We’ve been working hard lately. All these heavy posts about coping with life in the second half, brain function, and mortality. I don’t know about you, but I could use a break.
Yep, you know what’s coming. Grandbaby pix!
Once upon a time, I “retired.” Now I provide a significant amount of childcare for my grandbabies. We (yes, Bill is there alongside me) work four days a week, ten hours a day. It’s challenging, but we get back more than we put in. I love seeing Grandpa read to the little gal, his voice all high, babytalking.
And hearing the ten-month-old sing along (“ah yah yah yah yah”) when I “play” the piano. I’m just making up stuff, but he doesn’t know. He loves it, grinning and showing all eight teeth.
I don’t have time or energy for the gym, but with the babysitting gig, who needs it? According to my pedometer, last week I walked twenty miles and climbed fifty-two floors. I climb up in the playhouse and get down on the floor. I crawl (carpet only – the skin on my knees provides no cushion anymore between tile and bone). I run. I lift. I carry, as when the little gal got obstinate at the end of our walk a few days ago. We were a long block away from home, but I gave her a horsey-back ride the whole way. And here I am, lifting thirty pounds of two-year-old with just my forearms:
I still have a business to maintain, though, and having to fit in blogging, writing, and marketing Dakota Blues during naptimes and on weekends is a challenge. But they’re growing up so fast! Any day now the baby will be walking.
Here they are making Sand Soup.
Thanks for taking a break with me. Enjoy your weekend. See you next Friday.
How precious, Lynne! You are definitely getting the ultimate workout, maybe even rivaling a marathon. They are beautiful. You will never regret spending this time with them. I imagine you sleep very well at night. 🙂
Kathy, everything you say is true. And I do sleep very well at night, thanks to Tylenol and a heating pad!
Enjoyed this post and seeing your grand babies. You are so wise and lucky to be spending this time with them!
Pennie, thank you. And see above.
ADORABLE KIDS!
Thanks Barb. They have their moments. No, just kidding. I’m just whipped right now. We have both of them all day today and they’re at this weird stage where they’re really competitive. We call it the Green Eye. Bad case of The Green Eye today. Yowza. TG they just both went down for a nap at the same time.
I enjoyed seeing you and your husband with the beautiful grandchildren. You are performing a marvelous service to humanity – it takes a village to raise a child. Bless you.
Thanks, Heather, but they’re giving me a precious gift, too. Bill and I are so lucky to be able to be part of their daily lives. But you are right – it does take more than just one little nuclear family. Some mornings it seems like we all 6 live together, 3 generations doing our thing to get the day moving. Babies jabbering or fussing, parents rushing and organizing, and grandparents helping. It’s like a dream come true for this former career woman who could only take off one month before going back to work. Luckily my mom babysat my son for his first year. That baby grew up to be the father in this story, so it seems to be a repetitive theme in our family. Again, so grateful. Thanks for stopping by!
Wow Lynne – your developing some biceps there. You look great! What a great way to keep in shape. Looks like Bill has found his comfort zone.
KATHY!!! You surfaced! Hope the approaching spring in SA is giving you a happy little buzz. I miss you, Sis!
I also have to say that I envy your Grandmothering role. Those are some pretty babies. If only Nicky and Jolly would get busy. Love to you an Bill
The picture of your husband reading to your granddaughter warmed my heart. There’s nothing like a warm snuggly child on your lap, sharing a book. When my granddaughter first arrived, I’d get down on the floor with her and have a hard time getting up. Two years later, and I’m up in a flash! I’ve also grown stronger in my arms as she has gained weight. Those are extra unexpected benefits of babysitting once or twice a week. We’re lucky to be sharing our lives with our children and grandchildren, aren’t we?
Sandy, that’s so cool what you said about how your body got better after awhile. It really is true. It hurts, but the strength and limberness is there. Weird to get stronger at this age! I’m proud of it. And yes, the best part is the realization that you are walking around in a dream…it’s real; try to capture it in your memories for when they’re so big they don’t let you snuggle them anymore.
Oh, Lynne, this was the perfect break from the hassles of my crazy week. Your grans are so cute. And you are right, you don’t need the gym to stay fit…just try keeping up with a two year old.
Or carrying the 10-monther around – he is really strong, and squirmy!
Wow, 4 days a week! I’m tired after watching one grandbaby for just 1 day a week.
Linda, I thought I was going to die at first! But you get used to it, and actually, I’m more limber now than ever. Also, I think I’m stronger. It’s not a strength-training program I’d recommend, but I’m AMAZED at how much younger my body behaves. HOWEVER, I do pay the price after sitting too long, or in the morning, etc. The weekends are a needed recovery time.
Aw…look at those precious faces! And look at you, Lynne, holding that little one up! I’m envious of all the time you get to spend with your grands. They, and you, are blessed beyond measure.
You are right, Linda. Thanks for coming by.
Beautiful Grandbabies Lynne. There is nothing that compares to having a little one call me Grandma. Donna Holland
Donna, so true, so true! Glad you came by. See you around “campus”!
The picture of grandpa reading to his granddaughter is so cozy and perfect, I hope you’ve got framed copies somewhere in both houses!
I’ve got a bunch on my hard drive, Susan, but I should put together an album. For a while she was a little standoffish with Grandpa but now she’s back to being one of his best buddies.
What a beautiful family, Lynne.
I am so blessed, Nanci. I’m thrilled that my son and DIL let us into their lives to this extent. Sure they get the childcare, but it’s still pretty barrier-free living. Sometimes as we’re doing the morning dance, the four of us handling the babies, making lunches, angling for a shot at the fridge, and jabbering about what was in the news that morning, it seems like we’re all roommates. So we do a hip-check to get past, and say, Sorry, Roomie! Precious times.
Ahhh, you made me smile. What a lovely gift for, yes, you said it, what has been a “heavy” week. What beautiful grandbabies you have!
And one of them is currently preventing me from spending much time here gotta go!!1
Thanks for the delightful break. A pleasure to read. Yes, they do grow up so quickly, you obviously know what is really important. You’re very lucky to live so close by.
That’s a priority for me, Sandra, although it’s not just a matter of preference – sometimes work or something else forces you apart. My two stepkids, and thus my other grandbabies, live in Central Oregon and Atlanta, respectively. Very hard to see them often, but the parents had to follow either their dreams or job prospects, as the case was. So goes life.
Thanks for sharing and taking a break! You guys look great and so do the kids! We enjoy our grandkids too! They grow up fast!!
So good to hear from you, Susan! Hope life is treating you well.
Well, I’m not at the grandbaby-stage of life yet, Lynne, but I can see you’re getting a workout! Good for you, good for them! Nice to kick back and “relax” (from work anyway!) for a day. Enjoy your weekend!
Oh, man, Deb, TGIF!!
What adorable grandkids! Makes all deadlines, writing and marketing frenzy, etc. fade to insignificance. Think I’ll book a trip to Louisiana to see mine – also a boy and girl, 3 and 1.
They are totally worth anything it costs.
This makes me look forward to the possibility of grandchildren- thanks Lynne!
Sarah, the other day Bill said “I think you love our granddaughter as much as your son (her daddy).” That stopped me short. It’s true.
Lovely family!
We’re blessed, Cindy.
LOVED the break! 🙂
So I’m guilt-free!
What an awesome-looking grandmother you are — oh, and the kids are cute, too! Looks like we watch the same channel on TV.
Yep, we’re golfers!
Perfect timing for a break. Yesterday I drove 200 miles to see a friend unhappy in assisted living and another in a nursing home ready to depart this life. I wondered, was it the driving that tired me out? Thanks for all the pictures with the captions.
You’re a good guy, Bob. Rest.
Maybe so, but it gets in the way of my writing.