I am hoping that when my grandchildren are older there will still be an interface of some sort for them to be able to read my blog. I would like for them to know their Grandma P from my own thoughts about life. I was pen pals with one of my grandmothers during her last 5 years of her life and I cherish her writings. This blog, "Part 1", is about my first grandchild.
My Giada, "Dolcezza Mia", my sweetness -
I remember the day that I was told I was to become a grandmother; it was something that I had wanted for a long time and it was news that made me so happy. When your mom and dad found out that you were going to be a girl I could not wait to go shopping for pink and purple clothes for you. I started writing a diary to capture all of my thoughts about you and I have it packed away in a box to give to you when you are older. The months between finding out about you and actually meeting you seemed so very long but they were worth the wait. I was at work on June 17th of 2005 when I received a call from your daddy to let me know that you had arrived in the early morning hours. It was difficult for me to concentrate for the rest of my work day in anticipation of going to the hospital to meet you for the first time.
Great-grandpa Jim and I went to the hospital together and we were so happy to meet you. You were so tiny and pink and you smelled so good. Your mommy and daddy were very tired so we did not stay long. You had lots of visitors and happy people waiting to meet you.
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| Here is a picture of the first time we met |
You only had to stay in the hospital for 1 day, I think, and your mommy and daddy were happy to take you home.
You came to visit my house when you were just a week old and I was able to hold you and talk to you which made me very happy.
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| Grandpa Steve holding you for the first time |
There was a party for you, your baby shower, during the summer of 2005 and there were lots of people who came to bring you presents and to see you and your mommy and daddy. The party was at your grandma Lyndi and Pappa Kevin's house and there was lots of food and even a cake for you. One of my favorite pictures of you was taken that day by grandpa Steve.
Your first year went by very fast and you were busy with growing and spending time with your many family members. Such a cute little sweetness, you made so many people smile and amazed me every time I got to spend even a moment with you. Since I never had girls (only your daddy and your uncle Jason) I found delight in shopping for pink and purple clothes, dolls, and "girl" toys. Your smile captured my heart from the moment I first saw it and has kept me hostage for 6 1/2 years so far.
I did not make it to your 1 year birthday party because I had previous out-of-town plans but I did get to see lots of pictures that great-grandpa Jim took while he was there. Your mommy made you a very cute Winnie the Pooh birthday cake for you to dive into and make a mess with; I think you must have had so much fun.
Pretty soon you were crawling and ready to discover my house the next time you visited me. You were fun to play with and even more fun to just watch. Your blue eyes and reddish hair enveloped my heart even more at this very cute age.
At this point in your life you and I had not spent much time with each other due to life circumstances yet every time we did get together we had a very intense connection with one another. I cannot adequately explain my excitement and desire to be around you but I hope through my writing that someday you will know how special you are to me.
When you started to talk grandpa Steve and I delighted in hearing your babble. Too cute for words! Your sweet little voice was high pitched and squeaky but oh so wonderful and entertaining.
Your 2 year birthday party was at your mommy and daddy's 1st house. You had lots of family come to your party and there were lots of presents for you to open and have fun with. One of the things that I brought you was a big pink ball and you had so much fun with it! Look at your face in this picture, I adore this look as you are hugging your new pink ball. Oh my goodness how much I love you.
From year 2 to year 3 you grew in your speaking; walking to running, jumping, twirling, and most of the time smiling or laughing. I am sure that you kept mommy and daddy very busy. Your new baby brother was born during this time so your world changed quite a bit.
I took this picture of you and your daddy when I arrived at the hospital to see your new brother, Luca. You were shy and unsure of what was really going on but you were ever so cute and ready with a smile for me.
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| At the hospital when Luca was born |
Your new world was busy, busy, busy, and I enjoyed getting funny photos from your mommy during this phase. You started to show interest in playing on the computer and when you came to my house you loved to "play" my piano. Your mom sent me this great photo of you "sending an email"! So serious....haha!
You did a lot of hiking and camping over the next year and I am sure that was a lot of fun for you and your family. I have seen lots of pictures from some of those trips and it always looks like you are having a great time. You will have lots of good memories to share with your kids someday and you will have some good life skills that your mommy and daddy have taught you. You are a very lucky little girl.
Mother's Day of 2010 was held at your mom and dad's house and it was a very nice gathering. We had some lunch and spent some time together for a couple of hours. I took this picture of you holding this little Winnie the Pooh; two of my favorite things, you and Winnie the Pooh. When you were born I bought a book of Winnie the Pooh with hopes of having you sit on my lap so I could read it to you someday but I was never able to do so. I will pack it up and hand it down to you for your own children someday.
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| Mother's Day 2010 |
You moved on to kindergarten in the fall of 2010 and you were such a big girl about it. I did not spend much time with you during your kindergarten year as your family was very, very busy and there was a lot of things happening in everyone's lives. I missed you so much and we spoke on the phone often. Your mom and dad were busy during this time as they were expecting your new little sister Taziana in October of 2010.
You are such a good big-sister to your brother and your little sister. Even though you are somewhat shy at times I sense that you have a natural desire to be a leader just like your daddy was when he was little. He, too, was a bit shy but he was a good big brother and always wanted to be a leader and first in line at school. Many of your mannerisms remind me of your daddy yet I also see how much of a young lady you are becoming thanks to your mommy and your grandma Lyndi. You are lucky to have so many positive female family members as you make your way through life.
You invited me to visit your school during 1st grade and I was so proud that you asked me. I came and had lunch with you and your brother and we visited your library to look through the book sale that was in progress. It was a fun time for me, thank you so much for the invitation!
I am looking forward to my first tea party ever in my life on March 30th of this year. You sent me an invitation that you wrote yourself and I am very excited.
I must confess that I keep all of the pictures that you make for me. I scan them into my computer so that I will have them forever. Here are a few of them that I really love.
You are such a good big-sister to your brother and your little sister. Even though you are somewhat shy at times I sense that you have a natural desire to be a leader just like your daddy was when he was little. He, too, was a bit shy but he was a good big brother and always wanted to be a leader and first in line at school. Many of your mannerisms remind me of your daddy yet I also see how much of a young lady you are becoming thanks to your mommy and your grandma Lyndi. You are lucky to have so many positive female family members as you make your way through life.
You invited me to visit your school during 1st grade and I was so proud that you asked me. I came and had lunch with you and your brother and we visited your library to look through the book sale that was in progress. It was a fun time for me, thank you so much for the invitation!
I am looking forward to my first tea party ever in my life on March 30th of this year. You sent me an invitation that you wrote yourself and I am very excited.
I must confess that I keep all of the pictures that you make for me. I scan them into my computer so that I will have them forever. Here are a few of them that I really love.
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| You colored this for me - 2010 |
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| Love this! Valentine 2012 |
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| Also Valentine 2012 |
I look forward to you getting older and coming to visit me when you can; I would really enjoy and appreciate your company. I would cherish having some time with you to get to know you; I have been dreaming of this for seven years. I have boxes and boxes of stuff that I save for you and it will be fun to go through them together some day.
Right now it has been over a year since you have been to my house as life is so busy in your family. I miss you terribly but I know that you are happy, healthy, and you have great parents. What more can a grandma want for her granddaughter?
I do hope that you get to read this and some of my other writing's when you are older so that you will know how you affected my life in such a positive way.
Love always, Grandma P
