In Like a Lamb
March 1, 2010
Ah.. the first of March.. hard to believe.
Here in Southern Manitoba, March can still mean a whole lot of winter… but with the mild temps and the warming sun, the first inkling of spring hopes are felt dancing about, impatient to burst forth.
Signs of the big melt are everywhere. The five foot snow drifts lining many of our streets have started their slow decline, with increasingly sizable water puddles creeping outward from their base, inching towards the middle of the streets, searching for those still frozen drains. The packed snow is losing its crunch and our winter boots are starting to bear that messy sand and salt ring.
And this fine-feathered pair were recently spotted in our back yard. I believe they are a pair of House Finches. A very early spring sighting.
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One can’t stand on the cusp of March without momentarily reflecting on the months just spent. This winter has been a relatively gentle one. An abundance of mild days and the surprisingly “no-show” of the harsh north wind allowed for plenty of out-door time, keeping the spirits of both myself and the dogs high enough to escape the dreaded January doldrums.
And with so much happening, the winter days simply seemed to tumbled over one another leaving little time to lament the shorter days and colder nights.
Much of the February excitement centered around the Olympic Games.. first with the torch runs and then the actual games. Every day held some sort of excitement and adrenalin surge.
So proud to be Canadian!
On a personal note, this winter’s highlight most definitely was the arrival of my new great-grandson Baby Gabriel. Born 6 weeks early, I am so happy to report that he is now home and doing well. Would you believe that he is quickly approaching the 6 pound milestone and is proudly displaying the cutest ever chubby cheeks.
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Cyni and Jordan (mom and dad) are both doing well… tired… but good. The first few weeks, while Gabriel required hospital care, presented many a challenge for the young mom and dad, and I admit to often feeling concern. But, our Cyni, has an emotional maturity and a gentle grace about her that far exceeds her years. That, and the support of her good man helped carry both her and her babe through this difficult time.
Now that they are finally home, I feel a peace and am comforted knowing that they are surrounded by supportive family (both near and far). Yay, Baby Gabriel… let the good times roll! :-)
And Dear Spring…. please, please do something to keep that impending lion at bay.
Welcome Baby Gabriel
February 6, 2010
On February 5th at 0349, Baby Gabriel entered this world, weighing in at 4 pounds 1 ounce, a little earlier than expected but breathing on his own and from all reports, doing fine. Cyni, my granddaughter, was not expecting to celebrate his birth day until mid March, but Wee Gab.. well… he had other plans.
Cyni has spent the past week in a hospital bed with nurses and doctors doing their best to prepare both her and the babe for an early arrival. Steroids were given to aid the babe’s lung development, antibiotics given to protect Mom against infection. All the while, many thoughts and prayers were flying about to keep them safe and if at all possible, to hold on for just one more week.
And that is just what happened. Cyni and Gabriel made it to the pivotal 34 week mark when baby Gabriel decided that the time had come, the time is now.
I got the call at o4oo February 5 from my son Paul.
“Mom, Cyni had the baby… Mom, Dad and Baby are fine.”
Thank you God for this little miracle.
Pictures soon to follow. :-)
Great Grandma Colleen
We Made a wish…. and you came true
November 27, 2009
And then, with the blink of an eye.. you are one.
Happy Birthday Alyssa and Zachary!!
Teddy bears and skies of pink and blue
Smiling in honor of the two of you
Infants, not so long ago
Now, one candle is aglow
You both are growing up so fast
How quickly a year has passed
You are special, sweet, and wise
Each a present before our eyes.
Breathing Easier
February 3, 2009
I feel as if I have been groping through a bit of a fog this past week. The head cold turned ugly and left a nasty sinus infection in its wake. Thoughts were difficult, let alone words.
The seemingly never ending winter didn’t add favourably and between feeling poorly and feeling forever cold, my mood has been low. +sigh+
But thanks to the wonders of antibiotics and warm soup I am once more breathing easy. Yesterday, after almost two weeks with no baby contact, I was finally able to visit with my grandkids.
And there lies the real medicine for all that ails. :-)
Both little ones are doing well. Birdie is blossoming and is showing great interest in all that surrounds her. Peanut… well Peanut is no longer a peanut. He started out as the smaller … but now is the larger of the two.
So without further a due… here are some photos (a Grandma’s prerogative).
First we have Peanut little Zack… all bundled up, in a basket and out for a walk with Mom, Dad, and Grandma.
And here we have little Birdie, the girl with a zillion expressions. Here she tries out her new lounge chair. She is a little small for it but seems quite excited about its potential.
They make my heart smile. :-)
“Babies are such a nice way to start people”. ~Don Herrold
My Sweet Birdie
January 11, 2009
Work has been crazy. Outside it is cold. My plan for yesterday was to have a restful stay at home, do-nothing type of day.
Funny how when I plan to do nothing, I suddenly have energy to do all kinds of things. Just the knowing that “I don’t have to” is somehow freeing. By noon I had tidied the house (at least enough to pass) and done the laundry.
By early afternoon I was out the door and heading down the street to visit my darling little granddaughter and her Mom and Dad. I still marvel at the fact that they live only 1/2 a block away. One can barely count that as “going out”. :-)
This makes me smile.. a conversation that I had with my son a bit a go.
David: “Mom, could you please not call her “Piglet”. You can call her Birdie if you like. That’s what I call her… she makes little birdie sounds.“
Me (smiling): “But David… she is a little piglet… and I mean that only in a good way…you know.. like Piglet in Winnie the Pooh.”
David: “I know Mom, but I like Birdie better.”
So…. Birdie it is. :-)
Our little Birdie has been troubled with what we think is a bit of a stomach bug the past few days.. but yesterday she seemed improved. Almost seven weeks old… she is changing by the moment. This week she started giving those heart melting smiles and at times gives little shrieks of excitement. Little arms flailing about, facial expressions in constant change, she is in perpetual stationary motion.
Taking pictures of a little person who is in constant motion isn’t easy. Thank goodness for the digital age. I get about one good photo for every twenty taken. :-)
Here she is playing in her floor jungle gym. I missed the smiles but did capture a shriek of excitement… she really wants to grab that swinging red monkey.
After play came a feed and then, after a wee moment of fussing, a sleep. Is there anything more peaceful than a baby sleeping. I think not.
As she slept, her Mom and I stood over her, each with a camera in hand. Amid the flashing of flashes and the clicking of cameras, her Mom said, “We look like the baby Paparazzi”. I laughed. I think she may be right. :-)
how quickly pass the days
December 28, 2008
And so it goes, as it does with most anticipated days… in the blink of an eye, all done for yet another year.
Our celebration of Christmas took place in our home on Boxing Day. All of our kids and Grandkids were there. I am so grateful to be able to have it this way.
Our home is not big by any means. Throw in eleven adults and two babies, and two dogs and one fat cat, and well… you may easily imagine the scene. Quite close cozy, to say the least. :-) I would have it no other way.
I wish I had been able to take more photos, but as luck would have it, I misplaced the head of my tripod. Add to that the busy role of playing hostess (and Mom and Grandma!).. and not many photos were snapped. But here are some that were.
This one I call soother envy. Sadie was fascinated by the two new little creatures and the very strange noises they made. She also showed great interest in their funny little chew toys.
A busy day does take its toll… little Zach found comfort in being draped across his Daddy’s knee.
And here they all are…
My four grandkids. How marvellous is that. :-)
My heart sings with this blessing.
Munchkins Rule
December 13, 2008
This morning I awoke all wrapped up in that warm and cozy feeling that comes with knowing that I have four days off. My head was instantly swimming with things to do but my heart couldn’t stop smiling knowing that baby time topped all of the lists.
I am still very much in awe of these two little munchkins and can’t seem to get enough of their warm little bodies and sweet baby breath. I hold them tight and marvel at their little selves and wonder at who they will become. Admittedly they have me all a twitter. :-)
Getting older may have its draw backs but having grandchildren is definitely not one of them.
Being a Grandma Rocks!!
snow flakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
December 9, 2008
While we have been busy with babies and other such wonders, Winter seems to have snuck on in. Today was cold.. really cold. With temps hovering in and around the -20C mark, unprotected fingers and cheeks are freezing fast.
Sadie is about the only one that I know of who is happy with this nippy turn of events. She loves it!
I guess with all of the baby commotion, I have been remiss in giving Sadie updates. I am happy to report that she is doing quite well. Our walks are now longer and her tolerance is better. The limp is less apparent and the leg is rarely carried high. It has been almost three months since she tore her left hind knee ligament and finally I am starting to believe that she may have a good recovery.
I am hesitant to say that the recovery will be in full.. but I am definitely hopeful that it will be enough to allow her an active life. Right now we are still being cautious, but I am starting to hope that by Spring, barring further re-injury, we will once more be able to visit the off leash dog park. Fingers crossed.
Winter may have settled over Southern Manitoba but that doesn’t mean that life has quietened down. We are busy, busy, busy.
Yesterday was a fun day. Both new grandbabies visited with their Great Grandma for the very first time.
It took a little bit to convince Mom that it was ok for her to hold them, but once they found their way into her arms, she was not about to let them go. She was completely and totally smitten. :-)
Only two and one week old respectively and already brimming over with their own personalities. I am not sure how their parents feel about this but I have already christened them with nicknames… “Peanut” and “Piglet”.
I will leave you guessing as to which one is which. :-)
Grand Times
December 3, 2008
With the arrival of two new grand babies we are working on finding ourselves a new normalcy. Somethings do remain as they were… but much has changed. Especially with Christmas just around the corner.. my mind is full of tasks that need to be done and activities that I would like to do with not nearly enough hours to do it all in. I suppose that will be the way it is for the next little while.
This past weekend we were all together for the first time… the four new parents and the two new grand babies. The Moms and Dads all wore that pale, raccoon-eyed new parent look, but smiles and laughter ruled the day.. interspersed with newborn cries.. sometimes in stereo. :-).
Although my arms were rarely empty, there is no lacking for the comforting embrace of a grandparent. The number of grandparents easily doubles the number of parents and then we are throwing in three great-grandmothers for good measure and good luck.
These are happy busy days.
He’s Here!!
November 27, 2008
Meet my new grandson.
Born: November 27, 2008
Weight: 6 lbs 15 oz.
I lack the words to articulate the joy. :-)
