First Easter

Natalia, you welcomed the Easter Bunny in fine form this year. Upon your wake up, Peter Rabbit, has laid 2 baskets in your crib for you to find. Inside was a new Easter Dress, some rocking floral diapers, leg warmers, and vegetable toys with finger puppets. He even left Mama and Papa some chocolate bunnies. Yum. There were four eggs in your baskets, one for you, Mama, Papa, and Bup. We ate them well and sent the leftovers with Papa back to work on Monday.
You went to church for the first time and sat with Oma and Opa and went over to their house for some delicious formula in a bottle, a nice nap, and some cuddle time with Opa. It was a glorious day and we all had a great time. You liked the music of the church and were taken by the things hanging on the walls. You really liked holding Opa's finger while he sang in his dep voice. It made you laugh later on when he spoke to you at the dinner table... you just giggled at him. We think you like his deep voice. Its gotta sound funny to you. Its a nice voice that me, you Mama, grew up hearing and loving for years and years and years. Now I smile whenever I hear it on a recorded message on our telephone. Will you get recorded messages on you telephone when you are older or will there be some cosmic sort of invention we cant even imagine yet? Hmmm, we wonder.
It was a good day followed by a visit from Grandma Phipps and Pilot. The three of you had your own Saturday while Papa and I went out on a date. Grandma Phipps sang you songs and played with you all day. She continued to add to you BG's club membership. She had a blast and you were all smiles when we got home. You also got a visit form the Crummey-Yearson Clan. Valentin sang you songs and played with your toes, Willa just petter your head, and Hopso- he smiled a whole lot. Steve and Naomi held you tight and cuddled enjoying your greatness and cute exterior, too.

Your Grandpa, Wild Bill

Dear Natalia,
You have two wonderful Grandpas. One Grandpa you get to see and the other Grandpa you get to think about and imagine. Let me tell you a little more about him so every time you lock eyes with his painting in the living room, you can chew on this:
Wild Bill, as I loved to call him, was a kind and gentle man who loved his wife and his family dearly. He was quiet and very thoughful and sometimes, yelling down Michigan Avenue out of a car window. When the mood struck him, he did it- especially in the later times. He loved his OH state games and chowed on popcorn. Next time your Papa eats popcorn, either of your uncles, or even cousin Jupiter, watch how they do it. That's the Phipps way, modeled through the generation by your Grandpa Phipps.
Your Grandpa Phipps spent his childhood in Kentucky flying through the muck, fields, sports fields as a water boy, and generally being a KY boy. He met your Grandama Phipps at a dance when she blew smoke in hs face to be pretty. Thank goodness she is/was pretty without the smoke, because years later she quit that nonesense. Anyhow... Grandpa Phipps went to school just up the lake from where you live now and thought a lot about godliness, holiness, and the general philosphy of life. He was always searching, Grandma Phipps has said. Searching to understand and searching to have explanations for the unexplained. He loved Jung and believed in the power of positive thinking and avoiding the words and attitude of "shoulds". he asked a lot of questions of himself and others.
He was also super silly. Giggling with Papa throughout childhood, cracking silly jokes with Aunt Betty and being a hambone every day. He made your Papa and Uncles Mark and David very happy children. If your Papa is even half the father that Grandpa Phipps was- your are one lucky gal!
We love him, miss him, and think about him whenever the cardinal sings of the painting wiggles in the breeze on the wall!