Thursday, March 2, 2023
Is it Thursday already? How did that happen again???
It’s also the second day of March! Spring is getting closer!
When we were teaching Kindergarten,
this day - March 2 - was always a special one!
Known as Read Across America Day
this day occurs each year on the birthdate of Dr. Seuss.
Schools, family members and the community come together
to celebrate the JOY of reading! (Always our favorite!)
This day would find us rhyming all day, reading LOTS of Dr. Seuss books, taking turns doing tricks for each other and making green eggs and ham!
While green eggs and ham may not look too appetizing, it was delicious and
most kindergartners quickly discovered that
“I do so like green eggs and ham, I do, I like them, Sam I am!”
Such sweet memories... and super easy to replicate if you are looking for something fun
to do with your Littles, today or any day!
Speaking of sweet memories,
we so enjoyed our look back in time on Monday
with our post, Becoming a Grand.
(If you missed it, check it out here!
Remember, you can always find more content, too on our
This week we've posted many ideas there to help when
getting ready to welcome a Little into your family!
We’d love it if you stopped by for a visit!
Today’s post finds us continuing on this trip down memory lane
as we recall the arrival of our own families' Littles.
We’ll touch on the ways we celebrated their births
and then we’ll share some steps we took
to support our own children, the brand new parents and our Middles,
during these early days and months!
On Monday we shared ways in which we began preparing for
our most important role… becoming a Grand!
Today, we continue with that reflection!
Both of us became Grands as COVID was impacting all of our lives -
Laurie in July of 2021 and Laura in January 2022!
Neither set of new parents chose to find out ahead of time
what the sex of their new baby would be so
we were doubly excited and could hardly wait to meet these little ones!
In Laurie’s own words, here’s her memories of that special day!
When I became a Grammy…
I met my granddaughter on FaceTime as visitors were not allowed in the hospital at that time. My daughter held her up and said, “Meet… ” and I started crying. (Mind you, I am not a crier!) Little D’s middle name is the same as my mom’s first name. My mom had passed away when my daughter was just shy of being one year old, so this special nod to Little D’s great-grandma was incredibly meaningful! 💞
Six months later, Laura joined this special club! Here are her thoughts!
When I became a Gramma…
Our granddaughter was born on New Year’s Day 2022! She arrived 12 days early… Little L was definitely the best New Year’s surprise ever! We went to bed shortly after midnight knowing that our daughter - Daughter J - was in labor and we woke to a text at 7 a.m. that she and her hubby would FaceTime us at 9! We could hardly wait for this special call to come. When it finally arrived, and we saw that sweet tiny bundle snuggled up with her mommy and daddy, we were filled with such joy! I, of course, cried, since I am a crier! 😘Later that day, Daughter A (now Auntie A) and I went shopping for baby girl clothing before packing our bags for the 4 ½ hour road trip to meet Little L! We could hardly wait! (Did I say that already, once or twice?!?!) 💞
As we mentioned above, neither of us met our Little
until the new family came home from the hospital!
Of course, we were all there, ready to celebrate this new bundle of joy!
Let's Celebrate! It’s a Girl!
Laurie’s Little D arrived in early July, smack dab in the middle of summer!
Our neighbors were keeping track of our journey to grandparenthood, too!
You know how it is - that pregnancy question “Any news yet?” so we made sure to let the cul-de-sac know as soon as we could!!
Six months later, Little L arrived in the dead of winter!
While Laura, Hubby and Auntie A were on the road,
our SIL’s mom decorated the kids’ place for Little L’s arrival home!
(Thank you! Thank you!)
We arrived at their home with about 15 minutes to spare!
Our first moments with Little L were priceless and we, of course, fell instantly in love!
Pampering the New Family!
In addition to our initial “welcome home” decor, here are a few other ways
we showered the new families with love during their first day or two at home!
Laurie and DIL M also headed out shopping as soon as we found out it was a girl! I think we had about 12 outfits picked out at one time! I also continued a tradition my mom and dad had done for me when my own children were born. I picked out a loose, comfy outfit (a soft t shirt and a loose pair of shorts) for Daughter A so she had something new and comfortable to wear right away. (Back in the winters of the 1990’s, I got a new “sweatsuit” from my parents!!)
Laura and family provided a meal or two (Costco ready-made dinners, salad, bread and dessert) for the new family to enjoy. Thank you, again, to our SIL’s parents for stocking the fridge!) Both families shared in the evening meal on that first night home, before heading out and leaving the three to bond during their first evening together!
Laurie made sure to remember a special treat that had been avoided for 9 long months!!
The next day, Laura stopped to pick up the new mama’s (Daughter J’s) favorite order from Starbucks as well as a bouquet of flowers. A Target run to pick up needed postpartum items (and some tiny diapers, too) was also accomplished at the same time! All items… appreciated!
Other ideas for pampering a new family?
Gift cards to restaurants, a candle, essential oils
or a cozy new blanket may top the list!
If you have other ideas to share, we’d love to hear them!!!
Please share in the comment section at the end of this post!
And… here’s one more simple and meaningful idea that we are hanging on to
for future reference… we thought you might enjoy a peek, too!
Tap here to learn more!
Following Little L’s birth, Laura was so blessed to be able to
extend her visit and stay with the new family for several days!
In fact, during the next few months, she and Auntie A (her favorite name these days)
were frequent visitors… and hopefully, helpers, too!
Below Laura describes some of the ways she provided help for her Middles…
Daughter J and SIL
while also spending cherished time with Little L!
It was such a blessing to have this quality time with our new family!
Whenever I visit, I always do my best to be available but also to not be in the way, especially in the evenings! It has always been important to me - and I felt important for our daughter and her family - that they have uninterrupted time alone together each day! So, after dinner is cleaned up each evening, I’ll excuse myself (or they will excuse themselves) to spend that precious family time together! Also, while I always want to be available to help, I also do my best to take my lead from my daughter and SIL. In the early days, she and Little L had special snuggle times each day and I did not want to intrude on that with my presence. (However, I have to admit, I loved those early morning shifts of cuddling Little L after her 5 am feeding so her mommy and daddy could get a few extra moments of sleep while I was there!). I just make sure - these days, too. - that Daughter J knows that I'm there when and if she needs me! This has worked very well for us! And… thankfully, I get plenty of snuggles out of the deal, too!
Here are some other ways I was available for our Middles during this blissful but exhausting time in their lives…
Providing Help with Household Chores - whether it was doing loads of laundry, vacuuming the house, making beds or loading the dishwasher, I was there!
Running Errands - any trips that did not center around our Little - grocery store runs, Target order pick ups and more - were ones I was ready to take on!
Giving the New Parents me and we Time - the new parents may need some time to themselves… separately or together! A quick dinner out, a shower, a walk around the block were all ways that mom and dad could re-energize! And a side benefit… more cuddles for Gramma!
Letting the New Mom Sleep - no surprise, the new mama (and new daddy) sometimes found themselves experiencing some degree of sleep deprivation Our Little’s schedule would eventually take a toll. Imagine that! Watching Little L for mom and/or dad provided the time needed for a good old fashioned nap!
Providing Meals - during the first months, the new parents were exhausted and often too preoccupied to plan meals! I’d spend time during each visit making several freezer meals for our Middles to enjoy! In the long run, this proved to be one of the most appreciated (and delicious) ways I was able to support them!
Next Thursday, I’ll share the most requested freezer recipe I make for all our Middles!
Until then, you’ll find two links below to some of our other faves…
from Happy Money Saver. (Sometimes I'll add a protein to the dish, too.)
This Taco Rice Casserole here! (w/a gluten free option, too) from My Life & Kids
is requested often, too
I always make a double batch when making freezer meals
and then I double seal it, first with saran wrap and then heavy duty foil.
I also write the baking instructions on the outside of each meal package!
Simple and delicious!
While all of these ideas are great ways of supporting our Middles and their new Little, the reality, as my family knows all too well, is that many of us Grands live a long distance from loved ones. Whether you are 4 ½ hours away by car or 6 hours by plane (or even further), the distance seems daunting at times! Finding ways to bridge this distance, figuratively that is, is possible! Here are some options that have worked for our family!
Send a surprise gift - A few weeks after Little L was born, I sent a package of new nursing tops for Daughter J! I just wanted her to know that I was thinking about her! ❤️ A postpartum basket, a spa care package or a gift card for a haircut/color, pedicure or massage would certainly be appreciated, too!
Provide a few weeks of a meal delivery service or use a food delivery app to surprise your Middles on a given night!
Send your Middles a message or give them a call (and don’t forget the new dad in the midst of it all!) Laura and family are so grateful for FaceTime and the consistent connection it provides! We also love using Snapchat - our SIL has created a group, Grandmas, where he would often post early morning moments with Little L and he’d share them with his mom and me. We Grands gobbled these posts up!
Do you have any favorite ways that you've provided support for your own Middles when they became parents? If so, you know we'd love to hear your ideas! Please feel free to share at the end of this post!
Do you remember those days?
Being a new parent, especially a first time parent, can be stressful and challenging in so many ways! In the midst of the joy and the overwhelming love, there are moments of hesitation and uncertainty! As Grands, we can offer our unwavering support! Even though they are now grown, in control of their own family, our Middles still need the love and attention only we can give! By understanding the numerous changes taking place in their lives, we can surround our Middles with encouragement and love! Win! Win!
Welcome to the World,
Little Ones!
❤️ We are delighted to join these link up parties and blog hops this week: