Now Dats Super!!

FINALLY!!! After all these heartbreaking and let-down years, the Saints are headed to their first ever franchise SUPER BOWL!!!

I never thought the day would come in my Who Dat life when I would be able to type those words, but I am SO EXCITED!!! (Can you tell? The whole blog is black and gold.)

There were moments when I thought I wouldn't make it through the stress of the game. Texts from loving friends continued to stream in to check my blood pressure and pulse status. (I coded twice.)

I had already accepted defeat (hey, it's been status quo for how long??) when the Vikings were in field goal range with less than a minute left on the clock. I was muttering things better left not repeated when Favre took a final snap to inch just a little closer for a game clinching kick, when low and behold, we INTERCEPTED!!! I knew then (as Gabe spun me around off the ground in Who Dat celebration) that we were destined to win this game. When the Saints won the coin toss for overtime, the game was ours. Maybe. Possibly. Could it be?

I couldn't bear to watch the possible game winning kick from our rookie, unknown nervous little kicker as I lay sprawled out over the ottoman with my head down. Gabe shouted (in a whisper 'cuz Kendall was sleeping. Lucky thing.), "You don't want to miss the kick that sends the Saints to the Super Bowl!!!" He was so right. I have NEVER left the Dome nor the room EVER before the final second ticked off the clock, no matter the outcome of ANY game. So why would I want to miss this??? (All that went though my stressed out little head in like .2 nano-seconds.) I looked up just in time, eyes wide-eyed to face come what may, to see the infamous kick that Hartley NAILED that launched the Saints into history! What a moment as 69,990 (ok, there were about 10 Vikings fans there) Who Dats stood to their feet in unbelievable, joyous celebration. The Saints, OUR Saints, are NFC Champions. I mean, it took 18 years before we ever even saw a winning season! And here we are marching to Miami!!!

Ok, all my non-Saints fans out there are thinking that I have gone absolutely nuts. This is true. I, along with all New Orleans and surrounding areas, am beside myself with excitement. I know it's just a game. (Yeah, but to some it stands for so much more). But it's FUN! And New Orleans deserves such a win after all this city has been through. The entire community stood together amidst the tragedy of Katrina and fought for the revitalization of our city. And the Saints were welcomed back home in the Dome after over a year of being NFL nomads while their home was being basically rebuilt inside and out. (This was after the decision was made not to tear it down and sell the Saints off, since, after all, how could New Orleans possibly come back to what it was?) The Saints returning to New Orleans was the first major step, glimmer of hope and economic boost in the rebuilding of our city. And that's why they are more than a football team to New Orleanians.

Drew Brees, Sean Peyton, and the entire staff and players, knew that they were not playing for themselves, nor even a franchise, but they were playing for a city, it's fans, and it's future. They knew that while much of the country had cast us aside as hopeless to ever recover, they could be a much louder voice that, yes, we will march on! They recognized all the parallels between the building of this team and the rebuilding of its beloved home. And to compound matters, the Saints have been the laughing stock of the league. Well, our time has come and we have proven ourselves finally.

Such sweet victory. And why are the ridiculous hype? The endless "Who Dat" chants? A party on Bourbon Street and throughout the city that would rival any Mardi Gras? And endless Saints chatter on all major networking sites? Well, the answer is simple. We've believed in our team since the beginning. And we've had 40 some-odd years of pent up celebration that we just have to let out. And what city throws a bigger party than the Big Easy?

Finally, we can revel in a game instead of endure it. So let us have our moment. Saints fans, THIS is our moment!

Other Firsts - A Second Helping

There's going to be another first for Kendall pretty soon. (It'll be a first for Mommy and Daddy, too!) And it has something to do with the Goza family (pictured here)...an extension of the Goza family...an extension TO the Goza family to be more precise...

...a new little extension to Uncle Ben and Aunt Kim's branch of the Goza Family Tree!

Need any more clues?!?!

That's right, Kendall is going to be a cousin!!!

And Daddy is going to be an Uncle Gabe and Mommy is going to be an Aunt Carey!!

Little Cousin Goza is expected to make his/her arrival in mid-August. And we couldn't be more excited and trilled for Ben and Kim. Please pray for them and this tiny, precious baby that God is knitting together perfectly. I never thought I would be so excited to be an aunt, but I already love this baby to pieces. A sweet friend of mine has warned me how awesome it is to be an aunt. "Kinda like a grandparent," she said. "You can spoil them rotten then send them back home!" Well, maybe not quite that thrilling, but we're excited none the less. And Kendall will have a little playmate. And she will learn that she is NOT the only baby on the planet, so see how good this is all around?

And pray for Papa as well, as he will be taking on a second job to pay for next Christmas as twice the loot will be given out from his house.

So, yea! I am so glad to share the exciting news, FINALLY, as we were told at Christmas but were sworn to secrecy. I know, nasty and mean of them to do. But I kept quiet as I promised. Sure 'nuff I posted this blog bright and early this morning though, which is the day the news goes public.

Little Cousin Goza, we look forward to meeting you!

Little Who Dat

Mommy Who Dat, Daddy Who Dat and Baby Who Dat had a wonderful time cheering on the Saints tonight as they continue to march...dare I say it??...to Miami?? Don't want to jinx them, but seriously, there is a cool Brees blowing and we are SO excited and hopeful that maybe, just maybe, this could be the year.

I have been a Saints fan my whole life. Born and raised in New Orleans, I went to most home games in the Dome. I have witnessed many memorable times that any true Who Dat would know and appreciate, and some we'd love to forget. But that's what makes being a Saints fan so great. We've stuck together and rallied for our team with such loyalness any other team should envy.

All that to say (if you are actually still sticking with this post) is that I am a true die hard fan. I have lived the typical Who Dat life which has consisted of a few ups but mostly downs. I have never left a game or turned off the tv early. I've never booed them. I've never given up on them. (ok, I ran my mouth a few times but I never meant a word of it.) And I've had many hopes dashed each year, only to get all pumped up and hopeful again when the season starts anew. Now that is a true Saints fan. New Orleans fans are the best, most loyal fans ever. And this team has brought such renewed optimism and hope to a city that has suffered (but overcome) much. I know it's just football. But the Saints have brought us together as fellow New Orleanians during the most disparaging times and reminded us that life is still to be celebrated and lived. A city that had been disregarded as hopeless for any renewal after Katrina by others needed something to inspire us to rebuild and renew. And the Saints were a healing balm for a wounded city that is now flourishing once again. I love my home town and I love my home team.

At the end of the day it's just a game. But what it stands for for so many Saints fans is what matters. And win or lose, it sure is a fun ride. So of course I am raising my child to be another generation of Who Dats, as any responsible and loving Who Dat parent would do.

Daddy is even now a die hard fan.

Here's Kendall showing her team spirit as we gathered with friends to watch the game.

And here's Kendall with "Nana" Margaret, who is a wonderful family friend.

Geaux Saints!

New Years and Other Firsts

New Years is an opportune time to think about firsts. And when I consider my first born, I just can't believe the big girl she is quickly becoming. She's had a few "firsts" lately so I thought I'd share.

Kendall had her first day of "school" this week. Mommy and Kendall are now teaching/attending Mothers Morning Out at our chuch two mornings a week. She got the lovely school bag she's dragging in the pictures and a lunch box for Christmas. Since Kendall is the first and only (for now) child and grandchild on all counts (and almost only great-grandchild) Mommy figured (with Danielle's coaxing) that it's high time she realizes that though she will be loved, she will not be spoiled by the rest of the world like she is with her parents and grandparents.

I felt like Mama Bird pushing her Baby Bird out the nest this week. Kendall is always sweet and loving, but she takes a while to break through her shyness around others. And the separation anxiety thing just hightens the whole situation. My heart about broke Tuesday morning when I dropped her off and dashed out before she could get the first scream out. But she did pretty well. Ginger, you would be so proud to know that she whimpered on and off through the morning, but... she PLAYED! Yes, my child actually played in between her mild, random little outbursts. She has hardly ever done this at church. So despite the crying, day one ended up being a success when measured by Kendall standards.

Here you see the only pictures I managed to capture as we were ready to leave the first morning. She doesnt' cooperate well for the camera these days so I have to be satisfied with whatever I manage to get.


And, Kendall has her FIRST Saints dress. And hopefully she will be wearing it to the Super Bowl party that Mommy will soon be planning. This is a very important first, so I HAD to blog it. And Paul, I can give you the name and number of the lady in New Orleans who made it so Ella can have one of her own as well. Such a sweet little Who Dat.

Sorry the pictures are not the greatest, but like I said, I get what I get. Here's an action shot, but you can see the dress. Kinda. The ribbon came untied and I unsuccessfully tried to get her still to fix it for the photo shoot which didn't go all that well.

Before I know it and all too soon I'll be blogging lots of other "firsts". This is all I can handle for now.

Mama Thoughts 3

Well, as usual, time keeps marching on. And to quote Weezer from my all-time favorite movie, Steel Magnolias, "And it's marching right across my face!". Stop the insanity, please! My baby is losing a little more "babiness" with each passing day. I haven't blogged lately about Kendall's newest and latest accomplishments so I figured I'd better make another entry in my "Mama Thoughs" volume so that when I sit down to reread this when Kendall heads off to college I can remember a little bit of exactly how she was at almost 16 months old.

1. Kendall does alot of talking though it's mostly babbling. But from her voice inflections and hand motions (She's like her mom who couldn't talk if she's sitting on her hands) it's obvious she knows exactly what she's talking about. She's trying so hard to get the words out that are rumbling around in her head. She can say a few words such as "ball", "dog" and "fish". At least those are the three she initiates on her own in context. But when asked she'll repeat "bye bye", "Mama", "Dada" and "Ben". Huh...Ben??? That would be her Uncle Ben. Not sure why she skipped over all the grandparents and went straight to his name, but she did.

2. Kendall continues to LURVE her puppy dog, Sophie. I'm surprised how much torturing Sophie withstands and allows from Kendall. If Gabe or I dished out a fraction of it, we would have pulled back a nub a long time ago. Kendall has inherited a trait from Sophie: she is a scavenger for dropped food and miniscule crumbs that land in the high chair or on the floor after dinner. And Kendall likes to tease Sophie by holding a cracker or goldfish right up to her mouth and then pull it away and laugh. Poor Sophie.

3. Speaking of food, Kendall's love affair with food continues. The child eats everything placed in front of her. We finally have to quit feeding her, and she still usually complains when we tell her dinner is DONE! Her mostest favorites are: bananas, apples, chicken nuggets, squash, tomatoes, soy yogurt, goldfish and Teddy Grahams. But the child has been known to eat: Mexican cassarole, red beans and rice, duck gumbo (part of her New Orleans lineage), taco soup, asparagus, guacamole and anything else she can get her hands on at a Mexican (no, not in the lineage) restaurant (minus the cheese, or course).

4. Poor Kendall Wendall is still suffering from two things: food allergies and a severe case of separation anxiety. Though the two are unrelated, she still suffers equally none the less. Fortunately, there have been no allergic reactions and we are strictly sticking to a diet of NO egg or dairy. And the poor thing whines and cries every Sunday morning at church. She's been a regular attender since birth, so I guess we'll just have to wait for her to outgrow it. I've been so thankful for the nursery workers, especially my friend Ginger, who have been so loving and so patient with her. And I'm glad there's been a little tough love mixed in lately.

5. Elmo is still the BOMB. And the other Sesame Street characters are gaining status as well.

6. Reading is a popular past time still. Santa brought a sack load of books. She loves them all.

7. Kendall likes to do 360s on her bouncy zebra and then get off and try to walk in a straight line. It's hilarious!

8. When asked what a dog says, she'll give an air raspberry. And when asked what the bee says, she sticks our her tongue and blows (kinda like what we did as kids when we were mad at somebody and wanted to let them know... How many of you just did it to see what I was describing?)

9. Kendall can point to all the animals in all her books. She is fascinated by them. We have an issue of Mississippi Wildlife magazine and she loves to look at the pictures. She also likes the World Vision Christmas magazine that I saved. You know the ones where you can buy kids in romote villages in Africa things like goats and chickens and pigs? Well that magazine is tore up from all the times we've read it.

10. She loves to help load the washing machine and the dryer (And she's pretty good at unloading the dishwasher at inopportune times. But she knows she's not allowed to pick up anything glass and she does very well sticking to the rule. Smart little bugger.) And she has a toy Dirt Devil that looks just like mine. She gets hers out and vacuums along with me. Such music to Mommy's ears. And in accordance with her inherited trait of OCD, she strategically places her sippy cup in the circular groove of her high chair tray after every sip since, afterall, that's what it's there for. (teethy grin from Mommy.)