Walking!!

Yep, that's right, we have a walker!! She took two steps and kept standing. Of course grandma saw it Friday and I just saw it now, but I'll take it!! Next week: running ;)

Goodbye grandma

I know I haven't updated this blog in ages. I keep meaning to and it hasn't happened. But today I want to take the time for a very sad post. Brianna's grandma Putt passed away last night. It was not unexpected as we knew she had little time left. She had cancer which had spread from her colon to her liver, lungs and bones. She went very quickly, only living for a month from the time of her official diagnosis.

But I don't want to talk about her death. I want to talk about her life, in particular about her relationship with Brianna. She loved our little girl so very very much.

Over the summer I was struggling. Chris was working out of town all the time and I was home alone with the baby. I needed some help. Our solution was to have Diane stop by for two hours of babysitting Monday to Thursday on her way to work. For three months or so I got a break from 3pm to 5pm and Brianna got to play with her grandma. The two of them quickly bonded.

Diane was wonderful with Bri. She would take her for walks in good weather. She was able to get her to nap (not an easy task!). And they just loved to play together. When Bri was grouchy Diane would take her to look out the door. Or to play with the baby in the mirror. Or they would stack cups or play with Brianna's dolly (a gift from grandma). There was the odd time I would need to come downstairs to help out, but after the first few weeks Diane was usually able to manage. And Brianna loved her grandma so much. At the time we were just introducing Brianna to solid foods and we were giving her two "meals" a day, at about 10am and 3pm. Four days a week that second meal was served by grandma. Diane quickly became a very efficient feeder, much better even than Chris!!

Even when Diane first got ill and was no longer able to pick Brianna up they would still play with Bri at Diane's knee. Of course Brianna was not at all a fan of this, as she wanted her grandma to pick her up, thank you very much!! Right until the end Brianna would try to go to Diane, long past the point when Diane had the strength to hold her. But she would try so hard I was often hard pressed to keep her off her grandma. Brianna knew who she wanted and would not be denied. And Diane wanted her too. One of our last visits, the only time Diane managed to open her eyes the whole way was after I held Bri down so she could rest her head on grandmas shoulder. Afterwards Diane opened her eyes wide and looked right at Brianna. The rest of the visit she hadn't managed to open her eyes more than a crack.

I am so very grateful the two of them had those months to bond. And I am so very devastated that Brianna won't remember the grandma she loves so much and who loved her just as much. We will miss you forever Diane and I will never forget how much you were able to help Bri and I when we needed help so badly. Rest in peace, we love you.