You know I love
spending time with my grandchildren and I just returned from a week on the beach
with all of them and their parents. The days were such good, good slices to
remember. And I could write about that, yet today, JULY 29, is a special day, my youngest
granddaughter Imogene’s birthday.
a few days old |
Imogene is three, but she is quite a
bit more than the usual three. (Don’t all grandmothers think that?) Having
spent all last week with her on the beach, a week’s road trip to Missouri, and
about three weeks at my house with her, parents and older sister, in late May,
early June, I am in awe with the surprises she has in store for us each day. I
wrote about her here,
the day she arrived. She was a lovely and quiet, self-contained baby. In a post here
I wondered how she would gain attention with her quiet ways.
drawing in the sand with cousin Carter, whom she adores |
caught in mid-air-ready for the splash |
The quiet has not disappeared,
especially when Imogene is occupied with an activity. Over and over she
practices, dipping a little bit into new territory after accomplishing what she
first set out to do. She is active, and headed soon for a tumbling class. She climbs
on everything that seems climbable, chairs, fences, tables, bars on railings.
She can already flip off a bar, and jump from high places. She scares us all
sometimes, but is rarely caught in a place she cannot escape from. We are
actively amazed, ready to catch if necessary, but it's never needed. She is already
swimming, but needs some help in that she doesn’t yet know how to navigate the breathing in and out.
song & dance after ice cream with sister Ingrid |
As for quiet voices, Imi (what we
call her most) can belt out quite a few songs, like those from The Sound of Music, this latest
phenomenon, Frozen, and John Denver’s
Take Me Home, Country Roads. She speaks for herself now, and quite
clearly. She says things like, “I want to do it myself!” and “Don’t want to get
out of the water!” and “Don’t tell me ‘no’!” Yep, she’s three.
At three, the world is indeed Imi’s oyster, and I’m
happy to be a part of her young life every moment that I can.
Happy Birthday, Imogene! |
Love these snapshots of sweet Imogene and your sweet slice. So glad you had these treasured moments with her.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ramona, she is a dear one, and probably the last one!
DeleteI hope you save this slice somewhere and share it with beautiful Imogene when she is old enough to read and appreciate it. She will treasure it. How wonderful that you had time with her this summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm sure I will. There are several "family" slices I need to gather!
DeleteVery sweet. Such a multi-faceted portrait of you grand girl! Of course, every individual has so many aspects of personality. It fills our hearts to treasure them as parents and grandparents.
ReplyDeleteThank you-Imi is a wonder!
DeleteWhat beautiful recollections of your granddaughter! I hope that some day, she is given the gift of being able to read these words. I'm sure she would treasure them.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Sweet Writing Life
Mrs. Laffin's Laughings
Thanks Jennifer, it is fun to capture some of the special days in her life!
DeleteWhat great snapshots of someone who growing into the person she will one day be.
ReplyDeleteThanks-won't it be fun to show her in a future time?
DeleteWhat an amazing young lady Imogene is! Maybe a gymnast? Maybe a singer? Who knows, but how lovely for you and her family to watch her grow into the person she will become. Thank you for sharing her with us today. = )
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bridget, she is very active, so the tumbling class should be a delight.
DeleteShe's such a sweetheart! I remember when she was born three years ago. That was an exciting time, as is this one. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Imogene!
Hard to believe 3 years has gone by, isn't it, Stacey. Thank you!
DeleteHappy Birthday to Imi! She is precious, and you have captured her uniqueness in both words and pictures. Enjoy having such a sweetheart to love and to watch as she grows through the years! We are having our first grandchild in September. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I know you will treasure that grandchild time!
DeleteYour write like a proud grandma, but also with the lens of time-earned wisdom. Her world is indeed an oyster and she sounds like she is already prying it open with all her might. Thank your for capturing her special qualities.....someday, when she reads this , she will smile and say, "That's me!"
ReplyDeleteI hope she'll enjoy the words she's inspired, Anita. They are a pleasure to write!
DeleteWhat a wonderful tribute to Imogene. I love her name and her spirit. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wishes Margaret!
DeleteOh she is a love and so loved. Thank you so much for sharing her with us. Every picture is a treasure. Happy Birthday Imogene!
ReplyDeleteThanks Julieanne-happy you enjoyed this.
DeleteThis post made my heart swell. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy you enjoyed it! You'll love those moments too, with Henry, Ricki!
DeleteWhat a beautiful glimpse at your three year old granddaughter! I loved this line - "I am in awe with the surprises she has in store for us each day." So beautiful! So glad you had this special vacation with everyone.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maureen. It would be wonderful for her to be in your class!
DeleteOh, happy, happy birthday Imi! This was such a sweet slice to capture her now at three. Reminds me of two little ones that I know so well too! "Don't tell me 'no'!" Big smiles here! Loved the "actively amazed" because you always have to be ready for something from these smart little ones! Thanks for sharing such a special piece of your life with us, Linda!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Thanks Michelle, I do love hearing about your girls, too. It's a delight, although more challenging on the moms, I think. Yes, 'actively amazed' is it exactly.
DeleteHappy birthday to a special little girl! She came into this world looking adorable and just keeps getting cuter. You are so lucky to have them so close. What a gift!
ReplyDeleteThanks Elsie, I do feel lucky to have them here. And fortunate the others come up so often.
DeleteOh Pinocchio's! I recognize that Sanibel Island landmark. What sweet memories (and images) you've captured of Imogene. Happy, happy three to her indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee Ann. We discovered Pinocchio's a few years ago & cannot leave without at least one visit.
DeleteHow much fun you have had with your family this summer! And what a sweetie Imi is. Happy birthday to her!
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy. The summer has been filled with visiting for sure.
DeleteWhat a precious little girl!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do agree. Thanks, Mary Lee.
DeleteLove this. Grandgirls are so incredibly special. Love the photos. We go to the coast on Monday through Friday.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're going to be with your grandchildren, too, Jone. Great to hear!
DeleteI bet she felt so special seeing her special page that Grandma wrote today! What a beautiful girl. I think grandparents see grandchildren in a different light than their parents do and that is such a gift for them.
ReplyDeleteYes, of course we do, & that is important. I don't know if she'll understand yet, but I'll be sure to show her when she grows up a little more. Thank you, Michele.
DeleteSo fun to watch those little ones grow! What a sparkly girl she is!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol, she is ever active!
DeleteThat is the gift we are given as grandparents, I think - to be able to see things the parents are too harried to notice, or just can't see because it is their first time around as parents. We have the luxury of watching and noting and reflecting. Our very-soon-to-be-three-year old grandson is amazing, too. Everyone should notice how amazing these little humans are. As you were concerned about Imogene being nice and unnoticed, we are probably going to be concerned about our grandson drawing an abundance of attention being so actively curious! Everything in his strong, strong hands gets turned, twisted, pushed, pulled, opened, disassembled and repurposed. Happy Birthday, Imi!
ReplyDeleteI also wonder if as teachers we notice more too? Don't know, but I do know that each of my grandchildren is so special, just like yours to you, Donna. Amazing relationship, right? And I am always so happy to hear about yours too. Thanks for sharing your insights!
DeleteLove hearing about your time with your grandkids. They are certainly loved!
ReplyDelete