Guest blogger today is Christine Reilly Peaden…

Things to say instead to a pregnant woman…
1. Instead of “Man, you look huge!,” say, “That’s a really healthy baby.”
2. Instead of “Why are you still here?” say, “It’s great to see you today. You look radiant!”
3. Instead of “Are those pit stains?” say, “Let me turn down the air conditioning for you.”
4. Instead of “Your face is getting chunkier every day,” say, “Look at that pregnancy glow.”
5. Instead of “Are you having twins?,” say, “Wow! You are all baby.”
6. Instead of “Man, you’re butt is huge,” say, “You are carrying that baby low.”
7. Instead of “Wow! Look at you waddle,” say “Stay still and let me get that for you.”
8. Instead of “I could do a geography lesson on your stomach,” say, “Honey, can I get the stretch mark cream for ya?”
9. Instead of “How much weight have you gained?” say, “You are one of the most adorable pregnant women I have ever seen.”
10. Instead of “You haven’t had that baby yet?” say, “You should just go ahead and start your maternity leave.”

I’ve been a grandmother now for a total of 5 days and I have made some delightful discoveries…

Grandmothers get to be mothers again  This is when I can anticipate my child’s every need before she knows she needs it. Remembering that she likes water first thing in the morning, I have a cold bottle ready. Now that she has to remember feeding times, she probably won’t remember where she put her car keys.  I get to put them where they go. Keeping the seemingly never-ending laundry going without the new Dad feeling like I have taken over his home is a skill. I have watched some of the best Mother-in-laws and been taking notes for years.

Grandmothers get to serve in support roles  It matters more that the new Dad and new Mom learn what makes the baby tick and what ticks him off, than if I do. Serving new parents with no expectations for myself is freeing for the new parents. They gain confidence in their abilities, they exercise their new-found parent’s intuition, and bond as a family. This is their season and I am honored to play a small, supporting role.

Right now I get to answer the door when well-wishers arrive and grab the landlord to take care of some things when he stops by.  There are so many “favorite” parts.  The one that comes to mind at this moment is the conversations my Baby Girl and I have each time she feeds Mr. Yummy in the night.  My bedroom door is open and I can hear them as she whispers to her newborn son in the dark.  I join them as I set a blanket over her cold shoulders. These are the remarkable moments that keep this Mama’s heart from bursting out of my chest.

Grandmothers get new names  Here in the south, grandmothers get lovely new names like Grammy, Gammy, Nana, Nanny, and Gigi.  #1 Son began calling me “Mimi” several months ago and I guess it has stuck.  The new Dad called me Mimi after Mr. Yummy was born.

Grandmothers hold pictures in their hearts  Pictures abound for newborns. Mr. Yummy changes daily before my very eyes. So grateful for facebook to share photos with friends and family. But there are other pictures that can’t be posted. Like when the new Mama was laughing her head off at the waiter at the restaurant the night she checked into the hospital. Like when the new Dad grabbed a hug from me after we heard Baby Noah’s first cry. Like when I watched the new parents shovel food into their mouths while talking excitedly non-stop after Mr. Yummy was born. Like when I wake up at night and see her feeding her new baby by night-light. The pictures I hold in my heart don’t have me in them and I am so glad- I haven’t had a good-hair-day since I got here.

Guest blogger today is Christine Reilly Peaden . . .

You know you should go on maternity leave when…
1. It takes you 10 minutes and an inhaler to put your shoes and socks on.
2. When you bend down to pick up something you dropped on the floor and your pants split…twice.
3. When your co-workers greet you with, “Wow! You’re still here?”
4. When you come into a patient’s room who just had surgery and they say, “Man, I feel sorry for you.”
5. When you can no longer fit between the patient’s bed and the bedside table to get to an IV pole.
6. When you can no longer text because you hand goes numb due to pregnancy induced carpal tunnel.
7. When you weigh yourself at 8am and again at 10pm and you’ve gained 10 pounds in the same day.
8. When you no longer shop for style, but find yourself looking at the same outfit as a 75 year old woman because it looks comfortable.
9. When you knock over more than 10 items in an hour because you don’t know where your butt ends and your belly begins.
10. When you crash a woman with a stroller into a restaurant booth because you both thought you could make it through the hallway…you should go on maternity leave.

“Every child begins the world again.”  – Thoreau

In 1994, Easter Sunday fell on April 3rd. That afternoon, #1 Son chose to follow Jesus as a little boy in our home church of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Today, 4/3/2012, #1 Son turns 18 years old in the LORD.

Our family traditions have celebrated this date, a Spiritual Birthday, with donut holes (life without Jesus is like a donut…you have a hole in the middle of your heart), balloons (we lift His name on high in all things), and a gift (something round that reminds us that God’s love is round about His people.) At some point, the gift began to matter more than the donut holes.

Over the years, the gifts included:

A new Christian CD – we have come a long way from Sandi Patti and Phillips, Craig & Dean.

A matching silver Ring – found on Cape Cod, Baby Girl and I shared 2 matching rings where 3 bands were soldered together, 2 hands (1 representing her Daddy, and 1 representing me, to cover the heart (her heart) on the center band).

A Cactus Garden – One year was more prickly than others, so coming across a round cactus garden seemed the most appropriate gift.

A James Avery Bracelet – scripture to wear around her wrist.

A Crown of Thorns – one that fit the head of a little boy, because it’s what he asked for.

Pearl Earrings – we will not cast our pearls among swine…a reminder of the standard He has set for His Princess of the King.

My favorite part of this tradition is that the gift can not be opened until the receiver tells of the day of their decision to follow Christ. He/She names names (many of these precious servants of Christ are still involved in our lives), we claim the family of faith who provided the opportunity for little people to hear the gospel, and he/she shares the circumstances of their decision. But that’s not all.

He/she also shares (1) what they have learned about God over this last year, and (2) they state his/her spiritual goal to set forth for the next year.

He thinks it’s corny, but when I return home from “becoming a Grandmother land,” we will sit across a table.  I will order a salad and he will order a huge steak.  And we will share “great things He has done.”