Big D (or Big Bug)

This morning as Husband was leaving for work, I said, "So what day is it?" If you wonder why I share that bit of information...The reason is two-fold. First, it's been a little busy in these parts lately. And secondly, that is why I feel totally justified in posting photos from a visit that happened several weeks ago.  

In Gainesvegas, NeeNee rules.

(NeeNee AKA BigD AKA the incrediably rare Drawlin' Fruity Fly, native to the wilds of Northern Georgia in the United States. Pictured here on a boat in the fjord.)

My brother, his wife and their two children live around the corner from her.  My sister and her son live a little bit farther, but still close enough that if Jack was old enough to run away from home and if he wanted to head to NeeNee's, he could probably make it there quickly and pretty safely on foot. 

And when I say NeeNee rules, it's not in the creepy, overbearing, roll-your-eyes sort of way. She never drops in or offers unsolicited advice or horns in.  (These are massively important qualities.) 

I mean that she really does know how to do things and will help if you ask her.  Also, she shows up when babies arrive to get them straightened out and to let the moms sleep. 

Then, pretty much immediately afterward, she babysits or carts them around or just coos over them and helps them learn crucial things like how to share, how to keep their fingers out of their noses and the alphabet. `

So when we knew that we were having Pickle, I knew that being no where within close proximity to Gainesvegas would make it hard. I know that people all over the world have babies and handle it just fine all on their own, but I didn't want to.  I wanted my mom to come immediately and help us before we screwed everything up.  

But we live thousands of miles and six time zones away, plus she's still working, so we decided to wait until her spring break (BigD is a special education teacher.) So it was three LONG weeks until she arrived. 

And while Husband and I survived the first two weeks with Elliot all on our own and it was nice to get things started together, it was challenging ---  especially since Husband had to take care of me, too.  

So were all really, really glad when NeeNee stepped off the plane. 

This is what happened next....

Elliot wore his fancy outfit to meet NeeNee at the airport. He wanted to make a good first impression.

Finally she appears.  See that bag on the bottom?  It's filled with goodies for Elliot and a few for us. We all got teary, me most of all. I was tired and hadn't seen her since early November.  That's much too long.

 

We waited until Husband got home to spread out the goods, but she took Elliot immediately. 

He loved it. 

She brought him an alligator sleeper and fed him his very first bottle so we could go to meet some friends for a bit. 

And she worried the whole time that Lillie or Milo would eat Elliot. That won't happen. It is much more like they would eat her. 

Dressed up and ready to go sightseeing. 

They were tight immediately. 

Big D loved going to the grocery store and seeing things like the giant displays of potatoes.

She also loved seeing the magazines about her age group filled with pictures of old ladies.  Check the cover model on this one. Big D smokes her.

Elliot had so much fun, he passed out most days. 

She worked on key skills like grasping...

And taking a pacifier. (this one hasn't really stuck.)

Elliot took her around town. 

Then he and I sat in the car, while...

Husband showed her things.

And more things. 

She sneaked* into a backyard to take a photo...

of this view.

And Husband took her through Old Stavanger. 

We headed out to the sea and the WWII bunkers.

"Well I guess I should climb in one."

She looks the part, no?

She saw sheep.  I saw dinner. mmmm little lambs eat ivy.

She got him to sit in what we now refer to as The Magic Chair.

We went on a fjord tour. It was windy.

Big D or Big Bug?

Big D likes to participate.

Big D and Priekestolen.

But after a while, leaving what was inside the boat was too hard...

.

So we just looked out the window at the sights.

And read about it in the guidebook.

Nope, those are not my skinny jeans, yet. But soon....

Bill loves motorcycles, so we had to go take a photo of it for BigD to show him.

We all went to dinner.

Then we all went home.

Then it was time for NeeNee to head back.

And she left us with a clean house, pictures hung in all the right places, piles of clean laundry, a baby that was a little more settled and a really good visit. We're all ready for our trip back in June.

*Yes, sneaked. Not snuck.  Snuck is not a word, no matter how common the usage of the word is becoming.  "Snuck" makes my eyes and ears bleed.