Internet Grandparenting

I think now is the perfect time to be a grandparent. Thanks to the internet, Skype, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, Flip cameras - well, we have all sorts of goodies at our disposal for connecting with children and grandchildren or learning from the vast amount of grandparent-wisdom that's alive and well in the world today.

Back in the fall I had two friends who were on grandbaby-watch the same weekend, one in New York and one in Alabama. Since both friends are on Facebook and had the clarity to send up regular status updates, I could follow what was going on in real time - when the daughters got to the hospital, how the labor was going, and when the little angels were born. It was wonderful and exciting to share in these two joyful experiences.

Those of us who live far away from our children really appreciate the connection that technology affords. Lil Sis, who live in California, keeps in touch with her granddaughters in Georgia via Skype. I think the grandkids even call the computer "Nana." I'm looking forward to hooking up a webcam and jumping on the Skype bandwagon, too, since I'm in New York City and the grandbaby's in Atlanta.

Another friend led me to Grandparents.com, a treasure trove of information, advice, and stories. Why reinvent the wheel, eh? We no longer live in a world where grannies sit around with each other knitting and baking cakes (though many of us do knit and bake). Websites like Grandparents.com serve as a good source of trusted advice when you don't live close to your circle of friends.

And the little Flip Camera is just fabulous. I got Daughter and her Hubby one for Christmas (thanks to a great deal on an HD model at Amazon), and we've enjoyed practicing with it during showers and family visits in anticipation of when its little memory card will be filled with GrandBoy video. The video can go right to the computer or TV.

If you know of more great grandparenting websites, blogs, or tekkie-toys, let me know. I'd love to build a good resource list here.

Post-showers nursery update

Blankets and gizmos and wall art and toys - all the things that make a nursery cozy! After the baby showers, ma- and pa-to-be, got busy decorating. See how lovely? It's all coming together, so Little Mama can rest easy. Her babe will have all the necessities in case he makes an early appearance.

Liam-to-be, you are such a lucky little feller! So much love from your family and friends has gone into welcoming you into the world. The gifts they've brought are just a little reminder of all that love.

Showers of blessings

Last weekend was filled with showers. Not the wet kind (although the rainy floodgates opened on Sunday), but the eating, laughing, gift-giving kind. The womenfolk who will welcome Baby Liam into the world gathered to ooh and aah over tiny blue onesies, animal-print footed pjs, and feats of modern technology/engineering in the guise of Pack 'n Play, Ocean Wonders Soothing Seas Aquarium, and Diaper Genie.

But it wasn't just about outfitting the baby or decorating the nursery. In fact, the best part of the showers was spending time with great women (and a few little girls) who take delight in celebrating the good fortune of the soon-to-be Ma and Pa, as well as the hope and promise of new lfe. And it was another excuse to gather, laugh, talk, and, of course, eat.

Saturday's baby shower was for all the girls in the family, hosted by Jessica, Lizzie, and Aunt Cindy. I'll call that one The Bully Shower, in honor of the Bully Bartow women from whom many in attendance came. There was a fine representation of the Brennan women, as well (Honorary "Bullies"), even Aunt Kathy from New Jersey. It featured two fabulous cakes - one (edible) of chocolate with white and blue frosting (great baby booties!) and one (inedible) of tiny rolled up diapers layered with ribbons, baby wash, and diaper creme.

Highlights are too many to name, but here are a few:

• Seeing Baby Liliana and Baby Aidan, both born December 7. A couple o' cuties!
• Sweet tears as gift from Grandma Brennan, who died in September, was unwrapped. Marie always gave the new babes a silver cup engraved with his/her name (Kate has one of her own). She made sure a cup was provided for Kate's baby.
• The darling gift-unwrapping assistants, Sarah and Tallulah. Tallulah even explained how to use some of the gifts. Ahhhh, experience!
• The great hot cider, yummy sandwiches and fruit salad, and a de-lish cake (the real one, not the diaper one).

Sunday's shower was for Kate's girlfriends, hosted by Betsy and Sally. It was brunch at Cherokee Town Club in Atlanta, complete with Mimosas (woo-hoo!), potato soup, fabulous salad, and yogurt with fruit. Sally created the lovely flower centerpieces for the tables - gorgeous! It was a beautiful, fun day, despite the pouring rain.

Highlights, again, too many to list, but here are a few:

• Lindsey's story of the parking lot/money exchange with Greg to purchase the incredible designer purse/diaper bag.
• A roomful of amazing young women, running the gamut of life-experiences, having a great time celebrating Kate as a soon-to-be mama.
• Mimosas! We all needed a drink. Or two.

• Girlfriend talk. Is there anything better?

Thank you, thank you to all the women who planned and/or attended the baby showers. Now, where can I get one of those Ocean Wonders things to put next to my bed? Hm?

Baby Boy Palace

With about a month, more or less, to go, the nursery is coming together. It's furnished with something old, something new, something borrowed, and lots of blue. It helps to have quality hand-me-downs, like a crib from cousins Rowan and Tallulah and soft newborn clothes from 1-month-old cousin Aidan. From safe and sturdy to cozy and plush, the room is filling up with the essentials, as well as the nice-to-haves.

From GrandMary's standpoint, the best feature is the new glider/rocker and ottoman. It's like a swing for adults. I see lots of hours rocking away in there, whether or not Baby Liam needs soothing.

With two baby showers this weekend, the Baby Boy Palace will become even cozier. And it will be lovely and comforting to be surrounded by wonderful things given in love to our new little guy.

Only one word for it - Amazing!

When I was pregnant with Daughter in 1982-93, we thought it was a big deal to be able to have our bellies smeared with really cold jelly and have the doctor run a little plastic gizmo around our circumference to hear the baby's heartbeat. (I was going to describe the little gizmo as a computer mouse - then I remembered that we didn't have the computer mouse back then. Gizmo will have to do). Anyway, the sonogram sounded like something out of a World War II movie, minus the sonar beeps. Listening to the baby's heartbeat - Amazing!

Ultra-sound was just coming into its own and was only used if there were suspicions about the position or health of the baby or to monitor the mother in some way. All was (thankfully) normal, so this technology that's used as a matter of course now wasn't used on me. I have no ultrasound pictures of Baby Girl in my womb.

Let's go back even before the sonogram stage. When I first got an inkling that I maybe, possibly, might be pregnant, I had to make a doctor's appointment to find out yea or nay. No peeing on an over-the-counter stick - nope, I had to go to the doctor to pee on a stick to find out. I know - The Ancient of Days. And I'm talking 1982.

Fast-forward to 2009. Daughter and her hubby found out she was pregnant in the privacy of their own home, courtesy of a pregnancy kit available to one and all at the local CVS or Walgreen's. They had ultra-sound pictures of the baby within a month. A couple of months later, another picture revealed that the baby is a boy. And when I went home to Atlanta for Thanksgiving, Daughter, Hubby, and I got to see live, 3D images of the little guy - the shape of his head, his nose and chin and little hands.

And those 3D images of Grandboy were amazing! Amazing in the same way that 26 years earlier the sound of his mama's heartbeat was amazing. It's hard to imagine what technology will offer to Grandboy's generation. But it will be, I'm sure, amazing.