The Maple Syruping Tradition Continues . . . February 26, 2011

February is the time of the year in New England, as the temperatures rise above freezing during the day and dip  below freezing at night, that we trudge through the snow to tap those maple trees, beginning the long, labor of love that turns fresh maple sap into sweet, sticky maple syrup.

I know I’ve written about this  maple syruping adventure before . . . but this year is different, because we have this little guy on board to experience it all . . .

Joshua was in the “thick” of things, so to speak, taking it all in, as he watched his grandpa, great-grandpa, great-uncle, uncles, and second-cousins scurry around the woods, drilling holes, tapping in quills, hanging buckets, and installing pipelines.

Uncle Nate even took time for a game of “Peek-a-Boo” with Joshua, between the maple trees.

“Josh, do you want to help?”

Grandpa splices tubing for the pipeline . . .

Cousin Steve works from the crook of a tree . . .

Uncle Jon taps in quills and adds covers . . .

Joshua has Mommy lift the lid to check to see if the sap is dripping . . .

He even took a “Gator” ride with Mommy and Grandpa.

Even Grandpa takes a break for Joshua’s favorite game of the moment: “Peek-a-Boo!”  It’s amazing what babies will encourage even the most serious adults to do to make them laugh!

Josh takes a break from all the hard work with a rest on the quad with Uncle Jon, Uncle Nate, and Mommy.

Of course, Duke was supervising the whole process . . .

. . . as was Jake . . .

And this is the little guy that made it so much more fun!

I’m thinking there’s some pancakes and sweet maple syrup in his future . . .

Project 365 (40-47)–Baby Joshua’s First Valentines February 20, 2011

Oh, what  fun Joshua had making his very first Valentines!!!

Project 365 – Day 23 January 24, 2011

One of my very favorite photos:  My “baby” holding his sister’s baby for the first time, Uncle Nate with baby Josh.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!! May 9, 2010 May 9, 2010

In Honor of Mother’s Day . . .

“Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. When you were born, I saw your face and knew I was in love. Before you were an hour old, I knew I would die for you. To this day, I still will.”

Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms, Grandmoms, Great…-Grandmoms, and to anyone, female or male, who’s had the joy to “mother” someone!!!

Strolling with Baby Joshua (May 1, 2010) May 2, 2010

I spent the most incredible spring day yesterday, strolling with Baby Joshua (and his Mom), along the beach, through a nearby garden center/nursery, and on our farm.  We even enjoyed an outside lunch at a favorite seafood stop (which Joshua slept his way through).  Somehow, the marvelous re-birth of spring flowers and outside activities seemed that much more special, sharing them with this precious seven-week-old miracle.

It’s actually May Day, but by the number of sunbathers on the beach, you would have thought it was the middle of summer!

It was a perfectly brilliant day and Joshua slept through his entire visit to the beach.  He loves to be held close where he feels most comfortable, either in his Mom’s “babywearing” pack or in Grandmom’s arms (of course I had to have my time with him, too!)

I told Joshua that he’d have  to wait just a little bit more  before he was big enough to ride the antique carousel . . .

(He didn’t seem to mind.)

Then, we visited our favorite garden center and checked out all the spring flowers.  Joshua pretty much slept his way through the Mandevilles, too . . .

Then, we walked through the orchard on our way home and enjoyed some late peach blossoms . . .

. . . and apple blossoms . . .

Mommy even gave Joshua a chance to feel the new, spring grass under his feet . . .

Then, he had a chance to play with Uncle Nate . . .

. . . and visited with Grandpa, too . . .

“Can I borrow your hat, Grandpa?”

It sure was a busy day for little Joshua . . . and a lovely day for all of us!

“Is it bedtime yet, Mommy?”

To continue strolling, please click on over to the Quiet Country House.

Our Little Prince Has Arrived! March 28, 2010

Words just seem inadequate to convey the incredible miracle of birth and wonderful life changes that have taken place in our family during the last two weeks.  So, I’ve been indeed wordless on this blog, rather basking in the glory, wonder, and beauty that is:

Joshua Daniel

Born March 12

9 pounds 8 ounces

22-1/4 inches long

As you can see, he is anything but little.  He has brought so much joy to our family and I am SO enjoying witnessing his family unit grow and adjust as their worlds are forever changed for the better.

I am so intensely proud of our daughter and our son-in-law on the new life and wonderful bonds they have created.

It is such a marvelous feeling to see your child become a parent herself. . .

. . . and to see our son-in-law grow so naturally into becoming a dad.

I am so blessed to be a part of this.  I’m loving every minute of it, but I’m just the grandmother . . .

. . . and I keep wondering . . . is it wrong to feel like I already love this new baby, our grandchild, even MORE than our own children?

Day 5: “30 Days of Beauty” Photography Challenge February 21, 2010

Here’s my photo for Day 5 for the “30 Days of Winter Beauty” Photography Challenge.

Our pregnant daughter, Abbie, aka Farmer’s Daughter:

In my eyes, it doesn’t get any more beautiful than this!  Thanks, Ab (and Ed!) for doing your part in making our lives a lot more meaningful!  We love you both—and baby, already!

Due date:  March 9th!  Woohoo!

Sunday Stroll: Down Memory Lane January 17, 2010

This is a different kind of  “Sunday Stroll” today, because, as many of you know, we’re eagerly awaiting and preparing for the arrival of our daughter’s first baby, due in March.   With the preparations for the baby shower for Abbie last weekend, I found myself  becoming even more reflective of our daughter’s own birth, one very special March day almost 29 years ago.

I wanted to share some of those memories with Abbie, as she becomes a mother herself.  It’s been somewhat of a tradition in our family, on each child’s birthday, to haul out his/her babybook and to relive the story of  the birth and early years for that individual child.  Actually on the morning of the shower (as I was finished cooking and wrapping presents), I found myself looking through Abbie’s babybook once again.  I knew I had to give it to her, along with a new, blank babybook I had purchased for her own new baby.

I wanted to help Abbie preserve those same kind of memories for her own child.

Through watery eyes, I remembered the tiny anklet Abbie wore in the hospital, and I remembered how I studied every feature on her, making sure they were forever inscribed in my memory.  As a nervous, new Mom, I wanted to be sure I knew her every detail and I kept her with me in the hospital room all the time, so that I could nurse her on demand.  Upon the rare occasion that the nurses took her to weigh her, or whatever, I again checked every detail, including this tiny anklet, to be sure my own precious child was returned to me. (Probably, already a little neurotic, huh?)

I thumbed through pages of memories of birthday parties, which always followed a theme showing Abbie’s love at the moment . . . and the cake reflected the same . . . “Miss Piggy” of Sesame Street for her second birthday, a “Barbie” doll cake for her third birthday.  (Actually, I can remember making THREE Barbie doll cakes that year: one for the family party, one for her playgroup, and I’m not quite sure what the last one was for!)

Writing has always been very important to me and I’m sure I spent hours, recording every detail.  In her babybook, I included the usual: clippings from the first hair cut and an ultrasound picture, as well as notes from the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus.

As guests at the shower passed Abbie’s babybook around to share in these memories, several remarked about the detail, saying they couldn’t believe how much I had written. I must admit that our third child’s babybook may lack some of the intense written detail (sorry, Nathaniel!), but the dear memories remain.

I can remember the hours I spent, just holding each baby in the early weeks and months after birth, marveling at every, perfect little detail:  the tiny fingers and toes, the wispy hair, the delicate rolls near the wrists, and the perfect, new baby scent!  I took the time to just breathe in all of this newness, having no idea of how our lives would be irrevocably and wonderfully changed!  I wish the same for our dear daughter, Abbie, as she begins the wonderful journey of motherhood—the gift of time with your new baby.

I hope that she finds her new baby book a helpful and wonderful way to record these precious memories.  If you know her, you know that she loves to write as well, as is evident in both of her blogs, Farmer’s Daughter and Our Country Baby.  She is a quite talented writer and I learn something new from her every day.

This morning, I started recording in my own new babybook, called “Grandmother and Me.”  I hope to start making new memories with our new grandson soon and I look forward to recording some of these in this special book, which is one that grandmothers and grandchildren can write together!

Thanks for stopping by today.  If you have any advice you’d like to offer an aspiring “grandmother-to-be,” I’m all ears!

And, if you’d like to continue strolling on this Sunday, please click on over to the Quiet Country House.

A Baby Blue Pumpkin! October 14, 2009

This is how they told us . . .

Get it?  It’s a BOY!!!

Abbie had her 18-week ultrasound on Monday.  The grandparents-to-be converged on Abbie and Ed Monday night to share in the good news.  (We did bring dinner, though!)  They kept us guessing, but Abbie had created these beautiful, glittery pumpkins and handed one to each grandma.  Woohoo!

I was thinking “girl” for the longest time because they guys kept saying “BOY!”  As long as everyone’s healthy, it really doesn’t matter, but we’re delighted with our little pumpkin of a boy to be!!!

Here’s the happy parents-to-be with the very crazy grandparents-to-be . . .

I’m not even going to promise to calm down and behave, because I’m pretty sure that’s not even possible, right Grandma Marie/Mimi?

How they told us . . . August 29, 2009

On the evening of July 19th, Abbie (aka Farmer’s Daughter) calls and asks if we’re going to be home, because she and Ed would like to stop by for a bit on their way to his parents for his Mom’s birthday celebration.

“Okay, sure, we’re home. . . out by the pool.”

When they arrive, Abbie asks when Dad is getting home and where her brother is.  I answered that they were probably feeding the horses and would be home sometime . . .

Still not getting suspiscious or anything . . . making small talk. . .

When the immediate family has gathered (just Abbie’s parents and siblings), she reaches into her bag and hands me this book:

I start screaming, jumping up and down, clapping my hands, pretty much making a fool of myself.  (I had a bathingsuit on, so I’m sure it was NOT a pretty sight.)

My husband and sons are looking at me, like, OK, we know Mom’s crazy and all, but what the heck?

Then, I blurt out, “You can’t let the grandparents name the baby!” and show the guys the book.

“Um, Mom,” Abbie says, “That’s a book of names for GRANDPARENTS!”

“Oh, right. . . “***still jumping up and down with joy***”I knew that!  How exciting!”

I’m totally giddy and reveling in joy and a million thoughts are swirling through my head (when? boy/girl? my baby girl is having a baby!/etc./etc.) and Abbie’s father says something so composed, like “I know that you two will make wonderful parents!”

I had been waiting for this time for a while and really didn’t expect it when it came. . . and then, they tell me that I can’t tell ANYONE, until they decide the time is right, like September 1st! 

All I could think is “How will I ever keep my mouth shut?”

Then, they were off to Ed’s family to give that same book to his Mom for her birthday. What a gift that was for Marie, too. . . . and the two grandmas-to-be have been crazy with joy ever since!  Right, Mimi?