It was a warm day in July when my daughter called and woke me from my sleep with the BEST news! She was pregnant! We were in CO and while I was so happy and excited, I was wishing I could reach through the phone airways and give her a HUGE hug!

For years, especially after she got engaged and married, I would tell her I would prefer to become a grandmother after I was 55. It was mostly meant in a joking manner, but I just didn’t feel old enough to be a grandmother. My birth caused my Nani to become a grandmother at the very young age of 42! My firstborn arrived when my Mom was 46. So I really have no idea why I felt the need to want to wait til 55! Now that it was happening – my age was of no consequence – my baby was having a baby!

Michelle started taking pictures in front of her chalkboard at week 6. At 6 weeks Baby S was the size of a chocolate chip. Each week now on Thursdays we got an updated picture, with the appropriate sized fruit or veggie obtained from an app.

After letting the news sink in for a bit, I decided I wanted to fly in and spend some time with her, maybe go to a midwife appointment, help with some house stuff, things like that. Literally the next day, Michelle said to me that she would like me to come and shop and help with rearranging the kitchen, etc. We decided early November, after Bill and I arrived in TX would be a good time.

It didn’t quite work out that way. I was keeping track of prices for flights, but it never seemed like a good time to buy tickets. Turns out that was a good thing, as I flew sooner than expected for a few days, and then later drove back for a few weeks, to be in PA for our son. We did make the best of the whole thing, as the whole family was there for the gender reveal ultrasound! I was also able to meet her Doula and go to the midwife center and hear the heartbeat! Exciting for sure!

Michelle had been hoping for a girl, so we were very happy when the ultrasound tech saw little girl bits on the screen instead of a penis. I was completely impartial – happy with all the proper sized bone measurements, etc. We clearly saw her little feet, hands, leg and arm bones, spine – even her little nose! She was beautiful! I’ll admit it – there were a few tears!

During a trip to Michaels (the craft store), I found this really amazing yarn, which inspired me to crochet a blanket for the baby. I found the proper size hook and got started practicing right away. It had been years since I picked up a crochet hook! Didn’t take long though to choose a pattern and get stitching – I picked an easy two double crochets into the same hole, looks like a “V”. I watched a couple of YouTube videos to get it just right, especially the turns, which can get wonky real quick if you aren’t careful.

Interesting random fact – my granddaughter will be the 7th firstborn girl in our family! How cool is that!?

It’s been months since I’ve added to this post. Baby arrived just over a month ago and I am in LOVE 😍

During a routine check at 38 weeks, the midwife’s realized that Michelle’s water was trickling, an event which causes the clock to start counting down on when the birth should happen. Since she wasn’t 100% sure when the leaking began, the midwife felt it was best for us to head to the hospital and for Michelle to be induced.

Michelle was disappointed that having baby at the Midwife Center was no longer an option. She had done a lot of research and chose the Center based on their reputation, relaxed “non-clinical” environment and the ability to take advantage of many things not offered at the hospital – laboring in a warm bath being one of them.

Delivery of a healthy baby was of utmost importance, of course, so the three of us headed to the hospital, a short drive away. Thankfully we were prepared with the “go-bag” already in the truck. On the way, I called Bill and told him the news – we were about to become grandparents – SOON!

We arrived and Michelle was admitted. After making sure she was all settled, I took a few minutes to call my Mom, to let her know what was happening. I also got in touch with my son to let him know his father would be on his way to get him. Needless to say, everyone was very excited!

The short version is, about 33 hours later, we welcomed baby Freya Ann Stoltz into this world. She was a perfect 9lbs 6oz and 20″ long! My cup runneth over!

I don’t want to get into all the unnecessary details of her prolonged labor, but there are things that I want to say, especially now after a few weeks of time for the experience to sink in, so to speak.

I felt so privileged and honored that Michelle and Derek allowed me, wanted me, to be a part of the “team.” I would not trade being there for anything. It was not easy seeing my daughter in pain, but I knew it was temporary and she did so amazingly well – I was so proud of her! Derek was also beyond amazing – never left her side – helped her with any and everything. He was a true prince among men!

Welcoming my granddaughter, my first grandchild into the world was something I will hold dear in my heart forever!

Watching Bill greet his granddaughter was pretty awesome also, as was my son meeting his niece. I choke up just recalling it.

The best part for me, and I had to step back a bit to see it, was right before my eyes, a new little family was born. My baby now has her own family. With the birth of one tiny baby, an entirely new family has formed, and the rest expanded. People have taken on new names and roles. Derek and Michelle are now parents, Mommy and Daddy. Bill and I are now grandparents, Nani and Pop. Our son is now an uncle. My parents are now great-grandparents. Ok – I’ll stop. But seriously, the whole thing just overwhelms me.

Baby Freya is doing very well! By one month old, she surpassed her birth weight, and is a very healthy 10lbs 5oz. I’ve spent at least part of every day with her, giving the new Mom time to recover and both new parents an opportunity to get some sleep.

Being in their driveway has been great – I can be inside with only a short walk and a few moments notice.

I also wanted to talk about how this would have been different if Bill & I were still living “traditional” lives, in our sticks and bricks home in Reading, PA.

If we were still in that situation, chances are strong that I would not have been with them for the midwife appointment that sent them to the hospital, which I guess isn’t that big a deal. It would have taken us about 4 hours to get here, if we could have left right away, and considering we would have stopped in Lancaster for Billy.

Between the long labor and her hospital stay, it was almost five days. Would any employer have been ok with any of us missing so much work? Probably not. Would I have been able to be here these past three weeks and nearby (15 minutes away) for the next seven months? No way! We certainly could have come out on weekends and used vacation time to stay longer, but not nearly 7 months!

The freedom to be here for this time, allowing us to help is priceless. The time to bond with our new family member is just irreplaceable. We are so blessed!

How will this major life change effect our full-time travels? Time will tell for sure, but so far this is what we know: we have a seasonal site nearby for the summer. Bill’s install schedule for April, May and June is pretty full – as full as we want it – and estimates are out for later in the summer. In October we will head south to Florida, where Bill already has one confirmed install on the calendar. After the New Year we will head to Texas.

What will the holidays look like? That we aren’t sure of yet. I’m sure we will work it out. What will our 2020 look like? Not sure of that yet either. I think we have until September to renew or release our seasonal site at Hickory Hollow.

Are we going to become more snowbird RVers verses full-time traveling RVers? Maybe for a time, but I don’t think forever. There are still too many places we haven’t been to, too many things we haven’t done. Plus, taking Freya to National Parks, etc will be on our to-do list!

I realize most of you have been anxiously awaiting baby pics – but I’m sorry I can’t fully oblige. The new parents, concerned about internet safety, have asked that I do not share full-face pics here, on an open public page. I am disappointed to not be able to share full images of my beautiful new granddaughter with you, but I, of course, have to respect their wishes.

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