Clothes to Remember

We may have the next Ilene Beckerman on our hands!

Let me explain ...

Kate can remember specific outfits that she wore specific places MONTHS ago! I have been flabbergasted recently by her clothing memory. Maybe this is pretty normal--I don't know. But I am still surprised at her ability to recall such details at such a young age.

Back in about 1995 or so, Ilene Beckerman came out with a book called Love, Loss and What I Wore. I happened to be writing for the Johnson City Press at the time and wrote a review on the book, which I LOVED. It basically chronicled her life by, well, what she wore. In her book she included sketches of outfits worn for important life events as well as some favorite ensembles--in addition to the memories asscoiated with them. It was a tribute to a lifetime of fashion and how what we wear can affect our memories, etc. At the time I was majoring in communications (journalism concentration, of course) and minoring in apparel merchandising. I hoped to write for a fashion magazine. (SO glad that didn't work out, let me tell you!) But anyway ...

So today I was going through some of Kate's size 2 (and some 3) clothing. A friend from church was coming over to see if there was anything her daughter (about a year younger than Kate) could use. I was not organized enough to participate in a consignment sale this year, so this was a good opportunity for me to organize Kate's wardrobe and to get her closet ready for fall and winter.

I held up a yellow alligator outfit from Gymboree. I was hoping it would still fit (it didn't) because she only wore it a few times, and it is so cute. I held it up, and Kate said, "New friend!" I was shocked because she wore this outfit on one of our first play dates with our neighbors back in March. At the time, Kate called their little girl, Julia, her "new friend." :o) So I asked Kate what she meant by "new friend" today, and she said, "Julia! I wore that with Julia!" (Or something like that--I can't remember exactly, as it's been a long day of potty-training.) :o) This was back in March, I think.

She also has these heart pants that she started calling her "HippoHopp" pants recently. She wore them to HippoHopp several months ago (but also wore them other places). Then there is the elephant shirt that we came across while doing laundry. "I wore that at Aunt Robin's house," she said. Right again!

Just before bed, we were putting her room back together after I pretty much tore out her closet today. A hot pink Gymboree shirt with candy bears on it was at the top of a tote of clothes for her to wear this fall and winter. She saw it and said, "I can wear a bear shirt like Anna-Claire wore!" OK, her cousin Anna-Claire had a shirt just like this last year or the year before (not the same actual shirt, as ours is a size 3T and still NWT--I am a buy-ahead person--though I think we had this same shirt in a 2T). Anyway, I am not even kidding! I cannot believe that Kate remembered that Anna-Claire had a shirt like that--and wore it months ago.

Back in July when I took Kate to have her 2-year photos made, I pulled out a Hanna Andersson dress that I bought last year for her to wear this year. She had only worn it once or twice, and it was a great dress for her to wear for her pictures, I thought. "Jamie has this dress!" she said. And she was right. Her friend Jamie has the same dress--but Kate hadn't been around Jamie when she'd been wearing it for a while.

Just yesterday I was wearing my Alzheimer's Association shirt that has the word "WALK" across the front. (This isn't the "Team Grammy" shirt that I wore to the walk, but a different one.) Kate asked me what it spelled (common question for her these days), and I said, "Walk." To which she replied, "With Grammy!" (I know this one isn't exactly about remembering the clothes, but I wanted to include it anyway.)

I know there are more examples of clothing-related memories, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

OK, so maybe this is all normal and and not a big deal, but I am pretty amazed at this kid's memory. And if I appear to be bragging, well, this is my blog and most of the stuff here is for our kids and family anyway. So there. Just watch what you wear around my daughter. She will remember.

Peekaboo

Celine's Shower

Celine's delightful shower was held last month at the beautiful home of Jane and Jeremy. This is Celine and Don's first child, and everyone is so excited for them. Their little bundle of joy is due to make his or her appearance very soon!


Bebe balloons


The table looked so cute!


Adorable pastries from a French bakery (Celine is from France.)


I LOVED these little baby squirties that Jane had--they made perfect gender-neutral shower decorations.


Yum!


Sisters-in-law ... Celine and Jane


Celine with a few of her friends


Mrs. Scott--one of the grandmothers. :o) Speaking of grandmothers, there wasn't a dry eye in the house when Celine received some special cards from her mother and sister (who both live in France). What a special surprise!


Thanks for having me--it was a lovely shower! We are thinking of you, Celine! XOXO

Shepherd's Baby Shower

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending two special baby showers for two sisters-in-law (of each other)--Jane and Celine. Jane is the wife of Jeremy, who is the brother of Don, who is married to Celine. (Tanna went to high school with Don, who is Jeremy's older brother. Are you following? ;o)) Anyway, Jane and Jeremy (and Jasper, their older son and Kate's friend) recently welcomed Shepherd into the family. And very soon ... Don and Celine will be welcoming their first child. They decided--like Jane and Jeremy and unlike myself ;o)--not to find out the gender. We will be finding out if it's a boy or a girl soon enough, though. (Is this post making any sense? If not, I apologize, as it is late and my brain is tired.) Anyway, I think it is wonderful that these two cousins will be so close in age! We are so excited for this family. I will write about Jane's shower first and maybe I can post about Celine's shower tomorrow.


The shower was a brunch held at the beautiful home of one of Jane's aunts. Here is a balloon to welcome guests and to show the way.


Cute decorations! I didn't get a lot of photos, but everything looked so nice.


Jane looked so beautiful--hard to believe that she had just given birth a few weeks before. She received so many lovely gifts.


The guest of honor--sound asleep. So precious!


There he is again, in his Mimi's arms. What a cutie!


A few of the shower guests with Jane. What a lovely shower--thank you for including me!

The Chief End of Man

Tanna teaches Kate the first Q&A from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. We need to work on getting her to answer in complete sentences. ;o)

Q: What is the chief end of man?
A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

This was taken last week on Tanna's iPhone. Yes, Kate is actually sitting on the tray of Isaac's high chair. No, I was not at home and do not condone this. LOL! Well, I do condone memorizing the catechism, just not the sitting on the high chair tray.

Kate is wearing her reindeer PJs. Yes, she still requests to wear them all the time! Who knew? They're not even that cute, but she loves them, so there you go.

Isaac Walks!

Isaac is walking! This video was taken last Tuesday (September 14, 2010). It was the last of several that night in our attempt to get Isaac taking some steps on camera. :o) I'd seen him take a step here and a step there before, but I am not sure if that really counted. But I think this does! Actually, just this morning, he took several steps in the living room--though he still prefers to crawl. I am sure he will be walking and running all over Dixie before too long. Way to go! What a big boy!

Isaac's Elephant-Themed Baby Shower

Over Labor Day Weekend, we traveled to Tennessee for Isaac's baby shower. The theme was elephants--like any young Republican, right? JK!!--and the colors were brown and blue. The shower was hosted by the wonderful, lovely and awesome Aunt Robin, Aunt Anne and Mrs. Jennifer (one of my very best friends from high school--we've been friends for about five years now. hahahaha!). My sister and BIL opened their lovely home for the occasion, and we were so thankful to see so many friends and family members.


Isaac, the guest of honor, wore an adorable elephant shirt made by the ever-talented Dana of Plum Tree Studio. He looked pretty handsome in it, don't you think? ;o) (Dana and her DH, Ben, are in our adoption group.)


Kate also wore an elephant shirt for the party, but hers was more feminine. She also wore her beautiful big-sister locket, a gift from my wonderful friend Kristi and her family.


Table setup--I thought everything looked fabulous!


Here I am with the fantastic shower hostesses with the mostesses! They did a beautiful job! (THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!)


Check out this awesome diaper cake that Jennifer made. She is so talented and creative! I hated to take the cake apart.


Aunt Anne and Aunt Robin in Aunt Robin and Uncle Steven's fabulous new kitchen. Look at the CFA--YUM!


Here's Isaac with Grampy and Grammy. He is totally eyeing Grammy's plate of food--ha!


Isaac with Uncle Johnny and sporting his elephant bib. (I think Tanna had just fed him.)


Check out these Hershey Miniatures with "Welcome Isaac" wrappers--too cute!


Speaking of Uncle Johnny, do you see him in this photo? ha! Look at the wonderful diaper wreath that Grammy and Grampy brought for the occasion.


Jennifer and me--today just so happens to be her birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNIFER! In all honesty, we have known each other since about 1990 or so, I think. So a good 20 years, I suppose.


Going slightly further back ... here I am with my friend Michelle. We've known each other, as I like to say, since the Reagan administration (as in ... 1985 ... sixth grade, people!).


Opening presents--everyone was so generous with the gifts. I wish I'd gotten a photo of them before we started opening. Playing on the television in the background is a slideshow of the photos the talented Rhonda Dixon took of Isaac's arrival at the airport.


Continuing the elephant theme ... Jennifer brought this cute elephant hat for Isaac to wear, but he's not too keen on hats these days. I hope he starts to like them, though, because I love hats!


I put together these bags of peanuts as party favors. Super easy, and I thought they turned out pretty cute!


The labels I ordered from VistaPrint.

We are so, so grateful for everyone who worked so hard to put together such a special shower for Isaac--and we are also thankful for everyone who came to celebrate with us and for all the generous gifts. XOXO It was so nice to see so many loved ones! What a very special day, and we are truly appreciative.

Gooooo Team Grammy! (Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk 2010)

We are so proud of our niece Rebekah! She decided to celebrate her birthday by raising money for the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in honor of Grammy! She put together a great team of walkers for the big event, which was Saturday in Kingsport. Kate and I were so excited to be part of the group. Bekah had a sleepover the night before, and some of her friends joined us on the walk as well.


Do you like the awesome shirts Robin had printed? I love the Super Man design with the "G" on the front. Here is what the back looks like.


The Alzheimer's Association also had these printouts you could fill in to walk in honor or in memory of someone.


Rebekah was the second-highest fund-raiser for the Kingsport event. Way to go! Here she is being recognized before the walk started.


She also got to cut the ribbon to start the walk!


So exciting!


Grammy with Rebekah and Riley before the walk


With Abigail and Anna-Claire


Kate with Grammy and Grampy (Isaac and Tanna stayed in Georgia over the weekend.)


It was a beautiful day ... and a beautiful walk.


Grammy and Grampy on the course, which was the path around Duck Island


Carolyn (Steven's Mom), Robin and Grammy


We each took a turn walking with Grammy around the island--Robin's turn!


My turn!


Johnny's turn ... after a quick snack break!


Some of our team


More of our team--all the way in Spain! Aunt Cindy, Uncle Joe and the kids walked in Spain during the same time we were walking in Tennessee. :o)


And back in Tennessee ... even more of our team. The girls were so cute. :o)


Aunt Robin, Rebekah and Riley (Uncle Steven was participating in spirit--he couldn't walk this year because he is still recovering from surgery.)


Aunt Anne and Uncle Johnny


Rebekah and Riley with Ms. Tracey, the area director for the association


What a wonderful event--thanks for letting us be a part of it!