I will admit that I've never bonded with babies especially well or taken a lot of interest in them until they became older. And then - well - I've never lived close enough to my family or to friends with babies to make much of a connection. And suddenly, thanks to Lee and Laurel and James, I find that I'm one of the grandmothers. I was at the bedside when Teagan was born, and I'm doing what grandmothers do. I'm getting goofy about this baby. I've taken over 500 pictures, and he's only 4 days old. I like it. Is this baby adorable, or what?
Jane and I drove from Astoria to Portland today to visit Laurel, James, and little T. in the NICU. Today he was four days old. He was five weeks early (hence the NICU and feeding tube) and, thankfully, doing extremely well. Laurel has written two blog posts already (
post 1 and
post 2), so I'll let her tell the details, and I'll begin posting some of the thousands of photos I know will be part of my life over the next years.
It was dark in the room when we arrived, and when I lightened the photos, the baby turned redder than he really is, although when he cries, which isn't too often, he DOES turn red.
He moves a lot. Being a "wiggle worm" seems to run in the family. Teagan was born with arms flailing, and already he's kicking off the covers.
Waking up slowly. Too cute!
Ooooh! A face! I thought of Lee. He covers his mouth with his hands when he's hungry, too.
We're jumping ahead here. Feeding took awhile. You can read about it on
Laurel's blog post. Here James is holding him next to the incubator, which he barely needs now in its heating capacity, but which is still his bed. The lid was open the whole time I was there.
Laurel and Teagan. The splotch on his cheek is the tape that held the feeding tube. Teagan has decided he doesn't need it any more, and it came out sometime during the breast-and-then-bottle-feed process, and the nurse said they could leave it out because he was about done with it anyway. He ate a lot today, at least it seemed like he did.
Here's Jane with the baby - Aunty Gram. I got to hold him next, and for quite a long time. I haven't decided what my name will be yet. Maybe Grandma Tapir (Grandma Tay?). It's silly, but I've heard worse. It's weird choosing a new name. I just wanted to be "Sheryl" to my nieces and nephews, but they called me "Aunt Sheryl" anyway. But "Sheryl" is too hard for babies to say when they're very young.
It takes two people to swaddle the kid for sleep time. He loves flailing those arms and legs. I don't blame him. I don't like my feet under the covers, either, unless it's really cold. His parents have already dubbed him an escape artist. "Hey, where did those arms come from???! We just tucked him in."
Sleeping peacefully till next feeding. Such a sweetie, and so much fun to watch. Goodnight till next time! Being the "grandparent," you get to go home and sleep, too.
It began snowing during the night. It was one of those nights I stayed up into the morning and worked online, doing what I could to boost our visibility in the searches so our gift shop would generate much-needed orders. It was fun anyway. I love working with photos - blogging, Panoramio, web albums. . . .
The snow was a surprise. I'd forgotten all about it until I looked outside as I was getting ready for bed about 4:15 in the morning. I love these night pictures - the scenes look so gentle.
When I finally got up late in the morning, there was more snow yet. This is outside The Animal Store looking west toward town and the bridge.
But it wasn't all snow, and it wasn't all that cold. There was a lot of slush and water. The reports said the freeze was coming, though, so whatever was water now had the potential to become very slippery very soon.
I thought about the ice potential wherever I went today. I was driving. Although I have summer tires, it wasn't bad today. But it wasn't quite usual, either. A mound of slush had built up at the exit of the parking lot, and I almost ran over my friend Lisa. Oops. I love this pic with the reflected lights in the footprints and under the tree. After going up in flames, the Bank of America had moved into a portable building in the old Safeway parking lot. I thought it was fitting that it now looks like a fire engine. Maybe they took the motto to heart: "Be Prepared."
Here's another pic of the bank showing just how much it does look like a fire rig. Look at all the footprints in the wet snow. This is really a novelty in Astoria.
Next to the portable bank. I liked the track pattern, but also this shows what's in store when it freezes. That's all water and slush.
I went up to see Laurel and James and little Teagan. So cute. I held him for a long time. He likes to put his hands together. Laurel says it's a comforting gesture for him. He was also holding his mouth for long periods of time in a position as if he wanted to whistle. In this case, with the tongue out.
There you go. That's the whistling one; he does it quietly - no sound.
I'm learning to hold a young baby, since I haven't had much experience. I've held a few, of course, but it seems ages ago. My friends didn't have them till later, after they or I had moved, and I wasn't around much when my sister and brother's kids were young. I got out of Dodge and stayed out, pretty much.
Sleeping. I must be doing a good job. Note the hands again.
Here he is after Laurel (Mom) did the changing. I'm not ready for my diaper changing lessons yet, thanks. That will come in time. (Maybe.)
Swaddled and back in his crib. And now he's down for a long winter's nap.
Well, not really, he wakes up a lot, but outside it's looking more and more unmistakably like winter.
