The Wild World of Grandkids

There is nothing like raising children, being the proud mother of four; three girls, and one boy (I should be counting my husband). It is one of the greatest accomplishments that I and my husband have done together.

Now my two oldest have blessed me with two more additions to our little tribe. Of course being a grandparent, in my head, it would be a cakewalk, I mean I've done this before, did I mention four times. Well, all was fine and dandy the first couple of months, you now before they start actually doing things, like moving!

Now my grandson had been there since before he was born. Meaning Elisabeth went through her pregnancy living with us. Nothing new, my baby girl once finding out she was pregnant freaked out and wanted to come home. So I was blessed to have my new son-and-law and now my pregnant daughter, come and live at the house. I was able to pass along my wisdom (such as it were) about little things, like being comfortable while being preggers in the summertime. I was able to explain to her about hormone changes and why it would not be a moral or wise thing to assault her husband just because he did this to her. (Her words)

Sage was born in November, the beautiful boy is everything I had dreamed of. He is strong, healthy, and had all ten fingers and toes. He slept the first two months only crying out when he needed a diaper change and/or formula.

My daughter and her husband had become brave enough to venture out to make their own path again. I will admit I was heartbroken to hear this but, that is the way it is supposed to be isn't it. I would no longer be able to just walk into their room and take the baby at my own whim but I wasn't supposed to be doing this anyway. My husband reminded me several times that Sage was not my child and how I needed to let the parents, parents. Fine, besides I would still see Sage a lot because my daughter had decided she had wanted to get a job and of course they needed a baby sitter. I was happy with this arrangement.

The family moved down the road into their own little house quickly created a lovely home. My daughter would get a job at a local restaurant and it was exactly how I had surmised. (evil giggle) Of course, my daughter was exhausted from work and so was my son-in-law who had continued working as a laborer at an airport for now going on his third year. So there were the nights my baby girl would ask if Sage could please just stay the night and of course, being the grandmother I am, I made it look like it was my idea. Oh come on, grandbabies are awesome! Can you really blame me? Don't judge, I get mine in the end.

Now I will admit, that when Sage began to roll around like a little fat worm and then he began to grabbing for things we encouraged him. Handing him little items such as his favorite little green and brown plush Teddy bear rattle. We placed it just out of reach so he would have to work for it. I remembered doing this with my children. He would roll and even soon began to scootch himself to the item until he attained it. He is grandmas, beautiful smart little boy. Soon he began to rub his toys across his itchy gums and chew on my knuckles. He had begun pushing himself upon his knees and hands rocking back and forth. All was going just as it was suppose to and to make thing even more exciting my next grandchild would be born in February! Double the trouble and twice the fun!

Violet was born some days before her due time, she was so small but still perfect! She is the polar opposite of Sage. Where he was a healthy 7 lb 14 oz. on his birthday, my little baby bird was only 5 lb 11.4 oz. She was so delicate, I will acknowledge I was terrified to hold her, but come on it's me! I snatched her up and began making plans on how I would be able to be apart of her life as much as possible. My son did not live with me so I had the conundrum of finding time to bond with my little egg.

Months before the babies were born, my daughter and son were talking about names. I stayed quiet on any suggestion for names, giving my children and their spouses that honor, but nicknames, I could call dibs! I had come up with the nicknames of waffles and eggs. This way, when more grandkids were born we could put them all together and call them the breakfast club adding sausage, biscuits, and gravy, and so on.

Hey, I put a lot of thought into this. Sage was my waffle and Violet was my egg. A little robins egg but an egg none the less. My children informed me, (all four of them) that there would be no more addition to the family. So I just sit and wait, I am sure someone will slip up and I am many things to include patient. Although my husband may disagree about the patient part.

In the first five months of Violet's life, I was gifted with sporadic visits here and there. Not enough to curve my craving for the child's love but I was able to keep her overnights sometimes when the couple needs a date night or even just wanted some time to themselves.

Remember when I said the babies were polar opposites Sage sleeping through the nights were as Violet liked to stay up until two and three o'clock in the morning. Crying for a long period of time even after being changed and fed. Not just any normal baby howl either, she had this supersonic opera singing voice. This baby loved to party all night, singing until the sun came up! You would think this may have broken my addiction of seeking her love but, no it only strengthened it! Besides, I knew a couple of little tricks. A hard tummy either meant constipation or gas. The child has to be calm enough to check for these symptoms of course. Since when they are screaming, they are pulling it all from the stomach area. So on a calm day, I gently placed my hand on Violet's stomach. I did not have to apply any pressure, she began to bellow out in pain. So with the approval of the parent, I gave her a couple of gas drops only after I made sure she was passing her bowls properly.

I encouraged Violets parents to talk to the doctor about her formula and ask about acid reflux. It didn't take much encouragement, Violet's mom was already on it. She is such a great attentive mommy. She had seen that Violet seemed to choke when she drank her formula. When Violet burped she would spit most of what little formula she was able to drink back up! Poor thing! The gas drops and change in formula seemed to help but, it was only after I secretly started feeding Violet a little bit of Sage's baby food that the little eggs were finally able to completely stop spitting up. She was ravenous! I told mom and dad a couple of days later. Now this one I feel a little bad about, mainly because my goal is to enjoy my grandchild without stepping on mom and dad's toes. I was elated with every new thing my children and I discovered together when they were my little ones and I do not want to take that away from them. My son was happy that the spitting up and crying had subsided. Mom was a little irked, with good reason. I had overstepped my bounds. I should have spoken to her first before changing Violet's diet.

I soon found out I could not watch the two overnight together. I need help! At one time a long time ago I thought I had wanted twins. Thank God that never happened! To anyone who is blessed to have more than one child at the same time, you are my hero! I had achieved my goal in securing the children's love, but together the two gremlins tagged teamed me! They even synced up on their poop schedules! If I picked one up the other would look at me as if I had kicked their dog. It was the look of absolute betrail.

Remember, I told you that Sage had been working on new things like scooching around, now the little mud puppy scuttled rather quickly like something out of a horror movie across the floor, bed, and/or couch depending on where I was. He started to ravenously claw climbing up my clothes like an angry animal desperately making his way into my lap if I had Violet in my arms! He having it. There is more then enough of Grandmas love for her little breakfeast club. My little baby bird was no angle. The two were sitting in their toddlers walking chairs in the living room both cooing and cackling at one another when the two just stop. Violet let out one last blah, I watched as Sage's face sank into a quivering lip pout. He turned looking at me and began to cry. I looked at Violet who was just staring at him and I began to laugh. I went over and picked Sage up comforting him and ask Violet what did you say to him? Of course, she did not respond, she just began to play with the doodle toys that are connected to her chair ignoring us both. Not that I really expected her to say anything to me.

The two must have made amines because the two were soon back to tag team against me. You know what, I just love it.