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Saturday, January 24, 2009
Out of the mouths of babes......It seems that every age our grandchildren are quickly becomes my favorite!
I just spent a couple of days in Denver with Lindsey, Trent and the boys so this note is about the things I'm enjoying
about the boys right now. (I'll be headed to Syd & Abby's soon an will talk about my favorite things with
Carley and Graham from there!)
Grant is 3 1/2 and quickly becoming his own little man! I wish I could
remember all of the cute things he has said up to this point but I think my favorite has been when he is asked a question
he says "I can't know." Lindsey said she knows she needs to correct him but it's so cute she just
can't. This visit however he is saying this less and less and it's kind of sad! He is really thinking
sequentially these days - it's fun to ask him about his day and he'll start with the early morning and list off everything
he did throughout the day with amazing detail. He is able to tell you what letter just about any word starts with when
he hears it. This last visit Grant wanted me to sleep with him in his bed and as we headed to bed he informed me where
I was to sleep as he slept on "the boys side." We read a book or two before retiring - books that he could
easily recite as he had heard them so many times. He loves trains and cars and eagerly asks anyone handy if they
will help him put the track together on the floor. I wonder how many time poor Lindsey has had to pick up all of those
pieces - although I must say Grant is really quite good about helping when she asks him to. He has a puzzle of the United
States and I was amazed that he can put it all back together within a couple of minutes and is able to show you where Carley
lives (Georgia) and where Nana and Papa live and of course where he lives. Grant goes to preschool two days a week and
absolutely loves it. Last week I went with them to drop him off and he told me on the way everything he would show me
when we got there - but we walked in the door and he was off like a flash and totally forgot we were even there! He
did introduce me to his teacher which was sweet. Lindsey & Trent are wrestling with the decision about putting him
in 3 day/week preschool next year or 4 day/week pre-kindergarten. Seems like it's so early to be making decisions
about when to start a child in kindergarten.
Grant and Carley's first 2 1/2 years were spent together
so much that I'm sure they both thought they were brother and sister. Out of the blue this last week, Grant and
I were laying down on his bed at naptime and out of the blue he said, "Nana, I really miss Carley don't you?"
Just about broke my heart!
Bennett is 16 months now and is our little Libsack with his clear blue eyes and very
blond hair - like Papa! He is at that stage where he gets whatever he wants by pointing and grunting and is not yet
frustrated enough to use "his words" as we tell him. There is certainly no lack of communication - he'll
grab your finger and take you to what he wants. This last week I was sitting at the kitchen table and he grabbed my
finger - as I was getting up he ran over to the fridgerator and clear as a bell said "up" - I stopped and just
looked at him and he said it again. Little stinker has words - he just hasn't found the need to use them!
Grant was right there and instantly said "Nana, Bennett said up - that's his very first word." Even Grant
understood the significance. Bennett has a darling little personality - he will look at you and lower his eyes one minute
and then flirt with you the next. He loves little games like peek-a-boo from behind the furniture. But his favorite
is to climb up on the child's table set in the kitchen and then up and over the back of the sofa. He and Grant love
taking all the sofa cushions off and building forts with them. And Bennett is getting big enough to join in the wrestling
games with Daddy on the floor.
I think my all time favorite is to talk to the boys on the telephone.
Bennett isn't saying much yet but I can hear him breathing and Lindsey says he is nodding his head when I talk to him.
Grant is getting to where Lindsey and Trent will let him answer the phone if it is us - and I love hearing the little hello
from him! Right away when you speak he says "Hi Nana and Papa" - talk about melting your heart!
I could go on and on - more later!!
6:13 pm cst
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Winter Wonderland.....We woke up this morning to -20 degrees! MINUS 20 degrees! And still at
mid-day it is 15 below! How can something so extreme be so beautiful? There isn't a cloud in the sky or a
breath of wind and the 6" of new snow from yesterday is right where it gently fell, sparkling in the sunshine.
I find it impossible to complain about it - but instead I gaze out the window thinking how beautiful it is. I am
wishing that my grandbabies were here to bundle up and play in the snow - maybe not today but in a day or two when the temperatures
are at least above zero! Today reminds me of something my Mother used to say "You can complain because rose bushes
have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." I think I will rejoice that there is such beauty in Minnesota
winters!
12:56 pm cst
Monday, January 12, 2009
My favorite job..... I've had lots of jobs in my time and can honestly say I enjoyed them
all - some certainly more than others. But in the last four plus years since becoming a grandmother I can easily
say that there shall never be another role more wonderful. I loved being a mom and expected grandparenting
to be as wonderful but this has surpassed my expectations a thousand fold! Theere is nothing quite as amazing as seeing
your own children become parents. And, nothing quite as humorous as seeing your parenting re-emerge through your children!
You think they aren't listening sometimes but when your words come out of their mouths it's very confirming that your
efforts have paid off!
I love cuddling a newborn and thinking at that moment tthere is nothing more
wonderful. Then comes the first smile, the personality development and all of the developmental milestones and you're
sure at each and every moment nothing could be more perfect! There is something so special about the first time you
pick up the phone and hear "Hi Nana" or that first "I love you". My heart has melted so many times
over with these comments or even just a little smile or giggle. Everything you stood for as a parent just goes completely
out the window....."Of course you can have a cookie" even though it is 5 minutes to lunch!
All
of the experiences take me back to my own childhood to realize what an important role my own Grandparents played in my early
years. No one on the earth will love a child as much as Mommy and Daddy but their grandparents. I think
God knew what he was doing by plananing for a backup!
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