OUR NEXT GENERATION

Even though it was more than 35 years ago, I still vividly remember the first time Darrin’s perfect, round little face stared up at me as I held him in my arms. Those of you who are parents understand the awe you feel when you finally meet, face to face, this person who you have known so intimately for nine months.

My wonderful son and beautiful daughter-in-law are one third of the way along the journey to meet their amazing little person – my baby is having a baby! In just six more months the next generation will make his or her appearance into our world. How incredible is that?

These two will make fantastic parents – they are successful, intelligent, caring and capable. They bought a new house in Brentwood and will move in the end of June. Allison has already applied for and been hired as an autism special education preschool teacher at Brentwood Unified. Darrin is able to work from home most of the time and will be a real hands on dad. These “kids” are more together than I’ve ever been! (late June note: the house deal fell through thanks to the infinite wisdom of the idiot banks that caused all this housing chaos, and Allison was able to keep her job in Hayward without upsetting Brentwood.....they have regrouped and will await their new baby in the Hayward condo.)

They did some traveling this past year in anticipation of starting a family. Here is one of my favorite photos of them on their Christmas time tour of Europe. They both look so happy and full of life – I love it!



Darrin and Allison in Florence, Italy



Although we’ve known for a couple months now, they made their official announcement this past weekend – on Facebook, of course! How else do today’s young adults do anything? It was fun to read all the comments from their friends and share in their joy. Some of Darrin’s friends from school commented taking me down memory lane when they were all so young.

My son shares my love of photography and took this beautiful, contemplative picture of his pregnant wife and her three month baby bump.

My grandbaby's minus six month photo!

Just think, by Christmas I will be a grandma! I’m busy thinking up ideas of what to be called. I was in Taco Bell the other day (surprise, surprise) and heard a little boy call to his “Grandma Kathy”. That sounded too trite and formal to me. I’ve thought of being a “Nannie” (my grandmother’s "name"), but there was only one Nannie. I think I need something a little more out there, like maybe “Gamma Kat” or “Grammy K”. If anyone has any interesting suggestions pass them along. Or maybe I’ll just let my grandbaby make up a name like Darrin did for my mother. For some reason in Darrin’s mind Grandma came out Dupda – and she was Dupda (eventually shortened to Dup) from then on.

My travels into the realm of grandmotherhood are happily anticipated. Boy or girl, whatever I’m called, I can’t wait to meet this special little person!