Rawlings Attends Her Own Baby Shower

The guest of honor at a baby shower for my daughter Jennie was her new daughter, Rawlings, who arrived three weeks early.  Rawlings was a most welcome addition to the festivities, although she apparently had partied hard the night before because she barely opened an eye the whole time she was in attendance.  My sister-in-law, Nancy, and her daughter Megan were the hostesses for this happy event.  From the decorations to the food, it was perfect.  Thank you so much, Nancy & Megan!

She loves to sleep with one or both hands up by her face.  That's the way she was "photographed" in the womb, too, always with the hands held high.

Photo curtesy of Don Whitebread, aka "Grunkle" Don

Here we have Great Grandmother (known as GG in our family) meeting Rawlings for the first time.  She apparently passed muster....

Photo by Don Whitebread

That happy looking young lady in the enter of the photo holding the little sweater is my daughter Jen.  Her sister Annie is to her left, and then me, in the red.  Many family members attended, including my beautiful daughter-in-law Kellie, who you can see just behind me in the white sweater.

Photo by Don Whitebread

The happy parents were gifted with many beautiful items for our new little one.  Rawlings will have quite the wardrobe!

Photo by Don Whitebread

Here is the proud papa, Chris (known as Critter within our family as Annie's husband is also a Chris....it gets confusing!) and his mother, Ginny, the other grandma.

Photo by Don Whitebread

And here is another shot of the very proud papa and his new little one.  He is adorable, too!

Photo by Don Whitebread

My two eldest granddaughters, Emma (6) and Alex (5) were able to attend the baby shower, too.  They both looked like spring gardens in their pretty dresses.  I think they are as cute as can be,  just as ALL my grandbabies are!  Yes, I might be biased.  But still, I bet you, Dear Reader, think they pretty cute, too, don't you?

And here is my beautiful Jennie and her little one again.  The circle of life is something, isn't it?

Welcoming Chris

My darling Jen and her fabulous intended, Chris, will be married this weekend in Napa. DH, his mother and I will leave tomorrow for California for the festivities. Daughter Annie and her Chris (this is going to become confusing, I'm afraid!) will arrive on Friday with their two children in tow. Alex will be a flower girl and will be joined by her cousin Emma, son Don's daughter. Don & Kellie and Flower Girl Emma also arrive on Friday. Friday night is the rehearsal dinner, Saturday the wedding and Sunday we all return home, with our family newly expanded and enriched. I would like to publicly declare that my children have excellent, EXCELLENT taste in spouses. Annie has her Chris, he of the wicked sense of humor, beautiful brown eyes and gentle heart. Don has Kellie, the beautiful and kind, who makes him light up whenever he mentions her name. And now Jen will have her Chris. Our newest Chris is very handsome and very smart, funny and fun, and the apple of Jen's eye. He enters into our family with a seamless and perfect fit and we know now we've always been waiting for him to join us.

DH and I are blessed with our children-in-law. They make our children happy and fulfilled. They helped bring us our beloved grandbabies. Each has made our lives richer. Now we have one more darling man to add to our family and we couldn't be happier, or prouder. He is a keeper.

Welcome, Chris! Welcome.

GG Meets Her New Grandbabies

My mother-in-law, henceforth to be known as GG, finally got to meet her first great grandson, Ian. Six months old now and she'd never had an opportunity to see him in person nor hold him. I am happy to report that void has been filled. Last Sunday we ventured over to Don & Kellie's to visit them all, but especially so that GG could meet (and hold) The Twins. I know that GG enjoyed herself and so did I.
I am a very lucky woman as I won the Mother-in-Law stakes. I know that many women have troubled relationships with their husband's mothers, but that has never been true for me. I have adored my mother-in-law from the very first time I met her. She has treated me with nothing but love and kindness from the very start, way back in 1967. I love her with all my heart.

Beautiful but tired Kellie. (Can you imagine how exhausting it must be to handle all those middle of the night feedings---for twins? Makes me tired just thinking of it.)

And since I am now a mother-in-law I would like to state that I have also been exceedingly lucky with the choices my children have made for spouses. Chris is wonderful and Kellie is divine. I couldn't be happier with the wonderful people my children have brought into our family. I know, I know, all this sweetness is unlike me....but sometimes you just have to say it out loud for the world to hear! When you're as lucky as I have been, you better be grateful. And I am, I am.

And here is Chris, he of the kind heart, "gigantic cranium" and wacky humor. He's not too hard on the eyes, either!