Week 3 - The Great Adventure

A bassinet, Fisher Price Rainforest Gym, and play baby cradle in which a Shirley Temple doll has been lovingly put to bed grace the formal living room.  A double stroller, a really monstrous piece of equipment, probably 6 feet long, sits alongside the formal dining room table, just next to the packed diaper bag and the car seat/carrier.  The front hall sports two rocking chairs, a big one and a tiny one, a Pack n Play, toy grocery cart, wooden blocks and assorted toys, too numerous to mention.  Clean baby bottles are lined up on the kitchen counter right next to the can of formula.  As I meander through the house, the scene repeats itself in almost every room, evidence of little people everywhere.

Only when I put on my big girl eyes do I even notice any of it.

The babytization of my house has been taking place for almost two years, when Baby Granddaughter first came to spend her weekdays with me while her mom and dad worked.  11 weeks ago, Baby Grandson was born to Orion and The One.  2 weeks ago, he and Baby Granddaughter arrived on my doorstep.  The Great Adventure had begun.

I think it fair to say that fear and confusion ruled the day, heck, ruled the week.  The simple logistics of getting two children into a vehicle for a trip to pre-school were mind boggling.  My train of thought for a two minute period of time went something like this.  Make sure two year old has tried to use the potty.  Put the sleepy, crying infant, who is looking at me as if I were an alien, into the car seat, arms flailing in every direction.  Remember to put blanket over infant. Help two year old put on jacket.  Make sure snacks, blanket, and stuffed animal are ready to take to school. Pick up keys and diaper bag.  Forget setting burglar alarm.  Who has time?  Pick up car seat and head towards door with infant and two year old, hoping two year old will not bolt toward the street on her way to the car.  Be calm.  It will be OK, I keep reassuring myself as I try to decide which child to put into his/her car seat first.  Whew!

After collapsing into the driver's seat, I seriously begin to my question my fitness for the job, not to mention, my sanity.  This scene was played out over and over again during our first week together, as we we struggled to adjust, me to them, and them to me.  Tears were shed by all of us. Nap times were sketchy, and irregular, and when neither slept, a long ride in the gorgeous fall countryside put them to sleep and quieted frayed grandmother nerves.  New routines had to be learned by Baby Granddaughter and me, as we assimilated Baby Grandson into our previously private rituals. 

Week Two, thankfully, was a little easier and a lot happier for us all.  To ease our cabin fever on a blustery rainy day, and to prove to myself that we were making progress, we ventured out to Wendy's for a little lunch.  It was a stress-free, fun outing, even when Baby Granddaughter announced  that she had to potty, in the middle of the restaurant, and even when Baby Grandson decided to serenade the patrons with the "I've had enough of this car seat, Mamaw" cry.   I have learned, in the past two weeks, that "I have to potty" means "I HAVE TO POTTY NOW!"  I have also learned that infants make their needs known anywhere and any time.  

Friday afternoon, as Baby Grandson lay sleeping in my arm, Baby Granddaughter snuggled up to my other side.  There we sat, happily, contentedly, on the sofa, until Daddy came to claim them.  During those blissful moments, I did actually rejoice in having the opportunity to experience little children in my life again, to watch them grow, and to help them along the way. Then, Daddy pulled out of the driveway with his two beautiful creations, bound for home, and I rejoiced again!

Bring on Week Three!