Thursday, August 21, 2014

An Afternoon with Hazel Nina

If you are a mother, you will remember that there were never two days alike when your kids were little. And it is the same with grandchildren. There is no typical day. I thought it would be fun to occasionally document our days of taking care of Hazel Nina. 

Today she was at the house for about five hours, from 11 to 4. She hadn’t really napped, so by 11.30 she was getting tired. Brought her upstairs and she soon fell asleep. We have a second-hand crib in the bedroom and here she is after she woke up, about 45 minutes later. She can’t stand up by herself yet, but could support herself, with Tom’s hand behind her in case she lost her balance.


Then she came downstairs, and Tom fed her while she sat on my lap. I don’t remember doing this much with my kids, but I wish I had. They mostly sat in high chairs to eat. This is delightful for her and for us. She has been eating a new product from when my kids were little, called Ella's Kitchen

After she ate, Tom put her in the Snugli for a while, 


and then I took her 


so he could work a bit on the new fence. I walked around with her for probably 1 1/2 hours. She is interested in every single thing right now, and it is so much fun to just talk away, telling her about trees and flowers and chickens. She loved watching Tom hammer. She loved looking at the tractor. We went out to the plum tree and lo and behold, there was a ripe one. Tom took a bite, and then I rubbed my finger on it and let Hazel lick it. She loved the taste. 

Then we came in and she spent over half an hour in the playpen.



Yesterday, Margaret and Matthew brought her to the hospital where she was born for a check up. She is doing marvelously. She goes back every few months to have things checked, and every time she has been, as Margaret says, ‘a rockstar.’ I still shed tears of joy every day over this miracle baby. 

And then, it was time to go home. The hours fly by. I think the big difference I’m noticing between being a mother of a baby and a grandmother of a baby is that my mind is never divided. When my children were babies I also had to make supper, shop, clean, etc. etc. - all the things one must do in life. As a grandmother, it doesn’t matter so much if I get anything else done or not. When I'm with her, she is all I think about. Very Zen. I now understand how fast the time goes, and I don't want to miss a single minute.

You may have noticed the cane. Well, when I was 15 I was in a car accident and broke my femur. In those days, that meant a 3 month stay in the hospital, and then crutches and later a cane at home. Ever since then I have had periods of trouble with my knee, and now that I’m older it is more of a problem. I have no desire for an operation, and am doing fine with the cane. My life is pretty quiet, and I’m not an athlete, so it really isn’t a big deal. Hazel is fascinated by it and tries to put it in her mouth as she does everything these days. Campbell Walker is too young to notice it yet.

So, there you are. An afternoon with Hazel Nina. As Tom said at the end of the day, ‘it just doesn’t get better than this!’ 

32 comments:

  1. Such a memorable way to chronicle your time with Hazel Nina and a delight to have you share it here, Nan. How alert and curious she is.I love this age and when with our grands, especially at this stage, I, too, spent a great deal of time talking. I know I don't need to tell you to enjoy - but do.

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  2. What a wonderful post, it's almost like I spent the whole day with you and Tom and Hazel Nina! What a doll she is!
    You make me look forward (hopefully!) to the day that I am a grandmother!

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  3. Lovely day. When you talked about feeding Hazel on your lap instead of the chair, I thought 'that's because you have time for both of you to do that now" ... and you said exactly that (only much more beautifully) a couple of paragraphs later in the post!. I remember thinking those exact thoughts when we'd have our grandchildren for the day ... that sense of uninterrupted time is so precious.

    It's really neat that Grandpa is retired now and can enjoy the same thing too~ that was perfect timing.

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  4. Being a grand parent is much more relaxing than being a parent. Like you say it is much more laid back. You can take time to focus on the child. Your Grands are lucky to have Grandparents that take that time. It will be fun to watch your Grands grow up. Time does go fast.

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    1. It does, and only grandparents know this. We've seen it go before.

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  5. She's adorable, and it was nice to spend the day with you all.

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  6. So true about making them the focus when they are there, Nan! Everything else fades into the background. Grandkids are such a joy. Love seeing the pics of you and Tom too!

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  7. You can't imagine how wonderful it is to read this account this morning. I just took a peek at the news a few minutes ago and am still shuddering at what happens out there. Knowing that people like you and your family exist and that Hazel Nina is being showered with love and attention makes all the difference in this difficult world. The things you write about are the things that matter. Thank you.

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    1. I concentrate on her and the world goes away. She is the world. Thank you for your words.

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  8. I'm so glad to see Hazel Nina doing so well. She is indeed a miracle! Thanks for sharing.

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  9. She's adorable! And I love the happiness and appreciation of life in this post. Kids also remind you of how much wonder there is in the world by how they're so intensely interested in things you just walk by day after day.

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    1. It is true. She will watch a fly or love a woven bookmark. They know the secret of life.

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  10. Just the other day while driving home from a day with Teddy, I was thinking about how different it is being with a grandchild. Teddy is my whole focus, and there's always time for everything he wants to do - even if it's putting the same shape through the same shape hole over and over and over again! And the "conversations" we have all day long are priceless. You are so right, Nan--it is so Very Zen, and I am loving every minute of it!

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  11. I agree completely - grandparenting is absolutely lovely!

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  12. Thank you so much for sharing your day with Hazel Nina with all of us! I agree. Being a grandparent is one of life's greatest joys. I thoroughly enjoy my time with my granddaughter and spend those precious days focusing on the time together rather than worrying about all that needs to be done. We had the best "staycation" with her this summer and look forward to future visits. You are so blessed to live so close to those dear babies. I look forward to more of your posts about your afternoons with Hazel Nina!

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  13. A wonderful time in your lives--for you, the grandparents, and for Hazel Nina as well. My favorite times with our grandchildren [all now past their teens] was to read to them .Choosing new books from The Vermont Book Shop was a treat.
    When your grandchildren are a bit older do share with them 'Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm' by Alice and Martin Provensha--its a unique book--one they will fondly remember.

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    1. I just want to second this suggestion--our kids loved the Maple Hill Farm book.

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    2. I have that book!!!! Read to Margaret and Michael over and over again.

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  14. It is relaxing to read your account of your hours with the baby--ONE of the babies--and experience how rejuvenating and renewing such time is. With grandchildren you can totally focus on them and the other thoughts and plans of the day disappear. Thank you for sharing so eloquently!

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  15. Beautiful granddaughter with a fabulous smile. How fortunate you and her granddad can spend leisurely days with her.

    By the way, on the explanation of your cane use, I read your comments with interest. In 2000, at the age of 54, I tripped on
    the lobby's staircase in my building, and wham: a broken femur. Surgery for internal fixation (rod and screws) that will
    be in my leg forever, and two weeks in the hospital. Physical therapy at home and necessary help showering, etc. Had
    to walk with a quad cane for awhile. But then I graduated to a regular cane, which I use outside. Don't have to use it
    inside a building with flat floors. Outside in my city, the streets are uneven and have potholes. Sidewalks have
    cracks and inclines and declines. Hence, the need for a cane.
    I have been walking a few blocks without the cane, but very carefully.
    If I walk to far without it, my leg starts to hurt and I start limping.
    Best wishes with your leg and your granddaughter.

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    1. thanks for telling me all this. What a difference almost 40 years makes in treatment. I also bet it cost tons less in those days. Think of spending 3 months in a hospital now! My leg is stronger now, but I still use the cane. I love that thing!

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  16. It really doesn't get any better, does it? Being a grandmother is even more fun than I ever imagined. Hazel Nina looks like a little sweetheart.

    I spent yesterday with my daughter, my son-in-law and my grandchildren, Julianna (4 1/2) and Tyler (15 months) and boy did we have fun. We went out on the boat but a threatened thundershower cut our little jaunt short so we went and had ice cream. Ice cream fixes every disappointment. Then later Julianna and I played interminable games of Chutes and Ladders. Ha. Tyler did something he's never done before, he danced. Spontaneously and on his own. SO fun. And I loved watching him eat small snippets of spaghetti. SO adorable.

    I'm so grateful I got to live long enough to be a grandma.

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