I love being a Grandma!

Being a grandma is the most wonderful feeling!
It gives me a new lease on life, a new purpose and even new energy. I am "grammy" to two beautiful granddaughters, Natalie and Amirah. Natalie is 10 months old and when she sees me she smiles ear to ear and lunges towards me. And if my hands are full and can't pick her up immediately, she gets upset. It's the most wonderful feeling!
Amirah is 4 months and yesterday she was lying on a blanket in the grass and I made some funny noise and smiled at her. She laughed out loud and kicked her feet as if she was treading water. It was the most wonderful feeling.
I just can't get enough of playing, squeezing, cuddling, kissing, feeding and just spending time with these babies! It's the most wonderful feeling!

Mother's Day

What is it about Mother's Day that sets a whole range of emotions like a seesaw in me? First of all it brings back the memory of my first Mother's Day as a new mom. Melanie Rose was born May 9th, two days before Mother's Day in 1980. The feeling of being a new mom was one of the greatest feelings ever! I celebrated from the hospital, but I certainly was celebrating. She was beautiful and had 10 toes and 10 fingers! Do people actually count their babies toes and fingers? I think I just took it for granted. Three years later several weeks before Mother's Day, Angela Rae was born. Before I became pregant the second time, I secretly wondered if I could love baby #2 as much as baby #1. Love is a funny thing....it just expands and grows and your heart has more than enough room. Before I even saw her, she was a part of my heart with those big brown eyes. I could'nt imagine life without her. Five and a half years later, Monica Joy joined our family and once again our hearts were filled with love and joy in her arrival. That seems like so long ago, but each Mother's Day I think about the birth of each of our daughters and am so grateful that God has blessed us with children. I love you, daughters!
Today I felt some sadness creeping into this otherwise happy day. Monica is in Africa and could not join our celebration. I miss her....I talked to her on the phone but it just was not the same as seeing her face to face and experiencing one of her "rib crushing' hugs. I wish my Mother, who passed away many years ago could see her granddaughters today and rejoice with us in seeing them grownup into beautiful Godly women. I wish I could tell her today how excited I am that Angela is having a baby in July. I wish I could stop by her house today and enjoy yet another cup of delicious coffee and kiss her on her soft wrinkled cheek. I love you, Mother.

Malaria

Yesterday I heard the words that was my greatest fear with Monica being in Africa. "We think Monica has Malaria". There's something about sickness that brings the "Mother" instinct to a real priority in your life, even though your child is now an adult and very able to take care of herself. I just wish I could be there and take her hand and brush the hair from her forehead like I have always done when she was small. The only thing I can do from stateside is pray. And that is just what I have done.

Today I heard that she is feeling better; the medication is taking hold and hopefully will rid her of the symptoms. Rest and take care, my child. I love you!

A new chapter....

I've known for over a month that I am going to be Grandma! This is an exciting new chapter in my life. At this point I can't even imagine what it will be like to see my daughter also being a mother. It's amazing to think of holding a tiny baby again that is part of me. The nice thing about it is that I'm not responsible for the day to day care! Oh, I love it already. Next month Angela should find out the gender and then it will become even more real. I'm ready! This will also be a distraction to the fact that "my baby" has left the nest. Life continues to move on...I hope I can keep up.

One Week

Monica has been gone a week...and it's been quiet here. No cell phone calls, no late night chats and no requests for "I need a hug". I don't think I like this. I'm glad Angela and Hans are still here.

Here we go again!

It's been more than a year--and I just couldn't allow myself to be that vulnerable and post my thoughts about the "empty nest".
Well Monica came back and now is leaving again for six months and I just might record my thoughts on this spot.

Keep checking back!

the empty nest...

It all began May 1980. Our quiet little abode on Warm Spring Road was joyously overcome with cries, sighs, then laughter and onto squeals. We had become parents--and life as we knew it, was never the same. Two more daughters made our home complete with a mix of barbies, playing dress-up, books, hair dryers and slouch socks. I can't record all the in between times from then to now, except to say they were wonderful years!



October 1st, 2007 marks the end of that era. Our youngest used her wings to fly, literally, to Colorado. Now Gary and I are back to just the two of us. As I reflect on the changes this has made in our life, I will post my thoughts on this new journey of life.