Books!

Dear Nolan,

I can't wait to share books with you. There are so many books that I want us to read together. One of your Mom's favorite books was Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. It was her first book.

It begins, "In the great green room, there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon." That green room was such a peaceful place to be! I can't wait to go there with you.

I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

Wishes For My Grandchildren

Dear Nolan,

I guess that watching "The Ultimate Gift" started me thinking about something I read many years ago. I don't know who wrote this, but I think it is worth sharing with you.

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.

I'd really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes

and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches.

I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that

you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the

lawn and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car

when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies

born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you

believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger

brother.

And it's all right if you have to draw a line

down the middle of the room, but when he wants to

crawl under the covers with you because he's scared,

I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother

wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your

friends and that you live in a town where you can do it

safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you

don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so

you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a sling shot, I hope your Dad shows you how

to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn

to add and subtract . . in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your

first crush on a girl, and when you talk back to your

mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your

hand on a stove, and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you

don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a

joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your

Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a

baseball through your neighbor's window and that

she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when

you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you--tough times and

disappointment, hard work and happiness.

To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

I love you, Nolan.

GiGi

The Ultimate Gift

Dear Nolan,

I watched a movie with Great-Grandma Clark this weekend. It was one of the most beautiful films that I have ever seen. It was called, "The Ultimate Gift."

It was about an extremely wealthy man who wanted to leave more than his money to his very spoiled grandson. Jason, the grandson, had always lived a life of luxury. He had never worked a day in his life, and he didn't know how to appreciate anything. In order to get his inheritance, he had certain assignments that he had to complete. Through these assignments, he was taught the value of hard work, friendship, loyalty, forgiveness, and love. He learned that money is not everything and that it certainly does not buy happiness. I hope we can watch this movie together one day!

I kept you on Friday night so that your Mom and Dad could spend some time with their friends. After a hectic week at school, being able to hold you in my arms was the most amazing stress reliever ever. As you took your bottle, you would look up at me with those bright eyes and wrap your tiny fist around my little finger. Wow--all the worries of the world just floated out of my mind!

You are starting to "coo" now, and you make the sweetest little sounds. I look forward to those sounds becoming words! I wonder what your first words will be.

I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

Mimi's Birthday Party!

Dear Nolan,

Last weekend, you visited Mimi and Papa Reif to help celebrate Mimi's 60th birthday. You got to meet so many new people. Some of them were family, and some of them were friends of Mimi and Papa. I heard that you were such a good boy, and I can tell by the pictures that your Mom and Mimi sent that everyone had a good time. I am going to post some of the pictures.

I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

The Best Valentine

Dear Nolan,

Papa Jack and I enjoyed staying with you on Thursday evening. It was the first time that your Mom and Dad had been out together for an evening alone since you were born. It was Valentine's Day, and they went out for a nice dinner while Papa Jack and I kept you!

We enjoyed taking care of you so much. I love your nursery with all of the jungle animals. Your Mom and Dad picked out the "Zanzibar" theme for your room. It is decorated with elephants, giraffes, alligators, monkeys, zebras, turtles, and tropical birds. There are stuffed animals peeking out everywhere, and I saw toys for us to play with and books for us to read. There is a sign on your door that says, "Nolan's Room," and there are wall hangings, a wooden shelf, and a wall clock. There is also a rocking chair. It is the same rocking chair I rocked your Mom to sleep in. Beside the rocking chair, there is a small end table with a little lamp on it. The base of the lamp has a blue elephant, a tall giraffe, a zebra, a turtle, and a friendly-looking alligator on it. I believe there is even a monkey trying to crawl up toward the lamp shade. At night, it gives off a soft glow of light that would put any tired Mom or Dad to sleep!!

We looked at "The Wheels on the Bus" book. I tried to sing the song, "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round, Round and Round, etc." I think that you liked the book better than the song! We put you in your crib and watched as you stared at the animals spinning around on your mobile. At four weeks old, you are so alert!

Thank you for the best Valentine's Day ever. I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

Four Weeks Old Today!

Dear Nolan,

The last four weeks have flown by. I can't believe that you are a month old. I got to see you yesterday. We had such a good time. Papa Jack and I met you and your Mom and Dad at Shoppes on the Parkway in Blowing Rock. We did some shopping. Banana Republic had some great sales. I got your Mom a couple of things. Nolan, she is just amazing! It's been four weeks, and you can't even tell that your Mom has had a baby. She is a size 4 and wearing her pre-pregnancy clothes again. That makes her very happy!

You were such a good boy while we shopped. You were in your little Baby Bjorn carrier. Your Dad walked around with you all afternoon and you (dressed in your fuzzy, brown bear outfit) just snuggled up close to him and slept. When people would comment about your bear outfit, your Dad would say, "I have one just like it!" Isn't your Dad silly??

We drove into Boone and went in Mast General Store. Your Mom and Dad picked out a pretty birthday gift for Mimi. Her birthday is this weekend, and you will get to see her. I know she and Papa Reif can't wait to see you again!

Oh Nolan, you got to meet your cousin, Keely, this weekend. Keely was born just a few days before you to Uncle Michael and Aunt Kimille. Keely has three older sisters: Mikala, Zoe, and Ella. They were excited to meet you too! I know that you and Keely will enjoy growing up together, and I'm sure that you and all of your cousins will make wonderful memories together.

You had your first trip to Coyote Kitchen yesterday. It is a little restaurant in Boone--delicious food. Your Aunt Emily and "Uncle" Bradley met us there. They couldn't believe how you had grown and changed since they had seen you last. You woke up when we got inside the restaurant, and I got to hold you! Yeah!!!!

This Thursday is Valentine's Day, and your Mom and Dad have a "date." I am going to keep you while they go out for dinner. It will be the first time they have been out for dinner (alone) since you were born. Your Mom even got a special dress to wear. I've got to get busy and buy some Valentine's Day cards. This year, I have a grandson to buy for! You have touched my life, my heart, in so many ways. I love you sweet boy.

Sleep tight.

GiGi

Three Weeks Old Today!

Dear Nolan,

Happy Birthday sweet boy. It has been a week since I've written to you. It's been busy around here! My Mother (your Great-Grandma Clark) visited with me last week, and your Mom brought you down to meet her! Great-Grandma Clark said that you were one of the prettiest babies she had ever seen. She enjoyed holding you so much. She made a big pot of Chicken 'n Dumplins, and she also baked a pound cake (two of your Mom's favorite things to eat).

You also got to meet your Great-Grandma and Papa Wilson (Papa Jack's parents) this week. Papa Jack took them to meet you. They were so happy to finally get to see you! Great-Grandma Wilson said that you were cute as a button! She also talked about how much hair you had, and she said that you looked like your Dad. It was the first time they had seen your home, and they just loved YOUR room with all of the jungle animals!!

One of your Mom's best friends, Courtney, also got to meet you this week. She lives in California, but was home for a few days and stopped by to see you while she was here.

You have been a very popular little man since you arrived. We are all so proud of you, Nolan.

Sleep tight. . .I love you sweet boy.

GiGi