Musings on Becoming a Grandparent (By Lori)

Today it became official: We are happily anticipating the arrival of a new family member. I had already figured out that my daughter was expecting when she and her husband were here for Christmas Eve. (Really? You’re not drinking your favorite soda with dinner, and instead you want water? Really? Something’s afoot!) But we were summoned to the Emergency Room on the day after Christmas, and after the loss that we all experienced last summer, it was a little hard to get excited, even when we were told that the doctors were cautiously hopeful. The silent prayer of every heart was, “Please, Lord, let this baby be all right. We can’t go through this again.”

Well, today it was officially okay. My Little Foo Foo has successfully carried it through the first trimester, and the doctor heard a strong heartbeat today, so this grandmother can start getting excited! I am excited for my daughter and her husband, for they have not come to this point easily, and it means so much to them. I am tickled for their happiness.

Mandy and Jeromy: My Grandbaby's Parents

My daughter does not complain about the discomforts of pregnancy. She delights in her morning sickness, for that means that she still has a baby. She has told me, “Even the worst day of your pregnancy is better than the day that you miscarry.” She has a grateful heart.

I must admit that I’m tickled for my happiness, too, for I have always heard that grandchildren are the reward that you reap for surviving parenthood. I am ready to start reaping!

I have already started making plans for “Pod”. I have begun hand quilting the John Deere quilt and am prepared to switch gears and work on the floral/paisley quilt if the next ultrasound dictates. And, oh, the cute baby things out there! I may stimulate an economic recovery all by myself!

That’s the wonderful thing about grandchildren: you get to do the things that you wanted to do for your own kids, but were too busy being responsible parents to do them. Tons of toys? I wish I could have done that for my kids, but I was occupied with buying school supplies, and clothes, and food. Tons of fun? I’m sure we could have had more fun, but I was busy checking their homework, making them brush their teeth, and trying to mold them into wonderful people. That’s their job now, and I get to do the fun stuff!

I can’t wait until Pod gets to come to my house for sleepovers. Pod and I will revel in our decadence by eating dessert without finishing dinner first and by staying up two hours past our bedtime. Finally! Someone who will watch “Snow Buddies” and “Santa Buddies” with me (the greatest movies ever made, by the way). Oh, the fun we will have!

I truly will be able to tell Pod that I was madly in love with Pod before he/she was ever born. I am hopelessly smitten, and so very, very grateful. To all of those who have yet to live this dream I would say, “Keep the faith. Hold fast to your dream. One way or another, it can come true. And when it does, it will mean even more.”