Miss Lily

I would like to introduce you to grandchild #8 - Miss Lily.  She was born in November, but this grandma has been very busy.

She is the tiniest thing and so sweet.

Happy Birthday

Dear Mr. K,

Happy Birthday Baby Boy.  I can't believe that you are a year old - the time has flown by.  Here are some things I think you need to know:

* You are adorable

* You are grandma's boy.  When I come home from school, you start calling for me.  You call me nana.

* You give the best hugs, snuggle bug

* You look just like your daddy

* You have 6 teeth

* You started walking and you can move fast

* You have a temper

* You rather eat what we are eating

* You are the perfect grandson

I love you to the moon and back.

Love,

Nana

Papa Love

Mr. K,

We weren't sure how you were going to react to Papa, especially since you cry every time a guy gets close to you.  You never cried with him, you just weren't sure about him.  You would "high five" and "clap" with him, but you weren't letting him hold you yet.  He was, only, going to be home for 4 weeks.

Yesterday, I came home to this.

The two of you were sitting on the couch, snuggled together.  It made me so happy.  So when Papa comes home for good, you guys will be best friends.

Love you,
Grandma

 

Beachy

Dear Mr. K,

We took you to the beach, for the first time, it was overcast and cold - but you loved it.  Daddy was holding you in the pack and you kept looking at the ocean, watching the waves.  If we turned you around, you would turn your head so you could watch the waves.  I am hope that you will be a surfer like grandpa and your daddy.  Next time we go, we want to put your feet in the sand.  I wonder how you will feel about that.

I love you,

Grandma

Almost

Dear Miss B and Miss R,

It is almost time for you to be here.  I went to the doctors today with your mommy and daddy.  I cried when I heard your little hearts beating.  Miss B, they say that you weigh about 5 lb. 7 oz and Miss R you are about 5 lb. 12 oz.  The doctor said that you girls are doing great, no problems.  He checked your mommy and said that she is getting ready to have you.  Miss B your head is down and you are ready to come.  The doctor thinks you will be born by the end of the week.  I hope so, so Grandpa can meet you before he has to go back to Hawaii.

I love you both and I can't wait to hold you and give you both kisses.

Love you,

Grandma

Miss E - Welcome

Miss E,

I am so excited for your mommy, we found out yesterday that you are a girl (we would have been excited either way).  Your mommy is amazing, she loves you so much.  She said that you were moving all over the place.  She said that you are doing great, everything is where it is suppose to be.  Your due date is July 17, I can't wait to meet you.

I wish you lived closer to me, so I can spoil you more.  I started knitting you a blanket this week, I hope you like it.  It will keep you warm in Colorado.  I love you so much and I can't wait for you to meet your cousins.  You and one of the twins will have the same middle name.  Your sister picked out your middle name, I'm not sure where you first name came from.  I need to ask your mommy.

Love you,

Auntie T

I'm Waiting

Dear Miss B and Miss R,

I am patiently waiting for you to be born.  Technically, mommy isn't due for 2 months - but the doctor will take you early.  Mommy went to the doctor on Monday and you both are doing great.  The doctor said that you should be weighing 3 pounds each to be at target weight.  But my darling babies, you are bigger than normal.  Miss B you weigh about 3 lbs. 8 oz. and Miss R you weigh about 4 lbs.  Both of you are amazing.  Mommy is taking such good care of you.

Look how cute your mommy is, she is really tiny.   I ordered some very pretty yarn today, so I can make both of you sweaters.  Miss B your color is green and Miss R your color is pink.  I know that you will be as beautiful as your mommy and sister.  Miss R you are as active as your daddy - moving all over the place in mommy.

I can't wait to meet both of you.

Love,

Grandma

 

Silent for Sandy Hook

Happy Birthday

Dear Caleb,

Happy birthday sweets. I can't believe that you are three years old. I miss you so much, it makes my heart hurt. I hope you have a wonderful birthday. I wish I was there with you. I love you.

Love,
Grandma

One Month

Dear Kiwi,

We took your 1 month old photo, last weekend.  I can't believe that you are already a month old.  You have changed so much.  I made a blanket just for your monthly photo shoots, mommy wrote on the chalkboard wall and we were set. 

You look so big in these photos, but you are still a little guy.  You were so happy when we were taking the pictures.

I took over a 100 photos of you. You just laid on the blanket, watching us.  I thought I was done taking your picture, so I got down near you and started talking to you.  All of a sudden, you gave me the biggest smile and I snapped the camera.  I was so excited when I looked at the camera and the picture was in focus and I captured your smile.  I started crying, I was so happy.  You make me cry a lot these days because you are so sweet.

This is my favorite photo of you, just looking at me. 

You, finally, lost your belly button - right before I started taking pictures of you.  So today was a day of firsts - your first photo shoot, lost your belly button and your first smile.  What a great day.

Love you,

Grandma

Black Friday

Dear Kiwi,

We took you out for your first Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving sales - in the afternoon.  You mom and dad went out in the morning and you stayed home with me.  When, they got home - we went to eat some lunch then decided to go check out Bass Pro Shops (you grandpa and great grandpa's favorite place).  You were so good, just slept in our arms.  We played "Pass the Baby".  I bought you the cutest little camo booties.  Papa wanted some new hunting boots, so you slept in my arms for 45 minutes while Daddy helped him find the right boots. 

People would walk by and admire how cute you are.  I just love your smoochy cheeks.  So sweet.

Love,
Grandma

PS.  You love your pink pacifier

Right now - November

Dear Babes,

Right now, I love talking to Kiwi and watching you trying to talk back to me.  You get your lips moving, looking so hard at me.  Trying to say something.

Right now, I love how Kiwi has a pathetic cry.

Right now, I can't wait for the twins to get here.  I think it is going to be so much fun, but if you girls get cranky then Grandma can send you home.

Right now, I love how sweet M is being.  You had quite the temper when you were younger, but now you are so cheerful.

Right now, I love looking at the drawing that K made last Christmas that is hanging on the fridge.  You are a really great artist.

Right now, I love how smart Sunshine is.  You are trying really hard in school - you want to get good grades.

Right now, I am super excited that Sunshine wants to play soccer.  I can't wait to go to all the games.

Right now and always, I love being a grandma - you make it so much fun.  Thank you.

Love,

Grandma

Night out

Dear Kiwi,

Papa and I got to watch you, last night, all by ourselves.  We sent you mommy and daddy to the movies - so we could have time alone.  You were such a good boy.  You spent some time snuggled in Papa's arms while I ate my dinner.

You slept the entire time they were gone, but woke up about 10 minutes before they came home.  I was ready to give you a bottle when they walked in the door - you calmed right down when you saw them.  You followed your daddy's movements with your eyes, turning your head as he walked.

You are such a good baby, but you DON'T like to have your diaper changed.  You need to give me a break and not scream so much, lol.  You love to snuggle and I love to snuggle you.

A couple of days ago I was holding you and talking to you.  All of a sudden you let out a coo, it was the most beautiful cooing sound.  You are way too young to be making noises, it brought tears to my eyes.  Uncle Kyle heard it and we were shocked that it came out of you.  I think you were surprised too, because you tried to do it again - but no sound came out.  You seem so much older than you are.

I can hear you starting to cry upstairs at the moment.  You are starting to wake up now, to start your morning.  You have the cutest cry, at first, then you get really loud - belly loud.  I am so glad that you are living with us right now.  I am so lucky.

Love,
Grandma

 

Sleeping

Dear Kiwi,

I love watching you sleep.  The other day we were getting ready to go to your daddy's work to show you off, so I put you in my bed for a bit.  Your cousins call it the "Princess Bed" because it is really tall and comfy.  You snuggled down in it and slept for a long time.  As soon as Papa leaves to go back to Hawaii, I think you need to sleep in my bed.  I love you so much.  You bring me so much joy.

I love you,
Grandma

Bob's Big Boy

Dear Miss K and Miss M,

You both love eating at Bob's Big Boy - you love having your picture taken with him. This time you wanted Papa to sit with you.  Papa is visiting from Hawaii, so he wanted to take you to your favorite place to eat.  You weren't very hungry, but wanted to go anyway.   You just wanted to eat the dessert.  We had a good time.  

Sorry, we couldn't play golf - next time we will.

Love,

Grandma

Happy Birthday

Dear Sunshine,

We celebrated your birthday last weekend and as usual it was a great birthday party.  You always know a year in advance what kind of party you want.  This year, for your special 10th birthday, you wanted a Hawaiian luau - which made us super happy.  I bought the material for your dress in Hawaii, when I was visiting Papa.  I had to take the dress in three different times because you are so thin.  You looked amazing at your party.  You look so grown up, but you are still a little girl and get excited about everything.

Your mom and dad wanted you to wear a blind fold for the pinata, but you didn't want to wear it - so we got this this adorable pouty face.  You have the cutest pouty face.

You are just as beautiful as your mom.  I can't wait to see your sisters.  We are going to have so much fun.

Happy 10th birthday my first grand daughter.

Love you,

Tutu

Part II

Dear Kiwi,

I came to see you everyday when you were in the hospital.  It was really hard leaving you.  Two days after you were born, you developed jaundice - your daddy had it when he was born.  Your mom and dad were so scared.  I ran to the hospital to be with them, while the nurses put you in the incubator under the UV lights.  You were not a happy boy.  It took them a while to calm you down enough to put you in there.  I don't think your Mom and Dad slept at all that night.  Luckily, my morning your blood counts were better - so they let you come home.  You came home on Saturday, late afternoon.  Everyone was happy to be home.  Your mom and dad really needed to sleep in their own beds.  I got to hold you for a hour, while they were eating dinner and settling in.

Around 1 in the morning, you woke up screaming.  You had a gas bubble, that took awhile to get rid of.   You are eating every 3 hours or so.  You are so cute.  You love being held close, kinda of on your side and gently rocked.  Last night, Daddy slept on the floor next to the bed so he would be able to help your mommy.  They gave you a sponge bath - dad said that you enjoyed it.

Today is Day #5, mom and dad took you to medical appointments.  It took awhile for them to get ready to go.  They dressed you in a brown football sleeper with the brown hat that I knitted you.  I wanted to take a picture, but they were running late.  Hopefully, I will be able to take one when they get home.

I love holding you, kissing the top of your head.  You are wonderful.

Love,

Grandma

Part I

Dear Kiwi,

You are here and you are adorable.  You were born on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 6:35 AM - 9lbs. 2oz. and 19 1/2 inches long.  Your head was 13 1/2 inches with your chest measuring 14 1/2 inches.  Oh my gosh, you are a big boy.  You don't look like your typical newborn baby.  I knitted you a couple of beanies and I am not sure how long you are going to be able to wear them.  You are amazing.  I was with your mommy and daddy - the whole time.  Mom had a rough time, so they did a C-section.  Your daddy was so in love with you.  Mom started crying as soon as you were born - Dad started to cry but held it together because they were giving him all sorts of information and he said that he needed to focus.

The nurse stopped in the hallway so I could see you before they took you to the recovery room.  Your dad came flying down the hall and told me to "Hurry".  I was worried that something happened, but your dad was smiling.  I came through the waiting room door and there you were - my beautiful grandson.  I said, "He has Japanese eyes, one eyelid".  (Which is pretty important, it was the same thing your Papa said when your daddy was born).  Then I started crying, I couldn't stop.  The nurse laughed and said, "I didn't expect that reaction."  I looked at you again and said, "Oh my gosh, he is huge."  The nurse said, "Yup, that is what I thought you would say."  You are such a big. boy.

Your Papa flew in from Hawaii, the day after you were born.  When he saw you in the hospital, he felt like he had seen you before.  He said it was very strange.  When we got home, he was sitting on our bed then he looked at his nightstand.  There was a picture of your daddy in frame, it had been there for 23 years.  He looked at the picture and saw you - but it was a picture of your dad.  The two of you look so much alike.

This is a picture of your daddy.



My two beautiful boys - but you have more hair.   I love you my beautiful grandson.

Love,

Grandma

Almost time

Dear Jayme,

In the next few days you will become a dad.  I know in my heart, that you are going to be an amazing dad to Kiwi.  I  loved seeing how excited you get, the plans you have made for him. You have planned out so much for your new little one.  It was so cute yesterday when we went shopping and you were picking out different things for him - the cute little Angel baseball dish set.  I know you are really excited for him to be here and to hold him for the first time.

It is still hard for me to think of my baby - having a little one of his own.  You have done so many things in your life and I am very proud of you.  I wish I had taken more pictures when you boys were little - but know I can make up by taking tons of pictures of my grand babies.  Thank you for sharing this moment with me.  I wish Dad could be here at his birth - but he will be flying in a few days later.

Kiwi will love you the first time you hold him. Remember, you will make daddy mistakes - but if you have his best interest in mind, it will work out.  Being a parent isn't easy.  Just hug him, tell him everyday that you love him and give him lots of kisses because dads can give hugs and kisses too.

I love you,

Mom

Come out and play

Dear Kiwi,

Yesterday, was your due date - which means that you were suppose to be born.  But, you didn't come.  I have parent/teacher conferences starting on Friday - so I would really appreciate if you came in the next three days or wait until this weekend.  I want to be there for your birth (and I will), but it would be easier if I didn't have to call a bunch of parents to reschedule their appointments.  Sometimes, they don't understand.  You are already very important to me - so please hurry and come out and play with me.  Your mommy's belly is getting really big so I think you need to leave her and meet the world around you.  It can be a really nice place to be.

I will protect you (just like Mommy has the last 9 months) and make sure that you are safe.  I will buy you cute clothes and make you lots of knitted stuff to keep you warm.  Papa and Daddy will teach you to play golf.  Papa is getting pretty good at it.  He plays almost every day in Hawaii.  He will be here next week to meet you - he is taking care of his mom.  Your cousins call him Papa Surfer Joe.  He is a really nice guy and a total push over for his grand kids.  He likes to build cars - so tell him what you would like.  You can pick anyone of the cars in the back.  I think you Dad wants you to have the El Camino.

So, will you please come out and play???

Love,

Grandma