We can sleep together anywhere!

 Mila took a nap at the hospital in the early stages of her labor.

So did we….on the narrow couch in the Labor and Delivering room.

Amazingly, Mila and both of us slept quite soundly for two hours!

Today God gave us Gideon

 At 12:16 this morning, 2 1/2 hours after Mila’s water broke, our 15th grandchild born.

Gideon’s first photo, that I took immediately after birth, at 12:16 am:

My dear husband and I were with Mila. Danny was with us since Mila’s contractions began yesterday morning at 9:30 and in the delivery room until the last few hours. During the intense contractions in the final hours before birth, Grandpa was right outside the door, waiting to to see his new little grandson and our sweet daughter, Mila, who had performed a miracle….brought a new life into this world!

I stayed with Mila and did all I could to assist and comfort her during her labor. Mila allowed me to cut the umbilical cord.

I had been with Rachelle and Ryan when Ida was born almost 17 years ago. I felt honored to witness this miracle of the birth of a child then and now.  

It was difficult to watch our daughters in such intense, exhausting pain, but there is no other place that I would have wanted to be. It is indescribable to see the strength and determination that Mila and Rachelle and all our girls found deep within themselves during childbirth.

It will always be one of the most moving experiences in my life.  And a mother’s reward is this vulnerable, beautiful child that God has entrusted into their care.

Gideon in his first few minutes of life….

7 pounds, a perfectly shaped head, a big barrel chest, and just over 19 inches long…a perfect baby boy!.

 

We thank God for this child that you have given to Owen and Mila, all our family, and the world.  May his life be blessed.

Our little princess turns six

Mama did Hannah’s hair, nails, and makeup…..Hannah is all girl, and a very sweet little girl too!

Grandpa and Robert played the piano….

….and Vernon rocked to the music—he’s quite the dancer!

Then I taught our little grandsons how to play “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater.” 

Hannah’s all ready for her birthday party.  She’s our little princess!

PRESENT TIME!!!!

Mama and Papa are having a new baby boy in three days.  And Hannah got her new baby today!

Hannah named her Isabella.  She has three little brothers—Vernon, Robert, and Gideon (who is still in Mama’s tummy).  Now she has a little sister too….Isabella!

Papa gave Hannah a camera.  It’s much too complicated for Grandpa and me, but Hannah has already figured out how to use it.

Our Hannah….six years old!

Mama and Papa with their little girl….

CAKE TIME!!!!

This masterpiece was a Mila/Grandma creation. I made three layers of a very good strawberry cake….and Mila made an amazing cream cheese frosting.  Between the layers there was purple, blueberry frosting, yellow, mango frosting, and to top it off, Mila made strawberry frosting with heart shaped strawberries, swirls, twirls, and sparkles too!

The best cake ever, because it was simply beautiful….and for once, it tasted as good as it looked!

At the end of a very wonderful day, Mila said goodbye to her children….

….and gave her dear husband a hug and kiss before she left.

Owen surprised his sweet wife with a card and present.  

Mila came down to Nuestra Casa with us.  She needs to be close to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital for the birth of their child.  Our little grandson has been diagnosed with a heart defect and is under the care of some very talented specialists in Phoenix.

Owen is staying in Pine to care for his children….Hannah, Vernon, and Robert.  He is a good father and husband.

We will be with Mila day and night for the next few days. Mila is scheduled for an induction on Saturday.  We feel so fortunate and honored that Owen trusts us with his wife during the birth of their baby….little, tiny Gideon.  

Thank you, Owen and Mila.  We will take care of our daughter, Mila….and this new life that God has given to us.

Our whole family joined in for a most wonderful baby shower for our 15th grandchild!

Even though our family is spread out from Atlanta Georgia to the Olympic Peninsula on the Pacific Coast,  we all came together to celebrate Owen and Mila’s fourth child….a little boy that will be born any day now.  

This will be our 15th grandchild.  We love each one of our dear grandchildren so very much. We have so much love in our hearts for all these children, that it is simply overwhelming.  These big and little creatures that God has blessed us with, that we get to grandparent together, give meaning to our lives.

This day, the day that we all celebrated the newest child in our family, was a good day….a day to remember!

Even Marina, who is studying in Japan, joined in our prayer and celebration of this new wee little life.

This was a good day in all our lives….a day we will always remember. 

Our prayer before our dinner tonight was to give thanks for all the blessings that we are given.  One of these blessings are the bonds and love of our family that stretches across our great country from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans and throughout the World.

We give thanks to Mila’s Russian family who lives on the other side of the world for our dear Mila. And we pray that they will be able to travel to the United States in the future to see all of us….their family here in the USA.

February 27:

All the Baby Shower gifts of clothes, blankets, toys, and Mila’s post-birth beautiful wine colored dress washed, dried, and ready for Gideon to be born, take his first breath, and be embraced by his loving family.

The new baby carseat is installed in the Rat (our 4Runner). Mila and my go-to-hospital-bags are packed and ready to go.  My Danny is ready to meet Owen with the children and Mila….and take our new Mama and me to the hospital as soon as Mila and Gideon decide to that it is time for his birth.