The Kruger Family: August 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

Sad Sunday

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.-- Author Unknown

On Sunday we lost Lucy, our beloved dog of 12 years. I knew that this day would come at some point, but I wasnt ready. She was her normal, happy self on Saturday. While she was taking her nap in her normal spot, she never woke up. It gives me peace to know that she was happy before she left and didnt appear to be in any distress, she seemed just fine and happy, even before that nap. I think I just expected for there to be some signs that this day was coming. I just wasnt ready. But are are you ever ready to lose someone you love?
Its hard to not get caught up in everyday life and take things for granted. Take a minute today to appreciate everyone and everything in your life. So quickly things can change.

Strange...how can one feel grateful and sadness at the same time?

I will miss your smile and your wagging tail. A smile and a tail? Yes, only two of your endearing traits. I'll miss seeing you balancing on the curb when we took our walks; dogs don't usually do that, to which you'd probably have answered, "but I'm not a dog". I always envisioned you holding an umbrella while walking on a tightrope. I miss your rationale that if someone crosses their legs, it meant you should come and place your paw on their foot, as though asking for a pedicure. I miss how you were always happy to see me, actually, you were thrilled to greet anyone who came to the door, sure they were here to see you and slightly frustrated that I'd get in the way. I miss how you'd wag your tail when I walked past, no matter how tired you were. You definitely knew you were loved. I miss your presence as a member of our family. You brought us much joy and I'm so glad you were with us.

Sadness and grateful? Almost sounds oxymoronic...my sadness will lessen over time but my memories of you, the funny times, the joy, these things I will always be grateful for. Another lesson in life.

She was my buddy. My sweet girl. I will miss you. I love you.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Oh the worries!

I have come to realize that once you have a baby, guilt and worry begins....and I don't know that it ever stops. You think that once they are born, you can relax a little knowing that they are finally here and safe and healthy.....oh no! You just move on to the next set of worries.

There is the guilt and worry that you bring upon yourself, and then there is the guilt and worry that others bring onto you....."are you nursing?" "is he sleeping through the night?" "can he lift his head on his own?" "can he sit up?" "is he crawling?" "does he have teeth yet?" "what percentile is he in for his height and weight?" "does he say any words yet?" "what waiting lists are you on for pre-school?" "do you read to him every night and play classical music for him while he is playing?" "my child does this and that, what does your do?" "you make all your own baby food right?"

..it never ends. Every baby is different and accomplishes milestones at different rates. I have come to realize that you just have to answer all these questions with a big smile and brush it off; because most of the time, your baby is right on track! I could drive myself crazy comparing him all the time!

I was a Sun Harvest with Eli and my mom and a very nice Sun Harvest employee offered Eli a raspberry cookie. While it was a very nice offer, Eli doesn't have any teeth, and his diet consists of pureed food and breast milk. So I smiled and kindly thanked her but let her know that he isn't eating cookies yet and is only on baby food. You would have thought I just told her that I was starving him and depriving him of any nourishment by the way she looked me up and down and gave a sad look to Eli! The kid has no teeth!

Blaine, Eli and I were waking into Maudie's on Friday night for dinner (Eli wasn't actually walking into Maudie's, Blaine was holding him). As we were walking in, there was a couple walking out, about our age, holding a baby girl. The dad looks Blaine right in the eye, gave him a head nod (as to say "hey, I got a question for you"), pointed at Eli and said "How old?" Blaine replied with "seven months, how old is yours?" The guy, no joke, pointed at his daughter, said "eight months" and gave another head nod (as to say "yeah, what do you think about that!"). He was sizing us up! And you get that a lot with a baby!

I can remember clearly having a mini mom meltdown thinking that Eli was behind and that we needed to work with him on things to get him up to speed. Come on, sounds silly doesn't it?! After I was able to take a step back and look at myself and how ridiculous of a mom I was being, I realized the lesson that every parent learns at some point in time. You hear it over and over, but you don't understand the significance of it until you are faced with this very situation. "Every baby is different"!
I keep reminding myself that each day is precious and before I know it Eli will be grown up and I will wish I had the milestones back, and the days of watching him learn how to smile, sit up, make eye contact, figure out how to make cooing noises, learning how to crawl and walk...those will be a thing of the past.
I want the world to slow down a little bit, because already, he is growing up too fast!

He is already hitting on the girls, and thinking he is waaaay too cool! (check out that lip!!!!)

Eli and Sophia

Not to mention, he already has some smooth moves, but a little too forward with the ladies....

Eli and Avery
We finally got to meet Avery!!! The lovebirds really hit it off. We will have to watch and see what happens with these two. I can tell you one thing, when we got home we had a talk about moving too fast with the ladies. I explained to him that you shouldnt go to first base on the first date!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Yummy!

Can you guess my meal????

A. Peas

B. Sweet Potatoes

C. My Bib

D. Carrots

You may think, judging my the sumo legs and plump cheeks that Eli likes to eat just about anything...but quite the contrary!
At the moment his diet consists of sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, and banana! I am hoping this is an indication that he will have an appetite more like me than Blaine!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Lake Tahoe Kruger Trip

We just got back from our Kruger Family Trip to Truckee Lake Tahoe, where we stayed at The Cedar House Sport Hotel. There were four generations of Krugers on this trip...what a way to begin Eli's travels! This is a trip that the whole family looks forward to every year, and is hosted by our very gracious grandmother, Maw.

This was Eli's first trip, and I started a packing list about a month before we actually left. I wanted to make sure I had everything we may possibly need while we were there. We had a great time on the trip. The only hiccup we encountered was the fact that Eli DID NOT sleep! Maybe it was the altitude, the dry air, the strange hotel room and pack n' play...or maybe he just decided to stay on Central time and disregard the 2 hour time change; hence waking up at 430am every morning ready to start the day! Blaine and I were zombies by the time the trip was over. I needed a vacation from our vacation. But the fun didn't end there....not only was our flight delayed coming home, but our AC died the night before we left, so we camped out at my parents house for the next 5 nights until our AC could be replaced (thank goodness for American Home Shield!).

Eli did wonderful on the flight on the way there (the way home was another story but I will spare you the details). My dad prepped him before the flight to make sure he knew what to expect.

And away we went...

We passed him off to Rachel when the fussing began to give me and Blaine a break, and he slept the whole way.

Eli got to hang out with his cousins....

Kim playing UP! with Eli in the park

Heather and Eli at the coffee bar

Danielle and Eli at breakfast

Eli briefing Lolly and Pop with the agenda for the dayIt was a very laid back trip this year. We spent one day at the spa, one day at the beach and one day at the park. We even got a talent show hosted by the littlest Krugers on the last night...

Ethan just received the final cut for the Pilot he shot for a show he is working on and we all watched it one night together in the media room. It was hilarious! Keep your fingers crossed the network decided to pick it up....he should find out soon.

Here are just a few more pictures from the trip.....

Rachel, Ethan and Aaron after the hike, relaxing in the shade

Boys will be boys...

Danielle and Noah

Eitan and Elaine

Some of the clan hanging at the beach

Max and Adam

Uncle Effie and Eli

Ethan, Noah, Adam, Zach, Blaine, Jared and David

Maw and Simone

The "grown-ups" visiting in the courtyard

The crew eating a very formal dinner in the courtyard

Lolly and Eli at the beach

Here we are about to head to the airport to come home, happy that Eli's first trip was a success!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Pop

Up until about a month and a half ago, Eli was not so sure what to think about my dad. If you know my dad, you know that he can be, well, for lack of a better word, "rough." He likes to squeeze, and he is loud. He just gets carried away sometimes with how much love he has for you and shows you with a hard hug, or sqeeze of your arm...or even more so, with one of his "Davidisms." Davidisms is what we decided to call all of the little sayings my dad says that he is known for. If you know my dad, you certianly know what I am talking about. Here is the latest one....
"get me some ketsup Im going to eat him for dinner!" (referring to Eli).

I knew Eli would come around, and has he ever!!!!! He LOVES his Pop (which I always knew he would)!!!! I love seeing my dad with Eli. Its truly amazing how happy it makes him to see his grandson. When we are together, Eli will watch Pop's every move until Pop sees him and comes over to give him some attention. I always knew that having a baby would be rewarding but I never thought that one of the thousands of reasons would be to see how happy my parents are when they are with thier grandson.

I feel like when I see my dad with Eli I see a little part of my grandfather, Pa, who passed away before I knew him well. My dad always says "If Pa were alive you would have him wrapped around his finger and he would give you anything you wanted!" I gotta say, my dad takes after his father, and not just his looks! I miss Pa a lot and wish that he was here to meet Eli. I think they would be the best of friends. I know that he is watching above. But the next best thing is seeing that little part of Pa through my dad everytime he sees Eli.