2014 Week 33: A great grandbaby!

You will forgive me if this week is predominantly about  this new stage of our lives. We are now great grandparents!
But, lets go back to the beginning of the week.
On the way to Monday night dinner, we stopped to pick up Kayla and see all the baby things. We 'oohed' and 'aahed' over everything, but I only got two photos. The decorated R is waiting to go up on the wall.

R is for Rebecca Rose

At Stephan and Karen's I admired the outdoor progress: the rearranged porch furniture; the new roof on the pole barn (future Indiana Ice Studio); the hosta blossoms.

Indoors, the Monday night crowd was blessed with two special visitors: Kayla, (oh, so ready to give birth!); and Hannah, visiting from New York.
I also enjoyed checking out all the settling-in progress: the curtains Dolores and Red (my consuegros) helped with over the weekend; the art on the walls; and more.

 (Don't worry about David, he just doesn't like to have his picture taken.)

And the food was wonderful: Karen's spaghetti and meatballs; Pattie's salad; and lemon meringue pie, Hannah's contribution.

Stephan was away all week carving ice (in summer?!) at the New York State Fair.

Theme: Little Mermaid 

Wednesday, was Diane's long-awaited annual trip to the Indiana State Fair. We brought Trisha along. They got along well together. Before we parted, I attempted a few selfies and had to put two together to include us all.

First news Thursday morning was that Kayla was preparing to deliver the baby. Leah left immediately. I made my way to the hospital after lunch.  Matt's family members were already there waiting in eager anticipation. Jimmy and Skye came later, then Mike. We took turns visiting with Kayla. We sat. We walked. We waited and waited.

 Whenever I was in there with Kayla she looked calm and in control.

The last three or four hours only Matt and Leah were allowed in and things got very intense. Kayla thought it would never end! Sometimes text messages came through to one of us with instructions to share with the waiting room.
At 10:50 PM the news was, "We have a baby!"

Mom meets Rebecca Rose

Dad holds Rebecca for the first time.

He was tired and fighting a serious headache. Leah came out exhilarated, emotional, and exhausted!

Friday the new grandparents and uncle came back to actually hold and spend time with the new little one.

Rebecca meets Uncle Skye, G'ma and G'pa

Rebecca Rose Kern--6 lbs. 15 oz., 20" long                                                  "Dat you, G'pa?"     "G'ma?"

Saturday, Mike and I went back to introduce ourselves to our first great granddaughter.  

On the way out of the hospital we spotted this bronze sculpture, of course of great interest to Mike.

"Hold on" 

Appropriate message, I thought, as we face many new adventures ahead!