And the winner is...

Tito selected Claudio. Since Monique was the first one to agree with my choice, she will receive an autographed picture of Tito and Claudio. And since Nathan whined, he and Stacy will receive a copy also.

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas and hope you did too. Tito is home from rehab and is doing great. He was not up for attending Christmas Eve service, so Nathan, Stacy and I went. Before we left the house I presented them the bedding I finally almost finished (I still need to do a little quilting). This picture doesn't show them, but there are more sheets in the color scheme.

On Christmas day, Nathan, Stacy, Carrie and Dave were here for brunch and gifts. They then went to their other families, friends for the afternoon. It wasn't too long for Tito and he took a long nap after they left. We are all looking forward to Kaiden being here next Christmas, he will be about 11 months old. He received gifts from Dave, Grandpa Jerry and this one from Nathan's boss. What happens at Grandma's house, stays at Grandma's house!

A picture is worth a thousand words

Christmas Memories

I was a little blue over the weekend because Tito is still in rehab for his knee and we do not know when he will be home (hopefully before Christmas - hopefully before this weekend). A few things lifted my spirits - Friday night was Crazy Bunco and Sunday was our Women's Group Christmas Brunch and ornament exchange. Both events are looked forward to all year and both made me laugh.

Rocco also stayed with me and we went to visit Tito on Saturday. He brought smiles to many faces.

I was sitting Sunday afternoon and noticed the Sock Reindeer that was a gift to Nathan on his first Christmas. (I know it is his and I really do have good intentions to make my own, I am only keeping it for a pattern!). I started thinking about all the Christmas memories with Nathan - his second Christmas when he redecorated one or two branches of the tree everyday - the year he had to have the Fisher Price Western Town and carried the ad around for weeks (he also let us know that it wasn't the right one because the color of the roof in the ad was different) - the Christmas Eve he proposed to Stacy - so many wonderful memories.

Next year he and Stacy will start their own memories with Kaiden and so will we.

Contest - Great Prize

Tito had knee replacement surgery on Thursday. He is doing well - his rehab slow but sure. We left the house early on Thursday as it was snowing quite hard at the time. The roads were not as bad as expected and we got to the hospital early and had time to browse in the gift shop. During the surgery, I went back and bought this little guy. This is the first thing I have really purchased for the baby (other than material for the bedding). I plan on keeping it at our house for Kaiden. Tito thinks he should be named Uncle Traveling Giraffe. This is his nod to Fraggle Rock (he is still disappointed the baby his not going to be called Gobo!). I think he should be Claudio. So we are having a contest - enter your suggestion in the comments section or e-mail them to me. Tito promises an autographed picture of him with the giraffe. How could you pass that up?

Thanksgiving Weekend

It was a busy weekend. We went to Loveland to have dinner with my sisters, my niece, her husband, my great-niece, her husband and their 23 month old. Samantha won't be the baby of the family much longer! A rare quiet moment

Rocco gained experience of being around a little one

Aunt Louise and Uncle Melvin sent gifts from Maine. So tiny - so adorable.

Tito put together the crib for our house

I sewed.

Kicks

I finally felt Kaiden kick last night! For weeks everyone else has felt him, but when I get close, he would stop, but not last night. It was a very neat experience!

Technology

The title comes from Nathan's e-mail to me with these pictures. They came when I was feeling down and gave me great joy. Thank you, Nathan and Stacy!

Kaiden has his foot in his mouth - not unlike me!

Wow! Technology is truly amazing - just look at that face!

First Gifts

Carrie and Katja have been best friends forever, so Carrie told Katja about becoming an auntie and Katja told her stepmom, Ruthie and Ruthie sent these adorable booties and cap. (There is one more surprise for later).

The proud auntie giving the gift to Stacy!

3rd Trimester

Stacy is in her third trimester and feeling large, but as my friend Lori told her, you can get bigger. Everyone is still healthy. The baby is very active. The kids have the crib and changing table put together. I have a crib (not put together) courtesy of a friend of Stacy who was getting rid of baby items. I am sewing, but need to step that up and get everything done. Plans are underway for the baby shower. The due date is only 83 days away. I know Stacy will think those days will last forever - especially the last 10-14, but Kaiden will be here before we know it.

Kaiden's Halloween

Stacy and Kaiden dress for Halloween

Kaiden Christopher

The baby has a name - Kaiden Christopher. Kaiden means spirited and I think Stacy really believes that - he has been pretty active lately. Kaiden and Stacy are both fine. There was another ultrasound to check the heart, which is fine. Stacy had a diabetes test, but it was negative. Kaiden seems to be a little big for his age, but I look at him being above average!

And a Father this cute....

And a Father this cute......

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Love Mom and David

29 Years Ago

It is rainy tonight just like it was 29 years ago tonight. We were getting ready to go to the hospital to welcome our baby, we got there at 8 pm and 8 hours later, our precious Nathan was born. I had such dreams about who he would be what he would do with his life. Of course, those were my dreams not his and what I had planned for him, didn't all come to pass. I never could have imagined what a wonderful person he has turned out to be. He is someone I not only love with all my heart but also like as a friend. I admire him for how he lives his life, his ideals and principles and how much he loves and respects his life. I know he will make a wonderful father.

Bed Linens

A couple weeks ago, I went shopping with Nathan and Stacy to pick out fabric for bedding. Stacy knew the colors she wanted and I had a piece on hand that I had purchased for something I didn't make, so off we went. The first store we went to had nothing, but we found the main fabric (the patchwork on the bottom) at the second. I knew I had other pieces at home that would work for contrast, but we needed something for a bed skirt. We had no luck finding a solid brown or aqua that would work, so choose the natural linen-like piece. This weekend is dreary with rain and maybe even a little snow expected, so I am off to start sewing bed skirts, sheets, pad covers and maybe even a surprise.

With a Mother this adorable....

With a mother this adorable.....



Happy Birthday, Stacy!! Love, David & Helen

Grandma? Grandpa?

One of the first things that was asked was what do you want to be called? Good question. I have never been asked that before. My parents named me and that is what I was called. I was labeled with a nickname when one of my nieces couldn't pronounce my name. I was labeled with another nickname years later when a neighbor's child couldn't pronounce my name. When Nathan was born I became Mom. Now I have a choice! This child will have me and Stacy's mom and Jerry's wife to differentiate between. Should we become Grandma Helen, Grandma Pat and Grandma Chris?

My friend Sandy was called Grammy by her grandchildren and I loved that, but that was her. I'm not sure I am a Grammy. I know grandmothers who use their ethnic background (Tita and Noni) but I'm not sure what the Norwegian word for grandmother is. A friend's mother is called Darcy because her name is Dorothy and that is the way her first grandchild said her name. I'm not sure I want to leave this one up for grabs - I could be HaHa all over again.

David is set with being Tito, but I did not know. I have a few months to come up with something.

A Boy!

In 1979, you didn't know you were having a boy or a girl until they were born. It was somewhat like Christmas morning. But in 2008, if you want to know you can find out. Nathan and Stacy opted to know the sex of the baby. The week before their ultrasound, they asked me if I wanted to know. I told them, I would probably figure it out when they started buying pink or blue items. So on September 12th, Nathan called me at work and told me they were having a boy. Here are my two favorite pictures.

I just love the little feet!

Nathan asked me if I was happy the baby was a boy or if I would have rather had a girl. I couldn't care less as long as the baby is healthy and he is and that makes me ecstatic.

Old? Who Me?

For years, I have told many of my friends that they must be much older than me because they have grandkids and I didn't. So now, I will have to tell them they must be much older because their grandkids are older than mine!

I came across this picture of Nathan and wondered where did the 29 years go? My baby is going to be a daddy.

So many things have changed and not just Nathan. Ultrasounds are common place. Caffine is out of the question. Bumper pads are bad. The cribs we used are unsafe. But there is one thing that hasn't changed and never will - babies steal your hearts.

The Journey Begins

The journey actually began a few months ago. I have been intrigued with blogs for sometime, but when we heard we were going to be Grandparents, I finally had a topic! There is some catching up on all the news and I have a lot to learn. There will be more posts in the beginning and more than a few mistakes, but you are invited for the journey. So here is the first post:

David and I are going to be grandparents! Nathan and Stacy are expecting in February. We were actually told on Father's Day but were asked not to tell anyone until the first trimester was complete. I did not tell anyone and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I was bursting with joy and happiness and wanted to share it with someone. David, on the otherhand, told Gary and John and his parents. I found out and stopped Gary and Vivien from saying anything at dinner one night. The second trimester began on July 21st. Just in time for me to share the news on our Girls Weekend in Estes Park. It was such a relief to let it out. I thought Janice would probably know since John did, but he had not told her. Bless his heart, he thought it was my place to share the news.