Life

I remember giving birth to my first child. I was very young, and when I saw Mandy emerge into this world, I didn’t think I could ever love anyone or anything the way I loved her! It was the most magical thing in the world.

I watched her grow, and held her, comforted her, and one day, she pulled herself to her feet and walked. Each step she took in her life, has brought me so much joy. She was an amazing baby, and has grown into an amazing woman.

So imagine my wonder, when Amanda called me one day to tell me she was pregnant! I was thrilled! However, never having been a grandmother, I had no idea, how it would feel.

Then on the 31st of May 2012, I held Savannah Rose in my arms for the first time. I looked into her tiny face, and then looked up into Mandy’s face and I realized that my child was feeling the same new mother feeling’s that I had felt when she was born. And I was feeling something I never knew about. The feeling of watching my child have a child, and of life going on. A grand continuation of love and joy!

I watched Savannah grow. Each day, each time she grew, my heart grew and deepened. The first time she called me Oma I welled up with tears, and the first time I drove up, got out of my car and had her run into my arms calling my name, is a memory I will hold close all the days of my life.

Then I was staying with Mandy and she took an at home pregnancy test, and yes she was expecting again! On March 7th 2016, Quinn Wallace was born. I raced with Savannah and her other grandmother, Mary,  to the hospital, and after Savannah met her brother (which I happily got to watch), I held my grandson for the first time. (I even got to change one of his first poopy diapers!)

Knowing that Mandy had had a somewhat rough time, made me hold that little guy even tighter, and feeling the warmth of his body and hearing the little baby sighs, filled me with such love and joy.  I looked at my daughter, and my eyes and my heart were filled with such love for her and such joy.

Over the last year, she has somehow juggled being a Mom, career woman, daughter, and friend. And I am in awe. She is raising two bright, beautiful and healthy children, and she ensures that they know they are loved.

Quinn is much like his Mommy, in that at 7 months, he stood up and started to walk and has never looked back, and like his sister, has a happy and gentle nature.

But here is the thing. I never expected any of this. I didn’t know how wonderful it could be to have grandchildren. I never thought it could come close to having my own children. But, here I am, head over heals in love with both of my grandchildren.

I think it is wrong if you say that certain days, are the best days of your life. You know, you never really know. Life can turn on a dime. And it can also slowly, happily and lovingly change, into the best days of your life, again and again…