November News!
On a recent Saturday, I was sitting in the kitchen when Dotter and MuzicMan came down to deliver some things they purchased for me at Sam’s Club. Then Dotter hops up saying, “Oh, Mom, I brought you something, but I left it in the car! Be right back.” And off she goes.
She returned and sat down across the island from me and handed me this book . . . .
and said, “Remember how you collected Little Golden Books illustrated by Eloise Wilkin when we were little? Well, I don’t think you have this one.”
She was right. I don’t have this one, so I oohed and aahed over the book before noticing there was a paper sticking out of the top of it. I figured she’d just left the receipt folded up inside. But as I opened the book, which is in mint condition by the way, I realized it was a card with beautiful printing on the front . . .
How thoughtful my Dotter is! Not only had she bought me a first edition of an Eloise Wilkin book that I don’t already have, but she bought me a first edition! I was thinking just how sweet she was to see this book and order it for me for no reason at all, and then I opened the card to find this . . .
Pause.
Read again.
Look up in confusion.
Put hands to face and cry out,
“OH MY GOSH!”
Through tears I laid the book down and quickly made the few steps it took to reach her and embrace her, sobbing. I was literally sobbing. Oh yes, they were tears of joy, but I was also shocked and certainly surprised because I had given up all hope that she would give me a grandchild. I had stopped asking after their failed attempts at pregnancy last year, and I just assumed they had given up hope and feared that my asking about the possibility would only rub salt into the wound.
Needless to say, we are all thrilled. The baby is due near the end of April, and they waited until past the 12-week mark to publicly announce the pregnancy. Of course they used social media to let the extended masses know, but this is what their generation does, and I can find no fault! Below is what they posted to their social media platforms. For those of you who don’t know us personally, both Dotter and MuzicMan are musically gifted, teach music in schools, give private lessons, and do the music at their church. Plus, MuzicMan is part of a contemporary band called Voodoo Bayou while they both perform for weddings. Considering all this, you must give them kudos for originality.
And Monday night at Trunk of Treats at their church, their choice of costume let anyone who had not already heard the great news, know the source of our joy!
Isn’t that just the cutest idea ever? Oh yes, I’ve been told that I am going to become “crazy stupid in love” with this baby, and I’ve no doubt that’s true. I’ve waited a long time for something I had decided might never happen before I leave this earth. So, in 2017 I will join the ranks of grandparents and know the love of and for a grandchild. It can’t come soon enough, my friends.
And on the heels of this life-changing announcement came another one; this time from my youngest child. You may know him as Termite. He was just 11 when I started writing this blog in 2007, and now a tugboat captain-in-training, at the young age of 20. The news is . . .
Termite and Coco are engaged! They have been dating for about two years, and she is a lovely young lady who is already part of the family. They, in their very non-traditional way, have been tossing around ideas for their wedding; such as, getting married in a boat on Lake Decade, or having a wedding in the front yard with a Viking theme. I’ll do my best to help them have the wedding of their dreams, but I might just have to draw the line at a wedding dress made of camouflage, even though it might be her favorite color! (Is camo even a color?)
So, major life changes are happening down the bayou. I have thoroughly enjoyed this fall weather, although they say it’s been warmer and drier than in recorded history. The fish love it, too, and have been biting like crazy, which I will post about soon.
Meanwhile, it’s time to make plans for our bayou Thanksgiving Feast. This year we plan to purchase a turkey stuffed with crawfish/rice dressing from Hebert’s Specialty Meats in Maurice, LA. It will be well worth the drive to pick it up!
What have you been up to? And what are your Thanksgiving Menu ideas? Let me know below!
Happy Fall, y’all!
BW
I squealed with delight at BOTH announcements!!! How exciting. Just FYI–I know how to make a camo wedding cake. Happy times!!!
OH no no no no! Unless Termite wants that as his “groom’s cake”. How awesome is that!! Never ever heard of such a thing, nor have I seen one. What’s the cake flavor? Chocolate? It’s all exciting, isn’t it?
Congrats to both Dotter and Termite! You do know that Blue Bell makes a Camo Ice-cream now?
No, I did NOT know! Please don’t give them any ideas, LOL! Hey – trout are moving in, my friend!
Bloody fantastic news all around! LOVE the shirts on Dotter & MuzicMan – definitely Pyrate Approved™
Big hugs from the Pyrates for Coco & The Not-Little-Anymore-Termite (and all the Billiot Clan)…Viking Theme? Have they been chatting with the QM? LOL
We miss y’all – and think o’ ye even more than usual as our new home on “Pyrate Island” has the same style o’ lift bridges o’er the Canal as ye have in the Bayou (the older ones especially).
I knew you’d like the shirts! Viking theme? Well, we went back to the beginning of the Vikings History series and watched them all in a Viking binge watch! But you are the one who clearly pointed out to me that I am most certainly a Viking descendant, since my maternal grandmother came over on a ship from Denmark in the early 1900s. It truly explains my love of being on the water and explains why I’m a boat captain, too! And it also explains why three of my sons work on boats, too. I only regret that I didn’t identify with this heritage much younger in life. I’m happy for you in your new home and “bayou” reminders!
This is fantastic news!!! You can’t imagine the love you have for your grandchild until you actually have one. And the method of letting you know the good news was so sweet. The shirts were great too.
Congrats to Termite too. We were blessed to have a fantastic daughter in law and son in law and it sounds like you will be too.
I will warn you though, if you walk thru a store that has a baby section, be sure you have a really, really large cart. 🙂
A really large cart AND a big pocket book!!! That’s what I keep hearing! Really looking forward to this new season of life, Cammy.
congratulations on becoming a grandmother. there is nothing quite like it. happy for you and your family and congratulations also on the up- coming wedding.
Thank you very much, Brunella. I’m really looking forward to the grandbaby!
Congratulations to you and The Captain on your good news!
Thanks!
Congratulations on becoming a grandmother.
I to am going to be a first time Mawmaw and my daughters due April 17,2017. I’m so excited because I never thought I would have grandchildren. What are you gonna have the baby call you???? Crongrats on your youngest sons engagement. God is so good. God Bless and Take Care
Hi Charlotte. Looks like we have a couple things in common! Congratulations to you, also. Well, as a wise friend of mine told me, “Honey, that grandbaby will call you whatever it wants to and believe me, you will answer!” I’m sure she’s right, but Dotter thought “Winnie” would be suitable, because I DO NOT want to me called granny, LOL! Down here, Mawmaw was my mother-in-law, and Ma-maw was my mother, so those names won’t be used for me. I think “grandmother” is too formal and “grandma” is just sort of plain. I know you didn’t ask for a thesis on grandmother names, but you asked so . . . . Winnie it shall be. I’ve already tried it out on my great niece, and she has called me that since she could talk, and I love it. God is so good, and his blessings are endless.
I’m so happy for you! I had to move from Georgia to washington state to have grandchildren, so I know how you feel. Congratulations to everyone.
Well, I certainly don’t have to move states, but life would be a little simpler if I moved from down the bayou into the nearby town in which Dotter and Muzicman live if I’m to help out. I just don’t see that happening, though, since much of my work centers around my boat and the waters down here, plus the camp rental. So, it’s only a 35-minute drive, and that will just have to do. It doesn’t seem like much, but everyone seems so busy that a half hour drive sometimes seems difficult to make. I’ll figure it all out somehow! Thank you for the shared happiness! Any grandmotherly advice for me?
Just lots of hugs and kisses! That’s all they need. I am my granddaughter’s big toy. She thinks I can do anything and I love it like that!
Congrats on the wonderful news…a grandbaby AND a wedding! How blessed you are! I too just found out I’m going to be a first time grandmother in June, 2017. I had to laugh…my reaction to the news was very similar to yours. Best wishes to all!
Wonderful news! We both have something precious to look forward to,, Lynn! Blessings to you and your family, too!
Taking 2 seconds! Congrats to everyone!
BTW…I’m partial to Memaw, but I guess Winnie will do. Lol!
Well, if you only have two seconds, you must be a very BUSY Memaw, LOL! I’m glad my grandmother name as the Steffi seal of approval!
Oh… the planning and excitement, begins… So Happy for ya’ll! I know you are enjoying every minute!
Hugs and love!
Much love and big hugs back, Cuz.
Oh, my gosh. When you said November News, I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. How exciting, all the way around. It’s going to be a wonderful, exciting time. As for that wedding attire — well, we just had a wedding in the family (in the Tulsa region) where, instead of little girls throwing rose petals from baskets before the bride, two little boys fired rose petals from potato guns while wearing their cowboy boots and hats. You just never know!
It will be fun to follow as events unfold. I have no doubt you’ll keep us up to date!
You’re as shocked as I was, I bet!!! I didn’t see either one of these newsworthy events coming. Looks like we’re planning a January wedding, after all. Not even all the family knows that part yet, as I think the date was just chosen this past weekend. The plans are slowly coming together. Wedding on a match-stick budget are the best ones, I think. Lots of planning, family involvement, home cooking, etc. Those are the best gatherings in my opinion!