Darlene's Blog 2011: Moved to your new house...Granny retired ..and now you are 3!!

You are now Three years old! I was with you & woke you up on the morning of your birthday! You held up three fingers before you even got out of bed! We had balloons & you opened the present from me & Papa-a scooter. You wore your shirt with a big 3 to school and after school went to Chuck E Cheese with me & Tata as a "practice" for your impending party on Sunday, September 21. Tata took you home but it was my first day to wake you up at your new house. It was a great day! But more about the month...September 8 was the last school day you came to our house. Then on Saturday, September 13 you & I spent a great day at the zoo. It was overcast and although too cool to play in the water, it was perfect weather to walk around the zoo. We "picnicked" and watched a peacock and you rode the train with me for the first time (other than on our trip with your school class). You seemed to enjoy it but you wouldn't ride it a second time. However we rode the carousel many times! You came to our house for naptime and for the last time before your move, I took you from our house back to Nitza's. The only bad thing about the day was my mother had a fall and was readmitted to the hospital in Mobile. The day after you birthday I also took you to school and stayed with you at your new house for the whole day for the first time. We had a great day. After school and nap you rode your scooter outside a lot. I was amazed at how well you did! I ran along side you which was good exercise for me. When I left you hugged me and cried and said "please don't go granny!" Even though I know you are fine after I'm gone, it always makes me sad for you to cry! On Sunday September 21 I brought Eli & Maggie Rae to your house and we all enjoyed eating in Mt. Laurel and playing in your wonderful new house! Then we went to the big party at Chuck E Cheese which was loud and very busy but there were so many of your friends & family celebrating with you & it was a great time. Then on September 22 I spent the day with you again. You got the proofs of your cute school pictures back! On Friday the 26th when I spent the day with you, you were a little nervous about your "share" at school. You took a children's book about Israel, where your Dad was born. You are always happy about your wonderful school. After school I asked if you wanted to take Sunday to the dog park and you said "yes". But when we got to the dog park you were confused because there were no swings & slides and you wanted to go to "the train", which is at the children's park! So we took Sunday to the children's park where she was leashed to a tree and didn't have a fun time. But you did. A lot of older children from your school were there for their recess time. The only hard part was keeping an eye on Sunday because she isn't too friendly with other children! We won't take Sunday to the kid park any more! I spent the night at your new house for the first time. The plan was for me to take care of you while your mom helped your dad get things done around the new house on Saturday. Your Uncle Allen came over to help as well. But almost every time I'm with you it's because your mother is working so you seldom are with me and your mother together. You were very fussy and I don't think I helped very much! September 30 was my last day to work full time! I've worked full time since December 1973. And sometimes worked more than one job and spent several years getting a PhD in nursing at UAB while also teaching nursing full time at Samford University where I worked for 15 years. I've been at UAB for 24 years. So this is an exciting but big change. Having you in my life has really helped me wean myself from work and get ready for retirement. Yesterday was my first post-retirement day with you and we had a great time. After school we went to the park and you really enjoyed playing. On the way to the car you fell and skinned your knee a little. You noticed the reason you fell was the pattern of the sidewalk changed...specifically you said there were holes in the sidewalk that made you fall! Even though you didn't really nap you did rest in bed with me. I'm not very good with your new TV system but then I never really learned the one at Chase Lake either! But that might be good to keep from too much TV watching. You like to watch a Super Wyatt episode on my phone in bed before your nap.

Reading at Mt. Laurel Library

Riding tricycle to park

After nap you rode your tricycle (with me pushing it) into town for the first time. We stopped at the Mt. Laurel Library where you noted which of the children's books in the basket were books you had at home...there were quite a few that met that criteria! Then we went back to the park. It was cooler and there was a new group of kids there and you had a good time. I was pleased you rode your tricycle all the way there & back! After we got home, you were happy your Dad was there but sad I was leaving. You hugged me and cried when I left. You have had a lot of changes recently! Maybe after you get settled into your new house and new routine you will be more content. I'm looking forward to every day I am with you. You are growing & changing all the time!