Yeah, yeah. You know the song and dance. Life. Busy. Blog. Nada.
Okay, so thereās 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 theyād ever make us grandparents, there they up and do it!
We are thrilled, of course! We found out the last of January that weāre getting a little girl and her name is Adeline Grace.
Right now, Iām 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 ājust familyā, so sheās hosting that one herself. She thought I was being ridiculous trying to host something so big and let me know real quick she didnāt 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 sheās 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, itās 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 doesnāt really matter because she and Taylor picked a date when I will be out of town anyway, so I canāt 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 itās not all on me to pull it off. I think there are like eighty-some people invited via Facebook and Iāll have to call or text a couple of people I know. Taylorās aunt is doing another shower for her side of the family, so I have no doubt theyāll be well-covered with baby paraphernalia.
Iāll let you in on a secret. Iāve had grand babies in the back of my mind for many years now and while I have wanted them for certain, Iāve always worried about how we would āaffordā to be grandparents. Like around Christmas Iāve wondered how in the world we would compete with like my own parents or Taylorās family in gift-giving.
I know. Thatās just sad, isnāt it? But itās true. Iāve always had a hard time around Christmas especially because weāre always ALWAYS broke by December. Tommy and I donāt buy gifts for each other and buy very minimally for our family mainly because we just canāt afford to. I do get a few small things for Tommy usually and always in the months before Christmas. Iāll find something he needs or wants on sale and get it in the summer or fall. He never does anything like that and really, heās always been terrible about holidays. His family never did much for holidays, so itās like he just ignores them. I used to get mad that he didnāt even do something small or even make something for me. To me, that would show that he cared about me, but he doesnāt and I realize thatās just how he is.
But ANYwayā¦back out of my rabbit holeā¦Iāve 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 didnāt buy for them because I didnāt want to, or I didnāt 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, Iām 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. Weāve also purchased three more nice pieces from someone at Tommyās workā¦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 itāll need to be refinished so Iāll get to work on that soon as itās 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 anyhowā¦yeah, Iām 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. Theyāre reading Baby Wise right now and taking notes from their many friends whoāre new parents.
So gone, soĀ 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.
