Amazing Things

Okay, I just have to start off by admitting that I was a little too optimistic to think I could blog for 13 days straight. I know. I only made it 6. And as guilt receptor, I feel really bad about it! Somewhere in my head I'm pretty certain there was 1 person who was really, really disappointed in me. And somewhere else in my head there was 1 person wondering if everything was okay. The other 1 was doing the happy, "I knew she couldn't do it!", dance. (Yup, that covers all three of you.) It's a lot of pressure. Really. But I traded in Blog Day 7 for a Sunday nap. A very LONG Sunday nap.

This whole thing feels a little like starting a diet where you're going to lose 10 pounds in one week because that's a completely reasonable goal, right? It's all water weight anyway. You start on Monday and eat melba toast. Tuesday is celery. Wednesday morning is grapefruit juice. But Wednesday afternoon is Oreos (with skim milk). Then cheesecake. Then muffins. Then Lay's Original potato chips with french onion dip. And peanut M&Ms (with whole milk). And pizza. Meat Lover's pizza. It's pretty indulgent. And you feel guilty. And start again on the next Monday (since you've already totally blown it for this week) with a more realistic goal....to lose only 8 pounds in one week.

So, it's my next Monday and I have a more realistic goal. I will only blog each weekday. For the next 5 days.

Whew! Now that I got that out I can get on to my real entry!

(Here's a hint.)

Two months ago today I became a grandmother. I have to admit I wasn't too excited about this idea at first. I'm only 29. But as soon as I held that sweet baby boy in my arms I fell in love! There really is nothing in the world like snuggling your own grandchild.

I got to be there for my daughter's very long labor, the delivery, and for a full week after he was born. One late night, when he was about 4 days old, I wrote this short and simple list of:

Amazing Things
(I should call it, So Amazing Things, just to emphasize how amazing these things are.)

1. Labor and delivery from the non-laborer/non-videotaper/just intense observer and supporter side. Wow!

2. Hospitals, doctors, modern medicine, and intervention - both good and bad.

3. How easy and refreshing it is to be the grandparent, and not the parent. :-)

4. The smell of a newborn baby. (I'd forgotten!)

5. How little sleep you get with a newborn around. (I'd forgotten!)

6. Experiencing the strength and guts of your own daughter as she becomes a mother.

7. The flawless masterpiece that is new life.

8. Family dynamics. More specifically, how much I love being a mom and don't so much love being a mom-in-law. (I'm not very good at it.)

9. How time warps with a little one around.

10. The feeling of holding your grandchild. For some reason when I thought up my life I never really thought up this part. Besides being amazing, it gives this interesting feeling of perspective and connectedness that I don't often feel.

I cannot believe how quickly two months has gone! Now my grandson is a giggly piece of delightful chubbiness. And I couldn't be happier to be a grandmother. It is truly So Amazing! :-)