June 1, 2009

  • Chewlee Has A Great Birthday!

    I futzed around during the morning until about noon and then I got ready for Chewlee's birthday party. The Beast was working on the floor of our bedroom and he was going to keep working on it since he is under a deadline. Chewlee starts sleeping over tomorrow night.

    Anyway, I wrapped all the outfits I bought Chewlee and blew my hair dry then I got ready to leave. Just before I left, the Princess called and asked me to bring the pump I have for my blowup mattress so we could blow up the little jump house for the baby. I grabbed that (and put down my camera to reach it since it was on top of the bookcase) then left for the kids house. I left my camera behind, of course. The first thing I did when I got to the Princess's house was ask if she had her camera charged and ready. I told her I wanted her to email the pictures we took (I took a few with her camera) so that I can post some of the pics on my blog. I was hoping she would do it tonight but I just checked and they aren't here so I know it might be a while before I get them.

    Kym came, which was a nice surprise. I was there and my niece, Tara with baby Chance. The baby's paternal grandfather, Richard, was there for a while. He had taken the baby out for lunch after having her all day Friday and most of Saturday. He didn't get her home until about 8pm. He had taken her to Chattanooga to see the aquarium there and then to some kids play park which was really for kids under the age of 12. I don't think he told me the name of it but he said she just loved all the rides and he had a hard time getting her out of it. He left early because he had to drive back to Chattanooga to catch his plane back to Florida. I did find out that he has finally sold his home (he thinks). They are just waiting for the bank approval on the buyer's loan.

    One of Johnnycake's friends, Ryan, also came because he just loves Chewlee. When we were all finally settled, we let the baby open all her gifts. She already knew about the jump house because we were having a difficult time keeping her out of it while it was being blown up. When it was finally ready, it took her all of two minutes to realize she could jump in it and the clear sides let her see all of us around her. She had a ball jumping and falling into the sides (which are air-filled). The top has a bunch of balls in it and as she jumps, they move around the top. She found that really funny for some reason.

    She tore into the wrapping of her big gift which was a Dora's kitchen. It had to be put together so Johnnycakes started on that while Chewlee attacked the rest of her gifts. She got a cute kids sprinkler head that she can run through it while it's spinning around. She also got a cute little shallow pool that you attach a hose to and it sprays water up and inward. She is going to love that when they set it up for her. She got a Dora the Explorer doll set that is only about four or five inches tall. I didn't look at it closely because she didn't want to share that long enough to check it out. She did run over to show it to me, Tara and Kym but after that she ran back to her presents and it got tossed to the floor. She was so funny trying to watch the progress of her kitchen being put together and still open all her gifts. When she got to my gift, which was all cute little outfits and summer pj's, she knew it was clothes but she really just wanted the bag empty. Her paternal grandmother sent her a card with two dollars in it. The Princess said last year she got a card with one dollar in it so we can see how this is going to go as she gets older. Her paternal grandfather bought her a playset for the backyard. I know it has a swing, a slide and a little *house* on it but it has to be delivered and set up, which will happen some time between Tuesday and Thursday.

    He told me he had a chance to go to Indonesia for two years as a civilian contractor but he wouldn't go because he wants to remain a part of Chewlee's life. He said he had paid off all his bills and doesn't owe anything except things like utilities and insurance so he feels he can fly up at least four or five times a year or more and spend a few days with her. It's obvious he loves her and she loves him, too. It's just a shame that her father doesn't feel the same way. But, it's not like she's missing that in her life because Johnnycakes is more of a father to her than the *asshole* ever was. She HAS to have her kisses from him as well as mommy whenever she has been gone from them for a while. It's really adorable.

    We ate the potato salad, the fruit salad and grilled hot dogs (which I love and wasn't disappointed). No homemade wine this time (thank goodness). Tara kept telling me how she loved the fruit salad and thanked me for making it. Johnnycakes told me the potato salad was really great. I gathered from the Princess that the first thing he asked was whether or not she was SURE I didn't put mustard in it. He really doesn't like that.

    The Princess gave me a hard time because I took Chance from her at one point and the poor baby started crying. I was really shocked because I have never had a baby that didn't like me. He did it not once but twice so I told Tara I guess he really doesn't like me for some reason. He has the cutest little smile but the biggest head I have ever seen on a baby. I hope he grows into it. I also grabbed up one of the pj's I bought for Chewlee to take home with me so I have them for her tomorrow night. I doubt that Johnnycakes will bathe her before bringing her over so I will take care of that and put her in her nice new pj's. I also found out that I will only have to keep her for three nights. Johnnycakes is off on Thursday and the Princess will be home before he leaves for work on Friday. So, when I drop her off Thursday afternoon, I am done for the week.

    BTW, the bedroom floor lacks only one more row to be finished and then the trim. I made up the bed and that's where the Beast is sleeping right now. Once he puts the trim on the floor behind the bed, we can just slip it close to the wall again. Hopefully, I will be able to move my dresser out of here and back into my room by Tuesday or Wednesday. It's no real hardship right now because I am still sanding it. I think the baby will enjoy watching me do it (and may want to try her hand at it). I brought her Dora chair here for her to sit in while we watch TV since she now has her own folding Cinderella chair she can keep in her bedroom. Johnnycakes kept the pump because he's going to move the jump house into her room and will need it to blow up the sides again once he moves it. She's got plenty of room for it and her *kitchen* in there so she's going to have a fun room to play in.

    Well, time for me to hit the sack. Love you all. OH...I forgot. The birthday cake was gorgeous (we did take a picture of it) and the Princess put sparkler candles on it. I hope one of the pictures of the look on Chewlee's face when we all started singing Happy Birthday comes out because it was priceless. She was looking at us all like she thought we were nuts!

    Have a great day. I enjoyed myself immensely. Wish you all could have been there with us.