THANKSGIVING

My granddaughter, Charley Ellen, celebrated her first month of life yesterday! She was not supposed to be born until this coming Wednesday. That incredibly soft skin, those perfect little features and such tiny delicate fingers are amazing.

Charley sleeping in her car seat

I was blessed to spend much of the evening just holding her and staring at that perfect little face. When she snuggles against you, there is literally not a care in the world.....talk about having something to be thankful for.....just having her in our lives!

I could literally hold her forever!

   

No description is needed....pure contentment
  



Charley drifting off to sleep with Mommy - Happy Thanksgiving!

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FALL FOLIAGE

Weather conditions this autumn have created some of the most spectacular fall color that we’ve ever seen in Sacramento.  Both Lou & I are in awe of the amazing array of color that has caught our eyes everywhere we drive lately. New England ain't got nothing on Northern California this year!

These trees are right here in our own front yard!

When we walk out our front door this is what greets us!

That's our garage on the lower left corner

This past week I’ve noticed the incredible leaf colors in the Bay Area as well as here at home. Things have been ridiculously hectic around here but yesterday I made the time to head out for an hour to enjoy the scenery and attempt to do it justice with my camera.

Some of the leaves almost seem to glow

This is a park where I met a woman who had just moved here & was marveling at the color

A close up of the deep magenta leaves

It was late in the day but these colors were still bright and vivid

I stumbled upon these shimmering gold leaves while turning around

My hour long respite from the current craziness of our lives involved two short walks, a few miles of driving, several detours and about 12 U-turns to see the myriad of breathtaking scenes. The only thing that would have made it better was a bright blue sky - but it was still gorgeous!

Some trees in this park seemed almost fluorescent in spite of the overcast sky

Sadly, in another few days it will all be gone - but, oh, what a sight!

CHARLEY ELLEN - Three Weeks Old!

My adorable, little cutie pie of a granddaughter celebrated her three week old birthday with her first social outing today!  Charley weighed in at 4 pounds 14 ounces at her last appointment – she is closing in on 5 pounds.

Charley snuggling with me - look at the size difference of our hands

What a sweetheart!

I drove into my dad’s early this morning to make sure everything was properly cleaned and disinfected with some help from my dad’s caregiver, John. My sister, Karen, also drove in to meet Charley for the first time (she had a cold when Charley was born). Since she was premature they have been cautioned to keep her away from any type of sick person or germs.

Charley’s mommy, Allison, had a hair appointment in San Ramon so Daddy and Charley visited all of us at Great Grandpa Pop’s house today.

Charley and Mommy

Charley and Daddy

My dad looked like an old pro cradling Charley in his arms – guess it’s like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it. J

Charley and Great Grandpa Pop

Pretty casual with his one arm hold

There is something totally therapeutic about holding a beautiful, sleeping baby – and I can’t get enough of it! Karen could not get over how tiny she is….not having been around a baby, other than Darrin 35 years ago, she said she’ll wait to hold her until she is bigger. She added, a puppy, a kitten, yes; but a human baby, not now. That’s okay, more holding time for me!

Rocking Charley in our new chair

My sweet, little granddaughter - Charley Ellen

CHARLEY ELLEN - TEN DAYS OLD

It had been four days since I saw Charley Ellen! I needed my baby fix badly ......especially since my mother-in-law equivalent, Bruni, suffered a terrible fall on Tuesday, breaking her hip and shattering her elbow. She under went over three hours of surgery on Wednesday and has been in critical condition in intensive care ever since. BUT today she showed the first signs of improvement so we are all guardedly optimistic.

I took some time to drive in to visit Charley and her parents today. She is really looking at things now and turns her eyes toward voices. I spent an hour and a half just holding her and marveling at this precious little life.

My baby girl just before drifting off to sleep

Charley and Oma - sorry for the blurry photos, didn't want to blind her with flash

Allison is feeling much better now. She is able to walk around much better and her swollen feet have returned to normal. She has this sling that goes over one shoulder with a pouch for the baby. Charley loves it being snuggled close to mom and mom has her hands free to do things while "holding" the baby.

The amazing new family!

My great day ended with Lou's dad treating us to dinner and a visit to the hospital. Bruni was able to say several words after having her breathing tube removed this morning. She responded to our conversation and even blew her husband a kiss in response to his when we left. That lady is a real fighter!

CHECKING OUT HER WORLD

This afternoon I visited my six day old granddaughter once more before heading back home to Sacramento. She was just finishing nursing when I arrived so Darrin wrapped her in her swaddling blanket and presented the beautiful little bundle to me to hold while she slept.

BUT this time she decided to look around her world before falling alseep! She opened her eyes and for the first time I saw her eyes move to look at me when I spoke to her. Darrin called her name and she turned her eyes to look toward him. She kept that up for 5-10 minutes while he snapped photos with both our cameras.

Charley looking at me for the first time!

What a cutie!

Before she fell asleep Monty jumped up on the couch and laid down next to me. One big happy extended family....me, my granddaughter and my grandpug. Darrin snapped a picture as Allison looked on. Geez, my neck looks like MY grandmother's, but who cares, the real star is Charley Ellen.

Me, Charley and Monty.