It all started nine months ago . . .
Well, eight, to be technical. We got a package in the mail from one of our married couples, then video-called them while we opened it (per the instructions) and discovered our first grandchild would arrive in April of the following year!
April seemed so very, very far away.
By the beginning of last month, we were all anxious, every twinge and drop and doctor’s appointment being of great concern to all the family. Several times labor seemed imminent. We started to put together our travel plans for “if it happens on this day, then. . .”
Interestingly, way back in January of this year, my husband learned he had a conference he needed to attend near our son and daughter-in-law, a conference scheduled just a few days before the due date. So of course we already had a firm plan for April 24. Fly down that morning—Wednesday—then hubby would drive to his conference in a nearby city then return to spend the weekend with all of us. We hoped the baby would arrive a day or two early so we would be there. As time went on, everything looked set to do just that. In fact, my son even texted on Tuesday afternoon to solidify the plan and confirm that it should be just fine.
Until he called at 9 pm on Tuesday night—just 12 hours before our scheduled flight.
Her water had broken. They were headed to the hospital. We waited for confirmation of her check-in, then got in the car. It was 11 pm.
11pm!
We are usually in bed well before then. And asleep. Instead, we started on our 6 1/2 hour drive, hoping to make it before our granddaughter was born. We stopped for gas and coffee. Bathrooms and Dr. Pepper. We listened to the entire cast recording of Les Miserables. Finally, we pulled into the hospital parking lot at 5:30 am. When we got to the labor and delivery waiting room, she was pushing. Less than an hour later, our granddaughter made her appearance.
We had to wait another three hours to finally get to see and hold her—and learn her name! But when that moment arrived, we were completely smitten. Ivy James Mateer, our 8 lb. 4 oz. bundle of joy.
Those first few days were full of wonder—and little sleep. And yet in those days I felt so much the Lord redeeming my own days as a new mother. I loved watching little Ivy sleep. And stretch. And eat. And even cry! I loved watching my son learn to be more confident holding his daughter and caring for his wife. I loved watching my daughter-in-law give everything—even her sleep—for the sake of her child, and I love that she let me help her. I loved that my husband got to be there. I loved spending time with my own daughter through the experience. All those moments, the ups and downs, the hard and the happy, were a picture of the wonder and beauty of the grace of God in all our lives.
This new adventure is indeed grand. And I am grateful. Grateful I get to watch and to participate in the coming journey with Ivy and with her parents. Grateful I can pray for them even when I am not near. Grateful I can encourage them with my own experience of God’s faithfulness through the parenting process. Grateful that “the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.” (Psalm 103:17)
Do you have a special memory about the first time you became a grandparent? Or maybe the first time you watched your mother or mother-in-law with your child? Tell us about it!
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Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl!
Thank you!
Congratulations! My first grandchild was born four and a half years ago, and I was blessed to be in the room for the birth. All of my own children were born by C-section, so it was my first natural birth. What an experience! So glad you got to be there for your first grandchild.
What a special experience for you! I know you cherish that memory!
Congratulations to you and your family, Anne! I love being a Grandma, too.
Thanks, Lynn. I was so nervous but fell immediately in love with this little chunky monkey! 🙂
Hi Anne, I loved seeing the photos of your new granddaughter! What a delight!!
Thanks, Carrie!
Congratulations, D’Ann! Miss Ivy is a beauty! I look forward to those special moments.
Thanks, Karen! She is a beauty and I am blown away at the joy of being a grandmother!
Awww!! Congrats! She’s beautiful!
Thank you!
I’m so happy for your and your family. I have been priviledged to be there are nearby for the birth of all but one of our grandchildren. What a blessing they have been and still are in our lives. Now the cycle is beginning again with Great Grandchildren. I only gets better and better!
Sorry for the typo’s. I was interrupted and did not edit before I posted. Embarrassed!
Don’t be embarrassed! We all mistype these days. And I love the encouragement that it keeps getting better and better from one who I know is an awesome grandmother! 🙂
She is BEAUTIFUL, Anne! Isn’t being a grandma the best?! My next-to-newest granddaughter is also named Ivy. I love the name. May your life be full of many wonderful grandmother memories starting with little Ivy!
Oh my goodness!!! I love that you have an Ivy, too! Our lives just continue on their parallel tracks.😂
Oh, Anne! I loved this post (and the gorgeous pictures) so much! Best wishes to you, your son, his wife, and their beautiful Ivy. I’m rejoicing with you!
Thank you, Becky! Rejoicing is definitely the word!
Congratulations on your new grand baby and to your entire family. God’s sweetest and best blessings on you all in abundance. 💐
Thank you so much!
Anne, I am so thrilled for you! What a wonderful experience. Being a grandmother is the best! Now I have experienced being a great grandmother and it continues to get better! Congrats to all if you!! Ivy is beautiful!
Thank you, Susan! Good to know the fun never ends! 🙂
Brings back memories of the first time I saw Elizabeth and the night you and Jeff went out and I got to babysit. Elizabeth and I lay on the couch her sleeping and me doing a lot of thinking. I was really proud to be a grandmother and then it hit me, my baby boy (he’ll always be my baby boy to me) was a daddy. Then I started to cry, they were happy tears but I knew that being so far away I wouldn’t get to see her much, so they were sad tears too. I love being a grandma and I love the fact that I’m now a great grandma.
That makes me happy. Such a sweet memory. I’m glad we’ll get to be there when you meet Ivy! 🙂
Congratulations on grandmother-hood! You will be the loveliest, helpful, wise and unobtrusive grandmother ever. She is beautiful!
Aw. Thank you, sweet friend! You always know how to encourage me! 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS, Anne! She is so sweet, and what a lovely name. So glad ya’ll made it to be there just in time!