All I could say was “Wow.” “Wow.” Finally I collected myself and asked the usual questions: How far along are you? How have you been feeling? When’s the baby due?
Don’t get me wrong. Heidi and Sam, although young and newly married, will be classified with the world’s best parents. They are already expert at changing diapers and wrestling monkeys and reading stories and, as we found out in Provo, dealing with a puking/pooping ten-year-old. They are justifiably excited.
They’re typical first-time parents, wondering if everything out of a doctor’s mouth is gospel or advice (take your prenatal vitamins=gospel; don’t drink any apple juice=ridiculous advice). But they’re as prepared and ready for the responsibility as anyone I’ve ever seen.
I, however, was not mentally prepared for the leap that this requires of me.
From mom to mother-in-law wasn’t instantaneous, I must admit. In my defense, I was only three weeks postpartum and highly emotional at the time. But once I met Sam, saw them together, saw how he looked at her, saw how he immediately fit in our family, all fears flew away, and I loved him.
From mom to . . . grandma. Wow. Wow. I don’t know if I’m ready for that. I mean, I’m still nursing a baby. I’m a few months away from being able to nurse my own grandchild. Weird, isn’t it?
Not only that, but . . . I’m still young. Way too young for this. I feel 30, and now, my first baby is going to have a baby. How did I get here? When did I blink and cross the threshold into middle age? Where was I? I’m still changing my own diapers, potty-training my own toddler.
All these questions have been lurking in the back of my mind for the last four weeks—yes, I’ve known that long.
Then I saw this:
And all my questions evaporated. I couldn’t stop staring. And wondering. And guessing.
And instantly loving.
What will my moniker be? Nana? Gran? Grandma? Don’t know yet.
My baby’s having a baby.
Wow. Wow.
Big changes coming your way - but great changes, all pleasure, little responsibility, lots of pride. You'll be good at it, whatever you're called. My grandmother was a mother at 14 and a grandmother in her mid-thirties....nursing her baby alongside her daughter who was nursing her baby. How lovely for your daughter to have a mother so 'with' her on this new part of life's journey.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Nana, a young grandmother and my youngest son and my oldest grandchild are a little more than a year apart. It all totally rocks!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you all!
Wow! How exciting, and amazing, and absolutely WONDERFUL. Congratulations to your whole family. You are young! That's what makes it so great. You'll be the coolest Nana? Grandma? ever!!!
ReplyDeletecongratulations! my mom and my grandma were both pregnant at the same time...can you imagine?! how lucky that you can be so young, and young at heart as a gran.
ReplyDeleteseriously buku love & congratulations! i think every first-time grandparent feels this way. my parents still feel this way & my baby is 13. my youngest sibling is only 6 years older than my daughter. not exactly the same boat, but i'm sure my parents felt the exact same way you felt.
ReplyDeleteit's a struggle at first. naturally it should be. that way once the aha moment takes place, the melting of the heart is that much sweeter!
they will be fabulous parents, no doubt. she's had you for a fabulous example. you will be the most magnificent grandmother. and that doesn't mean you're old, it just means you're grand...as in FABULOUS! ;)
seriously, can i SAY fabulous enough?!? lol. :D
ReplyDeleteMatt and I were talking the other day and we decided that the weirdest part of Heidi being pregnant is that we'll have a cousin that's a grandma! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteSo when is she due? How has she been feeling? My youngest brother and my oldest nephew are only a couple of years apart. They have a really close relationship. I think I fell in love with him/her seeing that ultrasound. So happy for you!
ReplyDeleteIt won't take you long to figure out that it is ALL good. I am really excited, too.
ReplyDeleteWWHHEEEE!!! I am so excited for you and I am glad to watch you go first on some of this stuff!!
ReplyDeleteLove you Grammy!
Oh, that is SO awesome! Congrats gramma!!!
ReplyDeleteSo exciting. You'll be a rockin granny!
ReplyDeleteDana
So happy for you and your family! A big HUGE congratulations all the way from Southern California!
ReplyDeleteBeing a Grandma is the BEST. But I have to admit, when I became one I didn't have a nursing baby! What a fun life you have. And it's just getting better.
ReplyDeleteThat is the happiest news I have heard in a long while. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteSo exciting! And I agree...you will be one COOL grandma!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations again! So happy for them. :) My maternal grandmother went through the same thing - she had nine children and her first child, Josephine, had her own child before my grandmother was pregnant with her last child. As an only child, I've always envied my mom's big family. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be wonderful to be a young grandma. My mom was 26 when she had her first kid and then 52 for her first grandkid. Now when the grandkids come over for an evening it wears my parents out! So, I say good for you. You'll be able to keep up with your's.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Congratulations to both you and Heidi!! She will be a fabulous mom!! and you will be a terrific grandma! What fun to see your family still expanding.
ReplyDeleteYep, still so crazy! What an INSANE year it has been. But you're right, they will be great parents, and any baby that goes to them is a lucky baby indeed!
ReplyDeleteMy Dads youngest sister has a niece AND a nephew older than her. WIERD indeed!
Congratulations! That is so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThink of a good name for what you want to be called, Jen. I didn't, and I regret it.
ReplyDeleteGrandma Anderson is just a bit boring, and it's much harder to change it after the fact!
=)
PS. I am SO excited for you. Being a grandma really is FUN. And the fact that you have a baby of your own just makes it better, because you have proof positive that you're not old at all. Not even close! And being a young grandma is cool.
i loved the 'months away from being able to nurse my grandbaby' ha if i keep up at this too i'll be in your shoes.
ReplyDeletesniff sniff...ur baby is having a baby! can't wait to hear all about her little bean growin!
Oh Jen I am so excited for you! I cried (seriously!) when I saw the ultrasound picture! Praying for a healthy pregnancy. Congrats to Heidi & Sam!
ReplyDeleteAgain, congratulations! A name... My mom's mom is Muttie (German). My mom is Granny. 2 of her sisters are Mama and Gramma Treats. I have heard of Fancy, Lovely, etc... Basically, it is your choice, so have fun with it :)
ReplyDeleteoh Jenny! I'm still partial to Mimi... :)
ReplyDeleteI know - it sits you back, doesn't it? But how fun - and I know you're going to really be a fun grandma! And a cute, young one too!
ReplyDeleteWow! I can't beleive it. You are way too young to be a grandma!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations again! Wow! How far along is Heidi now? They must be so excited and nervous at the same time! I think it's great how you get to be a grandmother at an early age. You get to witness your grandchild grow up and become a part of their lives as they become young adults too. My parents had us at an early age and so they became grandparents in their early 50's. They've been loving every moment of it because they are still healthy enough to chase E and her cousin around the house and play with them. You're going to be an awesome nana :)
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this! I am just hitting my stride as a wife and mom. I have a 20 year old all of the way down to a 2 year old. So technically I could be a grandmother, but I don't feel like I'm done being the mommy yet!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for your daughter and her new baby!
Oh my gosh, congratulations! I am just 40 myself, and with a 21 year-old daughter who could very easily be married and expecting a baby within the next year or two, I can only imagine! My youngest just started kindergarten, and I still am not 100% sure we are "done" yet. Sure would be funny to be pregnant the same time as my daughter...
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you and your family Jen!
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing!
And I agree with you...I still feel 30!:)
Enjoy the day
Wow! How exciting. AManda was the one who broke the news to me, so I thought I'd look up your blog and see if it was "official". That is amazing. ARe you even 40 yet? (is that too personal of a question? sorry. ) Do you have a due date? I wish I was going to Arizona next week with Thatcher to see all of you. It's been way way way too long. Love, Gerilyn
ReplyDeleteMy mum and my sister had babies a few months apart (which was funny because my sister's was planned and my mum's was a 'surprise baby' :) The babies (now 13 year old girls) are BEST friends. How exciting! congratulations.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Jen!
ReplyDeleteThat's such wonderful news.