Smile! This will be a Grandma Picture

A picture of Mommy and Daddy (of course), new Aunt, baby cousin, Grandpa and a picture of Grandma.  This was the list of up-close face pictures I took to fill a sweet, soft vinyl book I sent to our son and daughter-in-law even before little Asher was born.  I learned very clearly the impact of a loved one’s picture for a new baby with our first grandson, Seth.

Our first grandson got to meet his daddy at age two weeks, for a two week leave from a mountain top in Afghanistan where he served in the US Army.  He had his second introduction to his daddy at nine months.  A lot had changed in those many months of growing: from sleeping much of the day, to rolling over, making those adorable baby sounds, to eating his first cereal, to sitting up in his bath, through several sizes of diapers and through many pictures to mark the growth and the special moments of those first months.

Grandma or Angel

"If you don’t believe in angels, you haven’t met my grandma!"  I have always believed in angels, in fact, I think I have one sitting by my side right now.  But when I saw this message , it made me want to cry.  Grandmas sometimes act a lot like I think angels would act.  Grandmas aren’t upfront and on center stage.  Grandmas aren’t looking for a lot of acknowledgement.  They’re always close at hand (whether on the phone, living nearby or through Skyping (which grandmas are doing more and more of!)).  A grandchild always knows where they stand with grandma – she loves them no matter what.   It’s good to turn to grandma when there’s a boo-boo.  When grandma tucks you in for the night, they feel soft and yet strong.   A grandma never seems to get enough of her grandson or granddaughter.  A grandma doesn’t need to say a lot, but you know they love you. 

I Held My First Grandchild

Before our daughter was out of recovery for an emergency C- Section, after 16 hours of labor, they brought Seth David up to the room we were in.  After we watched them suds him up and wash him from head to foot, they wrapped him in a little blue blanket and asked who wants him?  My husband quickly snatched that little bundle.  And then I finally got to hold my first grandchild.  He was smaller than you ever remember a new baby to be and more pink, but his eyes shone as he seemed to look at us with those dark brown, bright eyes.    A first grandchild is such a planned for and scheduled event in many ways, but what a surprise!   To hold that first grandbaby will be a memory always cherished. 

Grandma Love

Grandma Love

When a baby is born

a grandma is, too,

with more love in her heart

than she ever knew.

The average person becomes a grandparent at age 50.   And aren't we different people at age 50 than we were in our twenties or thirties?  We have had our good times and our bad times.  We have worked, raised our own children, volunteered, sat on committees at church, in the community and within our schools.  We have traveled, even if only to see relatives. Hopefully we have sat on a sun-lit beach and felt the hot sun shine on our face, and then watched the sun set over the water.  We've probably gone fishing, ridden in a convertable car, skipped rocks on a pond and had a hotdog at a baseball game.  We've done the things we should have done and some things we should not have done.  But we have lived and learned and loved and laughed and cried. 

Grandmother - it's all in a Name

Are you called “Grandmother” or “Nana” or “Granny”?  I know a grandma that goes by each one of those names.  And the number of names that stand for that special someone in a child’s life is growing.   Many of us grandparents today are choosing the name we hope to be called by our little “grand” someone.   Some we can indeed choose, but some our little ones will choose for us – and those can become some of our favorite names. 

Five Birthday Ideas for Grandma

Wouldn't it be fun to give a birthday gift to grandma that she will always treasure?  A birthday gift that is focused on the special relationship between a grandma and a grandchild can melt her heart away.  Try one of these five fun birthday ideas for grandma: