New Blog Address

I have created a new blog now that Holden is here.

www.crazyinthecleave.blogspot.com

I will not be posting here any more.

Reviving the blog...

I have not posted anything on here in a really long time. Life has just been hectic, but after a lot of “I sure miss the blog entries” and realizing I have not been capturing “those moments” for posterity, I have decided to try to get it going again.

I’m going to attempt to go back and highlight some of the major events since December. Specifically our trip to Disney, losing my Nana, finding a new home for our sweet Bama, Mae’s first dance recital, Holden's birth... So much has happened so far in 2009! I have a lot of catching up to do.

Now that we are blessed with two children, I feel like I need to rename the website. I’m not just maisonsmommy anymore and I know I don’t have the time or energy to keep up a blog for her and one for Holden. If anyone can think of a catchy title, please let me know.

Farewell

A few weeks ago, I got one of those e-mails where you are supposed to go through the list and put a check mark by all the things you have done. Skydive, been to Paris, eaten escargot. Give a eulogy... Today, I added another check mark to my list. I am posting the words I spoke here so that Maison and Holden will one day be able to go back and read about what Nana meant to all of us.

“Before I get started I’d like to thank each and every one of you for being here today. My grandmother was one of a kind and I know she touched each of your lives in a very special way.

I’d especially like to recognize our relatives, Martha and Suzie, from Chicago. Since none of the other nieces were able to make it, I can go ahead and tell you that you two were her favorite... just don’t tell the others, OK? Grandma was the last of the 6 DiMartino children and I know she is up there with Joe, Nick, John, Tony and Aunt Carm looking down and smiling that all of us cousins are together today.

I hope you will all bear with me through this as standing up here today is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. My family has always joked with me about being overly emotional and I am going to try my best to prove them wrong today!

There is so much that can be said about this feisty little Italian lady. She was full of fun, spunk and spirit. She told it like it was. Except for my cousins John and Mark, I think all of us at some point heard her say “Hey. You’re getting a little tubby!” And then she put another meatball on our plate. She used to crawl in the floor and play with us when we were kids. She spoiled us all rotten and she never missed a beat in any of our lives.

Grandma loved her God and her church with all her heart. I remember after she recovered from her heart surgery 14 years ago, she started going to Mass every morning. 7 days a week. I questioned her about it and her response was “God gave me another chance at life and I think I owe him to go to Mass every day”. Her faith could move mountains.

She dedicated her life to the people she loved. Her family was her top priority. When I look back at the significant events in my life, Grandma and my Grandpa appear in every photograph in my memory. All 7 of us grandchildren played little league baseball or softball. And I think I can speak for all of them when I say that looking back over those memories of the ball park, one of my favorite recollections is seeing Nana sitting there in her lawn chair cheering us on... and every once in a while giving the umpire a piece of her mind! She and Grandpa never missed a moment with any of us. From the trips to three different houses every Christmas morning to the first communions, confirmations, graduations, weddings and births of great grandchildren, they were both always there. I have said for many years that my cousins, sister and I are all truly blessed to have been able to share our entire childhood and a good portion of our adult lives with both of our grandparents.

Nana taught me a lot about being a great mother. I have a feeling that Liz, Jim and my mom will tell you that she meant business and never let her kids run all over her, but that they all respected her as adults because of it. She would love you and love you and love you, but she’d set you straight too. As an adult I have admired the respect, love and dedication I have seen Jim, Liz and mom give to Grandma. But I know she earned it many years ago.

My grandparents were married 67 years ago this April. Wow. That is amazing to me. My Grandpa worked so hard to build a great life for this family and my grandmother stood beside him every step of the way. I remember being 16 years old at their 50th wedding anniversary party and watching them dance together. I always dreamed that my marriage would turn out to be at least half of what theirs has been. Together, they experienced so much. War... Hardships of starting a new business and building a family, wonderful times of great success and achieving their goals in life, moments of pride in their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, heartache during times of loss, lasting friendships that have crossed generations of our family with generations of other families. It has been quite a full 67 years that should be a model to us all. And I promise you, Monsignor Rohling, that this is one love story that will be told.

In our family, Grandpa is the rock. He is the patriarch that has provided for all of us over the years. But, Grandma, she was the glue. She kept us all together. She made sure everyone always knew what was going on with the others and on holidays, birthdays and just random Sundays, she broke out that spaghetti sauce pot, whipped up a feast and made sure we all showed up. There were times during my teenage years that I will admit I thought I had better things to do, but what I’d give now for just one more of her Sunday lunches...

I know that my children will know exactly who my grandmother was because I will teach them all the things she taught me. I learned so much from her... how to make pasta and that you should never turn down dessert. She taught me that the Chicago Cubs are the only team in baseball worth cheering for and that Parisian was the only place to shop. Playing in her closet, I learned how to walk in high heels. She showed me that you love your children unconditionally, but you get on to them when they need it... same goes for your husband! But most importantly, she taught me that you should go to church and love your God and your family. Without that, all the other stuff does not mean much.

I know we are all hurting today... so saddened by the thought of not being able to pick up the phone and call her or stop by her house for a visit, but I am also so happy for her. Because I know that she is not suffering any more. I know that all the ways that her body failed her have been healed and I know that she is so very happy to be reunited with her parents and her siblings. And I take great comfort in that... all because over the years I have witnessed that faith I mentioned earlier... faith that could move mountains. Today she is reaping the benefits of every rosary she ever prayed.

So, thank you Nana, thank you for loving us all and for being the glue. We know you are not gone because there is a little piece of you in every member of this family. You have just gone ahead of the rest... I’d like to think to get heaven situated to your standards before we all get there! Mom and Michelle always tell me I am going to be just like you... I sure hope they are right. Rest well. We will miss you so much, but we love you even more.”

A day I have feared for so long...

Today, a little piece of me died. On the way to take Maison to daycare, Mom called to tell me that my precious Nana is gone. I knew it was coming. I even knew it was soon. Mom and I talked about it. When they started pre-planning her funeral, I even told her that I wanted to be the one to speak at the funeral. As soon as the phone rang that early in the morning, I knew why. I thought I had prepared myself for this. The last time we were in Birmingham, I had said my peace with her. Made sure I looked her in the eye and told her I loved her. After each visit over the last few months, I knew that each time I drove away would quite possibly be the last time I saw her alive. But those words... “Melissa, she’s gone”... like a ton of bricks they hit me, sucking the air out of my lungs. I tried my best to hold it together until I got Maison into the daycare. Thank God for Denise and Paula. They saw the look on my face, scooped her up and got her in the classroom.

I got back in the car and couldn’t breathe. I was gasping for breath when I called Trey. Then my motherly instincts took over and forced myself to calm down. Holden needs me to stay calm through this. How am I going to make Maison understand this? And for that matter, how am I going to make myself understand? She was supposed to live forever...

It's a...

BOY!!!! The Clampett's invaded the ultrasound room today and found out that our precious little bundle is a he! It was really quite amusing. I think it was the first time in my life that I have had an entourage. Literally. Mom, Dad, Mom, Sissy, Joe, Aunt Patsy & Uncle Dave. Plus me, Trey & the Ultrasound tech all crammed in that tiny room staring at that tiny screen to see that tiny you know what. (I'll probably get scolded by Daddy for calling it tiny!)

I think I had the best vantage point in the whole room. To lay on that table surrounded by the people in this world that I love the most and watching the sheer joy, excitement and emotion on all their faces was awesome.

After the ultrasound, Dr. Sams came into the exam room and asked if I was "the one with 26 people"... It sure is great to be that loved, huh?

Creating a Monster

Alabama Football has been awesome this year. Our Crimson Tide is 11-0 going into the off week before the Iron Bowl.

Over the course of the season, Daddy has taught our daughter what it means to truly love the Tide and to eat, sleep and breathe it for 4 months of the year.

She knows that Coach Saban is the coach. She can even pick him out on Sports Center. Ask her who her favorite player is and you will hear "Julio! Number 8!" She can even point him out on the TV screen. Big Al is her best friend. And just last week she finally understood that you don't just say "Roll Tide" during kick-off... It is "RRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL!"

I have visions of that little girl in the movie "Remember the Titans". She is going to be 8 years old calling penalties and questioning play calls.

Now, if we can just teach her the "Rammer Jammer" song, I think our season will be considered a huge success!

Text from the Teacher

Text from Miss Paula to Mommy: U should be very proud of MAE... We were sayin our morning prayers and today I asked them each to tell God thanks for something he has given them... After all the other kids went and thanked Him for toys and baby dolls... She looked at me and said... Thank you God for my mommy and daddy... AMEN! I was so happy to hear that.

Text from Mommy to Miss Paula: I am crying.

Text from Miss Paula to Mommy: I was about to... I’m glad a kid sees there is more than material things to be thankful for

Text from Mommy to Miss Paula: She is a good baby.

Text from Miss Paula to Mommy: She really is... Ya’ll are so blessed!