It’s a Happy Sunday in Pittsburgh! Right now, I’m quietly in my room at Katie, Anthony & Gabriel’s house, in my suite, affectionately called “CeCe’s Chateau!” I'm just waiting to hear from Katie that they are up...it's terribly quiet downstairs!!! I am happily in Pittsburgh for a few days, getting lots of Gabriel time. He is growing and although his little legs are still little, by little, I mean little…his cheeks are puffing out, and I can’t get enough. Honestly, it’s amazing how things have changed in the last three weeks. I can actually see his life patterns via an app on Katie’s phone. She showed me his eating/sleeping patterns yesterday. Technology is amazing!!! I smiled when Katie said, “I might be crazy, but I can already see his little personality developing!” So sweet! He and I have had lots of eye to eye chats…I hope to have him “cooing” by the time I leave here!! Katie i...
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Feelin’ the Love!! Today, just a short note to follow up on the kindness post from the other day! Baby Gabriel is just a little over two weeks old and I have been blessed with sweet cards and notes from so many people! Kindness at its best!! Katie & Anthony have received love and thoughtful gifts from friends and family. It’s amazing what a baby can do! LOL!! I keep thinking about that Christmas song…”A Baby Changes Everything” which has always made Katie and me laugh. It is about the birth of Jesus, and how His birth changed the world. We used to laugh because oh yeah, a baby does change everything! Today, knowing that our worlds were changed forever when that sweet boy entered the world, I don’t know that I’ll ever think about those words the same way again! This baby Gabriel has changed everything! I have a quick FaceTime chat with him every day…even if he is asleep, I make sure he hears my ...
Be Kind… For the past few days, I have seen this sign on the ramp onto I-71. Each day, as I merge into traffic and head to work, I’ve seen it. The sign is handwritten, simple, but to me, powerful! Be Kind! (my picture is just a sample of what the sign looks like...due to safety reasons, I could not take a picture of the actual sign!) I remember when Katie was going to school for the first time. We were talking about all of the new friends she would be meeting. Then, I told her, “You don’t have to be best friends with everyone, but you do have to be kind to everyone.” She probably didn’t really understand that at the time, after all, it hadn’t really sunk in for me until adulthood. But, we practiced that concept every day. When I walk into Mt. Notre Dame every day, I turn it on. I try to smile and acknowledge everyone who I pass in the halls…that includes fellow s...
Legal Matters I don’t know how many of you know this about me, but I am an advocate of being prepared for the end of life. Not that I'm anxious to be a part of that, but it is a reality! Some of this has come from seeing others caught up in difficult proceedings after the death of a loved one. The unexpected tragic death, where there was no will, or no end of life instructions, have caused friends to tackle the system, costing money and time. Sadly, it has caused them to lose time during their grieving process. Greg and I helped one of his cousins, who is alone, get her affairs in order as well. She is older than us, never married, and although she doesn’t have a lot, she lives in a town with no relatives. We helped her get a will and a living will and someday, when the time comes, Greg will be her power of attorney. For her, she was grateful and relieved and it got me thinking about others who may nee...
HELLLLLLOOOOO SUNDAY!! I’m starting today off in a cheery mood! After all, I have a new name, CeCe, and I couldn’t be more excited! The newest member of our family is doing great and although a little sleepy, the new parents are doing remarkably well. I’ve had a few days at home to reflect on a variety of things. I wasn’t sure what I was going to talk about today and but it hit me. In a short period of time, a lot of things had happened! As most of you know, I’m 61 years old. I’ve had lots of life and I fully intend to have a lot more. The reality is, we never know where life will take us. Shortly before Gabriel was born, we received the startling news from a friend who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is a strong young woman (35) and has an incredible tribe and team of doctors, and she fully intends to "kick cancer's butt. Nevertheless, it shakes you up. ...
CeCe & Gabriel Bonding… Part 2: Well, by the time you read this, I’ll be traveling home to Cincinnati after the most amazing few days with my first grandchild. I had planned to head out Sunday, then I was asked to stick around until Tuesday, and then, I was invited for one more night. It’s no surprise that I jumped at the chance to stay. After all, how could I leave? Gabriel has stolen my heart…for sure! If I haven’t mentioned it, he is perfect in every way and after spending a lot of time with him and his parents, I know he is going to have a beautiful life. On Tuesday, he had a “weigh-in” at the doctor’s office We thought he’d be tipping the scale, but it seems he needs to eat a little more! Everything else is great and feeding isn’t a problem…I can only wish that a doctor would tell me the same thing someday…eat a little more! Today, al...
Happy Grandparents Day!!! Part 1 AHHHHHH!!! Those words have never been truer for me than they are today! The way I am feeling today, I think these words could work any day of the year for me!! By now, most of you know I AM OFFICIALLY A GRANDMA …I can now use my Grandma name, CeCe!! I have been with Katie almost non-stop since Thursday afternoon, when her labor began slowly. To try and recount this story in one blogpost would be the end of my blogging career, however, I can try to share what these past few days have been like. I plan to devote today and Wednesday to this real life experience…Pardon me if I ramble! If you aren’t a fan of this type of thing, I get it! I won’t be offended! After arriving in Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon, the reality that I would soon be a grandma was crazy! Katie was taking it in stride, about every ten minutes when those lovely pains would ...
Are you guilty? Gosh… GUILT ! Where does it come from? I’m not really sure but this is why it is my blog post today! Yesterday, I had counseling! Oh, I love my counselor. She has a way of listening then helping me focus on my “issues of the day!” And somehow, there is always an "issue of the day!" When I started talking, I started with how I was kind of weepy…not bad weepy, just tired and easy to cry. She said, “let’s talk about it!” So I started in with thankfully, Baby T did not come over the weekend since I had a wedding to coordinate and I thought that sounded bad, selfish. Katie and I had laughed about it, and of course, she is and always will be my first priority, but when I heard myself saying it out loud, I sounded so selfish. I know there is no way to control a baby's arrival. UGH! Then, I mentioned my Mom. We have been dealing with whether o...
HAPPY LABOR DAY! Today is my Sunday blog…but I am actually preparing it on Thursday night. This is Labor Day weekend…the last official weekend of summer vacation. I hope you are enjoying beautiful weather! I am writing this on Thursday because this weekend, I will be coordinating a wedding in Louisville. Some of you know that I have done this before but I haven’t been actively doing it for awhile. Partly because I’m busy, but mainly because at this point in my life, my energy level is waning. It takes a lot of energy to be the “day of” coordinator for a wedding! It will take me a couple of days to recover! This wedding is special. The bride belongs to one of my high school classmates who I had re-connected with while they lived in Cincinnati. Five years ago, their other daughter was married in Louisville and my friend, Lyn and I were the coordinators for them. It was a ...