade. Anyway, we found a bouncy house on clearance. It's little and will probably work in the basement during the "off" seasons, but right now, it's her new best friend. See videos on youtube below; I can't get them to post. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFE4aQ9VBuU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdutqgOVZrM