Bigger than a Guppy

Last week was spring break for Ben's kids and so we wanted to do something with them during that time. We checked the weather conditions and it looked like Friday would be a perfect day for fishing...84 degrees. By Thursday it had turned windy and chilly, and we were afraid we were going to have to postpone. But come Friday it looked like a good fishing day. We are able to go to a little private pond that is owned by one of Paul's clients. One of the good parts about it is that it is only about five minutes from home. We picked the kids up around 12:30, bought worms, etc. and were fishing by 2:00. We only had Hannah and Harrison because Autumn had gone to Mexico with her other grandma. We threw out the first casts so their memories could be refreshed on how to do it; but after that they were totally on their own. When I kept saying, "Great cast!" I wasn't even trying to be nice...they really were great casts. Hannah caught the first fish...a great big bass. Then when she caught her second one she reeled and reeled, but when it got too heavy for her she just walked away from the pond, with the pole resting on her shoulder, dragging the fish out of the water. Oh, to have had a video going. Then sometime later Paul was able to hook one. After Harrison had been sitting on the dock for awhile he made the casual comment, "If you want to catch a fish, you have to be patient." Not too long after that his pole bent, and he reeled in his fish. What a great day...they both caught fish. I was the only one who didn't catch any, but it was still a great day. (I remember when Katy was little she said, "I really like to go fishing. I don't care if I catch anything or not; I just like to hold the pole.") We had told the kids that we would leave whenever they wanted to. After three hours they were saying things like "one more cast", "We have to stay until you catch one, Grandma." Finally Hannah said, "Uno mas." (One more.) And it was still about an hour before we headed to the car. They both made the comment that had they gone to Mexico they wouldn't have been able to go fishing. Now that's a successful grandparent/ grandchild day!

Devon Joseph Smith

I can't believe that Joe and Annie's baby is already one week old today. But then he wasn't even due until October 9th or 10th. Even though he was nine days early, it's about time I am getting around to my blog. I'm still not in the groove, as you must have noticed by now. They knew a boy was coming, but they couldn't decide on a name. All of us were giving her suggestions, but they finally came up with Devon Joseph Smith. They wanted a name that was a little bit out of the ordinary because of the very common last name of Smith; so they didn't want Michael, David, etc. And they wanted a name that couldn't be shortened, like from Charles to Charlie or Steven to Steve. And no similar sounds slurring from first name to last, so it couldn't be Max or Alex. He was born on September 30, Tuesday's child, but didn't have a name until Wednesday. Devon Joseph Smith, going by Devon, of course, since there are four previous Joseph Smiths on his dad's side, and besides, Joseph is usually shortened to Joe. He was born at 7:33 a.m. and weighed 7 lbs. 2.4 oz. I'm not the slightest bit prejudiced when I say he is one gorgeous baby boy! Remember that I volunteer once a week at Tucson Medical Center in the newborn nursery and have been there for fourteen years now, and have seen a lot of babies. Annie and Joe are darling parents. It's been fun to watch them. I knew Annie would take right to it because she has always been so very cute with babies, but with Joe I wasn't exactly sure because I don't remember ever seeing him even hold any of our other babies. And when he was handed his son, right after birth, he said, "Now what do I do with it?" ("It"?)The way I understand it is that he wasn't even cradling him...just kind of holding him out like a football. Too funny. Likely we will never let him forget it either. But he has gotten into the groove of fatherhood real quickly...changed diapers at the hospital and everything. I think it was cute of him to tell me that he wants to be an involved parent, even though he was nervous to change diapers because of the circumcision. This is such a bonus time for me as a parent to watch my own kids take on parenthood. Annie and Joe are already doing a wonderful job; I'm very proud of them. I've been taking meals in to them since they have gotten home from the hospital, so for five days now I've gotten to observe them. One funny thing Annie said a couple of days ago..."It was a sad day today. I realized my cats are not my babies." Annie and Joe have both been such cat lovers for such a long time that I wondered how they would transition. Move over Samson and Jasmin...Devon has just knocked you off your pedestals. I can laugh, but it happened to me, too, with our dog, Chuy. I'm embarrassed to say, but it's true...when I was expecting Ben, I actually said, "I wonder if I will love this baby as much as I love this dog." The minute he was born, however, I instantly fell in love with him, and Chuy took the back burner.