Happy Birthday, Libby!

Tomorrow is Libby's birthday, and I can't let the day go by without a little reminiscing. It seems like only yesterday that we were all gathered in the waiting area of the Northport DCH waiting on our little one. It was so obvious how much she and her parents were loved by the number of family and friends waiting on her arrival.
Libby's full name is Libby JoAnna Pate. The JoAnna comes from my mother, JoAnn, and my grandmother, Anna. It is actually the name that I wanted to give Savannah, but Dennis got to pick her name since I chose Parker's. (Savannah's name is another blog!) Savannah and Jason chose to honor my mom and grandmother by naming her JoAnna, and it means a lot to me that they did.
Speaking of Jason. What an awesome husband and father! Jason stood with Savannah throughout the delivery and helped her so much after the delivery--not only with Libby's needs but Savannah's physical needs as well. What a man!!
When Libby was born, of course the discussion was all about "Who does she look like?" At first, she favored Savannah's baby pictures with those big blue eyes.



The older she got, though, I knew she was the spitting image of her dad, or more so her Pop Pop, Mike. I've even told Mike that if he ever wanted to know what he would look like as a girl to take a look at Libby. One of the first physical features that everyone pointed out were her lips--Angelina Jolie lips is what everyone said. Now, I'm not an Angelina Jolie fan, but she does have good lips. LOL

This is my favorite picture of the four girls---formerly three girls.


Like my momma, Savannah, and me, Libby has a head full of hair. Keeping it under control has been a major undertaking, and no, it is not under control yet!




In the beginning, Libby had trouble with reflux and changed formulas four maybe five times before the doctor found the right one. Add to that the uncomfortable braces that she wore on those tiny precious feet twenty-three hours a day, and you would think that Libby would be a miserable child. Perhaps she was for a few months, but not any more. She is always happy; always smiling; never meets a stranger; and very curious. As much as she loved the vacuum cleaner to calm her down and put her to sleep when she was just born, she now hates the vacuum cleaner and runs/cries when it turns on. I say she cries, but to be honest, Libby very rarely cries. Now, she can fake a cry to try to get her way, but she does that rarely. She is her own unique little self with a lot of personality. She has brought joy to our lives.







I've added this one last picture to remind me of her days with the braces and how easy it was to get her to go to sleep. Just cover her face with your hand, blanket, or burp pad and off she goes!




Happy birthday, little one! You are greatly loved!

Libby at 3 months:



Libby at 6 months:


Libby at 9 months:

First Date

Although I am not the type to remember exact dates and half anniversaries, I do remember that Dennis and I had our first date sometime in February. I was living at home with Momma and Daddy having graduated from Livingston the December before. Mrs. Potts had resigned as Librarian/English teacher at P.A., and I was hired in her place. (To sidetrack a little, I remember two things about that first job. First, I was twenty-one years old, and the students in my study hall were seventeen or eighteen. Second, my English class was made up of some of the cutest kids--seventh graders--, and the two I remember the most are Lane Wright with his gigantic grin and Harley Martin who sat on the back of the desk with his cowboy boots in the seat.) Back to the first date. At the time, I was dating a guy at Livingston and going back every weekend to stay with friends and to see him. On this particular weekend, I found out that he and one of my friends had been having a good ole time during the week. Needless to say, that was the end of that for me, and I headed home. I hadn't been home long when the phone rang, and it was Dennis asking me out. Although I knew who Dennis was, he was much older than me. LOL He was a senior when I was a freshman, and during the sixties, these two age groups didn't mix like they do today. (I found out later that he and a bunch of his friends were planning a night out in Columbus. They mentioned seeing me in town and dared him to ask me out. They told him that I probably would not go with him, but I did.) And, even though cars are not important to me, I remember that he drove up in a bright green Grand Prix, I think, with white leather seats. Most people that know me and Dennis know that he is not talkative and that I am shy (yes, I am) until I get to know someone. So, between the two of us probably 10 words were spoken all the way to Columbus. While I had a good time, I remember thinking on the way home that he would probably not ask me out again, and if he did, I may not go. We just did not have anything in common! Later, I found out that he did not plan on asking me out again. Remember I said that I'm not good with dates? Well, the reason I remember February as the month of our first date is because Dennis gave me a box of Valentine candy that night. I was impressed about that, but later found out that he gave out several boxes of candy in the next few days because his friend, Cecil Durrett, who owned Eutaw Drug next door to his store in Eutaw, had bought too many boxes of Valentine candy and Dennis felt sorry for him. Our date ended, and I never expected to hear from him again. The next day, however, I was sitting outside in a swing when he drove by. He stopped and asked me to go the the movies in downtown Alicville. Imitation of Life was the movie, and I cried during most of it. (If you don't remember this movie, it is about a Black woman who passed as white.) So began what has lasted almost 37 years. By the end of March we were engaged, and on June 2 of the same year, we were married.

I'm adding this picture because I have very few of us when we first started dating. We didn't take pictures of everything then like we do today. My daddy had always forbidden me to ride on motorcycles, and Dennis had a Harley. Because I was out of school and working (even though I was still living in his house), he "let" me ride with Dennis on the motorcycle. Maybe it was because he trusted Dennis, or maybe he knew I would ride it anyway. :-)

Moe's

Last night the kids invited us to go with them to Moe's for some good Mexican food and then on to the new cupcake place in Midtown Village. (The cupcakes must be out of this world as they cost $3 each!) While eating, Libby put on a show for us. She is a great imitator and has started making all sorts of funny faces. We tried to capture the "new face" that she is making on film, but it just doesn't do it justice.







The kids and Cheri blame this new face on me, but I don't recall making this face or teaching it to her!

Another of Libby's favorite things to do is dance. She has been dancing since she started pulling herself up. It started as a bounce and then a booty shake. Recently, she has added twisting her upper body and shaking her arms. Anytime or anywhere music can be heard, she will boogie! Recently, she has started creating her own music so that she can dance. She does this by turning on her favorite music in her toys or by "singing." Because of her height, her parents and coach have determined that she will be a basketball player. I think she will be a dancer, or perhaps, she will do both. We shall see!

By the way, the cupcake place had sold out of cupcakes by the time we got there, so they must be good. We'll have to try again later.

Update

Well, it is February 1st and only 9 months until Parker gets home (for good, I hope!). I took a personal leave from school yesterday in order to help Dennis "close shop" at his school. He has found a retired math teacher to take his place until May, so he has opted to stay home. His bad days are starting to outnumber his good days, so this will be good for him.
It is hard to believe that Libby will be one on February 11. Where has time gone? Of course, I can say the same thing about my 29 year old son and 27 year old daughter. It seems like only yesterday that Parker and Savannah were keeping me busy with school, ball, dance, gymnastics, etc. etc. etc. I miss those days, but I am enjoying the time that I now get to spend with Libby. She has changed so much since she was born.



Savannah has a fun party planned for Libby and her friends and their parents. It has made me think back on her parties. I think my favorite was the one she shared with a friend in Selma. Each girl dressed as a model and we videoed them walking down a runway. This was held in her dance studio, so there were mirrors everywhere. I think the girls had fun. She also had a tea party with the girls, dressed like their mom, bringing their favorite dolls; an exercise party at a fitness center; and several softball parties. Savannah and another friend, Brooke, had a spend the night party at our house for the last birthday that we had in Selma. We invited all the girls in the 6th grade. I just remembered something that I use to do for my kids on their birthdays. The birthday "fairy" would come and put balloons from the light fixtures in the main areas of the house. Even now, if they are home, they expect the birthday fairly to say "Happy Birthday!" Needless to say, it was fun! I love being a mom.

Momma has had good news at the last two visits to her doctor. She has lowered her amount of prednisone, and she is trying to walk a little more each day. My mom is my best friend, and it is very hard for me to watch her have difficulty breathing. But, as always, my mom is trying to "protect" me from what is happening to her. Libby is also good for her and Daddy. She makes them laugh.

Not much news around here, but I felt I needed to add an update. Things are getting better for Momma, and they will get better for Dennis.