Laughter Lives Tuesday Saturday

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

Since we were without cable/phone/internet for a few days, I missed Laughter Lives Tuesday. Better late than never, isn't that what they say? I follow the Rigg's blog, and this is there new thing. This weeks theme is:
The Funny, Cute & Endearing Ways We Say 'I Love You'

Since Dylan doesn't really speak yet, he shows us love in other ways. I wanted SO MUCH to do the sign language with him, but it just hasn't happened yet. It is my fault, not his. I don't know if it is too late. He just turned 11 months. I think I am going to try to teach him a few like help, up, down, more, etc. to help with communication, but I wanted to do it for fun, not just the necessities. Any who, on to the post.

Speaking of sign language, here is how I showed Dylan I loved him this week while helping Poppy build part of Dylan's birthday present: a barn to play in.

Here is Dylan showin' Poppy some love:
Here he is showing the MckChildren some love! He LOVES to look at their pictures!

Loving on his Boppy, which means he is sleepy.

Grammy lovin' on Dylan by playing with his toes, one of his favorite past times!

Dylan & Mommy on the day he turned 11 months old

And, finally, Amy showing ME some love by trying to help out with a photo attempt of Dylan in his new outfit from Aunt Willie. It didn't go to well, as you can see!

Dylan's Kitchen Adventure

Dylan had a little adventure at Aunt Susie's house the other day. He got to play in her cabinets. Let me just say that Susie's basement kitchen probably hasn't been so messy since the flood of '77! Enjoy!

Favorite Foto Friday - UP

This week's Favorite Foto Friday theme is "Up" and I have a couple that match that just perfectly, I think!

Dylan pointing up to the ceiling.

Hopefully these ceiling fans are firmly attached because Dylan pulls on the string kinda hard (and as many times as Poppy will let him) turning if off and on. Yeah, he is spoiled!

That is all for now, but hope to have something extra tonight.

For more Favorite Foto Fridays, go here:

http://kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com/

Barn Raising Part 1

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Finally!

Now that we have cable, tv & internet back on, I have a few posts to catch up on..... Coming Soon....

She's A Butterfly

I just want to say I appreciate all the comments, emails, and personal thanks for the post on Skyler. I am only one of the many that little girl left a lasting impression on. Our area is like one big family, even though we may have not been through all the same trials, we are there for the family who needs us. To all Skyler's family, we are privileged to have known her.

Not Me! Monday --- My First One

This week is my first Not Me! Monday. It is supposed to be a chance for moms [or aunts :)] to spill their guts about all the stuff they did not do this week. You know, the stuff you really did do but would not want to readily admit! So, here goes.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Friday, I did not help Poppy build Dylan a "barn" to play in. Cause that is "man work" and I do not do such things.

Just today, Poppy did not change his first ever Dylan diaper! And it was not a poopy one at that! Yeah Poppy! It is not about time!

This week, Amy (aka Momma) did not steal my body pillow and make it her own. She would never do that, because she knows how much I LOVE my body pillow, so she certainly did not do that. She also did not state to me Sunday, "If Dylan wears that outfit to church you are going to have to deal with him," because it was an outfit she literally cannot stand the feel of. I did not put it on him anyway and proceed to "deal with him" with Grammy's help!

Yesterday, Grammy did not put Dylan's onesie on backwards because it had buttons on the front, instead of the usual snaps on the back. It was a Henley style onesie, so Grammy did not think that was the buttons that usually go in the back. And he did not wear it like that for hours.

And, on a real note, the last two days, I did not see child after child, friend after friend, cousin after cousin, aunt after uncle, sister after brothers, Mother and Father after Grandparents, cry, mourn, sob, weep, lean on each other exhausted from life. Or rather, from death. I did not go to Sweet Angle Skyler's funeral because her sweet little life just can't be over, can it? No, it is really just beginning, Praise God! We thought she was something here, imagine how she is now! I bet the angels are smiling at her like we all did. I am going to try to put the song on here they played during the final viewing today. It is "She's a Butterfly" by Martina McBride, and, oh, it couldn't be more fitting for Skyler. Skyler was only supposed to live about one year, but she did not prove doctors wrong and live eleven wonderful years! She did not learn to walk, run, talk, write, read, everything they said she would never do. She did not touch every person she ever met. Yeah, she really did. She really did.

In Memory of Skyler Winnett

Today I had the wind knocked out of me. Majorly. My dad and I were outside building a "barn" for Dylan for his birthday (more on that later) and my sister came out with some terrible news. A little girl that I have known practically since her birth, Skyler, had suddenly died during the night. My first thought was, "Oh, there has been some mistake, I am sure it is not that Skyler. Someone is terribly confused."

But they weren't. I have known Skyler's family for many years, and have spent many nights with her great aunt and uncle and even lived with her uncle & aunt within one hundred feet from where Skyler's family lives. I haven't been around her for probably over a year, but you don't forget Skyler. Anyone who meets her never does. She is wonderful.

She was born with a type of chromosome abnormality, if I remember her diagnosis correctly, and went way above and beyond what she was ever supposed to. For a while, when she was younger, communication was difficult for her, but you always knew how she felt! Those eyebrows and big brown eyes let you know immediately if she was mad, happy, sad, or ecstatic. She was usually ecstatic when I got the honor to be around her. Her and her little brother Tyler were in my bible study class I taught at the time. She would come bursting through the door full of life and energy. She would take in every word I said through class and do her craft for the evening oh so carefully, then usually forget it on the table because she was in a rush to get her coat on and I would have to chase her down later!

Once during Vacation Bible School, she smashed her fingers so bad in between one of the doors, she had everyone in tears before it was over. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and loved with all of it. She was a gift from God, and I can't imagine how her family feels at this moment. I can hear her giggle in my head right now. Rest in peace, sweet angel. You will be greatly missed by so many people that you have touched in your eleven years of life.

Skyler top and center, of course! She had soooo many family members that loved her so much. This is only part of them! Her sister Savannah is standing beside her holding a baby, and that is her oldest brother Sammy standing beside Savannah. Skyler's youngest brother Tyler is sitting directly below Savannah in a black t-shirt.

Savannah & Skyler at their cousin Kait's birthday party.

This is Skyler and her cousin Alana. Ironically, just a few short weeks ago the family had a HUGE health scare with Alana, and her outlook was not good at all. But God healed her! Now, tragically, Skyler had a different fate and is now safe with her Heavenly Father.

This is Skyler's mother, and her great-grandmother. I am sure the family has a great desire for any and every prayer. At this point, I do not even know how Skyler died. My mom heard where she works it was due to a seizure, but I have not spoken to the family directly, so I cannot be for certain. The last I had heard, which had been a while, all Skyler's health issues were not currently life threatening. Again, please keep this wonderful family in your prayers.

You will be greatly missed, Bug.

Love, Neenah :)

***UPDATE***

Skyler did die due to a seizure. She had just been diagnosed with epilepsy only a couple of days before. She had to stay awake for several hours for some kind of sleep deprived epilepsy test. That evening, she slept on the way home and woke to eat. After a while, she went in to bed. She told her mother good night and she loved her. When her mother went to check on her not thirty minutes later, Skyler was gone. Her funeral was unreal. It was so hard to see her laying in rest. During the final viewing, the family chose to play She's A Butterfly, which couldn't have been more fitting for Skyler. Rest in peace, sweet baby. And God bless your family.

Favorite Foto Friday - "New"

This weeks theme for Favorite Foto Friday is "New" and if I had my brain in gear, I had three posts to pick from that I could have saved for this. "New PJs," "New 'Chews'" and "New clothes from the Perry's." Oh well. I have really had to reach for this theme. Dylan has actually started a few "new" things this week, like flopping in his high chair like he his having a seizure, squealing like a crazed pig for seemingly no reason at all, then stopping and trying to act like it never happened, taking several (up to 10 I think is the highest count so far) steps at a time, and proudly sticking up one finger when we ask,"How old are you, Dylan?" or any other question that starts with "How" and ends with "are you" LOL, BUT I have NONE of this captured on camera. (We know he isn't quite one yet, but we thought it would take longer than 2 days to teach him to answer "How old are you?") Anyway, on to the post......

Dylan has started giving "lovin'" this past week. He would hug us, but not really be all into it. He even goes, "Awww" and pats your back. Finally!

The "NEW" way to picnic! lol My dad recently received some great (and free!) children's toys, like picnic tables, little riding tractor, slide, etc., and he didn't get around to storing the picnic tables before it snowed! I have an old picture that I am going to try to find of me, my sister, my cousin Sharon and her hubby Chester having a "snow picnic" on this very same deck! We are all snow-suited up and sitting on deck furniture pretending to have a picnic.... gotta find that pic and scan it......

Our family has developed a "new" kind of TV love for NCIS! Even my dad says, "When is NCS (NIS, NSI, SCN, and various other combinations of the four letters) coming on?" He can't seem to get that fourth letter in there. Ever. Even in the wrong order. LOL

And finally, Gracie's "New" (and temporary) bed. This is Dylan's swimming pool from the summer that one of the outside cats poked a hole in despite me splashing her (Carmen, of course) for all I was worth! It was buried in the "junk" room where I put it to dry then burn. 6 months later, we get it out to burn. lol

Not to be outdone by Gracie, Daylight had to take him a siesta there, too!

For more Favorite Foto Fridays, go here:

http://kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com/

Dylan's MckLovin' It

One of the blogs I follow, and am addicted to, is MyCharmingKids. The blog always has an adorable banner across the top showing off all MckMama's kiddos. Dylan LOVES to look at pics of babies, so the other night when he was just insisting to help me blog, I showed him the MckChildren. He ooohed and ahhhed and petted the screen for a full FIFTEEN MINUTES! He really liked MckMuffin, MckNugget coming in second because he has on a GREEN shirt, you know, Dylan's favorite color, didn't really pay too much attention to Big Mac, but then he discovered Small Fry. Oh, it was love at first sight! He tried his best to "get" that baby! I took a few pics and couldn't help but share! It's official: Dylan is addicted to MCKS too!

"Hmm.... Whatcha got here, Nee Nee?"

"Oh, Nuggey has a GREEN shirt on!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhh...." and other baby conversation I cannot interpret.

"Wow, Nee Nee, they have a lot of visitors to their site!"

"How do I get to these babies, Nee Nee?"

"Bye Bye Babies!"

Laughter Lives! Tuesday

I am starting a couple of new things with our blog. One of them is "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" and the other is "Not Me! Monday." I follow both of these blogs, you know, the buttons to the left with all the cuties on them, and their stories are very touching in many ways. I missed "Not Me! Monday" this week, but will hopefully start that next week. I just wanted to add something besides just posting photos all the time. Little stories and such that may or may not have to do with Dylan. Not that this blog is changing in its main star, or anything, so don't worry Aunt Willie! Just wanting to add to it a little bit. I have fell in love with little Abby from the Riggs family and all the MckFamily from MyCharmingKids. If you ever have time, check out both their blogs and their back stories, and you will not only be blessed, but laugh, cry, be inspired, you name it. All you have to do is click on their buttons on my left sidebar and it will take you to their pages. MckMama has inspired me to finally start making some of Dylan's baby food. I know it is a little late, but I always wanted to since he was born, it just didn't seem to happen. Now I am learning a lot about adding healthy things to his diet that isn't hard to do at all. Thanks MckMama! Anyway, on to the purpose of this post..........

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

This week's theme is "things our kids have done" that are either rib-splitting hilarious or embarrassed the stew out of us. Since Dylan hasn't had a chance to really do anything like this, I am taking this opportunity to spill some of mine and Amy's past adventures.

Lisa - AKA Nee Nee - AKA ME - has been known to, in her wee years of life, lay down on Dairy Queen's floor and scream she would eat nothing but food from the Western Steer across the street. I believe I got a spanking and no food from any restaurant that day. Not no food, just no fast food. Sweet Little Me has also been known to pull a Jessica Simpson and want to know if a can of chicken was "Dolphin Safe" before I would eat it. It took my mom 10 minutes to explain to me why chicken did not need the assurance of "Dolphin Safe" stamped on its label. Sadly I wasn't 3 when this happened. I don't exactly remember the year, but I know I am Jessica's age, give or take one year. Her famous tuna episode had already happened, so it was after that. Yeah, can't believe I just admitted that.

Amy - AKA Momma to Dylan - had the infamous Button Incident. She wanted some "monies" to play with, meaning coins for her jar. My mom was in the tub, so she sent Amy to my dad. Brilliant idea. He ignored her request for "monies" so Amy was left to find her own. With the help of one of those multi-tasking nail clippers, she literally sawed off probably over one hundred buttons from the clothing in the closet. We are talking over $1,000 of clothes, and that was a lot of clothes from Hills back in 1989. At least she had her "monies," huh? She really hasn't topped that one to this day, I don't think. My mom discovered her little adventure right away, but she continued to find clothes for MONTHS missing buttons, pieces of fabric, etc. I remember many, many more stories on my sister, but she is asleep and I had better not post anything too bad without her permission. Don't want her to ground me from Dylan or anything. lol.

I guess that is all for this week.... next week's theme is different, so I will try to be more prepared.

Snazzy new pj's

Just a few pics of Dylan in his new Lightening McQueen jammies. He loves them!

Go ahead, Make my Snow Day!

We had a "big" snow today, so we bundled Dylan up and I forced talked Poppy into helping me out with a little Snow Shoot of Dylan's first time actually being out in the snow. Of course he has saw the snow out the window before, but never been out in it. It really wasn't that cold, and he had MULTIPLE layers on, so if anything he was probably a little too toasty. He was so bundled up he could not move as freely as he liked, so he was kinda not in a good mood. He was very curious as to what all that stuff was on the ground, yet he did not try to touch it. We were outside for only an extremely short time, you know, since Dylan has just recovered from double ear infections, and it took longer to get him ready than we were actually out in the elements. We took his Mickey Mouse chair out for a "complete" in-the-snow photo shoot. That was actually Poppy's idea.

Not real happy with all these clothes on.

Poppy and Dylan posing for the camera. (Poppy was glad he "decided" to go out with us, after all.)

"Help me, Poppy, I can't see and I don't know where my fingers are!"

"Much better, thanks!"

First time standing in the snow. We had to put his new KSwiss on him because I put so many socks on him his regular size shoes wouldn't fit and he doesn't have snow boots. I was afraid he would get his feet wet, so I kinda got carried away with the socks.

"Hmmm... I kinda like this..."

I just couldn't resist this caption, especially with that look on his face.

Okay, Uncle Troy didn't really say that, but he was probably thinking it!