The Grandparent Thread

What do you think of a music box with a few ballerinas dancing?
Papyrus is closing it’s stores, and this is on sale. Of course I’d add a check, but is this too old fashioned? Sorry, this would be a gift to close friends.

Not sure about the music box. I’m not sure how a younger person would think about it. Maybe too pink, fluffy? Depends on the parents.

Jut finished the month of babysitting and am back home now. It was really fun seeing GD develop daily before our eyes. She connected the hand movement with holding something then banging it on a pan. 4 mo old. SO CUTE.

My little GD was fascinated by my Christmas music box with skaters skating on the top when it opened.

Haven’t been on this thread for a long time, maybe since last summer, so congrats to all the new grandparents!

My GS is 9.5 months and 25 pounds. Very tall, but can’t remember the measurement. DIL’s dad is very tall and baby looks just like my DIL. He is the sweetest, happiest baby ever. He’s very good at entertaining himself and just smiles all the time. We’re so in love with him!

Sadly, papyrus had none of the 4 music boxes I liked. I did buy several baby cards for the future.

DIL’s 12 weeks of maternity leave end in a week. I know she and S are stressed over his starting daycare, but they’ve been happy with the daycare my GD has gotten there since she was 20 months old. Unfortunately, though, this is their first experience there with infant care.

They both wish he was sleeping more consistently overnight. Some nights, he’s only up once; most nights it’s several times. DIL will be exhausted going back to work.

@Mansfield - any news? Wondering about your daughter and the baby…

She reported to the hospital last night and induction started around 9. Contractions started and her water broke fairly early on. She got her epidural around midnight. Progress is slow. She says she’s tired and overwhelmed. Fingers crossed she delivers later today.

Thanks for the update, Mansfield - and good luck to your daughter!

@mansfield Hope all goes well. DD went 9 days overdue, and I was so glad when she finally went into labor. We’ll be checking in and hope for some good news soon!

After 30 hours of labor, the little lady made her appearance at 2:23 this morning. She weighs 8.1 pounds and is 21 inches long. D is only 5 feet tall and about 100 pounds. It was a bit of an ordeal, but everyone is healthy and happy. Thanks for all your support!

Congrats @Mansfield!

Welcome to the club, @Mansfield!

Getting bonus time with GKs and DD1 this weekend (SIL Army Reserve weekend). GD has only ONE pair of shoes that currently fit her (they are very versatile thankfully) - so when DD1 told me that last weekend, she agreed I could buy what the GKs need this weekend.

DD2 (who lives an hour the other direction from DD1) will come on Sunday. Happy to get the family time.

DD1 is more tired IMHO because she is breastfeeding her son (born July 5), and he sleeps when his ‘tank is full’ and when he wakes up he wants to fill the tank again. Thankfully she is working usually regular hours in nursing management. DD needs enough sleep so when I come and help her, she can rest with her son (they fall asleep together with breastfeeding) while I take care of household things and GD (who will be 2 in May).

SIL is a little daft about helping as much as he can. Although she is 4 years younger, DD1 is the one to have the home running, the budget followed, meals prepared, groceries obtained, laundry going - has to delegate tasks to SIL (he is good at childcare, cleaning up the kitchen, and doing laundry) because he would do as little as possible and think that was OK. They leave clean laundry often in the laundry baskets. I make their bed and get clothes folded and ready for them to put away.

SIL’s mom was SAHM and he has no sisters. His dad talks like he did a lot with his sons, especially when they were very young (their two sons are just over 12 months apart in age).

My own H was not ‘in’ on a lot of tasks when DDs were very young, but I didn’t feel overtired - we were older and I chose not to breastfeed for that reason (wanted to keep my FT job). Our 2nd DD (25 months younger than the first) - at one month slept from 8 pm at night until 6 pm the next morning (DD1 I had to keep up at 7 months to 11 pm so she would sleep through until 5 am). Only the first few months did I have the bassinet next to my bed - otherwise they were in their own room. I don’t remember having to go to their room in the middle of the night. I believe DD1 kind of followed DD2’s routine as time went on.

Key for the overtired new moms is to be able to offload as many tasks as they can to spouse and others and plan how to get enough sleep. Maybe they can also get a short rest break during lunch or break time at work.

@Mansfield You must all be exhausted but so happy. Congratulations!

Yay, Mansfield! Thanks for letting us know!

Congrats, @Mansfield !

Yes, congrats to Mansfield. Grandchildren are a wonderful invention.

We’re down to the last week of waiting here - due date is February 13th and the doctor says that D will not go more than one week past that (without inducing labor).

Last night my D mentioned that she is really tired of being pregnant, but she’s a little nervous about taking home a real live baby. I told her it’s too late to back out now!