A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance.

At eights weeks old, Eden Elizabeth is interacting and giving us all big smiles now!

(I think the photos will enlarge this time, except for the one with me in red)

I like to do nice things for my grandchildren - like buy them those toys I've always wanted to play with. ~Gene Perret

Ah, yes, I love buying little gifts for my grandchildren (and I'm so thrilled to say "children" now). Not just for birthdays and Christmas, but at times when I happen to see something I think they'd enjoy. Now I find myself gravitating towards the children's clothing and toy departments every time I'm in the mall and seldom do I leave without a little purchase. In fact, two weeks ago when I went over to visit, 4-year-old Noah asked in all innocence, "Did you bring me a present, Gramma?" I laughed, but asked my daughter why he'd ask that. With a straight face, she stated, "Well you always bring something!" So last week when I arrived, I quickly announced, "I only brought something for Mommy today," before the inevitable question escaped Noah's lips. Ah, what the heck, that's what Grammas are for, right?

A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween. ~Erma Bombeck

Not only do we have to feign surprise, but also pretend we don't "see" them when they're "hiding" behind the edge of a door, under the coffee table, or standing right behind us. I've had to play at being a little girl visiting Santa (actually sitting on Santa's lap...well, poised so I don't crush the poor little guy pretending to be Santa) and tell him what I'd like for Christmas. Then, I had to pretend to be asleep while "Santa" came and brought me a pickup truck and hotwheel cars that stood in for the doll and baby buggy "I" had asked for. Ah, what the heck, it's fun to play at being a kid again, right?

A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. ~Author Unknown

Yes, it's a chance to be an all-loving parent without that pesky responsibility of having to discipline. Noah and I have our little "secrets," too, when I've had to act the teacher to explain when he may have misbehaved done something wrong on our outings together without his Mommy. I show him how to print his letters, buy him educational toys, and ooh and aah over every little thing he does that shows he's growing and learning. And it's so gratifying that now he hops up beside me for a cuddle and shows ME how to use his Leapster. I always tell him he's "my favourite boy in the whole world" and play catch with him just like he would with a friend.

Most grandmas have a touch of the scallywag. ~Helen Thomson

Yes, I do have a playful and mischievous side to me. And sometimes it's very tempting to encourage that in grandchildren. But it's also important that they know it isn't really the right way to behave....in every circumstance. It's fun, though, to "pretend" to be bad naughty, and let's face it, kids know how to behave whether at home or at Gramma's. I remember one of the nights Noah was staying with me while my daughter was recovering from the C-section in hospital and Noah didn't want to go to sleep. So I told him the story of the Three Little Pigs, which I'm ashamed to admit my daughter had never told him. We both got so excited with our huffing and puffing and blowing the house down that we acted very silly, with Noah jumping on the bed like it was a trampoline! However, we did finally settle down and we both had a good sleep that night.

A garden of Love grows in a Grandmother's heart. ~Author Unknown

I remember asking my daughter if she was concerned about whether she'd love the new baby as much as she did Noah. She admitted that, yes, she was a bit. I explained to her that love is a strange thing. When it comes to our children, the love within us doesn't divide in half, but rather multiplies by two! And when Eden was about 6 weeks old, I asked my daughter again how she felt. She said she does love Eden just as much, but in a different way. And that's the way it's supposed to be - each child is different and is loved for the individual they are. I'm so proud of my daughter for what she has made of her life. She's worked hard to save for a house and car, married a good man who has proven himself to be a good husband and father, and together they have a wonderful little family. And for me, as a grandmother, I find it amazing that I love these two little grandchildren as much as I love my own two daughters! God has multiplied that love within me, too. (click on the photo to enlarge and notice that they have the same colour eyes.)

Noah wasn't being very cooperative last week, so I couldn't get the whole family in a photo. But here's my son-in-law Jason with Eden or "Half Pint" as he likes to call her. He's a wonderful father to both his children whom he absolutely adores. And he also likes to tease me by constantly reminding me that "he" gave me a grandson AND a granddaughter!