Yeah, yeah. You know the song and dance. Life. Busy. Blog. Nada.
Okay, so there’s been big developments around the Gray family residences the past few months.
In November, on my birthday, I got a box from Casey and Taylor while we were all at the obligatory birthday gathering (Cracker Barrel) which, upon opening, I was a little stumped.
Out of the clear blue sky, whilst I was just sitting there, being old, I got informed via the baby gown in the box that I was going to be a grandma soon!
YES, PEOPLE! After giving up, and saying so, that we were gonna just go traveling and not worry about what the kids were doing or whether they’d ever make us grandparents, there they up and do it!
We are thrilled, of course! We found out the last of January that we’re getting a little girl and her name is Adeline Grace.
Right now, I’m busy helping plan a baby shower that will consist of mostly our church family, our Emmaus family and other people they know from work and school. My mother wanted to have a small shower, one with “just family”, so she’s hosting that one herself. She thought I was being ridiculous trying to host something so big and let me know real quick she didn’t want to help.
Not in those words, of course, but anyway. My mom is just weird that way. She keeps track of who came to what and who gave gifts and how many times she’s showered them/their kids and decides who should be invited to the current shower. Its weird and always stresses me out the way she is about that stuff, so really, it’s just better this way. No one has hard feelings, at least as far as I know. She may be mad at me, I dunno. But it doesn’t really matter because she and Taylor picked a date when I will be out of town anyway, so I can’t even attend or help with last minute stuff anyhow.
The shower I began planning is now being co-hosted (or whatever you call it these days) by four other ladies involved with our church and/or from Emmaus, so it’s not all on me to pull it off. I think there are like eighty-some people invited via Facebook and I’ll have to call or text a couple of people I know. Taylor’s aunt is doing another shower for her side of the family, so I have no doubt they’ll be well-covered with baby paraphernalia.
I’ll let you in on a secret. I’ve had grand babies in the back of my mind for many years now and while I have wanted them for certain, I’ve always worried about how we would “afford” to be grandparents. Like around Christmas I’ve wondered how in the world we would compete with like my own parents or Taylor’s family in gift-giving.
I know. That’s just sad, isn’t it? But it’s true. I’ve always had a hard time around Christmas especially because we’re always ALWAYS broke by December. Tommy and I don’t buy gifts for each other and buy very minimally for our family mainly because we just can’t afford to. I do get a few small things for Tommy usually and always in the months before Christmas. I’ll find something he needs or wants on sale and get it in the summer or fall. He never does anything like that and really, he’s always been terrible about holidays. His family never did much for holidays, so it’s like he just ignores them. I used to get mad that he didn’t even do something small or even make something for me. To me, that would show that he cared about me, but he doesn’t and I realize that’s just how he is.
But ANYway…back out of my rabbit hole…I’ve always thought we could never keep up with buying whatever::: toys, clothes, etc for any grandkids compared to what the inlays could or my own parents. That kind of thing bothers me because it hurts when someone feels I didn’t buy for them because I didn’t want to, or I didn’t give them something nicer because I was just being cheap. I would LOVE to be able to give lavish gifts. Any time we have extra money, I’m looking for gifts for whoever has the next birthday or holiday coming up. Given the funds, I would be a cheerful gifter, I think.
But as it stands, I am learning to get over that harsh comparison mindset and to be more creative about what gifts I can give that are homemade or cheap-but-dressed-up, like a basket of stationery, ya know?
As of now, I helped my mom purchase a slightly used bassinet that Taylor wanted. We’ve also purchased three more nice pieces from someone at Tommy’s work…a high chair, stroller/carseat and a motorized swing. I also bought a baby book, a milestones blanket and a big stack of Little Golden books.
I need to get our old high chair down out of the attic. The one both boys used was a Jenny Lind style wooden chair. I assume it’ll need to be refinished so I’ll get to work on that soon as it’s warm enough to work in the shop. We also have a little crib/play pen sorta thing that we bought when we were living with my parents and Casey was just a baby. It kept him corralled until he was about three. We will be able to use it for a crib for Addie Grace for awhile.
So anyhow…yeah, I’m finally gonna be a grandma and I am so anxious for this baby to be born! I think Casey will be the best little daddy and Taylor is going to be a great little momma. They’re reading Baby Wise right now and taking notes from their many friends who’re new parents.
So gone, so long Yeah, yeah. You know the song and dance. Life. Busy. Blog. Nada. Okay, so there's been big developments around the Gray family residences the past few months.