Skype...My New Best Friend!

One of our first thoughts after we found out we were going to be grandparents was, "but Colorado is so far away!"  We always dreamed of having grandchildren close by...so we could babysit, go to school plays, soccer games, dance recitals, etc.  We always secretly envied those couples at church whose kids and grandkids sat in the pew with them on Sunday, and then headed off to Sunday brunch afterwards.  Even now, we hope that dream has just been postponed!   But for the time being, we have been forced to join the technology age.  Our first shock was that James arrived about 10 days earlier than his due date, and our flight was booked for 2 weeks after his due date, so we didn't get to meet James until he was almost 1 month old.  The waiting was agony!  Neil Jr. and Bianca were great sports and agreed early on to Skype every day 'til we could visit. That was when the technical difficulties began!  We confiscated John's old computer that had a camera for Skype.  According to Neil, that camera wasn't "good enough", so we went to Costco and bought a better camera.  Unfortunately, Neil Jr. joked that James was going to grow up thinking Mimi and Bop were just big question marks because that was all they could see on their screen!  According to Neil,  the upload and download speed wasn't "good enough", so we called Time Warner and upgraded the bundle package.  For a mere $10 more a month we got the "Extreme Broadband" package...30 mg download and 5 mg upload!  I am happy to report that most of the time James sees Mimi and Bop on the screen and not just big question marks!  In the last week or so, he really does seem to be seeing us and it is a wonderful feeling.  He is grabbing toys and babbling and it really does feel like we are sitting in his living room.  We always look forward to our Skype visits with James a couple of times a week, and love taking Skype pictures.  Although we can't reach out and touch him...it really is the next best thing!

The Perfect Remedy

January has always seemed so bleak to me.  Christmas is over. The decorations are put away 'til next year.  The house feels very empty.  This year was even more difficult because James and his Mom and Dad flew back to Colorado after a magical Christmas week at our house.  I came home from work one day several days later and Neil had even put away all the baby stuff...he said it was too depressing.  Normally January melancholy leads to a new home project.  Last year it was repainting the living room and foyer and reupholstering the chairs and sofa.  This year it isn't as easy to fix.  So...I've come to the conclusion that only a trip to Colorado will remedy what ails me!   I've spent the last few days trying to "schedule" a trip.  James and his parents are coming back to Raleigh in August for his Aunt Breck's wedding, so I thought a trip this spring would be perfect.  Neil checked the flight prices and I asked at work about a couple days off.. we are almost ready to book!  We are hoping to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with James in Colorado.  Now I can start counting down the days again...52!  I feel better already!!!

How much is too much shopping for James?

As a first time grandmother I am having trouble setting limits, and not just on shopping.  I am overwhelmed by the latest and greatest gadgets, outfits and toys for babies out there. And I want to buy them all!  I remember before James was even born, Neil and I would marvel over all of the changes in baby stuff.  For starters, we didn't know there were warmers for baby wipes, rubber duckies that change color when the bath water is too hot, baby carriers that with one quick press of a button pop in and out of the car seat or stroller.  Did you know that diapers now have a line that turns from yellow to blue when they are wet?  It's been almost 19 years since we had our last baby, but in many ways, it feels like a century!  Our grandson James lives across the country, so when he came to our house for the first time we wanted to have everything.  We bought a portable crib, a car seat base, a fold up stroller...you get the picture.  Then along came Christmas.  We only bought one toy, but I couldn't resist the Christmas outfit, the Christmas pajamas, and then my favorite...the Christmas bib that says "Who needs Santa when I have Grandma"!  This week I started on the Valentine's Day stuff.  There are definitely times when Neil has to reign me in...but it's hard.  He's even been known to say on occasion, "James will get his a-- kicked in daycare if he wears that!"  I know that material things aren't what's important.  We truly do treasure the visits and would be lost without skype...but shopping for James is just so much fun!!!