Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The most touching part of our trip to NJ.

When we first got to Grannie Peacock's house I fed and changed Zehira in the car so she was awake and happy all ready to meet her family for the first time. I walked in the door and Granny Peacock said to me I didn't know you had one this small, she was looking at the baby. I know that our family told her several times about our baby and I know they even showed her pictures. Granny is up in age and doesn't always remember things. I do understand, I doubt I will remember much if I make it to her age. Anyway, things seemed to change once she was holding baby Zee. Granny seemed to have a better memory than the rest of us when she was holding the baby. I watched her look into baby Zee's eyes and I saw Zee very alert looking back at her. I was very surprised that Zee just looked back quietly and she didn't fuss at all. . Zee only likes to lay on people's chest or shoulder so laying in the arms of someone she has never met and in a position she doesn't care for without fussing surprised me. I didn't say a word I just watched. I sat down next to Granny and she said one or two more times that she didn't know we had one this tiny. She seemed so excited to be holding her little grand baby. Then I got to see in Granny something much deeper than that.

She said to me she knows, she knows. She can tell.... She can tell because she knows. I watched as her and Zee looked at each other both with looks full of wonder and love. Baby Zee was wide awake so happy to be in Granny's arms. I then watched Granny Peacock work baby Zehira up on to her chest. Granny brushed the side of baby Zee's face and said a few more times She knows, she knows. After a few seconds wide awake baby Zee fell deep into sleep laying on her Grandma's chest. Granny smiled knowing she still had that special talent. You know the talent, the special ability to know how to put a baby fast asleep in only a few seconds. Granny looked at me and said she is smart she knows about people. She can see.... She can see what is in here and Granny put her hand to her chest. She said little ones can always tell what is inside a person you know. She then said to baby Zehira. Yes, you know. You know you are with your Granny. You know that Granny knows how it should be. Sound asleep on my... then Granny put her head way down to baby Zee's ear and whispered very soft I guess she didn't want to offend anyone and she said "asleep at my breast". Yes, sound asleep with Granny that is how it should be she said. I could see my baby was very happy laying on her Grandma's chest/breast. I could see the true love of a Grandma in that moment I knew Granny knew what was going on and I knew she even pulled memories of long ago out and used them to put my baby to sleep. I didn't tell her that is the only way baby Zehira likes to lay Granny just knew. She knew from experience of holding her own babies long ago. I got a picture in my head of her her holding, rocking, loving and putting to sleep her own babies many years ago. I know she must have held, rocked, loved, and put her grandsons to sleep many times in the same way. I hope I get to do that with grandchildren and maybe even great grandchildren some day. I would like to do it with as much love as Granny Peacock has! I hope to learn how to put a baby to sleep that fast! I feel very blessed that I got to see that very loving moment between my baby and her Great Grandma. I do wonder if I missed special moments like that with her with my older 2 children in the past? It would have been so easy for me to miss that special moment that was going on with Granny and the baby. I wonder if in past visits I was all wrapped up in taking pictures and chasing my children (making sure they didn't touch things) that I missed being able to "see" Granny be herself with my other children and get a look back into her past as a mom with little ones? I will pay closer attention when we visit next time!

I now get to share this special time with you all. My hubby captured it in pictures (my hubby is wonderful).

Picture above is Zee and Granny first looking at each other.



Granny working Zee up into a sleeping position. My baby isn't light and Granny's arms are not strong but she didn't seem to have much problem it seemed like she knew what to do and convinced herself she was strong enough to do it. She didn't have any problems lifting her up to get her in a good position. I guess it is just like all us moms do when we are hurt, tired, or sick. We just know what needs to be done and we do it out of love for our babies.

Zee taking a last look at her Granny and Granny looking back. See Zehira's eyes are still open.


This is Zehira fast asleep on her Granny. She was so sound asleep she slept the rest of our visit without a sound. All of the pictures of her the rest of the time she is sound asleep in them. We passed her around like a toy from person to person snapping pictures with bright flashes for a couple hours and she didn't ever notice. "Good baby" is what everyone called her. I think I need to thank Granny Peacock for that. I think if she was awake being passed around like that she would have been screaming for most of our visit and not called a good baby.

NJ trip.

Rob's parents asked us on the phone what we wanted to eat for dinner. Demi yelled out COOKIES! Mum Mum had a cookie for Demi when we got to the house. This is a picture of Demi eating a special dinner that only grandparents can give.

Travis and Zee with Grannie Peacock.
The picture above makes me cry. Look at them both gazing so happily at each other. I can feel the love between them in this picture. Neither of them care about anyone else around or the pictures being snapped they are just sharing a wonderful moment with each other, a moment that doesn't even need spoken words looks and touch says it all.
I think this is a nice picture of Mum Mum with her little girls. Isn't this a cute picture? I should let you all know that Mum Mum and Poppy spoiled my children rotten! They each got a HUGE bag full of candy and toys for Halloween! I never even considered Halloween a gift holiday. My children have enough candy and toys to last them for months now. I wonder if my children will ask us for a gift on Halloween because Mum Mum and Poppy gives wonderful gifts for the holiday we should also?
Travis hitting some balls. We have never let Travis hit a golf ball across a road before so this was a lot of fun for him!

In the picture above I can see some of Poppy in baby Zee. Can you see it?
Poppy with his girls. I love how Demi snuggled right up to him!
I am very sad that this is the only picture I got of Uncle Gravy (Uncle Gary). T. started calling him Uncle Gravy when he was little so in my house we often call him gravy (I am not sure Gary knows we do this). He is my children's hero. He was playing with my children most of the time we visited. Both my children will tell you he is so much fun to be with! I think my children think he is a child just like them! My children are very lucky to have him for an uncle. He is really my husbands uncle so he is my children's great uncle I guess great uncle is the perfect way to describe him! He is not wonderful in my eyes because he is fun with my children. He is also a wonderful man because he is home taking care of his mom (Granny Peacock). I once took care of someone who needed to be cared for and I know that job is not easy even when you love that person with all your heart. I have never met a man who was able to care for a mother in the way Gary has. I feel most of the time this is a job a daughter or daughter in law takes on or the elderly person ends up in a nursing home. I want to let everyone know how much I think of him for taking on something like that. I love Uncle Gary! I guess he is my hero also!
The ride home D. talking about Poppy, Mum Mum, Uncle Gary, and Granny Peacock.
I snapped a picture of my blue eyed baby sitting up in the front seat with me when Rob and T. ran in to get gas, snacks, and drinks for the ride home.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Trip to NJ part 2.

All was going well until all the cars stopped moving. An accident happened less than 1/2 mile in front of us. We found ourselves stuck on the turnpike for 2 hours! The children behaved so well! I am such a proud mommy! 2 hours stuck in the car and the only problem was D. sat in a spot T. wanted to sit. I think that is as close to perfect children as it gets!

Trip to NJ

We had plans for Rob's Dad and Step Mom to come visit us on Sunday. They live in Florida so we don't get to see them very often. Saturday Rob got the idea that we could drive to NJ on Sunday and then we could see his parents, grandma, and uncle. We thought that would work out better for everyone. I doubt Mum Mum and Poppy like the long drive to our house (we live way away from everything). His Dad was already in NJ at Grandma Peacock's house. We got packed up and ready with no problems. It seemed to even go quicker this time with 3 children than it was last time with 2. Demi didn't travel well when she was younger so maybe it is easier now that she is older and likes to ride in the car. The trip was going well. Here is my children's favorite part of the drive....


Driving in the tunnel!!!