How Good It Is to Be GRAND!

I went from Good to Great when I officially became a Grandmother this week!!! I don't even know if I have the words to describe the sheer joy that entails...but I shall try!

Wesley James Finical made his arrival into the world the day before my 52nd birthday at 1331 hours (I tried really hard to remember how to use military hours, but it's not that easy...fortunately 1:31 p.m. isn't that hard to convert!). He weighed a whopping 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20 inches long (I wonder if they included his long monkey toes in that measurement, 'cause they are loooooooong and oh, so adorable!). Best early birthday present ever!

This precious bundle of joy was supposed to be here by August 24th, but was so comfy and cozy in momma's tummy that he had to be served an eviction notice! (I have a pic of the post-it note of the "eviction notice" she sent to notify us of his new expected due date. Too cute!) So the plan was that Kristen would be induced on September 1st.

I wanted to do whatever I could to help Kristen & Ryan, but not be in the way. I was so thrilled to know there was something I could do to help. I drove down that morning to take my three granddogs to the kennel and then I headed to the hospital. Good thing I got there when I did, because once Wesley was served his eviction notice, he didn't delay his arrival by much!

Turns out, all it took was breaking Kristen's water and Wesley decided it was time to come out (much like his momma & uncle, too. Once his exclusive suite became less hospitable, he was ready to meet the world!).

Ryan's granddad Bob and grandma Gerri were already at the hospital by the time I arrived and it was so much fun to brag on "the kids" together while we awaited the next generation's much-anticipated arrival.

When I went back to see Kristen and Ryan, they were doing so well. She was having contractions and smiling through them. While she was breathing through the contractions, Ryan was gently rubbing her back and helping her with whatever felt good to her at the time (until not much felt good). What a joy to see the love and partnership between these two!

Birthing babies sure has changed since I had mine, though. Watching Kristen sit on her bouncing gym ball (looked like a giant "hippity-hop" without the handle) and rock side-to-side, I thought, "That's not labor...you're having too much fun!" haha. Then I saw her face. Nope...that wasn't fun. I remembered. Labor is called labor because it is WORK! But it was good to see that she could sit, stand, rock, roll...do whatever was comfortable to help bring Wesley into the world.

When it became obvious that I was quite superfluous, and that her contractions were coming quite close together, I went back to the waiting room to do just that...wait. It wasn't really a long wait. We heard the lullaby song over the hospital loudspeaker several times and wondered each time if that was "our" baby arriving.

Due to HIPAA privacy, the nurses couldn't just come out and tell us that Wesley had arrived. We learned the new-fangled way. Ryan sent a text! We got the basics 7 lbs 15 oz 20" @ 1:31 pm and were overjoyed!

A bit later, Ryan came into the waiting room...or should I say that he floated in? The proud papa told us how handsome Wesley was...how great Kristen had done without pain meds...and that he was feeling 10-feet tall. His smile was certainly evidence of his pride and joy...in his wife and their newborn son. My eyes well with tears of joy just remembering how he beamed. He didn't stay with us long...he was very eager to return to his wife and son.

We were allowed to come back to their room and I can't begin to describe the love that swelled up in my heart to see my beautiful, brilliant daughter holding her handsome son. He was absolutely adorable, so very handsome! (And I'm not the least bit biased...we checked with everyone who entered the room and have been quite reassured that he really is a beautiful baby...it's not just our opinion!)

Wesley came into the world with a full head of dark hair. Kristen was pretty much bald as a baby and had blonde hair until she was a teenager and Ryan was quite tow-headed. Both sides of the family have had babies with dark hair and some had their dark hair fall out to be replaced with lighter locks. Not sure what will occur with Wesley, but he is perfect either way.

He has long fingers like his mom, long toes...so far, from the top of his face he looks like Ryan (hoping those baby blue eyes stay), and the bottom of his face looks like Kristen. He has a "turtle" neck that he stretches out and already tries to hold up his head. He has his Grandpa Tim's tiny ears, which are so very cute. His head was kind of cone-shaped at birth (of course, due to coming through the birth canal), but is rounding out day by day. He has perfect bow-shaped lips and a tiny little turned-up nose and chubby rosy cheeks that just beg to be kissed and cuddled. One of his most charming features already is that he is so expressive...he already gives us "the eyebrow" just like his mommy. Lord only knows if he will use it for good! :-)

Oh, how I have eagerly anticipated all the joy this precious little boy will bring. And he has not disappointed one tiny bit. No, sir, he has surpassed all expectations far beyond my wildest dreams. He has already overflowed my heart with such love I just can't contain it.

With that said, that's all I'm willing to share. I'm going to selfishly hold on to how amazing it feels to hold him in my arms, to snuggle him and kiss his little head, to listen to all the silly little noises this wonderful little animal impersonator makes.

Wesley is my grandson. Wesley is my grand son. I hope to be a good grandmother. I hope to be a great grandma. But for now, it is oh, so great just to be grand!!!