So now that I have a little over a year of grandparenthood under my belt,  I’m amazed at what I’ve learned about myself  and life now that the next generation has begun!  Here are some of my latest enlightenments:

01.  Grandparents DO have favorites.   It’s a rule that you must love all your kids equally (you know you all do!), but… when you have grandchildren, you can choose favorites!   “Love Bird” is my favorite.  I am completely overwhelmed with joy and I’m sure I could never love another grandchild as much.  Didn’t I say that about my first baby too?

02.  My house is no longer babyproofed!  Somewhere along the way, I started keeping poisons under the sink and not locking the door to the basement.  My outlets are exposed. Even my oval coffee table has developed sharp edges.  It’s okay.  I can never take my eyes/hands/lips off this child anyway!

03.  There used to be rules in my house, but I forgot where I put the chart.  I think it was stuff about only eating food  in the kitchen, and at the table and on a plate and with a fork and spoon, chewing with your mouth closed…I think…. Oh and we eat at regular meal times.  “It’s alright if you are not hungry for lunch, the next meal is dinner – you can eat then”, was an old favorite saying in my house.

04.  Great-grandmothers don’t seem as excited about their new status as they did when they became grandparents.  I feel like they are laughing at me on the inside and know “something”  I don’t.   Wise as they are, they are enjoying watching me “gush”.  I bet it just because they have more experience at the most difficult grandparenting responsibility of all – restraint.

05.  So now I have to sleep with a Grandpa!  Truly – this is SO much NOT what I had imagined 20 years ago.  Sharing a grandchild is another of life’s blessings that we have been fortunate enough to experience together.  Life seems more complete, it has deepened our relationship.  Our capacity for gratitude grows every day.

What has the little one in your life taught you lately?

Here she is with her very best pal and grandmother, ”Nannie”, sporting her newest hat.  So cute!!  We are all so happy to have ”Gracie’s” mom, Kate Hong, back with the Graco family team.  Thanks Kate for this moment.  We can really see these two lovely ladies share a special bond    

Share some of your great photos of cuteness and awe on the Graco Flickr page.  Your little one may be selected for posting on our Wednesday feature Bundles, Bumps and Babies!  Come back often and stay tuned for contests and prizes as well.

Maybe you’d like to share that great shot of the ever-growing baby bump you are sporting, your newborn baby’s very first picture or anything that captures the wonder, humor, marvel of childhood and parenthood — here’s how!

Who could offer a more natural extension of family ties than grandmom or grandpa?  Many grandparents are gushy about their impending arrival and can’t wait to be all over that baby!  I was so excited the first time I saw and held LoveBird that I understood for the first time what my grandmother meant when she used to say “I could eat you up!”

For some grandparents, however, establishing the bond with grandbaby can be elusive.  Distance, time and having been out of the parenting mode for sometime are a couple of the reasons that some grandparents might feel a bit queasy about how to go about bonding with the new addition.  Additionally, family relationships and lifestyle may also hinder the process.

Here are some ways for parents and grandparents alike to make the bonding process easier, happier and more likely to foster a lasting relationship between grandparent and child:

Being in the delivery room.

Not for everyone, but for families who are comfortable with this, it can be an amazing experience to witness the miracle of birth.  Just make sure that everyone is aligned as to who is and is not included for the event.

Brush up on neonatal and infant development.

A lot has been learned about human development in the early months over the last generation.  Understanding a baby’s “sense”- abilities at different stages of growth can clue you in to what to do to make a lasting impression:

Sight – newborns CAN see – their best sight distance is 8” – 14″, so get in close to grab her attention.

Touch – touch is the most important sense after birth.  It is first developed in the womb. Stroking or light rubbing stimulates baby to smile more, cry less and make more eye contact.

Smell – babies have been shown to have the ability to distinguish their own mother’s scent.  It stands to reason then, that if he is close to anyone else often enough, he will “remember” their scent too.  Another great reason to hold baby!

Sound – Talk, Read, Sing or play music – if you forgot the words to all those great lullabies and kids songs your own grandparents sang to you and yours visit this link on grandparents.com.

Get involved.

As they grow, (which you already know happens very fast!) there is something unique about each of us that can become the special gift that is shared with a grandchild.  Think about your skills and how they might apply to the relationship.  A grandfather I know shares his love of model trains with the grandkids and they just love it!

Connect no matter where you are.

What if you can’t be there very often?  While there is no substitute for holding that baby in your arms, communication over time and distance is easier now more than ever (and often free if you have a computer and internet service.  When parents keep a baby web page or blog, loved ones can check in and send their own greetings, videos or even have web chats.

Get familiar with communication sites like Skype, and web photo and video sharing on sites like flickr, Picasa or Facebook. I recently stumbled across Wee Web which is private and secure, enables photo sharing, video sharing and more.

Don’t be shy about bonding with your family’s new addition! How do you bond with your grandbaby?

You know you’re a grandmother when …..

- You find yourself anguishing not about your big meeting next week, but instead by what your grandmother name is going to be…….hmmm

- You find yourself in the birthing room again, but it’s not you doing the work this time!  (I’m not sure which side of the bed is easier).

- The office you couldn’t wait to make for yourself out of your daughter’s vacated bedroom is now a make-shift nursery.

- You cannot walk through a department store without checking out the baby department for deals on stuff you would never have bought your own kids.

- You wave to your friends getting pedicures as you pass by the spa on your way to Toys “R” Us.

- The time alone on weekends with DH that you had so long awaited is now spent making the rounds to “see the kids.”  Afterall, you have all those great finds to deliver!

- You take vacation days from work to babysit.

- You buy your children movie tickets, so you’ll have a chance to babysit.

- You learn from your daughter-in-law on how to properly burp a newborn.

- You say “yes” to having the kitten live at your house, since SIL is allergic.

- You suddenly see bedtimes as arbitrary and discretional.

- You remember minute details of your own child’s early life you thought you’d long forgotten.

- Your granddaughter says “Nana” for the first time 

- Your granddaughter says “I want Grandma to sit next to me!” 

- When you first see your child holding her child and you are overwhelmed by the indescribable realization of the infinite nature of time, love and the circle of life.

How GREAT to be a Grandmother!! What are your favorite things about being a grandparent?

It seems like only yesterday that our little LoveBird was still a bump, but now she is way more than a bundle and much more than a baby!  Our little lady turned 1 year old on September 11!  She celebrated with her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends at the restaurant where her mommy and daddy first met . 

Here she is telling everyone about her milestone.  How did you celebrate Baby’s First?

Visit other great photos of cuteness and awe (and share!) on the Graco Flickr page.

Maybe you’d like to share that great shot of the ever-growing baby bump you are sporting, your newborn baby’s very first picture or anything that captures the wonder, humor, marvel of childhood and parenthood — here’s how!

What will your family do to commemorate? Here are a just a few ideas…

Sunday September 12, 2010 marks the 36th anniversary of the founding of Grandparent’s Day  in West Virginia by Marian McQuade, as well as the anniversary of  the first official federal observance  – September 9, 1979 — 31 years after being signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1978.  It is also, funny enough, the 1 year anniversary of my becoming a grandparent!

Being a grandparent means so many things in American culture today.  There are as many lifestyles and experiences as there are children! Grandparent’s Day is not just a holiday to pay homage to our parent’s parents and preserve heritage, but also to call  attention to the expanding roles and challenges facing grandparents every day. 

More than 1.5 million grandparents in the labor force are also responsible for most of the basic needs of their grandchildren. Often, grandparent-led homes are single grandparent families devoid of financial support from the child’s parents. The challenge is compounded when you consider that grandparents typically do not have legal rights over the children they care for and may also be impeded by their own health issues.

Grandparenthood means many different things to different families, but even if time or distance prohibits celebrating with the grandparents/grandchildren in your life, there is something everyone can do to honor,  recognize  and support grandparents all around us.  Here are a few ideas:

For parents…

• Conduct interviews with your children about what grandparents mean to them, and then make sure you share them!

• Take your children to visit grandparents in nursing homes.

• Conduct interviews with your eldest relatives to preserve for young children.

For grandparents…

•  Look into becoming a foster grandparent.

• Start or join a support group or online grandparenting community.

• Contact your local Agency on Aging or the local Grandparent Resource Center  to obtain information on financial assistance, child care, and legal options. 

For everyone…

 • Offer respite care, or make time to visit and help out a grandparent caregiver or single parent.

• Watch home movies to reconnect with grandparents passed along and re-tell their stories.

• Make an effort to make sure photographs are preserved.

• Resolve to keep in touch with long distance grandparents – sign up for a free trial and send some sunnygrams.

What will your family do to commemorate?

Happy Anniversary to Grandparent’s Day!

The Zaelit’s are extremely grateful for their prize and it was a pleasure celebrating the arrival of baby Kaitlyn (now 9 months), their first grandchild.  Grandpa Zaelit entered the family in the sweepstakes after his first grand-daughter was born, and was shocked and so grateful he won. “Thanks so much for all that we are getting.  It is a great opportunity for all involved and we could not have had this get-together without you.”

I had a chance to talk with Grandpa Zaelit and he offered up some great comments about being a grandparent.  Check it out:

1. Tell us a quick story of how you found out about the sweepstakes and why you entered.

We love Disney and I do a lot of online stuff (blogs, forums, web sites, pod casts…).  We have visited the theme parks many times.  I enter a lot of online contests for Disney items and my wife and kid tease me about this.  My daughter was doing research on baby products on-line and came across your contest on your web site.  She told me about it and I add it to my daily entries.

2. What do your grandchildren call you?

“Grandpa & Grandma”

3. What is the best part about being a dad/grandfather?

Our small family has always been very close.  It is great being involved in their lives and spending time with them.  We love spending time with Kaitie and watching her grow.

4. What has surprised you most about being a grandfather?

How fast she changes.

5. What is the biggest difference between playing “dad” vs. playing “grandfather”?

I can enjoy her more and not worry as much about needs and care.

6. What has been your most special moment as a parent (or grandparent)?

Watching her birth.

7. What prize are you most excited about?

There are several answers to this question.  Her dad’s  family is flying in for the party, which is always a treat.  Also one set of grandparents have not met Kaitie yet and they will be at the party.  They are also excited about sharing some of the Graco products with family members.  We are always excited to have any kind of family get together.  The savings bond will also be a great help to Kaitie in her future.

8. How many people do you have flying in to celebrate?  What’s the farthest distance someone is coming from?

We are flying in 10 people from Boise ID, Sacramento CA, and Dallas TX.

Congratulations to the Zaelits! The Graco family is thrilled to share this experience with you and we hope you enjoy celebrating the newest addition to your family.

All during the time Bunny was expecting our Lovebird, I couldn’t wait to “gear” up so that Bunny and SIL would find our home baby-friendly and bring her often for visits once she arrived.  I bought them the Prenatal Heart Listener so they could listen to her heartbeat at home.  I got them a Sweetpeace Soothing Center, a Travel System and a Pack N Play.  

For Nonna and Paddy’s house (that’s us ), I picked up a Cozy Dinette High Chair and a Travelite Crib.  I also picked up an extra Snugride and Car Seat Base for our car.   Having this gear in our home has come in so handy when Lovebird visits.  Best of all, when she is not there, we just fold the high chair and crib right up and store them easily in a closet. 

Then the other day, on Grandparents.com,  I read about an up-and-coming trend – Yes, BABY SHOWERS FOR GRANDMA.  What a great idea!! 

Think about it…. Grandparents often lavishly help in outfitting the expectant parents, but do they think of what they may need in their own homes to make it easier (and more appealing) for the parents to bring those little guys over?   Some grandparents are far away and when the baby comes to visit they will stay awhile and need basically EVERYTHING!

The needs are a little different for different grandparents and also different from what the parents need.  If you are like me, you will want your gear to be lightweight and readily storable. 

I think throwing a shower could be GREAT FUN for friends or even coworkers to do for one another to celebrate this exciting time.  Just think of all the fun you could have with it!  Party 411 has theme ideas and party games to play.

Here’s one I thought was funny:

“What is this for” – things have changed so much since the last generation had their babies, that some of today’s baby items didn’t even exist or could be virtually unrecognizable.  Like prenatal heart listeners, battery operated nasal aspirators or even breast pumps.

Awesome idea?  Really Stupid?  Upstages the parents? What do you think?

If you know anyone who has thrown a shower for grandparents or been the guest of honor, we would love to hear about it!

We were full of joy leaving the hospital with our first born. No fear loomed over the first car trip home. Baby was buckled in her SnugRide®, and it was barely a 5 minute drive. We GOT this we told each other. We had planned a lazy afternoon visit with friends. A husband of one my girlfriend loves babies. He’s a seasoned pro (having three grown children of his own). Baby snoozed for hours in T’s arms for hours. Our sweet baby was precious. Or so I thought.

After visiting, we said our goodbyes and DH were left alone with our baby girl. Baby happily sat in her bouncer while we ate dinner and we gloated in how smooth our new baby routine was going. What a big first day. We did great! DH and I were ready for some sleep. Baby had other plans.

 All that happy time with Baby during the day was a facade! There was fussing. Whimpering. We tried diapering, feeding, soothing and swaying. Nothing worked. Eventually came the crying and the screaming. What was wrong? Where was the manual? Oh yeah…she didn’t come with one!

We passed her back and forth. Baby would be calm for a short time, but as soon as we tried to put her in the bassinet, the wails would start again. I think it was around 8:00 AM when the phone rang. Bleary eyed, I answered. It was my dad calling to see how we were doing. My first response was “How soon can you get here?”, followed by a quick recap of the last 8 hours.

After my parents arrived, their only instruction was do NOT let the baby sleep until we get some sleep. Of course that’s not what happened. We all know grandparents.

Two minutes after Baby was snuggled warmly into her Poppy’s arms, she was out like a light. But honestly, that was ok ,because about the same time, DH and I were fast asleep too. Live and learn. Babies will do the opposite of what you expect. Always. Remember that, and you will be prepared for anything.

What was your fist night home with your newborn like?

Was it calm like a dream or complete chaos? Did you get any sleep?

For more experiences on welcoming your baby home for the first time, check out this My First Baby webisode!

Donned in her Santa/Reindeer/Snowman outfit, she watched with wide eyes while Mom and Dad opened gift after gift that Santa left this little girl who doesn’t even understand the concept of the holiday yet. She still had yet to meet many aunts, uncles and cousins, so she spent the majority of the visits she made being gushed over and passed from person to person. The cameras flashed and the lights twinkled, as food and drink was noisily devoured during general merriment.

At only 3 months old, Christmas came at the heels of her first day of school as her mommy returned to work teaching math to 7th graders. She could not know how excited I was when I heard she had made a finger painting(!) of holly berries. I haven’t even seen it yet, but I was so happy! What a special treasure.

My favorite moment was when I was sitting in my oversize chair holding my lovely granddaughter while, all three of my daughters, knelt around us, beaming with joy, chatting excitedly. No one got a picture of that, but it is one of those things that will be etched in my mind forever.

Love Bird was the best gift of all for our family. She is a beautiful reminder of the purity of the blessing of life, love and family. I hope you all enjoyed your holidays, however they were celebrated, and that the New Year brings you the joy of love and peace.