They came to visit us back before we left Dayton and there were so many good pictures that I never got around to narrowing them down to which ones I wanted to post. It was a great visit, though, and I'm sorry to have waited this long to post about it. I know they did a lot of driving, but Cora really wanted to meet them, so I'm glad they were able to come.
And Cora was not disappointed - they had so much fun! Since all my cousins are around the same general age that I am, I really never got to see my grandparents interacting with babies. I had no idea how good they were with them! Cora loved to talk to them and interact with them, or even just lie around on the bed and show them how she could kick and flail her arms.
Pretty shortly after this, she had a spectacular vomit (outside, thankfully, but we definitely ruined some teenage girls' appetites!), but I'm sure the two were completely unrelated.
Apparently, this is the classic Granddaddy hold: he used to hold his kids this way, and then all of us grandkids, too.
We took them to Graeter's - a must for any Dayton visitors. Cora got a little out of sorts, so Granddaddy thought maybe she needed a treat. This is her being soothed by a pacifier dipped in ice cream. Yes, her first food was Fresh Peach ice cream from Graeter's. Not too shabby, trust me!
Pretty shortly after this, she had a spectacular vomit (outside, thankfully, but we definitely ruined some teenage girls' appetites!), but I'm sure the two were completely unrelated.
She and I also flew home in October to visit the rest of the family, and she got some good quality time in with both of them then as well.
Grandmother introduced her to the pretty singing New Mexico girls, which she loved. My dad took this picture, and I love how you can see their faces in the mirror.
Granddaddy was not feeling well, so we didn't get that many pictures with him, but I could resist this one. It's a little hard to see, but we got Cora a onesie that says, "I love Granddad" - and she does!
Grandmother introduced her to the pretty singing New Mexico girls, which she loved. My dad took this picture, and I love how you can see their faces in the mirror.
She also taught her how to bang on things with a spoon, and how to make a blubbering sound by moving your finger up and down in front of her mouth when she 'talks.' She thinks this is great and will now do it on command if you put your finger to her mouth.
Granddaddy was not feeling well, so we didn't get that many pictures with him, but I could resist this one. It's a little hard to see, but we got Cora a onesie that says, "I love Granddad" - and she does!
I have a ton more pictures from this visit with other family and with her Nana and Granddaddy Steve, and I plan to do a separate post with Christmas pictures, but I thought I would dedicate this special post - my 100th - just to Granddaddy Bob and Grandmother Zelda.
I have been so very, very lucky to have had my grandparents in my life as I have. I have all my grandparents still living, in fact.
And I grew up with these two around constantly - they went to all of us grandkids' sporting events, recitals, and concerts. They dropped me off at school if my parents had early meetings, took me shopping for Easter dresses, and sat through who-knows-how-many halftime shows to support my marching band years. They are always so good to call and check in on me: when I first moved to DC and was feeling a little lonely, I always knew I'd get a call on Sunday nights that would cheer me up.
My Grandmother Zelda is a fabulous cook, and no one beats her hospitality. When you go to stay at her house, she always makes it feel like you're a special guest and that you're at home, all at the same time. Be prepared: breakfast is an event, so bring your appetite. And she's the only person I know in the whole world who watches C-SPAN while she irons. Isn't she savvy? I've always said, she dresses cooler and accessorizes better than I ever will, but I don't hold that against her! She is a whiz at emailing and we're even working on getting Skype set up so they can chat with Cora. She's got the greenest thumb I've ever seen: her flower beds should be in Southern Living, and she has ferns that are the size of small cars. And she's so good with Cora that I'm amazed: like so many things she does, it just comes naturally. Currently, she's compiling stories and memories about Great-great-grandmother Cora so our Cora can know the woman she's named for. Isn't that an incredible gift?
My Granddaddy Bob is very special man. For those of you who've heard my "grown-up men" theory, you've heard me talk about him. I always say that men seem to grow up into two kids of people: either they turn out to be crotchety, stubborn men who know exactly what's wrong with the world and just how to fix it, or they turn out like my granddad, who instead of growing more and more certain that he knows everything, grows kinder and gentler and more understanding that there is more in this world than we'll ever be able to comprehend. This makes him a wonderful listener and a very wise man. He is as tough a man as you'll ever meet, but he's sensitive and compassionate and generous, too. He also has the most wonderful expressions. Someone isn't boring, she's "duller than whit leather." A man isn't short and skinny - he's "smaller than a bar of soap after a hard day's wash." And instead of calling someone unattractive, he says that in heaven when they were handing out 'looks,' he thought they said 'books' and said, "No thanks, I don't need any of those!" He's also a produce expert: I don't know how he does it, but he finds better fruit than anyone.
They both tell wonderful stories and have the greatest memories - though every once in awhile there is a dispute over details. "Now Zelda, that's not how it happened...Well, Bob, yes it certainly is..." They're known for this.
This February, they will celebrate their 61st anniversary, and they're still very much in love. They are affectionate and kind to one another, and have been a beautiful example to me (and to all the family) of what a marriage partnership can be.
I know how lucky I am to have them, and it means so much to me that Cora knows them, too.
Grandmother and Granddaddy, I love you both so very much.
I have been so very, very lucky to have had my grandparents in my life as I have. I have all my grandparents still living, in fact.
And I grew up with these two around constantly - they went to all of us grandkids' sporting events, recitals, and concerts. They dropped me off at school if my parents had early meetings, took me shopping for Easter dresses, and sat through who-knows-how-many halftime shows to support my marching band years. They are always so good to call and check in on me: when I first moved to DC and was feeling a little lonely, I always knew I'd get a call on Sunday nights that would cheer me up.
My Grandmother Zelda is a fabulous cook, and no one beats her hospitality. When you go to stay at her house, she always makes it feel like you're a special guest and that you're at home, all at the same time. Be prepared: breakfast is an event, so bring your appetite. And she's the only person I know in the whole world who watches C-SPAN while she irons. Isn't she savvy? I've always said, she dresses cooler and accessorizes better than I ever will, but I don't hold that against her! She is a whiz at emailing and we're even working on getting Skype set up so they can chat with Cora. She's got the greenest thumb I've ever seen: her flower beds should be in Southern Living, and she has ferns that are the size of small cars. And she's so good with Cora that I'm amazed: like so many things she does, it just comes naturally. Currently, she's compiling stories and memories about Great-great-grandmother Cora so our Cora can know the woman she's named for. Isn't that an incredible gift?
My Granddaddy Bob is very special man. For those of you who've heard my "grown-up men" theory, you've heard me talk about him. I always say that men seem to grow up into two kids of people: either they turn out to be crotchety, stubborn men who know exactly what's wrong with the world and just how to fix it, or they turn out like my granddad, who instead of growing more and more certain that he knows everything, grows kinder and gentler and more understanding that there is more in this world than we'll ever be able to comprehend. This makes him a wonderful listener and a very wise man. He is as tough a man as you'll ever meet, but he's sensitive and compassionate and generous, too. He also has the most wonderful expressions. Someone isn't boring, she's "duller than whit leather." A man isn't short and skinny - he's "smaller than a bar of soap after a hard day's wash." And instead of calling someone unattractive, he says that in heaven when they were handing out 'looks,' he thought they said 'books' and said, "No thanks, I don't need any of those!" He's also a produce expert: I don't know how he does it, but he finds better fruit than anyone.
They both tell wonderful stories and have the greatest memories - though every once in awhile there is a dispute over details. "Now Zelda, that's not how it happened...Well, Bob, yes it certainly is..." They're known for this.
This February, they will celebrate their 61st anniversary, and they're still very much in love. They are affectionate and kind to one another, and have been a beautiful example to me (and to all the family) of what a marriage partnership can be.
I know how lucky I am to have them, and it means so much to me that Cora knows them, too.
Grandmother and Granddaddy, I love you both so very much.
What a lovely tribute to Bob and Zelda. I heartily agree. It brought tears to my eyes. Mom
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