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.
I’ve been very blessed that my first grandchild is in the same city as my husband and me. And fortunate or not, our son-in-law, who has been in the US Army for eleven years now, was deployed to Afghanistan when the new grandson was born. From the first night when he got the call that was passed through the Red Cross that his new baby was here, he worked to get home to see the new miracle. It took several cancelled helicopter rides to get him off a remote army outpost, into the forward operating base (FOB for short) and through countless other flights, layovers and finally to the airport, where I got to hand the expectant daddy his new baby boy, my new grandson. We were not the only tears in the airport as others understood that this was a soldier coming home to see his new baby. After hugs, and kisses and quiet moments of joy, we exited to begin the 2 week visit.
And turn forward nine months until daddy got to see his son for the second time and for a much extended stay! Seth David’s daddy was here for his first birthday and hopefully the second one before another deployment.
Our lives have been forever changed by the presence of this little grandchild (and since then our son has blessed us with another grandson, but that’s another story!). He’s the cause of my new business called Grand Expression. I taught kindergarten for five years before trying the business world. I enjoyed the business world and many of the things I learned in Kindergarten were very relevant to the adult workplace:” don’t hit people”, “clean up your own mess”, “live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some” and “flush”. I’ve tried to live by these principles, and have been able to combine my joy and love of children with the business world and have hopefully created for you a special place to spoil your little grandchild as much as I have mine!
Following are ten things I recommend for a new grandchild (many of these I have given to my grandson Seth David): Share these with your grandson or granddaughter or any baby in your life! And let your life forever change as you enjoy your new "grand" child!
1) Personalized baby blanket with his name and date of birth (embroidered)
2) Sophie the Giraffe Teether – many claim it’s the best a baby will ever have!
3) A musical plush giraffe – Rock a Bye Baby is very soothing for Mom and baby
4) Ten in the Bed Board Book – the rhyming is delightful and your child will enjoy books
5) Lots of pictures in frames – special relationships will be long remembered
6) Special bibs that grandma will really like, too!
7) A Baptismal or Christening day reminder
8) Some socks for grandma’s house
9) A favorite pacifier for when Mommy isn’t right there
10) A fun bath time blanket and wash mitt – babies love their bath times!
8) Some socks for grandma’s house
9) A favorite pacifier for when Mommy isn’t right there
10) A fun bath time blanket and wash mitt – babies love their bath times!
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