Bean, It Is

At this point, with hundreds more still to comment (lol), the Bean moniker seems to be much preferred over the Daub possibility. I haven't received much in the way of other suggestions, so it's Bean for now anyway.

Meanwhile, I can't help reflect that Bean is already getting less attention than Smudge did at this point. You see, that image (of yesterday's post) was with us for a week before I got it scanned and blogged. It wasn't just me but Mother Thesha as well. She didn't get around to asking me to scan it, and it took me a week to remember to volunteer. So, whether it's our own immediate offspring or those of our children, the second child seems to get fewer photos ops.

That's the way it was with our second, Aldee. She simply didn't get the same number of photos taken — early on anyway. Oh she got her share; she wasn't exactly sat in a corner and forgotten. It was simply that everything was more familiar the second time around, and, as a result, we didn't rush quite so madly for the camera. It's certainly not that the second was (or is) loved any less (or more) than the first; it's just that everything was less novel.

So, welcome into existence Bean, and don't be offended if, once you get here, your Grandma only takes fifty pictures per day rather than the one hundred that Smudge gets.

Bean or Daub?

Here we go again! It was just about two years ago that Thesha told us that Smudge was on the way. It had been a long process to get her in the oven, but it has been oh so worth it!

Then, just a few weeks ago, we were notified that Miracle #2 had occurred, this time almost spawned itself as it were. Once Smudge cleared the path, it was almost as though Bean was conceived without thought or effort. Ho hum.

Although we've known for some weeks, of course, we have been obliged to keep it quiet until the magical twelve-week checkup and ultrasound could be completed. And here is Bean's first photo. Cute, eh?


Seems to waving a hand at us. But do I also detect a sticking-out of the tongue?

Since the Smudge moniker has been taken, Bean seems to be the nickname for grand #2, although I am playing around with Daub as an alternative. We expect to hear Bean or Daub's first wail early in February.

Any thoughts on the nickname? Which do you prefer, or do you have any other suggestions?

Sitting by the Dock

... Kicking and Splashing

Friday afternoon found us taking the Bonnie Wee One to the park, the park to walk in by the river as opposed to the playground from which it is difficult to extricate the munchkin. As we wandered in, we stooped (or rather, I stooped, while she stood) to gaze at a nearby gaggle of Canada geese. And didn't these feisty creatures make a beeline to us, and wasn't the leader hissing confrontationally, and didn't we, therefore, forthwith beat a hasty retreat? One doesn't fool around with a Canada Goose in a temper, not when one has a baby in tow anyway.



We wandered down to the little dock where Niks insisted on getting her feet in. So, Grampa held on as tightly as possible while she did her thing.



She splashed long and hard, and we both got wet, but it was fun.



Cuppa has posted a short video clip of the same event.

Grampa Gets a Hairdo

Ah, the things we do for love. I even let The Bonnie Wee One brush my hair, by which I really mean that I permitted her to bang on my head with the brush. I also had to fend off the occasional attack on my ears as she is quite drawn to my hearing aids.

A Most Definite but Gentle Reminder

It happened just now (I am writing this on Friday evening to post on Saturday) for the second time ever. This time I got right up in expectation, and so did he. And we went downstairs together, and I poured some cat milk in a dish, and he received it contentedly because the universe was at that point unfolding precisely as it should.

I had been at my computer, just like the other time it happened. As I concentrated on reading a blog, I was distantly aware of the cat rubbing lovingly up against my foot. Well, he does that a lot, so I paid him no mind in my state of distraction. At most times, I would expect him to do what he does best and have a nap. However, this was a nine o'clock rubbing, just about the time that he might expect the nightly offering of cat milk before he and Cuppa and, sometimes but not often I so early, I settle down for the night.

After a few moments of this wonderful feline rubbing, the cat brought me sharply but also gently to the present with a little nip to my ankle. That's when I stood up expectantly in good humour, because it had happened once before, and even a moronic human such as I can be trained. I sauntered to the door of my den, and just as I expected, he pranced along, at first beside me and then ahead of me as I descended to the kitchen.

He was very patient whilst I ambled my clumsy, human form downstairs, found the appropriate dish, opened the fridge, poured the milk, returned the container to the fridge, and finally lowered the dish onto the floor.

Very patient. Good kitty.

Foto Friday

Not having the greatest back in the world, I should perform certain stretches every day. Sadly, I don't, but I did remember to do them yesterday. Naturally, Nikki Dee decided that I would be both lonely and unguided doing them myself, so ...

Down we go Grampa. Stretch. Hold it for three.



That's three long ones Grampa. Let's get it right. Eh?




Gramma, he's just lying there when he should be stretching. What are we going to do with him?



Thanks for the post-stretch massage, Niks. Can you work it a bit lower now?

Of Quotes and Easy Posting

I don't usually look at it, and I suppose you don't either, but I have a Quote of the Day widget in my sidebar. I happened to look at it after publishing yesterday's post:

Nothing will work unless you do.
Maya Angelou

It would have fit right in with my Inspiration and Perspiration post the other day. But then I wouldn't have been able to find such an easy way for posting a whole separate entry.