54 Years Later - Nana Finally Gets Someone Who Resembles Her

Little baby Angie

by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

Actually, it is 53 years - until my birthday in November. Why am I making myself older than I am???

A tiny baby girl was born 53 years ago. When that girl was married, she had 2 children, a boy and a girl. Neither resembled her. YES. She was there for the birth, so she knows they are hers.

Much later, the boy and girl both married their lifemates and produced wonderful grandchilden. None of which looked even the slightest bit like the Nana. Rather, they looked like mommy or daddy or this cousin or that one, or even aunties and uncles. No one resembled short little Nana.

Until now. Nana giggles and rubs her hands together with glee.

Little Autumn, the youngest princess, coming in at barely 3 months old, finally shows signs of having something in common with the Nana!

Autumn's eyes look like Nana's eyes. A family resemblance - how nice for me!

Little Autumn and her Nana eyes!

This Nana is happy with even the slightest hint of "she has my eyes." I would be fine if she had Papa's height and not my lack. Actually, I am very happy that she is healthy. A slight resemblance is just eye-cing on the cake. Wink, wink.

Yippee for grands.

Do your children resemble you? How about those grands?

Just chatting with my Nana.

New Life

This is my daddy and I'm keeping him.

By Angie Quantrell Angie Quantrell

startled gasp for breath

mama's trimphant labor

wrapping up daddy

 

Haiku by Angie Quantrell

Welcome, Autumn Nahara.
Born April 26 at 10:08 AM.

Another piece of Nana's heart...

Staying Cool Fun at Nana's

Staying cool at Nana's incorporates several strategies. These are especially important since Nana is most of the time overheated anyway, regardless of record shattering temps.

Play and rock inside the cool living room. Ceiling fan on, AC on, shades at half mast to keep out the morning sun. Check.

Play and help your younger cousin go for a ride on the tricycle. Outside time in the morning, lots of shade under the patio for the driving loop, plenty of liquid to drink. Check.

Play in the patio shade with waterproof toy foods and dishes. Water the plants, splash the water, make up some tasty foods, put up tent for more shade. Check.

Play and have fun. Driving, cooking, splashing, swinging, pushing . . .

Always revert to water table to get wet. Check.

Busted

Sometimes I just fail.

And other times I think I'm doing just fine, until it's pointed out that I just failed.

This morning, while driving the Nana Bus, I was frustrated by the crowded school parking lot. We were a minute from being late, due to heavy traffic, and the car in front of me stopped - to let some children and parents cross, of course - blocking me from parking and getting out to walk my boy to his teacher.

"Come on," I mumbled in a voice loud enough for the Bubba to hear me, "you're gonna make us late!"

The car soon moved on, in reality taking only seconds for the pedestrian pause.

We quickly parked and beat a fast path to the cross walk to enter the playground. Beside the parking lot is the drive through lane, where parents can stay in cars and drop their children off, instead of parking. I've often noticed that the drive through lane is slower than actually parking and walking, due to the number of stops the drivers must make to allow for the cross walk students. (All I can say is, I am so glad there is always a staff person on cross walk duty with her little flag and official vest).

As we walked up to the cross walk, I heard a man cursing and yelling, "Come on, man, get going! What the deal?" It was quite loud as his window was open. (Colorful language removed.)

Wow, I thought.

"Someone is grumpy," I said to the crossing guard as we passed in front of waiting vehicles.

It's so silly to be riled up when you know you have to wait. It's a school zone, for crying out loud.

It took me maybe 15 steps before I realized my hypocrisy.

Yes. I might as well have yelled out the window, for all in all, I had done the same thing when I was complaining about the woman stopping in front of me for a bare 20 seconds.

Busted. It might not have been obvious to those around me, but the Lord knows my heart. And it was cranky.

Tomorrow is a new day. I will try to take my time and not worry about the little stuff. It's all good, making sure kids are safe. Better to be late than hurt someone or have a cranky heart.

They never mark us tardy anyway.

The Baby

The miracle of being a Nana. X2. The first time around was fabulous, and quite interesting from the other side of the stirrups. Emotions ran high, exhaustion set in, awe and wonder sprang forth with joy as baby Boy made his appearance. Too amazing.

Again. Even with the previous experience and the current juggling of care for the Boy as Sister made her splash (literally) in the world, nothing could compare to the excitement of finally meeting her face to face. She would be late, as her mother is always late. Named. Expected and longed for.

But a week overdue seems like seconds when I hold that precious baby Girl. Minuscule fingers and toes, bum and pointy head.

Delightful.

Super Nana

Super Nana struck again. Bonus points awarded for extreme sports. Despite heavy downpours and cautious adults, Super Nana whisked away socks and pants (his), zipped up the hoody, grabbed the camera and umbrella, and headed out to wade in the slickery fast street gutters. Oh yeah.

Upped my "favorite toy" status.