Gotta Love Those Grandkids

I was fortunate recently to be able to visit both my grandchildren while Kim held down the fort here in Montana.

First I spent a week with my grandson in Boise.

Pause.

He's soooooo cute.  How many pictures can I post?  Too many.  I will sacrifice and limit myself.

Russell had his first serious encounter with baby food.  He ended up loving it and opening his mouth like a baby robin for each bite.

He is close to crawling and we spent a lot of time on the floor.

There were also some sleepless nights as he was teething and didn't mind letting us all know about it;  all night long.

Of course we had to visit Goldy's while I was there.  And Russell sported the little Wee La Nina vest I had knitted for him.

We spent some time checking out clouds in the sky.

He helped me shop for yarn.

We walked.

And walked some more.

I also strengthened my bond with Freddy. (Very important.)

It was a great visit.

Time to move on to the Seattle area.  Where I got to spend time with this cutie.

Check out that hair!  My grandchildren have "opposite hair".

The following three pictures will give you an idea of playtime with a two year old.

She's a riot!  She kept me very busy playing with her.

And she's very confident.  Gotta love that.

We ate delicious Thai food and Hayden tried a coconut.

She loves her Mama!

I was worried she wouldn't warm up to me as it had been too long since I'd seen her.  It took her about 10 minutes to start directing our playtime.  She knows what she wants.

Also, this next generation.......technology DOES NOT frighten them!  She knows the difference between a photo and a video on a cell phone.  She loves playing games on cell phones.
What leaps will there be in the next 20 years?

My son and I watched a Green Bay game together.  Go Packers!

Hayden christened me "Grammie" while I was there.  Perfect.  Grammie I am.

Great visits with my children, their spouses, and both grandchildren.
And........another grandson on his way next month!  Time to add to the fun!

Road Trip: Intermission

My daughter, son-in-law, and my grandson came for a visit.  It was a great, great, week!

Changes

So this has been happening and it is why we've been so busy lately.

And my grandson Russell is growing like a weed!

There are more important things than babies......or maybe not.

I've been taking a "staycation" this week to help my daughter with her new baby.
Such hardship on my part.
Not. At. All.

It's been great.
I would love to, and could, post all kinds of endless baby pictures here but I'll save you from me.

Actually, here's a couple.

I caught a tiny smile today, accidentally.  They're few and fleeting and usually happen while he's sleeping.  So probably not even technically a "smile."  But who cares, right?

And he and his Seattle cousin, Hayden, met briefly for the first time.

There IS other news......believe it or not.  

I finished this sweater for my friend's rescued chihuahua and it fit Nellie pretty well.

Nellie always looks so regal.

And spring is bursting at the seams here in Boise.
Tree in downtown;

And phlox in our front yard;

And Just Like That - He's Here

My grandson, Russell, arrived this Saturday morning around 5:15AM.

My daughter and son-in-law chose to have a home birth.  Lucky for me I was included.  It was a ton of work, the majority of which, of course, was done by my daughter.  She was a trooper and a rock star throughout the process, which wasn't a quick or easy one.  They phoned me Thursday night at 11:00 to come over and help her through her contractions.  Those continued until Friday night when she and the midwives made the decision to break her bag of waters.  The contractions picked up and went until midnight when she was ready to push her son out.  After five grueling hours of pushing he was unexpectedly delivered on their living room floor.  (A whole other story).

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been included.  I watched in awe as his little head crowned and we all laughed and cried when we saw him for the first time.

New babies are just wonderful!

And oh, yeah;  8.4 lb, 22 inches long!