The Grandparent Thread

Lots of little boys on the way!

My daughter started to feel the baby move around this week which was exciting for her and my SIL. She is having a girl and my son had a almost 5 month old girl. We were thinking my DIL could pass down some of the girl outfits she wasn’t using, but her sister is also expecting a girl the week before my daughter!

My DIL doesn’t care about outfits and such, so I will shower this new little ones with clothes as my daughter will love it!

This nana is the main source of nice outfits for GD and now in July GS…Gap maternity (DD is 5’9" and their dresses are long enough) and Baby Gap, toddler clothes, etc. Have a Gap credit card, get the cash back rewards and also other rewards - recently had $60 gap cash to use, so got some great pieces. Also have hit Kohl’s. Use to shop JC Penney, but our local store was in a shopping center that closed and the city/JCP didn’t find a suitable new location (along with JCP retail woes).

Gymboree is having going out of business sale on their cute outfits. sam’s club and Costco have some nice prices on kids and infant clothing, as do Ross, Macy’s and so many others.

Yes I heard about the Gymboree going out of business sale. Maybe I should look on their web site.

Just got a ‘mystery deal’ message from Gap. DD is calling me after work so I can go through the maternity and other items that she may want (the deals are pretty good). The deals go through tomorrow.

Also, check where you live and see if there is a Carters/Osh Kosh Factory store. I didn’t even realize we had one nearby until I was at the Barnes and Noble next door. Just shows what you don’t see when you’re not looking for something! Prices for the same items were less than at the Buy Buy Baby down the street. I just had a ball buying a little rash guard, swim trunks and hat for his first ever trip to Florida last week.

For those who remember my little guy’s cardiac issues, the story continues. They decided to get another opinion at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and they found a pediatric cardiologist they love. It’s worth the 2 hour drive in each direction to have him treated there. For now though, with every echo they find something else, but all those “something else’s” are still manageable, even if he ultimately needs surgery. Next step is a cardiac MRI in April. To the untrained eye (and even the trained ones!) he seems like a thriving, smiling, growing, active 3 month old. Scans show issues of concern which of course terrify his parents, but he’s blissfully unaware and unaffected. Apparently, he was so fascinated by the pictures of his heart on the monster he managed to stay still for 45/60 minutes of the echo! Maybe we’re growing a doctor some day! Gotta smile!

We bought some things in the Carters/Osh Kosh Factory store outside Denver and also in the closer B’ham AL store.

Both GD and future GS benefited from purchased through Gymboree. I made a chart of both kids to make sure I knew the seasons and their exact age w/o making a mistake (no returns with Gymboree’s close out sale).

Great to get very high quality clothing for $10 - $12/piece average.

Pushed off doing taxes another day…but this was fun. Now look forward to getting some things that DD wants when she calls me after work.

It is definitely worth traveling to see a great medical expert if needed. For 16 years, my lung specialist was in Denver. He also ordered all the testing I needed, including cardiac testing. He was in a different league from the local specialists and able to help me stay as healthy as possible over all the years. I am forever grateful. He found me a specialist at UCSF, so it’s closer and sea level instead of a mile elevation (when you have lung disease, altitude is challenging).

I’m so glad, @runersmom that the little guy has a good cardiologist. Take care and know that with proper care, kids are amazing thrivers!

Little boys are so much fun! Congratulations!

Our grandson has a name I adore. D had one name she liked and SIL had another. After he was born, they didn’t think he really looked like either. D and SIL have not mentioned the names they like for their baby girl due in about ten/eleven weeks.

Kirby Puckett was an amazing baseball player. 1991 - I remember it like it was yesterday. “Touch 'em all, Kirby Puckett!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dig7fkSg6EY

I am so glad that you are happy with the care your GS is receiving, @runnersmom. Good physicians are a blessing!

I’m so glad someone asked about Vacuum Cleaner with a K. I was thinking, “How could so many boys be named Kenmore?”

I just returned from meeting my granddaughter. She was born on Feb 6 and is – ahem – rather adorable. I stayed with S and DIL for a week and got to bond not only with GD but also with DIL. I felt until this trip that she was a bit wary of me, but I think staying with them in their house helped considerably. I did ask if they wanted me to stay in a hotel, but they wanted me in the house.

DH goes to visit them tomorrow for a week. (We frequently travel separately because we have two dogs at home to take care of.) I think our going separately will be helpful for each of us bonding with the new family.

That sounds lovely @VeryHappy! My parents stayed with us many times when my kids were little, and we got a different and deeper kind of bonding than from DH’s parents, who would just drop in and visit for a few hours. There’s something about padding around in socks and drinking tea together and taking walks and snoozing on the couch that brings one closer.

oh my gosh, look at all the years “Mary” was #1 or #2! Wow.

S & DIL are due the end of May. They are starting to put together a registry on Amazon. I bought them a crib & changing table that they picked out. I guess it can take a few weeks to arrive so we ordered early. We are planning a shower Easter weekend when they will be here, and her mom is having a shower in early May. We are all starting to get VERY excited!!

5 weeks to go!

Heading to see my cutie tomorrow. Last held him on NYE. Can hardly wait!

It is incredible to me how much my GS has changed in only his first 3 months. My S was just saying that they cannot even remember the first days and weeks of him doing nothing but sleeping and eating. Now his personality is beginning to emerge and he’s a lot of fun to be around, at least for his grandma.

Doing our taxes, the bright spot is having grandchildren (1 now and 1 more in July) and the kids doing well! Slugging through until retirement in 2.5 years…

GD (10 months old) caught the virus with high fevers for 3 days and then the rash…I forgot what it is called. She is a real trouper though.

Roseola

My DIL is having a baby shower today in her hometown 200 miles away. I was not invited. I don’t know how to take that. Maybe they assumed I wouldn’t come anyway, although I did go to her bridal shower there. I love DIL and her family and we get along well. Oh well.

Maybe the person throwing the shower only invited people that were local. Did your DIL have any input in the guest list? Whatever the reason, I’m sure it hurts anyway. Sorry.