As we eagerly anticipated the arrival of our first grandchild, little did we know that Marley would bring immeasurable joy and redefine our lives in the most beautiful ways. Now, as we celebrate her first birthday, we reflect on the incredible journey of her arrival, being called Nana and Papa, and the countless blessings that come with being grandparents.
The first year of a child’s life they are learning and developing in so many ways. They are adapting to a new sleep scheduled with their parents’ prayers that their child will soon sleep through the night. They are introduced to new foods and choosing which ones to spit out and which ones they think are pretty tasty. They are moving through milestones such as smiling, sitting up on their own, and discovering their toes. It hadn’t occurred to me when we awaited her arrival, that we too as grandparents would also be learning many new things. Here are just couple of things that Steve and I, aka Papa and Nana, have learned from Marley.
~ Thank you, Granddaughter
Wake Up Slowly
One of my favorite things about having Marley coming to visit her Nana and Papa, is going into her room when she is just waking up. Marley wakes up slowly. First, we begin to hear he sweet little voice over the baby monitor, never crying just chatting quietly to herself and possibly to Winnie the Pooh who hangs from her mobile dancing above her head. Marley is typically ready for a bottle when she first wakes up so as soon as we hear her begin to stir, I head to the kitchen to warm her bottle.
And then for the best part…as we slowly open the bedroom door and whisper, “good morning, granddaughter,” she looks up with a puzzled face at first and then her sweet little smile appears lighting up the entire room. As he begins kicking her feet with excitement, we pick her up and snuggle her taking in the warmth of her little body and inhaling her intoxicating baby smell.
Waking up slowly and peacefully is something that Steve and I also enjoy. Time to stretch, think for a minute or two and enjoy the warmth of our sheets before climbing out of bed to start our day.
Never Give Up
When Marley was learning how to push herself up from lying down into a seated position she struggled. Sometimes she would even let out baby size moans and groans of frustration as she rolled back and forth trying to get her arms and hips in the just the right place. Each time, building the muscles she needed to one day sit up all on her own. Even though she sometimes became frustrated, she kept trying and trying until finally mastering one of many milestones she would experience as a growing child.
Too often, when things are challenging, we are tempted to give up. Just throw in the towel and stop trying. Imagine if a baby gave up trying to take her first steps. Feeling tired of falling down time after time, she might never walk. Marley’s grit and determination to keep trying over and over again, even when she falls, and never knowing when she is going to master a new skill reminds me that we often give up too soon and that sometimes taking “baby steps” is just what we need to do to obtain the skills we need to do new things.
Be Courageous
Marley loves people. Her magnetic smile, sporting her first bottom two teeth, draws people in. Even though you can’t understand exactly what she is saying, it is obviously very important as she swings her arms in the air, much like an Italian grandmother, while telling you exactly what’s on her mind. She is courageous and a excited to make friends where ever she goes.
Many times, we tend to stay to ourselves and avoid talking to other people particularly strangers. We keep our eyes down so as not to make eye contact. But not Marley. She waves at every person, car, boat or airplane that passes by. She blows kisses to people in the grocery line and at the gym she practically runs in her walker to the other kids playing on the other side of the room. She has taught us how much joy we can have by making connections with new people, although I don’t see Steve or I blowing kisses to strangers in the grocery line any time in the near future!
Routine Is an Incredible Thing
While Steve and I enjoy spontaneity from time to time, most of the time we feel and perform our best when we stick to a routine that works for us.
Having a baby in the family has motivated us to embrace eating dinner a little earlier and making sure we are winding down before nap time when Marley is with us. We have an entire routine when Marley goes down for her nap including playing peak a boo with her special blanket while we change her diaper, wrapping her in her sleep sack, kissing her cheek as we lay her down, and then she looks up at her mobile and says, “mu” for music. She’s now ready for the mobile to be turned on before she drifts off to sleep.
Marley’s nap routine helps prepare her for a blissful slumber but we didn’t plan or create the routine intentionally. It developed over time and as she responded to the little things like how excited she gets when we turn on her mobile right before leaving the room.
There is comfort in knowing what’s coming. Having a routine helps us to look forward to certain things and allows us to perform our daily activities more easily.
Staying Active is Essential
Have you ever noticed that babies are moving from the time they wake up until the time they go to sleep? Marley is just starting to walk and in preparation for that she is constantly on the go. She squats down to pick up the tiniest crumb on the floor, she flails her arms, she kicks her feet when laying down, she is in a constant state of movement.
Staying physically active enables us to actively engage with Marley. Whether it’s playing games, going for walks with her, getting down on the floor to play with her, or teaching her new skills, being healthy and fit allows us to keep up with her boundless energy and create lasting memories.
Steve and I love that we are able to be active with Marley and plan to continue that for years to come whether it be teaching her to water ski, swimming in the lake, riding bikes together, or go hiking in the redwood forest. It’s important to us that we enjoy plenty of activities with Marley and any future grandchildren we might have.
We are Each Other’s Role Models
It comes as no surprise that Marley is watching everything we do. We are constantly seeing her mimic our actions from putting on Nana’s glasses, to clapping her hands and rolling her little arms when we sing Patty Cake.
But Marley is also our role model or at least our inspiration to make sure that our actions are role model material, that we are patient and kind, and that we set a good example for her and for others.
Embrace the Joys of Being Nana and Papa
From the moment Marley came into our lives, our hearts were forever changed. The love we feel for her is indescribable, and we are blessed to experience the unique bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Watching her grow, witnessing her first steps, and hearing her infectious laughter have become cherished moments that fill our hearts with warmth and happiness. Being called Nana and Papa is a title we wear with immense pride and joy.
Happy 1st Birthday Marley! We Love YOU sweet girl!!
