A grand ONE! Plus GRAND Social No. 159 link party for grandparents

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A grand ONE!

Seems not that long ago that I announced my third grandson had arrived. Yet it was long ago—a full year tomorrow, to be exact.

Tomorrow, Baby Jak will be one year old! Not so much a baby anymore.

first birthday 

Happy first birthday to silly—and strong-headed—Jak! Gramma...

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Walk this way: Jak's getting there

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Baby Jak will be one year old June 16. (Crazy, right!?) As PawDad was instrumental in getting Bubby walking steady—this, mere days before his first birthday—Jim was determined to have Jak walking steady before he left the desert, before Jak's upcoming birthday.

learning to walk

Jak's biggest obstacle to walking is paying too close attention to what he's doing, which...

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Gobsmacked, plus GRAND Social No. 139 link party for grandparents

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Gobsmacked

On Saturday, I was smacked in the face unexpectedly with the realization that in exactly six months, my baby, my youngest daughter, my little Andie who makes me laugh so hard will be thirty years old.

mom and adult daughter

Well, not exactly six months, as Andrea will celebrate the milestone birthday...

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Christmas and how the empty nest gets harder after college

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Christmas and how the empty nest gets harder after college

I used to be one of those moms whose child — or children, plural — recently left for college. You know... the moms walking around with a dazed, how-the-heck-did-this-happen-so-fast look in their eyes, virtually visible cracks in their hearts as they miss the once little ones who have flown their nest. They're the moms who live for holiday breaks, spring breaks, summer breaks, for that's when their loved ones return home, back to the safety of the nest where mom can hold each one in her arms and savor the sweet scents and sounds of her babies all around.

family christmas stockings

I was one of those moms. That first year my daughters were scattered afar for schooling and such was rough. It got easier, though, as it does for all moms (and dads) whose kiddos have gone off for enrichment and enlightenment on the road to becoming full-fledged adults. I found new...

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