The Best News

We've had an exciting time around here as we have welcomed a new little bundle into our family. My daughter Bec and her husband Andrew had a new baby girl and they've called her Anna.

Anna

I am lucky that they live very close to me and so I got the call at 3 o'clock in the morning that Bec was in labour and I went over to stay at their house to mind big brother Jack so Andrew could be at the birth.

Here is the family just a few hours after the birth. They look pretty good for not much sleep!

My husband and I went back again that evening for a little cuddle.

I have been going over every day to help Bec out, I am mainly playing around with Jack while Anna is feeding. Jack has been looking forward to my visits because Mummy always seems to be busy with the baby. Poor little Jack has only just turned 2 and is always asking us to put the baby down!

Little cousin Savannah who is now 3 1/2 came over for a cuddle.

Everyone was over at my place for Father's Day last Sunday and I tried to get a photo of me with the 3 grandchildren, but it was like herding cats. This is the best photo, Jack did not want to sit down and have his photo taken.

Here is Anna having her 2 week old photo I can't believe she will be 3 weeks old in a couple of days, the weeks are flying by in a blur.

Anna 2 weeks old

So I am not getting any sewing done but I love that I am able to help my daughter out at this busy time.

Bye for now,
Linda

Exciting Baby News

The wait is finally over and I have a new little grandson. My daughter Bec gave birth to a healthy baby boy last week.

His name is Jack and he was 8lb 1oz.

Here is a photo of me holding him when he was just a few hours old.

It is such a wonderful, happy time when a new baby arrives.

Here is a close up of his little face soon after he was born. He looks very much like his father with the longest eyelashes I have ever seen.

Jack Steele French

Here is a photo of Jack after his first bath when he was 3 days old.

Little Jack has been very placid so far and hasn't cried much but it's early days yet! My daughter is home from hospital now and I am going to be on duty whenever her husband has to go to work. He has his own business so he cannot take time off like some Dads do these days.

Luckily my sewing is up to date and I have some stitching prepared for those times when I am over there helping and we are having a quiet time while Jack is asleep.

I am very lucky to live close by to my daughter and am able to help her out.

Happy times.

Bye for now,
Linda

Happy Birthday Savannah

It's hard to believe that my first little granddaughter, Savannah is one year old. Where has that year gone?
I have been minding her during the week since she was five months old so I have got to know her very well. After a rough start we have got into a good routine and get on really well.
Even though she was going to have a proper party with family and friends on the weekend, I decided that we would have our own private party during the day.

This is how we started the day; she always likes to pretend to clean her teeth when I do.

Cleaning her teeth

Notice how clean and fresh she looks?

After lunch we had our little party and I helped her open one of her presents.

Opening presents

After singing Happy Birthday, she decided that she wanted a closer look at her cake.

I want that cake!

Her parents are quite strict with her and she doesn't usually eat cake or biscuits, but I had to let her have a bit of birthday cake.

She started off quite sedately and thought that this was something that she really liked. Then she decided that she really loved that cake and wanted to eat every crumb.

It took a long time to clean her off and clean the high chair!

She's such a dear little girl with such a sweet little personality. I suppose everyone thinks that about their grandchildren. I feel very lucky to have been able to spend this first year with her.

Happy Birthday, Savannah.

Bye for now,
Linda

My Different Life

My life changed last November when my first Grandchild was born; changed for the better of course. Little Savannah took over our lives and our hearts and I spent a lot of time at my daughter's place helping her cope with all the new demands on her time.

Now there has been another change because my daughter has gone back to work as a primary school teacher and I have Savannah at my place during the week. It is only for this year and next year we will have a new routine.

It's been a month now and I feel very lucky to be able spend so much time with Savannah and feel lucky that she is getting to know and trust me so well too.

Savannah 5 months

She looks happy enough in the above photo but the first couple of days that she was here was a different story. She wanted her Mum and she didn't know me or my house very well and she was very demanding.

First day

Look at that scared little face! If someone had taken a photo of me you would have seen a similar expression on my face. One of the only things that kept her happy was walking around outside. I was completely exhausted and my hands and arms ached from carrying her. I didn't know if I would be able to cope with her for a year.

Everyone I spoke to said that it will get easier and by the next week things had settled down and we got into a routine with me feeding, singing and dancing to amuse her.

She started eating solids and at first she sat on the kitchen bench to eat.

First foods

Then I got wise and realised I would have to go shopping for some baby items to make things easier.

One of the first things I bought was a highchair.

She loves her food.

We have a routine where I hang out the washing every morning and I put her into some warm clothes and a pusher and she watches me.

Putting out the washing

As well as starting food she has learnt to roll over.

Rolling over

I realised that she got bored easily and so I have bought a few toys to help us get through the day.

Driving

Bouncing

Yesterday we had another first because she sat by herself without falling over for at least 15 minutes.

Sitting for the first time- 6 months old

I am hoping that things will get easier now because she never liked laying down much.

So my life has changed dramatically but don't worry my blog will not be filled with baby photos. I am actually still getting some sewing done.

Savannah sleeps for at least two hours everyday and I always have some hand sewing waiting on the couch for sleep time. My weekends are free and I get as much sewing done as I can then.

I am still working on my seasons quilt.

Autumn Leaves

Fuchsia's for summer

I know why women have babies when they are young, everything is so much harder and slower when you are older!

Bye for now,
Linda

An Exciting Event

After waiting all year my first Grandchild has arrived and I have been in a whirl ever since.
My daughter Alison gave birth to Savannah-Marie Jean on Wednesday 5th November at 6.59 am. It was a long labour of 28 hours but that was all forgotten as soon as little Savannah was given to her.

My daughter went on maternity leave two weeks before the baby arrived and we spent a few days shopping and preparing for the big event.

Alison got married last Christmas and you can see that blog post here.

Alison invited me to be at the hospital with her and her husband while she was having the baby and I felt very privileged to share this exciting moment with them.

Here is a photo of me holding Savannah-Marie when she was only one hour old.

One Hour Old

I am still smiling but I have been up all night in this photo, I finally got a couple of hours sleep after being awake for 32 hours straight. I didn't even do that when I was a teenager.

They go home from hospital much more quickly these days and here she is all packed up to go home when she is two days old.

Going Home

That white shawl you can see at the bottom of the photo was bought for me by my mother and all four of my children came home in it. It's lovely to see the tradition continued.

They go home early but they are not neglected and Alison has had a visit from a midwife or nurse every other day and she has been very pleased with the service.

I have been lucky to have spent every day this week with Alison and the baby and we are certainly counting our blessings that she has been an easy baby so far. She has been up a couple of times a night but going back to sleep after being fed.

My daughter has been doing the right thing by having a morning and afternoon sleep herself and the baby has been going 2-3 hours between feeds.

Savannah is only a week old and we hope this easy behaviour continues. Most of the time this is what we see.

Savannah-Marie sleeping

Yesterday she was a week old and I managed to get some photos while she was awake.

Savannah-Marie one week old

She was 3.35kg and that is 7.38lbs in the old way.

I haven't done any sewing for a week and it's hard to believe that a baby can take up so much time even when she is such a good baby. But we do spend many hours staring at her saying how beautiful she is!

Bye for now,
Linda