Sandy

The parents told me there was going to be a hurricane.  Since I already went through one (I was in mama's belly at the time) I didn't think there would be any problem.  Monday morning we found out that dad didn't have to go to work!  Yay for more time with that dad!  When I woke up it was windy.  The house was creaking.  But mainly everything was going well.  Then it got more windy.  During lunch while mama was feeding me, I was staring out the window so intently that mama turned to see what I was looking at.  She saw a big tree in the middle of the street.  Too bad I can't talk yet.  She could have watched it fall! 

Then that dad went out to take a picture.  In the middle of the Hurricane!  Silly dad.  The tree got pretty close to the car.  He wanted to move it but where?  This is NY!  There are trees everywhere!  

On to more pictures:  

Here's mama assuring me everything would be okay.

Then the power went out.  I got scared.  That dad tried to take more pictures.

Here's one of our screen 

Silly dad....

The parents moved my crib into the living room so I would be safe.  I didn't like it.  Not to mention the lack of light.  I woke up a lot.  Finally around 5:am, mama got up and gave me some milk.  She took me back into her bed.  That dad was there too.  So that is where the parents sleep!  I laid there and cuddled and finally fell asleep.

The next day that dad went out to search for food 

while we went out to survey the damage. 

 Mama took pictures.

This was why our neighbors across the street didn't have power

This is why we didn't have power

(that dad said it was the same place that caused the power outage with Hurricane Irene)

More power line damage

This was a familiar sight

The poor flag they didn't take down...

More tree damage

We finally went back inside and waited for that dad.  While mama tried to clean, I explored the house.  

I found my birthday presents.  

Mama's hiding place was laughable!  

That dad finally came back with food 

Night came and we still had no power. It got so dark.  

I didn't like it so that dad gave me a flashlight!  

I had fun

This is how dinner looked

(with flash)

Spaghetti in the dark.  Kind of dangerous.  

But it's okay.  Mama already asked.  

When we move, they are planning on pulling the carpet out anyway.

The parents went to target and searched the store for some type of light for me.  We were coming up empty until we strolled into the Christmas isle.  Then I saw it!  My first very own Christmas tree!  And a little snowflake too!  Thanks Hurricane Sandy!  

We were without power for about 5 days.  Not bad.  

But then there was the gas shortage problem.  That dad tried to be patient but we were getting low.  Then a friend of mama's posted a link on facebook that showed what stations had gas and how much they had.  That dad was off!   It took him about 2 hours, but he came back.... 

VICTORIOUS!  

Ironically he used the wrong pump at first - it was out so he only pumped 37 cents worth.  

He was not happy.

But he figured out his problem 

Then he was happy again.

We are back to normal now.  Although that dad continues to come home and very proudly states: "I got gas!"  I wonder how long it will take before he doesn't find that so funny....

Growing Up

I'm feeding myself these days.

It's a little messy, but don't worry - that's what mama's are for.

I can already organize my toys

And open my own containers....

I always have to clean up after mama.  

She keeps leaving her shoes on the floor by the door.  Can you imagine?  Silly mama.

They go on the couch!  

But she keeps leaving them by the door.  So, I keep putting them on the couch.

See?  Much better.

On another note (yes, I'm learning my puns too) 

Mama's helping me with my music

Oh, and by the way! Found that dad's keys....

Yay!

And I found where mama keeps her sun glasses

So, the real question is:

When is that dad gonna let me drive...?

A Saturday at Mastic Beach

One Saturday that dad decided we would go to Mastic Beach!  

The waves were so big!

Mama took me down to see the water.  It was WINDY!

That dad brought a blanket so we could sit down and watch the water.   

It was chilly and windy so mama made me where my hat.  

Sigh.....  

More pictures of the water

It was beautiful!

That dad wanted more pictures.  He talked mama into taking my hat off. 

YAY for that dad!

Then that dad found a shell

We made foot prints in the sand

Here's my little dirty foot

And here's me with the parents!

Sometimes I have to stare really hard to make sure, 

but I think with my help they may amount to something one day.

On the way home I got sleepy and fell asleep.  

That dad stopped to get mama some of her favorite pizza.  It's from Alfredo's.  

Dad's slice is on the top.  Cheese and sauce.  No adventure there.

Mama's is the one on the bottom.  Tomato, mozzarella cheese, red peppers, basil.... 

That sounds delicious!  

It was gone before I woke up.  

And the parents wonder why I don't ever want to go to sleep.  

For Posterity

Since the birth of my niece Abby, and with every coming Stirland grandchild, I have had an increasing desire to make certain these children grow up with a knowledge of their Grandpa Stirland.  Now with a child of my own, the desire is overwhelming.

A few months ago I sent out emails and phone calls to family - cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. - for any and all memories they have of my dear father.  I have had some information come in, but not the volume I had hoped.  However, this is my fault.  I find that it is still hard for me to go through memories about my daddy and therefor I have yet to call / remind the people that asked me to get back to them.   I am not sure going through memories will ever get easier.  I suppose I just need to "man up" and deal with it for the greater good.  It is important he not be forgotten.

A few days ago my mother had a post on her Facebook page (yes, my mother is on Facebook, and yes, I see the irony in it) from an old friend from Shelley, Idaho.  We lived in Shelley until I was 8.  Daddy taught music at Shelley High School.  The video was of a song my daddy had his Crystal Blue choir.  He heard it in his dream and when he woke he had mother help him write it down.  This is his Crystal Blue group singing it.

It amazes me how much my father touched so many people in his short life.  For a student to post this video approximately 32 years after the fact.... I wanted to thank him.  Michael beat me to it.  In his words:

I went over to youtube and told Todd Christensen "thank you" and this is his reply. I thought it was interesting. "Hi Michael, I'm so happy you were able to find this. I don't think I can't explain to you in words how much your father meant to me as a music teacher and mentor. He was such a good man and sacrificed so much for his students. The story I told about how he came up with this arrangement is totally true.  We used to rehearse in the early AM before school started, and I remember his telling us how one night he dreamed this arrangement. He got up in the middle of the night to pencil in the words of how it was to go. He was truly inspired. I'm not sure if you can tell, but you can hear his superiour tenor voice in that recording. He went to bat for us so many times and helped us when we were down and thinking that we could not go on tour, but he used to sing a song to help us, and I will post it in the next hour for you to hear."

This was the video he posted.  

Daddy use to sing this song to me all the time.  When I got old enough I use to sing it with him.  It means so much to have this recording.  

I could go on and say how much my daddy meant to me - how close we were - how I ache to have him here - to meet my dearest Don, to see his grandchild, to hug me, to feel his presence... but nothing I write could do justice to the feelings I have inside.  And so I will simply say how grateful I am to add this to my memories of daddy collection.

Special thanks to my dearest Don; 

without his help I would not have been able to post the videos.

First Year

Rebekah's First Year in Review

Just Born

One Month

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

I am very happy she is a year old so I can quit taking a picture every week.  SHEESH!  That was hard! Especially when she started moving.  For example, Don isn't holding her up in the 12 month picture, he is holding her still....  But, don't worry all you Rebekah fans out there, I am still planning on doing a once a month picture.  

By the way, I forgot to mention: 25 pounds, 31 inches long.  I think that was 95th percentile weight, 90th for height.