Grandparenting Nirvana

This Morning's WakeUp

Okay, more than 24 hours into sole possession of my granddaughter without her parental units around to supervise and she’s none the worse for wear. I’m reminded almost constantly that child rearing is luckily consigned to the younger generation because it is exhausting at the same time that it is sublime. The First Blog Reader is certainly making the most of the time she has us in her complete thrall and make no mistake – she is charge.

New Table Deployed!

After yesterday’s nap she hit the ground running and decided the rain had let up enough to give her new splash table a test run. Somewhere in the small print of the directions she learned that one of the premiere capabilities of the table was the requirement to automatically splash her grandfather whenever he came within range. We were both soaked in short order and I just couldn’t stop smiling.

Let the Splashing Commence

Grandpa got the Worst of It

We were chased back inside by some approaching storms and she decided she needed to test out her new rain gear (see yesterday’s blog). She then declared we needed a fashion explosion and volunteered for the job. The accompanying photos speak eloquently to her success in that effort. Putting her to bed was a true adventure as we are following the very specific directions from her parental units. While I may poke fun at them occasionally I stand in true awe of the success they’ve achieved in that area. One of the new books we gifted to her has quickly become a favorite, as I was reading it to her at bed time she kept asking for another reading of it. I read the damned thing no less than eleven times. As a result I’m sick and tired of playing peek a boo with the polite giraffes and condescending zebras (kind of had to be there).

Coloring with Abuela 

Staying Inside the Lines is for Wimps

The Fashion Explosion

True Stylin

The Boots Make It

I thought since I am deep in the heart of the evil empire that I would at least be able to see the Red Sox-Yankees game last night but I was thwarted. As with many of their generation Wingman and my daughter have eschewed cable television and get most of their programming over the internet. That’s fine except for the game being blacked out in this area so the local cable channel wouldn’t be supplanted. Damned Yankees keep finding new ways to be contentious. The best revenge was a fabulous late inning win over the hated pin stripers.

Part of the sleeping program mandates not going in to get her before seven am, even if she’s clearly awake. That was the toughest test of the day since she was awake and we watched on the monitor as she kept saying our names and refused to lay back down. When the time lock finally expired we learned a very full diaper explained the reticence of returning to a supine position.

She joined us in bed just long enough to direct me to get up and accompany her downstairs because we were burning valuable play time. Taking a page out of Wingman’s book we sat out on the front step to take inventory of the neighborhood birds. We had a lot of fun as grandmother, determined to mine for the latent Latino genes, had salsa music playing that soon had all of us dancing in the kitchen. Some were much better than others, just sayin. This was followed by a spirited game of hide and seek where the point was scaring the searcher as much as possible.

Dancing with Abuela

Then Some Hide and Seek

Wingman left a list of favorite playgrounds and our granddaughter decided she needed some time at one that sported a mini-water park. We changed her into her bathing suit as soon as we arrived but she paid scant attention to the water fountains and went to the playground apparati. This required a change back into her regular clothes and as soon as that was complete she of course headed straight back to the fountains and was soon soaked and loving it. The squeals of delight were more than adequate payment and since at least one of her grandparents had the foresight to pack a backup outfit – it was all good. She’s sleeping upstairs right now and it was a true conundrum as to who needed the nap more.

Time to Head Out

The Briefly Employed Bathing Suit

Showing Abuela the Ropes

Back to the Water

Too Much Fun

Backup Outfit

Right This Way Grandpa