August 15...a Special Day

Well, here it is August 15, 2014 and my grandson Tyler is 19 yrs old today. Tyler is the first one on the lower left. Seeing him in this picture takes me back several years, when he was born. Our kids were having a baby and it was to be a boy. We already had two little grand daughter's, so this was something new. I remember the day, like it was yesterday. We got the word that he was here and we left for the hospital. Visiting a new born in the hospital was new to us, as there had never been visitors allowed on the maternity floor before. We had a gift, balloons, and proud grandparents were presented with grandparent badges. I still have mine. I'm still a proud grandma as the badge says.
Little did I know what wonder this little guy would bring. When I heard that Tyler would be left in the First Card nursery day care, while Karen and John worked there...it didn't take but a minute for me to say that I'd like to take care of him. So, every morning, they would come to my door with this little bundle of joy. We had so much fun in those five years. A calm came over me that had never happened before. He taught me patience, a curiosity of nature, and how it felt to be loved by a grandchild. His little brother, Collin, came along a couple of years later and he came to grandma and grandpa's too. Two special little grandsons. Their grandpa would come home for lunch, just to be able to help out and see them and have lunch together. Neighbors would stop in to just watch the goings on in my house...sometimes holding a baby while I took care of another one.  I thought as long as I was caring for these two...maybe I could help some mom's out in my community and I took on a few more little ones. They were all under the age of five....two newborns at one time.  Our house was a rollicking fun place to be in those years. Days of animal crackers, Disney, Blue's Clues, Teletubbies, diaper changing...oh many, many diapers, potty training, we all got colds together, walks like a caravan to the park, nature hikes along the alleyway, little pebbles in pockets, bugs, jello jigglers, mac and cheese, juice boxes, and baby bottles. I had a twin stroller, where I put two little guys, Collin in a carrier on my back and a couple little ones walking by the stroller. 

I had the patience of a Saint....I can proudly say that I never raised my voice, you have to remember most of them were babies. Tyler taught me that patience from the very first time I took care of him. I looked at his little face and melted.

I sometimes miss those days of child care...but I know that I couldn't do that anymore. It was a lot of work, but so much fun. I developed a sweet relationship with my grandsons.

Tyler to me was a wonderful little boy....he's still wonderful.

Love you Tyler...Grandma

Tyler has been in the group Project Two since Jr. High School. They have grown into a very popular singing group...maturing as the years have gone by. They are college kids now, but still get together every chance they get to put on a show.