Wednesday, November 11, 2009

18 Pounds of Beautiful Baby Flesh


I've been MIA from my blog the last couple of days. My daughter and her husband are moving so I'm baby sitting my six month old granddaughter. As I look after her, I'm wondering, how did I give birth naturally, (no drugs--no stitches), and raise five kids? The enormity of the thing hits me over the head and I marvel at my younger self. I truly do. I had boundless energy. All those children to care for, and I used to garden like a maniac, redecorate the house every third year or so--top to bottom, I managed to run several businesses, and still had time to romance The Husband. Raising children is a job for the younger set. I couldn't, or wouldn't want to do it now. My arm muscles are KILLING me, after one lousy day of carting eighteen pounds of beautiful baby flesh around, (she has a cold and isn't happy to be put down right now.) Wish me well, I only have about 10 hrs to go!

I snapped the above picture of her when I got her interested in a set of plastic measuring spoons yesterday.

All Rights Reserved. © 2009 by Elizabeth Bradley.

26 comments:

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

She is adorable, and I know exactly what you mean.

It's a mystery, thinking back on all of the energy it took to be a full time mom of 3 little ones. Now, I have 6 grandbabes, ages 6 on down to 8 mos. It's incredible to babysit, and a joy to get back into my bed afterwards! ♥

Travis Erwin said...

What a cutie.

Stacy Post said...

I love those kissable cheeks! How sweet! I'm still in the throes of child-raising and must admit that I lose steam from time to time. But the Hubs helps more than a lot of men would. For that I'm grateful and still relatively sane. I'm in the taxi-mom phase. "Mom, can you take me..." Insert: school, karate, Scouts, to the store for the project that's due tomorrow, birhtday parties, etc. But I enjoy as much as I can because I know it will change just when I get comfortable. Have a great day and enjoy that beautiful baby!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Have fun!

I definitely wonder how moms do it. I think all of y'all are super human! :0)

Stacey J. Warner said...

I can't wait to be a grandma...I only have about 25 more years...LOL!

much love

Rosaria Williams said...

Oh, I know how that is. Raising a family, running a business, nurturing a romance, all in a day's work in our 30's. Funny how physically fit one has to be to carry and run after children. Go ahead, enjoy these days of gratitude.

Tabitha Bird said...

Your grandaughter is just beautiful :) Enjoy the fun and mayhem. thank you for your comment on my blog :)

Marguerite said...

We were young, Elizabeth, that's how we did it! lol She is so cute and sweet! Enjoy!

Joanne said...

She is so precious. They always are intrigued with the jingly-jangly kitchen gadgets, aren't they?

ellen abbott said...

Holy cow...five kids?! I only had two and it was enough with trying to build a business and do my part of the work. My daughter has four and I don't see how she does it.

Your granddaughter is such a cutie. I love that baby smell.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

She is gorgeous! I could just give her a big squeeze. :) That's the cutest age for babies. Have fun! And think how in-shape you'll be after all your holding her...

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

Jemi Fraser said...

What a sweetie :) Enjoy!

Helen Ginger said...

Cute, cute, cute. And you are one brave and loving grandmama.

Helen
Straight From Hel

Tamika: said...

She is precious! I would smother her in kisses all day.

I'm still running behind my kids, and some days I want to forfeit the race. But then they run and hug me for no reason and plant a kiss on my cheek and I decide to stay in the race.

Cheryl said...

She is too cute!!! I so want to pinch her fat little cheeks. I love chipmunk cheeks. And kids at that age are so fascinating, the way they change little by little each day. Enjoy it, she'll be even heavier next time you babysit!!!

Unseen India Tours said...

She is so cute !! BEautiful

Lauri said...

This morning I ate ice cream for breakfast (had to -the electricity was off after a lightning storm) and then a few hours later I was craving cuccumber and peeled and ate a huge fat one. Then for a moment I panicked. Is this a normal way for a person to eat? No! I told myself- this is the way a preganant woman eats!! And for a moment the weight of that parallel universe fell upon me. Could I , at 45 years old, be pregnant? Horrifying thought! I could never manage such a thing now. Never. Mentally I'd be done in.

Like Marguerite has said- we were young then. Also, things just happened and we coped. What gave out for me was my head. Some of those years of babies, business, house, husband are quite blurry.

Boozy Tooth said...

Elizabeth! You lucky granny, you! What an absolute angel you've got there. What a wonderful blessing indeed.

Even when I was young, I never had a lot of energy. Two kids about did me in. I bow to you. You are a goddess.

Hilary said...

Oh those squiiiiiiiiiishable cheeks and that little tuft of hair. What a sweetie pie.

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

She is so absolutely adorable! I want to kiss up on those chubby little cheeks!

Jody Hedlund said...

Love that picture!!! I agree about the energy! My youngest just turned four and I don't have near the energy with her that I used to have when my oldest were that age! I'll be totally incapable when I'm a grandma! :)

Sniffles and Smiles said...

What a beautiful baby girl!!!! But yes, raising kids is for youth!!! And I, too, am amazed by all you were able to accomplish during that time!!! WOW! What energy you had!! I'm in awe...you never cease to amaze me!!! 5 kids? And all the rest of it??? You are an incredible lady!!! But I already knew that...this just provides further irrefutable proof! Love you! Janine XO

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Oh she is so beautiful.

It is difficult, for me anyway, to keep up with my grandbabes. But they keep my heart imprisoned as they take turns saying things like, "Grandma, I love you down deep in my heart." What else can I do, but go back for more.

Angie Ledbetter said...

Oh.my.goodness! What a precious puddin' pie!

Anonymous said...

Didn't they have any whiskey available. I needed a few shots just watching my wife in labor.

Stephen Tremp

Katy said...

Mine mine mine! ;)