August 03, 2020

Boy grandma!

August 03, 2020/ Lisa Carpenter

Boy grandma!

So, with everything that’s been going on lately (including my sister unexpectedly passing away), I just realized yesterday that I had not shared here the gender of Brianna’s baby.

Well …

Plus GRAND Social No. 401 link party for grandparents…

October 15, 2018

Peak preggers pic

October 15, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Peak preggers pic!

James had his last regular season football game on Saturday and when Brianna came over before we all headed to the game—one determining whether James and his teammates make the league playoffs—I asked Brianna to pose for a final pre-baby pic.

With induction scheduled for Thursday, this is surely the peak of pregnancy for my girl, the final photo before baby arrives.

October 10, 2018

And the little one said: ‘Lemme out!’

October 10, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Conditions are getting quite cramped for my youngest grandson. During yesterday’s ultrasound—photos for which are far more distinct than last week’s ultrasound—there was one hand nearing the little guy’s face… and (not visible in this printout) a foot pressed up against his forehead, according to the technician. Quite a feet, er, feat!

The limited space must be why Mama Brianna experienced such mighty movement from the nearly newborn contortionist on Monday…

August 06, 2018

(Baby) things are getting real

August 06, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

(Baby) things are getting real!

My daughter Brianna is well into her third trimester, and things are finally getting real in terms of it seeming like a baby really, truly will arrive soon. She and Patrick completed their birthing classes last week, and they worked diligently on the nursery over the weekend in preparation for their baby boy's October arrival.

On my end, there was this yesterday, which I posted on social media... and which I can't write much on now because it makes me tear up all over again.

June 18, 2018

My next grandbaby is a ...

June 18, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

My next grandbaby is...!

Last Friday Brianna, Patrick, and James learned the gender of the baby scheduled to join the family in October. And the baby is...

June 15, 2018

Flashback Friday: Back in my day

June 15, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Dear readers: Today is the day my firstborn learns the gender of her firstborn, scheduled for arrival in October. With all things pregnancy on my brain today, I thought this post—originally published June 13, 2011—a fitting Flashback Friday feature. Thank you for reading!

I had my youngest baby, Andrea, nearly 26 years ago (Flashback update: nearly 33 years ago!). Listening to Megan talk about pregnancy, labor, and newborn care, it's clear there have been some important—and some not-so-important—changes in the whole process since back in my day.

April 19, 2018

Throwback Thursday: Thoughts on My Daughter's Miscarriage

April 19, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

This #TBT piece—originally published October 18, 2015 on Purple Clover—underscores the appreciable blessing of my daughter's recent pregnancy announcement. Thank you for reading.

My daughter lost her baby last week. A miscarriage in the first trimester.

Coming from an abundantly fertile family, it's hard to wrap my head around that. My mom had seven children. Three of my sisters had several children, and a number of those kids had kids. I had three children myself, and my middle child had three children, too.

All of us had no problem. Yet it's a problem for my oldest child, Brianna.

January 17, 2014

Boy or girl and the 4-1-1 on 2-1-1

January 17, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

The most important thing I've learned this week is... Well, I won't learn that most important thing until this afternoon.

What sort of edification am I awaiting?

Why, the answer to this:

Megan and ...

January 13, 2014

Baby bump surprise and Grand Social No. 87 link party for grandparents

January 13, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

As many of you know, my third grandchild is due in June. Mommy-to-be (for the third time) Megan, in her fourth month of pregnancy, texted a photo to me Saturday of the baby bump.

This is the photo:

baby bump

Ummm... She was sporting...

December 18, 2013

Grandma's secret revealed

December 18, 2013/ Lisa Carpenter

I told you not long ago about a group I belong to, a group that has a secret. Today I'll come clean, for I've finally been given permission to do so.

boy telling secret

That group I belong to — that one in which all members agreed we'd keep the secret a secret but I'm the only one who didn't tell a single soul — is my immediate family. We were all sworn to secrecy...