Saturday 13 September 2014

A Letter To My Granddaughter, Aged 6 Months

A little stewed apple goes a long way

Dear Avalyn Grace

I wrote to you 6 months ago, when you were born (here it is). So much has changed since that day, so I thought I'd write to you again. The biggest change has been in you. Here you are, sitting up (a bit topply still but you're getting there) and beginning to enjoy some solid food - even if much of it gets spread all over your face.

You now recognise members of your family - your eyes light up and you smile with delight whenever you see your mum and dad and gratifyingly, when you see your granddad and me. Your smile is as wide as Africa, and brightens the dullest day. You have started to ''sing'' loudly and frequently delight bus passengers and people in restaurants with your vocal talents. At least, we hope they are delighted.

A smile as wide as Africa

You still don't go through the night - luckily your mum mastered the art of sleeping standing up while doing her Territorial Army Training - we wondered at the time whether it was a skill she'd ever need to use in the future. How wrong we were. It's certainly coming into its own now.

Along with your stunning ability to keep two grown adults awake during much of the hours of darkness, you are also managing NOT to conform to the many expert baby manuals they dutifully bought when you were born. You ''should'' be rolling, you ''should be'' cutting teeth, you ''should be'' doing this...or that....but alas, you haven't read the books, so you are developing at your own pace.

The 'bucket list' of achievements means nothing as far as you are concerned. You are doing your own thing, riding your own wave. As you will spend most of your young life being measured against a set of ridiculous and arbitrary developmental milestones, go ahead. Refuse to be straitjacketed and enjoy being yourself.

I cannot believe that a whole six months of your life has sped by and in another six months, you will be a year old. Soon after that, I shall be looking after you when your mum returns to work. Admittedly I'm not one of the ''experts' but I have my own 'bucket list' all ready. On it are: love, cuddles, fun and adventures. And I promise you, I will make sure you manage to achieve them all.

With my love

Grandma


19 comments:

  1. Beautifully written...*sniff*... One day...sooner than you probably think...young Avalyn will be reading this and smiling to herself whilst still flushed with the warmth of all the love that will forever embrace her. She's a very lucky little girl...

    I can't wait to read the blog-post she may one day write....I bet it's a hoot....:)

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    1. I never thought about that! EEk! Mind, by that time, they won't do writing..it'll be some osmotic thing ..

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  2. I also *sniffed* reading this. So beautifully written, so much from your heart. But she is a beautiful girl and that smile is a delight. I'm so glad she's doing her own thing, but then what would we expect with you as her gran *wink*.

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    1. Aw, thanks Val. I think she is developing her own little personality though ...and her mum and dad are both ''characters''.... doesn't stan a chance!

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  3. Haha brilliant Carol, she sounds a lot like her grandma! I never used the expert books on my three, I was a seat-of-your-pants mother and loved/love every second of it. What a wonderful thing to do for her, I think more people should write to their children/grandchildren so they have a stack of memories and keepsakes

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    1. Thanks Shelley ... I hope her mum (my daughter) will store these in some cyber cupboard for later

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  4. Lovely 'sniff making' post, Carol. Brought back so many wonderful memories!
    Love the new header, by the way...

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    1. THANKS! nobody else has commented on the new header..which I hope means nobody dislikes it enough to comment.

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    2. I've just noticed it! So strange because when I first opened the page, the old header came up! I shall miss your lovely 2CV, but this is..well…so fitting. Brilliant!

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    3. What a lovely blog post and how lucky she is to have such a fun and loving grandmother. If she's anything like you, she'll be doing it HER way, ALL the way! The best way to be, in my book :)

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  5. My granddaughter started school last week. How did four years go by so fast!!! Enjoy these precious days.

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  6. Lovely words from a loving granny. I hope this dear little one continues to march to her own drummer. It's not an easy beat to keep but BOY is it worth it!
    PS... loving that sofa cake! ; Dx

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  7. Awe she's gorgeous Carol. Lovely letter. I still write a diary for my granddaughter although I did miss quite a while. I will have to start one for the second one. Love the cake header.

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  8. Jo and Anne, I am so aware of the passing of time. Especially when I re-read that first letter..and I know you both have trod this path before me..... why do they grow up so quickly?

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    1. Thank you person who, I don't think, has graced this blog with her presence. PLease grace it again.

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  10. And you'll be child-carer extraordinaire! Wish I could look after mine like that!

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