tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52272891028386520352024-03-05T14:42:52.162-05:00gigimama in pajamasStories by, photos from, and thoughts on being Gigi. And a Mama. Gigimama--catchy, huh? Don't answer that.Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-12791974230313013682008-06-11T19:57:00.003-04:002008-06-11T21:28:15.352-04:00She Claps!Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-63171002405816495332008-06-05T19:46:00.006-04:002008-06-06T22:36:50.349-04:00Charleston Chickens All Percussion BandIt all started with this book and CD: It is very very funny and we love it so. It is the kind of children's music that is appealing to little ones and easily tolerable for adults. As with most things Sandra Boynton, there is wit and intelligence in her lyrics. And famous people sing them. People like Kevin Kline, and Meryl Streep. Also Erik Stoltz and Scott Bacula--not quite so famous, and Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-23622640370363366142008-05-22T21:41:00.008-04:002008-05-24T10:18:04.604-04:00I Won the Sandbox!Not true.But I have fond memories of that hilarious Ernie and Bert sketch from Sesame Street circa 1970. Check it out here. So, we didn't win it. Nor did we eat it. But, we did buy one from Target with Ben's birthday moolah from Grandma & Papa, Great-Grandmo and the McCollums. Thanks guys!Putting it together was ridiculously easy. Allen wrenches and those little internal nuts you just Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-56436914618054344822008-05-09T21:02:00.010-04:002008-05-09T22:23:38.920-04:00Ben is FOUR! (How did this happen?)We had a party today after the Nap. As requested, there were balloons. And hats. Presents, naturally. Singing, blowing of candles (one single blow this year--yippee!), and the most awesome yellow digger cake you ever saw. It did not look like this:This is the inspiration, however. Ben saw this cake in Family Fun magazine and HAD to have it. No matter how gently I would try to lead him Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-24489607995440707192008-05-04T21:19:00.005-04:002008-05-04T21:58:30.542-04:00Eye Color Update! So, here we are at six months. Back in November, I speculated what color these peepers would end up looking like. I was surprised that they were not the deep brown her brothers' were at that age. I mused on the possibility of them staying blue, and even found a study that said it was possible, even if neither parent had blue eyes. But, hooray! They're greenish! Just like her mama--see?Now Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-47293196591697186152008-04-27T21:01:00.002-04:002008-04-28T22:32:49.691-04:00Time in a bottleI am having so much fun being a mama. Cliche or not, this time in my life is just so rewarding. It can seem horribly stressful and oh-so-dramatically frustrating to have 3 under 4 years old, but Man, when it's good, it's goooood! So, here's a snapshot of how I'd like to remember this time. Idyllic, ain't it?Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-41610969865269475702008-04-20T21:19:00.007-04:002008-04-28T22:34:21.716-04:00RDI updateMany of you have asked how things are going with Ben and RDI. I've been kind of stuck searching for a direct answer for that question. I'm fairly sure most people would just like to hear "great!" or "doing fine!" as a reply, but that would be a silly expectation when the person you've asked is ME.There are stages in RDI. Ben is in Stage 1. This might be helpful information if development Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-70582708048419841312008-04-03T21:48:00.005-04:002008-04-03T22:02:32.515-04:00A farewellGoodbye, Dear Friend.Dennis R. RichFebruary 11, 1971-April 1, 2008So loved and missed. May perpetual light shine upon you.Dennis' blogGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-31492099479677499562008-03-27T20:45:00.008-04:002008-04-28T22:34:51.971-04:00Rosebank FarmsLast Saturday we took a trip to Rosebank Farms on Johns Island for their Egg'straordinary Egg'stravaganza (heh). They advertised a hay ride, an egg hunt, an appearance by the Easter Bunny, and the regular farm staples--ducks, pigs, cow, horse (miniature!), turkeys, chickens and naturally--bunnies. There were also supposed to be refreshments available and, best of all, kids three and under wereGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-46259007007552083092008-03-22T22:18:00.010-04:002008-03-23T21:00:35.944-04:00"Long Live Play"I stole this title from our good friend, and my former early childhood colleague, Kiersten (aka Kiki). She left a comment on my other blog referring to this photo of Will. You can go read it here.She didn't know the story, per se, but she knows me and how I roll, so (did you catch that hip phrase "how I roll"? I am so cool.) she understood the significance of the photo and that there was Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-83998050320982858842008-03-18T14:59:00.004-04:002008-03-18T20:00:38.636-04:00Think Capistrano!For the past several weeks there has been a bird who arrives every morning around 7 and attempts to fly through our windows. You can hear his beak hit the panes throughout the house as he tap tap taps while flapping fruitlessly until his feet gain purchase either on the sill or the screen. He is persistent and not completely clueless, as he will try one window than another. The boys love Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-27873224226140299572008-03-14T20:59:00.007-04:002008-03-30T15:21:25.085-04:00Goodbye Snow, Hello Strawberries!I could have titled this "Why I love the South." You saw my last post, yes? All that snow and coldness and hats and mittens and boots? Well, not here in South Cackalackee, no sir. On this fine March afternoon, it was strawberry picking time. With giant, juicy all natural (no pesticides or other icky chemicals on these guys) berries! See?The boys were pretty impressed with the rows and rows ofGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-90825718918847423492008-03-13T21:51:00.000-04:002008-03-14T21:59:03.358-04:00Photos from ChicagoCheck out my sister's blog here for more photos from our trip home.We took all the kids to the Picture People studio for a portrait for Grandma's (BIG) birthday. Mimi's got 'em up. My copies have yet to be unpacked. So, go there. Tell her I sent you. http://mimisphotos2008.blogspot.com/Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-47403610041632442002008-03-06T17:55:00.009-05:002008-03-06T18:50:50.280-05:00Snow! We are so lucky!! Grandma started a snowman for us the day before we arrived. There was just enough of the white stuff left for us to finish him off. He didn't last long, but he was loved while he was here.There are more snow photos on my photo-a-day blog, here.Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-8001533369008060982008-02-27T20:30:00.003-05:002008-02-27T23:50:00.280-05:00Sweet HomeWe're heading back to ChicagoLand next week for a visit. Mark has to travel to Yuma for work, so the children and I are going to spend some quality time with Grandma and Papa. We're all driving home together, then Mark will fly to AZ from O'Hare. It's a long drive--about 17 hours. That estimate is really conservative, too, considering it does not take into account wee babies with wee bladdersGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-77153195577323373472008-02-18T21:23:00.001-05:002008-02-19T21:33:07.743-05:00On the SpectrumThis is Ben. He is 3 and 3 quarter years old. He is a big brother. He loves cars and trucks. He enjoys music and singing (lately, the Beatles.) And he has an autism spectrum disorder.Okay, so that's how I originally was going to start this post. But, seriously. Over-the-top dramatic is just not my thing. I mean, hey, I can *do* dramatic, but then that's all it is--drama--not the real Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-76798582912901545702008-02-17T20:17:00.005-05:002008-02-17T22:30:36.046-05:00This is how she rolls...A quick little movie of our newly mobile baby. And narrated with my incredibly high-pitched "motherese". Rats. Now I can't leave her on the couch or bed feeling reasonably sure she won't roll off.They just keep growing, these babies. Harumph.Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-48540014854808005192008-02-14T11:00:00.002-05:002008-02-15T17:05:30.389-05:00Happy Valentine's Day!Check it out:http://www.photoshow.net/kayserfamilyGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-49143420139842583582008-02-05T10:55:00.000-05:002008-02-05T21:02:12.860-05:00Feeling the ArtI pulled out the easel today with brushes and cups of red, blue, and yellow paint. Ben has painted on an easel before, but it was Will's first time. For those who don't know or maybe, don't remember :), painting on an upright, eye level surface is a totally different experience than painting on a tabletop. You can get your whole body involved when you paint at the easel. There's much less Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-78007872034296532302008-01-29T22:52:00.000-05:002008-01-29T23:18:55.277-05:00Toys? We don't need no stinkin' toys!We have a big beautiful playroom in our new house. It's the only room upstairs and is as large as the 2-car garage it sits above. There is an extra-large paned window that brings in the sunlight and a sloped-sided ceiling that matches the roof line. There are high quality, durable, wooden toys that are gender neutral, open-ended, and aesthetically pleasing. Like any former early childhood Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-92165485356761424212008-01-24T21:08:00.000-05:002008-01-24T21:12:19.918-05:00Not one, but two, count em two blogs!Following my sister's lead...I've started a new blog--gigimama's year in photos. I'll be posting a pic a day. I cheated a bit trying to fill in the days I missed, but so far so good. Check it out here: www.gigimamainpajamasyip.blogspot.comGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-62673331331302893292008-01-24T19:52:00.000-05:002008-01-24T20:27:57.241-05:00My Baby is Two!I'm not sure why Will burst into tears when we lit the candle and started to sing "Happy Birthday", but I think it may have had something to do with the clump of frosting in his hand. He managed to recover with a little encouragement from Mama and didn't spit too much while trying to blow out the candle. Then the real fun began. Mmmm boy, do we love cake around here.So much so, we'll snag some Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-1059174163714339422008-01-24T19:44:00.001-05:002008-01-24T19:44:32.875-05:00Kayser Look-alike MeterMyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - MorphGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-9566883781425936762008-01-24T19:41:00.001-05:002008-01-24T19:41:32.141-05:00Kayser Look-alike MeterMyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - MorphGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227289102838652035.post-15123631503362445432008-01-04T15:54:00.001-05:002008-01-04T15:54:37.641-05:00Kayser Look-alike MeterMyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Free family tree searchGigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214807034529657136noreply@blogger.com1