Baby Porter's Heartbeat!!!!

Yesterday was a very exciting day in the life of this newly proclaimed Grandma to be. Matt, Janell and Baby Porter had a doctor's appointment for a check up. Of course, during the visit they were given the opportunity to hear the heart beat. Matt of course recorded the heart beat and shared it with family members so we could get excited about our new baby. So...for the world to hear....I give you Baby Porter's heartbeat!!!! HOW EXCITING!





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What Kind of Aunt Will My Daughter Be???

My daughter, beyond her love for family and the church, has two loves and they are first hockey and second journalism. Her aspirations are to become a sports journalist who covers a hockey team...the NHL to be exact. She has been developing this love for quite a while and is very enjoyable to watch. She even started her very own blog which covers the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Columbus, Ohio, NHL team and receives a hundred plus hits a day. Check her out at www.bethanyshockeyrants.com.

Anyway, after I wrote my last blog about the kind of Grandmother I would be...I thought about my daughter and the kind of Aunt she will be. She will be a great Aunt!!! So great that I actually found a video on www.youtube.com that illustrates how I would anticipate my daughter behaving at the birth of her first niece or nephew. Enjoy!

What Kind of Grandma Will I Be???

Wow!! I feel like I have been on the roller coaster of life for the past couple of weeks! Everything has been fast-paced with lots of new life situations being thrown my way. It has been a great time...but I think the time has come to slow down for a few days and to perhaps let everything sink in.

The grandest news of course is the fact that I will be having my first grandchild in September of this year. I have anticipated this day for a long time. The anticipation is wonderful but it has provoked much thought within me.

Recently, at one of my church meetings a lady said to me, "So, since you are going to be a Grandma are you going to learn to knit?" I was a little taken back by such a comment and the very thought of knitting repulsed me. My response was, "No way." But I will say....this question make me search and ponder the kind of Grandma I want to be.

I was raised in a small town in southeastern Kentucky and I like to think that I have outgrown that small town; however, while I may have moved on intellectually, spirtually, professionally and personally...the values I was raised with are still embedded deep inside me. As I watch the values of the world deterioriate around me I feel concerned for my grandchild. I hope to be the kind of Grandma that can exemplify and teach the values I was raised with and those I found later in life to my grandchild, which remains nameless at this point...only known as Baby Porter.

So back to the question, "What Kind of Grandma Will I be?" I hope to start by being a loving Grandma...one who exemplifies goodness and love. As I have reared my children I have always had a rule in the back of my head, one that was actually shared by one of my dearest friends, one she lived by, and that was to never do anything to embarass your children. Of course, I have tried hard to live by that rule and hope to continue to do so for my grandchild. Example means everything!

I also want to be a Grandma that has a lot of fun involved in the visits with the grandchildren. That would involve hiking, baseball, perhaps hockey, museums, swimming, movies, sharing great books, plays...the list goes on. I am not one to sit idly by and let the world pass me by...and there are so many things I want to show and teach my grandchild....where we have moments of fun and memories together.

The list goes on and I could never put everything into this brief blog...but everyone should know the love I already feel for something so small...is incredible and undeniable.

The Lord has granted me a wonderful opportunity by allowing me to be called Grandma. How thankful I am for this opporunity...and the many moments of love to come! I look forward to developing my role as a Grandmother and for the joy and pleasure this new human being will bring to my life. I hope to be a Grandmother who returns the favor!

Just Call Me Grandma!!!!

Yesterday appeared to be a normal day...but by no stretch of the imagination did it end up that way. Looking back I don't think I can ever remember feeling so much joy. Everyone should have that experience!

What made me so happy? Well, my son, who will be 27 years old next week and his beautiful wife, sent me a very special gift in the mail to be delivered by a dear friend. I entered the YMCA for my normal Monday night workout when I was approached by my friend who delivered this special gift. I thought surely it was a belated birthday card, but I was ever so wrong. My gift was a book prepared by my daughter-in-law on behalf of her and my son, to give me some very good news. The book read as follows:

Grandma,

I can't wait to meet you!!

I thought I'd make a book to

tell you a little about me.

I will be your grandkid, the first in the family.

The Doctor says I'm growing big,

I'm over an inch long.

My Mom and Dad listened to my heart.

It's beating very strong.

Soon you'll get to hold

and cuddle me.

It will be in September

probably on day three.

You can read me stories

and spoil me to all ends

I can't wait to meet you!

We'll be the best of riends.

Love,

Baby Porter

In tears I ran out of the YMCA, forget the workout! It was time to enjoy my awesome news! I was going to be a Grandma! I could not stop crying tears of joy. I think I cried all evening and into the night. Today I am walking on cloud nine, sharing my beautiful brag book with all who will read it.

I'm so proud that I am going to be a Grandmother! I can't wait to look into the little eyes, tickle the little nose, hold the small hands and kiss the cute feet of my grandchild. Pure pleasure is the best way to describe how I feel!

Now, I will be anxiously await the arrival......