Have You Ever Seen A Baby Take a Shower?

Oh boy, did we have fun with this one. Yes, Prince William takes a shower now. He went from the kitchen sink to showering! *smile*

Our 14-year-old broke the faucet part of the bathtub (the shower head works fine) so we just removed it because we just take showers anyway. Well, when it came time for Will to move from the kitchen sink to the bathtub we would run the water in the tub and stop it up. It would fill a little, we would turn it off, and give him a bath.

Well, one day I was in a hurry and so I put him in before the water was run and he immediately went to the front of the tub where the water was running. He then stood up and was having a big time in the shower.

The next time I put him in he immediately stood up and went to the front of the shower. This has been going on for some time now and this video was done when he was 15 months old. I know I am a proud Nana, but really, you have to admit this is really cute and funny!

Take a look.

Have a GREAT day!

Joyce aka Nana

Where Does the Time Go?

Wow! Summer is really hot here but believe it or not school started here today. My 13-year-old started the 8th grade and he was ready for school to start.

It is always exciting and scary to start a new year at school. He has a hard time believing that I understand what he is feeling right now. LOL They just never think that we were their age one time, just like we could not imagine our parents being our age at one time. Of course, as time goes on you can remember when your parent was the age you are now and the age gap starts to close. Funny, isn't it?

Well, Baby Will, or as I like to call him, Prince William, will be a year old next month! I can't believe it is almost a year since he was born. I remember that day so well and of course have video, too! Ah, the first birthday.

God gives us little ones so we can live again. I know since my dad died holidays have been so hard. Now that we have a baby again we start to see wonderment again. The smile of that baby just melts my heart. I think of how simple things makes him smile. How he enjoys everything around him.

Why do we stop doing that? Why do we let life get in the way of living? Life has been hard this summer. My daughter, his mother, has had some terrible health problems, my mother has had some serious health problems the last two months, and I feel like I'm starting to fall apart. I have been on my knees a lot this summer and I wonder if all the troubles of this life will ever end.

THEN the baby smiles just because he sees me and that makes life worth living. Today we went outside and he is in awe of trees, flowers, grass, bees, bugs, and anything that is around. He lets me see through his eyes the wonderment of God's creation. This baby lives for the moment and takes nothing for granted like I do. Oh, if I could love like this baby and live like this baby, wouldn't life be much better.

Today I pray that God will heal my mother and my daughter. I pray that God will help me to look at life as a gift and not a burden. I want to love life and look at life in wonderment just like Baby Will does.

If you are having a rough life right now just remember to take your burdens to God. He will get you through and HE will give you happiness again. We all have trials and tribulations but His Grace and Mercy will get us through. Time flies by and we need to trust that God knows what we are going through and will sustain us through it.

With love and prayers,

Joyce aka Nana

Sometimes We Forget to Enjoy Our Life

Time is passing by fast and this summer is hot as ever. Prince William, as I like to call him, is 9 months old! It is hard to believe that he is growing so fast. I will turn around one day and he will be starting school.

Prince William is having a fun summer getting to learn new things every day seeing that his actions have consequences. Such as, he puts the ball in the giraffe, and it makes a noise. So thrilled that HE did that!

He notices in a mirror that his Papa (Grandpa) is holding a baby and smiles at him. Is he smiling at the baby or at his Papa? Does he know that that baby Papa is holding is him or does he think it is another baby? He is such a wonder of God's creation.

He is trying to walk! He goes everywhere and wants to see everything! He gets tired and needs a nap but he just wants to keep playing and exploring! (This is what we call fighting sleep!)

It brings us to a place where we realize that sometimes we get so bogged down in living life that we forget to enjoy it. Sometimes life brings real struggles, and believe me when I say I know this because this summer has been one of trials for our family, but we still need to start each day with thanksgiving for all that we have and all that God does for us.

I was watching Prince William play this past week. He was on the floor and had his toys around him going from one thing to another. My thoughts went to a another place where our pastor went to help do a pastors' conference for those over there trying to reach the people for Jesus. I wondered if the babies there were doing okay. I said a prayer for them. Then I decided to do some research for a bit.

Guatemala has the highest poverty rate in Latin America. It is sad what some of these children have to live in and I am so thankful that I was born in this wonderful country, United States of America, and more so that my children and grandchildren were born here and live here.

More than half of Guatemala's 12 million people live on less than US $2.00 a day. Most of us spend more than that on a cup of coffee each day! And we are so privileged to be able to spoil our grandchildren! We should not feel guilty about this, but be thankful that God has provided a better life for us.

So it's back to the point that sometimes we forget to enjoy our life and our blessings. I know I do and I want so much to enjoy this life that God has given me and my family. I pray that God will remind me to enjoy these days each and every one of them!

I pray for you and your family a wonderful week and if you are in a hot spot try to stay cool!

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV)

Joyce aka Nana

3900 Saturdays

One of my friends sent this to me and I wanted to share. Although it is from a guy's point of view I think we grandmas can appreciate it, too. Maybe pass it on to your kids. *smile*

MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK!!

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.

Let me tell you about it.

I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whomever he was talking with something about 'a thousand marbles.' I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say.

'Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital' he continued. 'Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities.' And that's when he began to explain his theory of a 'thousand marbles.'

'You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.'

'Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail', he went on, 'and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear.'

'Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life.'

'There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.'

'Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time.'

'It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!'

You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter.

Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. 'C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast.' 'What brought this on' she asked with a smile.' 'Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles.'

Have a Wonderful Father's Day to all your grandpas out there!

Joyce aka Nana

We're Back in Business!

The baby is finally feeling better and so is Nana! LOL This seems to go hand in hand these days. Baby feels good, Nana feels good. Baby feels bad, Nana is sad.

He has been squealing and laughing all day long. He is teething so he is biting everything and I mean everything. He even bit the cat! I am sure glad the cat is laid back or I'm afraid we would have to get rid of a cat...cause ain't no way we're getting rid of baby!

My husband, our 13-year-old, my mother and I share a home since my father died 3 1/2 years ago and my mother cannot live alone. We have a cat, Fireball, and she is really a good cat, but my mother cannot stand her because she is an indoor cat and my mother says animals belong outside, period. It has been an adjustment for her and since we had the cat since she was six weeks old and she is now 7 years old, we could not be expected to get rid her, right? Well, of course, Fireball picks my mother's furniture to sharpen her claws on and drives my mother absolutely crazy. (Me, too, but I don't let her know that. *smile*.) I think Fireball has finally figured out it is just better to leave the furniture alone.

The baby has decided that he has the favorite table to teeth on and guess what? Yep, you've got it, it is one of my mother's table. I had said, if it was my table the baby could gnaw it to the floor for all I care, but I really try to keep him off the table that belongs to his great-grandmother.

Well, yep, you got that too, she was in the living room and he pulls up and starts to chew....I, being a good Nana, gently tell him no and go move him. Well! You would have thought I beat him and put him outside or something! Great-grandmother proceeds to tell me it is HER table and if that baby wants to chew on it he can chew it to the floor! (ROFLOL)

Here I have been so careful to make sure he does NOT chew on the table and of course, she says he can! I just kind of looked stunned and said, well, okay.

Really, since this the only one of her great-grandchildren she has ever been able to spend much time with she just ADORES him. And of course, he can do no wrong. It is really sweet to see them together and I am glad that God has given us this blessing to share.

So as we're back in business of having "fun" with the little one and what a glorious day that makes this.

Until next time have a GREAT weekend and feel free to comment your grandkid stories!

Joyce aka Nana
Rights For Grandparents Blog

Some Days Being a Nana is Rough

My grandbaby, who is 8 months old, spent the night last night. He was precious and sweet as usual but much calmer than he usually is. He is a good baby but very, very active so he keeps me on my toes, usually.

He took a long nap in the evening so I was prepared for a midnight bedtime but to my surprise he was ready for bed by 10:00. He has been teething so I thought, well, maybe he is just needing more rest right now.

I gave him his nighttime bottle and put him to bed. When I awoke at 3:00 a.m. with the cat meowing to go out to "cat around" I checked on him and he seemed fine. I put a light blanket on him and went back to bed. He stays in my room in his play yard, we called them playpens but I think someone didn't like the word pen, so I hear every move he makes.

When I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and realized I hadn't heard a thing from him all night I got up and once again checked on him. He appeared to be fine so I thought I would go back to bed for a bit because I knew he would surely be up soon. I checked on his several more times and things seemed fine. I even moved him around a little thinking I would wake him. I was ready for my morning snuggle with him. *smile*

Once it was 8:00 and he still had not awaken I decided I was just going to get him up. Well, he was burning up! I got him up and immediately gave him some fever reducer, juice and took his temperature. It was 101.5! And the sweet little thing was just smiling at me and loving me with those little hands. Just melts me.

I called his mother, my daughter, and told her what was going on. I told her the fever had gone down and I would just keep an eye on him and let her know if things got worse.

Early afternoon she came over and he was sleeping so she just decided to stay for a while and goof off and let him sleep. (And I think let Nana take care of him, which was fine with me.)

Around 4:00 his fever shot up again, this time to 102.5 so she called the doctor. I told her it was probably a virus because he had not exhibited any other symptoms such as pulling his ears, crying, etc. The doctor said to bring him in at 6:30 p.m. as long as we could get the fever down and if it shot up again and we couldn't get it down to take him to the emergency room.

We were able to keep it around 99 to 100 until time to go to the doctor. By that time I was quite emotional and my husband and I decided that she and the baby's father just needed to go ahead and take him and I would stay home.

So the story goes, he has a virus and the doctor will check him tomorrow. He has a very protective doctor because when he was 2 months old he was in the hospital with pneumonia and whooping cough for a week. He always sees him no matter what day or time of day it is. Pretty dedicated doctor I think.

Having raised four children I have been through this so many times and I was pretty sure it was a virus but it's good to have a doctor confirm. I don't think that it bothers me so much that he is sick, I have been through that over and over with my own children, but that he is at home, where he should be, with his mommy and daddy and they are taking care of him instead of me. LOL I just know he will grow so fast and won't be a baby very long at all. I want to enjoy every second I am with him.

I am thankful that my daughter will share him with us the way she does. We usually get him overnight every Friday night and usually any other day or night I want him. I think the rough part of being a Nana is having to let him go home. *smile*

This little one has stolen my heart. :0) I am so thankful to God for him!

Have a GREAT weekend and God Bless you and yours.

Joyce aka Nana

Grandparents Do Have Rights When it Comes to Grandchildren

Today I wanted to touch on a subject that seems to be one that is coming up more and more every year in the United States and Canada. This is grandparents rights to their grandchildren. Up until a few years ago courts did not reconize grandparents as having any rights to see their grandchildren but things are different nowadays and the courts have realized, thank goodness, that these children NEED their grandparents.

Sometimes there are grandparents that are not fit to be around the children and the courts can usually sort this out, just as they can usually sort out a parent that is not fit to be around the children. Besides, most grandparents that are not fit to be around the children will not be seeking any type of visitation or custody for their grandchildren so this is very rare that the courts would find a grandparent not fit.

I will tell you what happened to me, and this was ten years ago, oh my, has it been that long? Anyway, I will make this short as I can because a lot of the details will not be necessary for you to understand what happened. My daughter was a very good mother for the first 18 months or so of the child's life. Her absolute first priority was for her baby. One day something happened, and I'm still not sure what that something was, (I think it was depression but I do not know and she has never told me), but she just started falling apart very slowly. At the time it was not severe but she was coming around less and less and I didn't see the child near as often as I had before.

About six months later the baby's father said he wanted them to try and work things out so she moved out of state with the baby. Within six months she realized it was not going to work and since they were living with his parents his parents asked her to leave and leave the baby with them. She called me and I told her to bring the baby and come home. She said she wanted to stay where she was but she needed to get on her feet and she had someplace to stay but did not want to leave the baby with the father's parents. I told her that the baby could come stay with us and that she and the baby's father could help pay for some of the things the baby needed and we would take care of him for a few months until she could get on her feet.

At first this arrangement worked real well. She came to see the baby every week giving us a modest amount of money to help support him. The father never sent one penny nor did he visit the baby. We were only two hours away from where they were living. After about two months the visitation tapered off and so did the payments. Once when I didn't hear from her for two weeks I called and left her a message that I was going to call the police to find her if she didn't call me. She phoned and I could tell things were really, really bad for her. I told her to put some clothes in her car and come to me. She said she would think about it and call me the next day. (Looking back now I think she was abusing drugs or alcohol but I do not know that for a fact.) I didn't hear from her again for four years.

After about nine months of her and the father not being in touch and I didn't have any information on where either of them were I started to get fearful that one of them would show up on the doorstep and take the baby away and at this point he probably wouldn't even know who they were. I prayed about it and then talked with an attorney.

He immediately drew up papers for temporary guardianship so that they could not just show up at the door and take him from what he considered his home now. Within a few days a judge had signed it and at least I could sleep at night because I knew they would have to go to court now and explain why they had abandoned him before either of them could take him.

By this time he was four years old and really not a baby anymore but he was still my baby. *smile* We had him enrolled in pre-school and he was doing very well. Still nothing from the parents. We weren't too concerned about anything and life was good, but I did wonder if my daughter was okay and decided I would try to find her. I tracked her to the Midwest and sent a certified letter. It was returned as addressee unknown.

Time went on and it was approaching time that he would be starting school. My husband and I had discussed trying to adopt him and had even spoken to the attorney about it. We decided to pursue it and boy what a journey that was. The first thing we were told was that "grandparents have no rights to grandchildren" so we had better be ready for a fight if the mother and/or father decided they wanted to take him from us. Well, at this time he had his life with us and it was HIS life. It was because we wanted him to have stability that we decided that we needed to seek adoption. We didn't want him to start "real school" and not have an identity or to not know where his mommy and daddy were. After all we had become his mommy and daddy.

The attorney actually advised us to leave things the way they were but we just didn't feel it was in the best interest of the child. So he said he would start drawing up some papers but we had to find the parents and he would have to notify them of our intent. We gave the okay for him to search for them. To make a long story short it produced no results and so we had to run ads of our intent to adopt our grandchild. Well, for this reason or that the attorney or his assistant never seemed to get this done so we fired him and hired another attorney.

Believe it or not we had to start all over again. Grrrr.... But we finally got our day before the judge and were granted custody. There is a lot more to the story and maybe sometime I will write more about it but this has gotten quite lengthy at this point so I want to tell you a few things the judge told us.

He said that many states, including ours, was working on grandparents rights because our situation was becoming more common and grandparents needed rights to help the "system" protect children that needed protection. He told me about some cases where the children were being abused and because it was just the grandparents' word against the parent's word that the court ALWAYS went to the parent. He explained that by at least allowing grandparents visitation rights they could keep a watch on the child at intervals to help find problems if they arose.

Since then many states have reach the same conclusion that children need their grandparents and there are aveunes we can take now to protect our grandchildren.

If you are finding yourself in a sitaution where you feel you need to help your grandchildren then there is a very good publication that has been updated for 2009 that you might want to have a look at. It covers Grandparents' Rights for visitation and custody and much, much more. I will put the link here and please feel free to leave questions or comments here.

God Bless you and yours and have a GREAT weekend!

Joyce aka Nana

Grandparents Do Have Rights