Guess Who's Coming?

I'm so excited! Alyson and Carter are coming to visit.

Things I want to do while they're here:
1) Show off Carter
2) Visit with my daughter
3) Watch the Today Show with Carter
4) Go shopping with Alyson & Carter
5) Show off Carter
6) Show off Carter
7) Show off Carter
8) Love on Carter
9) Love and Show off Carter
10)Love and Show off Carter's Mom
11)Did I mention I want to love and show off my family?

I'm sure Alyson might have a few things she'd like to do while she's here as well...we'll squeeze those in too!

I CAN'T WAIT!

Nashville's Cutest Baby!

Hello to all my friends and family,

For the past 2 months I’ve been telling you how CUTE my grandson Carter is. And without exception, when shown pictures, you’ve all agreed.

Well, now’s the time to separate those who truly BELIEVE he’s the cutest, from those who only SAY he’s the cutest.

Alyson & Mike have entered Carter in Nashville’s Most Photogenic Baby Contest. The rules are simple; the winner of the contest is chosen by the number of votes he gets. Each vote costs $.50 (that’s 50 cents) and the proceeds will go to benefit Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital.

We’re asking for your vote. Again each vote is costs 50 cents and you can vote as many times as you want.

You can cast your vote in a couple of different ways:

1) Make your checks out to: Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and send it to my home address at:
10396 Missoula Ct., Las Vegas, NV 89178 and I will forward to Alyson.

2) If you work with me, stop by my office with your checks or cash and I will forward to Alyson.

3) If you work with Chip, give him a call and hand him your big donation (come on railroaders, it’s going to benefit little kids who can really use it.) We will forward your contribution to Alyson.

4) If you need more information,you can e-mail me @ dawnbruner@cox.net and leave me your question or a phone number and I will call you back. You can then send me your check and I will forward to Alyson.

5) You can check out Alyson’s blog @ : http://thegillesfamily.blogspot.com and follow her directions for getting a check directly to her.

The winner of the contest gets a CD of all the pictures the photographer took and of course, BRAGGING RIGHTS. Not that I need to have judges or votes to give that to me, but how cool will it be to say, I personally know “Nashville’s Cutest Baby”? Not to mention it going for a great charity, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

Cast your vote today. All the donations need to be to Alyson by April 9th in order to meet the deadline.

I love you all and can’t thank you enough for being so indulgent of me and my new found love, Carter!

Vote today!

Wow Moments

You've had them, haven't you? Those "wow" moments. Those moments that make you stop and say, "Wow!" It might have been a beautiful sunrise or possibly a sunset. The colors were beautiful. The clouds just perfect, catching the sunshine so amazingly. You're in awe. You know there is only ONE who could be responsible for this moment.

I've had a few "wow" moments in my life. The moment where I actually had to stop and catch my breath because the beauty of the moment was so overwhelming.

We drove Alyson and Mike's "stuff" to Nashville almost 2 years ago. Chip and I took our time and saw a few sights along the way. We stopped in Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. I've always lived within 10 hours of the Grand Canyon and I never "saw" it. I'm sure I flew over it or drove near it, but never saw it until this trip. We parked the Penske truck in the oversized parking area and walked to the area where we could catch the tram to the areas where you can "see" the canyon. As we approached the tram stop, Chip walked quickly to the area to wait for the next tram. I stopped him and said, "Please wait a minute, I want to a look." I went to the overlook and stood there, totally still. I was literally breathless as I looked at the canyon. From this vantage point, all I could see was the depth of the canyon, the beautiful colors, the manificance of this place. Not that I ever doubted it before, but I knew God existed at this moment. I could feel Him. I knew He had created this. He was there.

Another "wow" moment was being able to be there for Carter's birth. Watching this little person come into this world is a moment in my life I will forever hold dear. Even more so than the birth of my own children, (I was after all, pretty busy) watching Carter take his first breath, exercise his bodily functions (crying and peeing...all over the nurses) and trying to focus those precious eyes on all of us. I am in awe of God's amazing love and His grace. How did I get to be so lucky? So blessed? Some of the happiest moments in my life, my "wow" moments if you will, are the birth of all 3 of my children, seeing the Grand Canyon and holding my grandson in my arms for the first time. Those are the moments I want time to stand still for, so I can just soak it in.

Carter is now 2 months old. I'm shocked at how quickly time has gone by. In the last 2 months, Carter has grown approximately 4 inches and he's gained 4 lbs. He received 5 shots yesterday (3 on one thigh, 2 on the other) and 1 oral vaccine. Alyson cried as hard as Carter did I think. I was there about a week ago and I was amazed at how much he's developed. I saw him as he discovered his own hands! It truly fascinated him as he wondered where those came from! I literally saw him as he watched his mommy enter the room and I could see that he totally recognized her! It was truly a "wow" moment. God is good and I feel so honored to call them my family.

What are your "wow" moments? Stop for just a minute to reflect on those and give thanks to God!

Perfection!


Wow!

God,

Thank You. I don't deserve any of this and yet You allow me the honor of "wow" moments. Each time I experience a "wow" moment, it's confirmation to me to feel just how close You are. I am grateful!

Every Inch a Bruner

Alyson sent these pictures a couple of days ago, and there is no denying he has Bruner blood in his veins. He is so long, blond and fair, it's unreal. Whenever people see his picture, and they know Bryan and Jeffrey, they see the resemblance right away. Carter is growing up right before our eyes. He's almost 6 weeks old! Where did that time go?
I fly to Nashville on March 1st for a 4 day visit. I can't wait. Alyson has a baby shower to attend and she asked if I would mind babysitting Carter while she went. I said "are you kidding"..."don't you have something else you'd like to do?" Now, please don't get me wrong, I can't wait to spend time with Alyson and Mike, but seriously I need to spend some time with Carter. My arms are literally aching to hold him.

I want to personally thank all the young mommies at our church who have allowed me to love on their kids, knowing full well I was wishing I could hold Carter. You all have been wonderful and I thank you!
Thank you Lord for the invention of the webcam. Even though 85% of the time, he's sound asleep, I can see him. Yesterday Alyson called me just so I could hear him "coo". It was great.

We've officially moved into our new house. This has to be the longest move in history. We got the keys on December 22, 2006 and the first night we slept in the new house was February 4, 2007. It was definitely worth it. We love living in this part of town. We love having a single story home. So far, the HOA hasn't said anything except "Welcome" and 'we're raising your dues slightly." So far, so good. (somehow I feel I've just tempted the Devil...please pray for us.)

We went to RC Willey yesterday to "look" and walked away the happy owners of a beautiful bedroom "collection". It's the Manchester collection and I tried to find it on their website, but they didn't have it listed. But it is a beautiful king size bed, dresser, night tables AND...an armoire for the TV. When it gets delivered I'll have to take a photo and post it.

We still have plenty of boxes to unpack and arranging to do. Lots of pictures to be hung and special touches to be put on things, but we've got time. It takes a while to make a house a home....but we're getting there.

Lord,
Thank you again for my grandson Carter. He is a true delight and a bright spot in my life! I pray I can be the best grandma he could ever hope to have. Help me to stay young enough that he likes hanging around with me, yet old enough he seeks me out for comfort and advice when asked for. Amen

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

I miss my Grandma!

You Make Me Smile

Hi Carter,
It's Grandma! I wanted to tell you how much fun it's been seeing you and talking to you everyday on the webcam. I look forward to coming home at the end of my work day and sitting down to see you. It's the highlight of my day!

Last night when I first saw you and called out your name, you smiled at me! It was the biggest, most beautiful smile I had ever seen. Now I know you can't quite control your smiles yet, but you sure made me feel like it was intentionally meant just for me! I wanted to cry from pure happiness. That and because I miss you so much.

I have made my plans for my next visit. I will be there March 1st - 4th. Now if you could count you would count only 29 days until I see you again. That's not very long! But you will change so much between now and then and that's OK because we have the webcam that allows your Grandpa and I watch you grow. We are truly blessed with the technology we have today. I don't know how your great grandparents and great-great grandparents could stand the separations from their families that they did. I'm so happy I live in such a modern world with such modern technology!

Mommy says you are being a very good boy. Your schedule remains pretty predictable and you are eating and sleeping so well. I was so surprised and happy to hear how much weight you've gained. You are now up to 9 lbs. and you have grown another l/2 inch! My goodness!!
Your mommy tells me it's starting to look like your hair is turning a little more red. Hmmm, where did you get that from?

Carter Jeffrey you have been blanketed with love and prayer for today already and that's just from me! Be a good boy for mommy and daddy today and I will "see" you tonight!

All my love,

Grandma

Father,

I have been truly blessed by You. Watching my own children grow up and now being able to watch my grandchildren is an honor. Thank you.

Alyson and Mike are doing a great job learning how to balance their lives with the enormous responsibility of structuring their family life. I pray you will surround them with people who can give them wise counsel and guidance. So many of their friends are starting their own families now as well and I see that as such a blessing. They have each other to lean on and to learn from. You are such a great God and Your timing is so perfect and it's so evident in this situation.

I ask You to please keep them all safe, healthy and happy.

Amen

It's a Sad Day

Dear Carter,
This is a very sad day for me. I have to go home to Las Vegas. Thank you for everything. It was the best two weeks of my life. Watching you come into this world was the greatest gift I've ever been given. Thank you for all the love you have already given to me. Thank you for the smiles, the laughter and the joy that you have already presented me with. My cup truly runneth over.

Please make sure mommy puts you in front of the video camera every day, I'm going to be watching for you. I want to see how much you grow each and every day.

I know you will continue to be a good boy for mommy and daddy. I will miss you each and every day and will pray for you all the time.

Please don't forget if Mommy says no, you just call Grandma!

I love you so much and will try not to cry too much when I get on the airplane....no promises though.

All my love, Grandma!

PS: Don't forget to watch the Today Show each and every day. It's our special time...(smiles)

No Longer A "Grandma-to-be"

Welcome to the World, Carter Jeffrey!
Born January 11, 2007 @ 12:25 AM

8 lbs. 2 oz. - 21 l/2 inches long

Yes, it's taken me a while to write my first official "Grandma" post. But here it is. Why the delay you may ask? Well, we've been pretty busy and quite honestly it's been a little difficult for me to wrap my mind around this event. The flood of emotions have been incredible. From anticipation and excitement getting on the airplane in Vegas, to concern for Alyson and Carter, as we waited for decisions to be made about his delivery (see Alyson's blog). From me getting sick in the delivery room (yes, I almost fainted, more on that at another time) to total joy and elation when he was finally here! It's been the happiest roller coaster ride of emotions I have ever been on! And one of the emotions I'm totally dreading will happen on Friday, when we have to go home. I have already checked out Southwest Airlines for my next trip back, but the changes that will take place in Carter during that period of time will be unbelievable. And I don't want to go there yet, so....

We have seen changes in this little guy already, every single day. He has totally settled into a pretty predictable routine. Like all babies he does the "Big 3"...(eats, sleeps and poops) in 3 hour intervals. His awake and alert time is getting longer and longer and we can see him becoming more aware each and every day.

My favorite time of the day is early in the morning. After his 6 AM feeding, Alyson brings him to me and Carter and I watch the Today Show together. From 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM it's our time. Watching the Today Show at home will never be quite the same.

I'm so proud of Mike and Alyson. They are doing a great job learning how to be a family and share in this enormous responsibility. They are both so loving and encouraging to each other. Of course I'm not there at the 2 AM feeding, but I'm sure it's going well (smiles).

Mike had to fly to Los Angeles for an interiew this weekend at Kaiser Permanente. In approximately 18 months Mike is hoping to begin a Fellowship program in his specialized field of G.I. Medicine. They would like to do this a little closer to home if possible and nothing would make me happier if they were within driving distance. But we will support whatever decision they make for their family. He also had an interview at Vanderbilt on Wednesday. It went well and Carter was right there to wish his daddy good luck before he left.

Carter wishes his daddy good luck before his interview!

We took Carter out for breakfast one morning before Uncle Jeff had to leave and go back home. Carter was so warm and cozy in his little carrier. He didn't once wake up allowing mommy and daddy a little quiet time to eat their breakfast.

Nothing but love for this little guy as he goes for breakfast to the Loveless Cafe!

Uncle Jeff was a favorite the week he was here. He babysat a couple of times so Mommy could do a few things (shower, nap, start a load of clothes)...

Thanks Uncle Jeff...it was fun!

It's been a great first week and I feel so honored to be able to have been here and shared in it all. Thanks be to God for all of these blessings.

Stay tuned, lots more pictures have been taken to share with you all, very soon.

Lord, it has been a wonderful week here with my family. The day to day
changes of life and the miracles you have shown us have been so evident. Thank
you for the daily confirmations of your presence here with us. I pray for
my daughter and her husband. Lord, please grant them the wisdom and the patience for this next season of their lives. Lord, I pray they will seek you first in
all they do when it comes to decision for their family.

I pray for Carter. God, may Your blessings continue upon this child. May he
grow up healthy and feeling loved by his family and most importantly by You. May You show each of us how to demonstrate Your love on a daily basis to him and others.

Father I pray You will keep them all safe and healthy as they begin their life as a family together.

In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen

Time is Up

So according to my little countdown ticker on the side....it's time!
Come on Carter...don't keep us waiting any longer.

Alyson's doctor told her yesterday not to make another doctor's appointment. If Carter doesn't make his arrival by Wednesday, he'll begin the process himself. So Alyson will be admitted on Wednesday morning and hopefully by the end of the day, I'LL BE A GRANDMA!

Chip and I moved our flight up a day (and saved $31.00 in the process)reserved the car and if everything stays this way, we'll arrive in Nashville at 1:25 PM.

I would never say this to my daughter so please don't tell her, but if everything goes according to MY plan, we'll be there in time for his delivery. (I'm sure Alyson is hoping it's all over by 1:25 PM) *smiles*

Regardless how it actually happens by this time next week we'll all be smiling and madly in love with this little guy!

Please continue to pray for Alyson, Mike & Carter. Please add the doctor and the hospital staff, as well as the close knit family of friends they have in Nashville. Pray for their health and for their happiness.

2007 is starting out just right! Thank you God...we are most grateful!

Random Thoughts from a Grandma to Be!

So we thought by now we'd be rocking our little Carter....but he's got other ideas.
Alyson is feeling great, if not eternally pregnant, and can't wait to get the little guy out of her belly. Her body is doing all the things it needs to do in order to deliver...while we wait...and wait! Hang in there honey, a nice tall glass of merlot is coming very soon!

Our house closed and we're in the middle of painting...or I should say Edgar is painting.We met Edgar during our final walk-through and took an instant liking to him. He told us he's available to paint the inside of our house, considering his job closes down between the week of Christmas and New Years. He started on Wednesday and will be done by Monday! What a blessing. Turns out Edgar is a Christian who used to live in La Puente, not far from where we grew up. He is a quiet, gentle man who brings his 10 year old son Aaron to help him. They are so nice and quite a blessing to us. We feel we made a new friends! Thank you Edgar & Aaron.
We're starting to move a few things over slowly. We'll make the official move when we return from Nashville.

Today we're back at work with our regular work schedules folowing the holidays. Chip left this morning for Roseville, CA (suburb of Sacramento)...he'll be there until Friday. I called him a little while ago and told him he picked the wrong time to be out of town. I paused, he groaned, "oh no", fully expecting me to tell him he needed to drive back, because it was time to leave for Nashville. I quickly told him Edgar's wife brought us tamales she made for New Years...he paused and groaned even louder "OH NO"...I laughed because honestly he sounded more disappointed to be missing out on the tamales than perhaps missing out on being in Nashville to meet Carter! I truly knew he didn't mean it in a negative way. He just knows I love tamales as much as he does and is worried they'll be gone before he gets back home! I promise honey, I leave you one!

We celebrated my mom's birthday on Saturday. We surprised her by having my sister Beth, my niece Melanie and her husband Brian and their two boys, Luke and Gavin drive in from California to meet us for dinner. With what was to have been a "day trip", turned into the day from you know where. The 3 hour drive from Corona, CA, took a total of 7 l/2 hours. Something happened on the I-15...no idea what...but they were actually getting out of their car and walking around talking to other travelers on the road. By the time they made it into Las Vegas it was time to be at the restaurant. The two little guys, who had spent the day in a car, were now being made to sit still in a restaurant...and one of them had the worst case of the "runs" you've ever seen. Now he's just a tiny toddler, but we seriously saw his mommy and daddy "run" him to the restroom like they were Olympic sprint runners in the last Olympics! By the end of the dinner they were so exhausted and the thought of them driving home that night was too much for all of us. So they spent the night with us and we had a blast! One tiny little apartment, 5 adults and two toddlers...memory = priceless. I'd do it all again next weekend if they'd come back! I think my mom had a good time as well, although it was hard to get in a conversation that night. Happy Birthday Mom...hope your birthday was as fun for you as it was for us!

I've been spending the last 20 minutes trying to figure out how to resize a few pictures to show you, but I can't figure it out. I'll keep working on that.

We lost another old family friend this week. "Auntie Vi Linder" passed away a few days ago. Vi and her husband Bob, were very dear friends of my parents. They all grew up together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "Uncle Bob" was my godfather and he passed away several years ago. We used to love to hear stories of when they were younger. My dad and Bob were two of a kind. Whenever they got together you knew trouble wasn't far behind. Not bad trouble, fun trouble...and stories, boy did he have stories. One day I'll have to tell you about the day my uncle had "lunch with Hitler". His stories would leave you laughing until tears were rolling down your face. Vi and my mom should be nominated for sainthood (if we were only Catholic) for putting up with all the stuff they had to put up with all those years ago... and I know they wouldn't trade a minute of it even if they could. Goodbye Auntie Vi, give hugs and kisses to Uncle Bob and Dad...we still miss them terribly but we know heaven is a happier, more fun place because you're all there. Help keep them in line please...don't let them have any fart contests up there!

New Year's Resolutions....we all make them and we all break them. One resolution I vow not to break in 2007 is to be the best grandma to Carter there is. I'm ready...more than ready. Carter's suitcase is packed (yes he has his own suitcase stuffed full of stuff I'm taking with me)...I'm keeping up with the laundry in order to pack our stuff. My list of phone numbers is up to date so I don't forget to let someone know I've left...and we continue to wait.

Father in Heaven,
Thank you for the last 9 months of preparing for Carter's arrival here on earth. We have had so much fun preparing for this very special day. The months of waiting have brought us so many special memories we'll treasure for always.
It has brought us all closer as a family. I pray when he does make his arrival it will be a day of celebration and joy. Keep him safe until the day You decide it's time. Please keep Alyson and Mike healthy and keep them excited about the day they will officially become parents. I ask that You keep us all safe and healthy. Be with us as we travel to Nashville to share this wonderful experience. Lord we know Your timing is perfect and we patiently await for the day we can hold him in our arms.
Thank you for all the gifts you've given us this past year. We are so undeserving and we thank You from the bottom of our hearts. Amen