I'll be visiting all the blogs participating in NaBloPoMo today, so I thought a quick introduction post for new visitors, including a bit of catch-up for my current blogging friends, might be a good idea for today.
I'm Martha. I'm a native Floridian living just down the street from the beach on the SW coast of Florida - right in the area where hurricane Milton came ashore last year, but we'll save that story for another day. I've been blogging on and off since way back in 2003. I'm a widow. I have three grown children, two beautiful little granddaughters, and two more grandbabies on the way!
I'm currently a stay-at-home grandma, or Gamma as they call me, and it looks like I'll be staying home for quite a while at the rate the babies are coming. This old Gamma is going to be completely worn out.
My youngest son just got married on Halloween this past weekend. He got engaged last year, and they were in the process of planning a wedding for next Halloween - obviously, it's their favorite holiday. They had a little surprise along the way and decided to just go ahead and tie the knot with a small ceremony this year instead. Their baby girl is due on Christmas Day.
My other son and his wife are expecting their third baby in late June of next year. We don't know the due date or the gender yet, but my guess would be another girl.
My daughter, my oldest, is very content just being an aunt. She was completely traumatized after being required to bring home one of those Realcare babies when she was only in eighth grade. She decided then and there that she never wanted children of her own, and she's never changed her mind. She and her partner are living happily ever after with their five kitties.
That covers the basics and my family life at the moment. What's been happening with you and yours?
I was wondering if that first grandbaby had any siblings! I suspected she might, being, what? three now? My oldest son and his wife aren't having children. My youngest son and his girl friend don't want any either. In fact, he didn't like babies when he was a little kid himself! He works with elementary kids, so that's enough for him! That leaves the middle child to have a grandchild. Maybe, maybe not. I never really felt like some of the "I want grandchildren" women.
ReplyDeleteYep, the first one is three and half now, the second just turned two in August. I don't know how young people are even able to afford having children these days! My youngest son didn't like babies when he was little either. In fact, he was afraid of them, lol. I'm glad you are fine with whatever your kids decide on either way :)
DeleteWow! A lot has happened since you left the blogosphere. Congrats on all the great events with the sons and grands. I love being Nana, and so far I have just one grandson.
ReplyDeleteIf that's it, then okay. It's not up to me.
A Halloween wedding! Was it themed?
OMG Nance there's so much more, but this was all the good stuff, the rest not so great. I'm glad you are enjoying being a Nana. It's so much fun, but having more than one starts getting tough if you have to watch them. The wedding was themed. They did it at the courthouse and I was shocked at how they had the room totally decked out for Halloween. It was way more than even my son and his bride expected. Even the officiant was dressed up. It was great!
DeleteCongrats on two beautiful grands and two more on the way! That is exciting news!
ReplyDeleteWe now hjave four Great GRandchildren and love them all. Three of our five Grands are married and one is engaged and one is still looking and will be 30 in 2026. Our middle Granddaughter Maddie is Mom to all four of our Greats! Far Guy had breast cancer and he is going through Radiation now, he had his first treatment today. The Cancer Center is about 3 hours from our home so we have moved in with our youngest daughter Jen and hr husband Andy who are empty nesters except for a Golden Retriever named Sadie. It is just a ten minute drive to the Cancer Center from their home. We have wintered with them the past three winters. I had Spine Surgery last June and am finally getting to be somewhat normal activity wise. I stay busy with crafts and crocheting etc... one day at a time! Good to hear about you and your family:)
Connie, Thanks for the catch up! I know about your struggles, I've read back on your blog. You and Far Guy are amazingly strong and resilient. I also saw your recent photos, so I've seen all those little cuties you have. I was an older mom and my kids are on the older side starting their families too. I doubt if I'll be around long enough to see any great grandchildren. You are so blessed!
DeleteA Christmas baby. How fun. My eldest nephew was almost a Christmas baby. He was born the day after.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was born on Christmas eve so she will have a new baby to share her birthday (or close to it) with.
DeleteI am watching my sisters become grandparents and how ga-ga they are over the littles. It's fun to see. I don't have any grandkids and my sons are confirmed bachelors, but they are happy, so so am I. I retired earlier this year, and we're starting to do a little travel which has been fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are happy and content with whatever your sons want to do, and I'm so happy to hear you have retired and and doing some traveling too!
DeleteHi Martha. Thanks for the update. So many grandbabies - how fun. A Halloween wedding, were guests expected to dress in costume? My Curly was due Christmas day, and I was induced the 19th. I'm Dec 30th. We have a lot of Christmas birthdays. My vote is that this baby never know what a combo gift is. ;) 5 kitties? That's a lot of kitties.
ReplyDeleteIn my world? Well, the two youngest (new additions) keep us on our toes. We never leave them home alone, even though they are 14 and 13. We don't trust them. As I like to remind them, "You've created this situation, and now you have to live with it." My daycare is Mon-Thurs, and I love my Fridays off. I'm at the airport right now, waiting for a flight that is 2.5 hours delayed. Bummer. I'll be in Tampa for a day (well less than at this point) for my childhood neighbor's funeral. She was 87. I'm starting to doubt if the flight will ever take off.
Hi Ernie. Yes, so many grandbabies! If anyone can relate to a houseful of kids, it's you! I'm not sure how I'm going to keep up. My daughter was born on Christmas eve so we know all about the combo gifts. She definitely always got ripped off. I hope you made it to Tampa by now! Also, I know with you and Coach the love you have to give will eventually pay off with your two latest additions to the family - no doubt in my mind. Hugs!!
DeleteI was going to ask you about your granddaughter and here you already have another and two more grandson the way! That is so exciting! Did you retire and do you watch your grandsdaughters? A lot can sure happen in just a few years.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update asi didn’t remember all your children. My oldest has three now (boy, then 2 girls, ages 8, 6, 4) and my youngest (son) has a 2 year old daughter. They moved to Chicago in May, so we are sad to not get to see them often. My oldest lives 30 minutes away and I go there to babysit once a week, but it’s just the 4 YO so a lot easier than before. My Middle Child (one with autism) lives with us and I drive her back and forth to work and activities, so I keep busy.
So great to have you back❣️
Grands on the way, not grandson (but that would be fun!)
DeleteHi Bijoux. I was already retired from my career, but was working my butt off as a freight manager by choice, I still nee to work at least part time and wanted something active after sitting at a desk all day for many years. I do watch my grandbabies. After the second was born I left my job. It was really hard having a toddler and an infant at the same time. As they grew my days were spent just trying to make sure I kept them unharmed and alive - it was seriously insane! I'm so glad you filled me in on your family too, I didn't remember details and you've had a new one since I've been here too - congrats!!
DeleteYou had one grandchild when you were last blogging and now you'll soon be up to four. Congratulations! My good news is I'm now a grandmother, too, something I never thought would happen. My son has always loved children. He dotes on his baby daughter in a way that is so heartwarming. His partner also has a 13 year old son from a previous relationship so I went from zero to two grands since you last blogged.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good memory Alana, and I'm so happy for your son, and so happy to hear you are a grandma now times two! Do they live close to you?
DeleteLong time no hear from! I had to go back and refresh my memory! Welcome back. I am sorry to hear of the sorrow you have had in the past few years, but then it seems that God has blessed you with some beautiful blessings of grandchildren, with two more on the way. I know it's still not the same, but it's such a blessing that you are able to be a part of your grandchildrens' lives in such a close way. Congratulations on the family additions! I still just have one grandson, and he is 26. I keep hoping that he will present us with a great-grandchild someday, but he has to find the right woman for that to happen! He was engaged for a while, but they broke up and so far I haven't heard of any further developments in that department. He lives in Maine, and we are in Florida, so we don't get to see each other very often. Oh, I am sorry you had to go through Hurricane Milton last year. I know that was a bad one. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad where we live, but I know your area had a lot of problems. I am thankful we didn't have any bad storms this year (so far! the season isn't quite over yet). Our pond is dry, and we really need rain so badly, but we'll be patient and let it just fill back up naturally with rainfall whenever it happens. It's good to hear from you again and I hope you will stay in touch with us! You have a lot of excitement coming up!
ReplyDeleteAll the babies! How awesome - having my mom nearby when the kids were little was an absolute godsend. I admire your daughter's self-knowledge, and suspect my daughter may choose the same path. I have a friend who got married on Halloween and it looked like an absolute blast.
ReplyDeleteI have two kids in their early twenties who live a five-hour drive and a five-hour flight (across a border) away. My husband travels a lot, so I am alone quite a bit of the time (with the dog) and my parents are nearby. We have a very close circle of friends and I am an introvert, so I miss my kids but I'm okay with the way things are for now.
What a wealth of grandbabies! I'm thrilled for you. I will have my fourth grandson in December or possibly this month. I have two daughters, so I am delighted that I get to experience boys. They are very different and wonderful! Like you, I try to be there for my daughters and grandsons although I sometimes feel torn if everyone needs me at once. This time of year is prime time for viruses. I don't know how young parents can afford anything! Daycare, insurance, housing, etc. It's disturbing. :(
ReplyDeleteNice to "meet" you. I have three adult children. My son (the youngest) is getting married next February, but they are both young, so I think grandchildren will be a way off, which I am not unhappy about. My daughters are both completely uninterested in dating and having babies.
ReplyDeleteHi Martha, I’m Daria from New Jersey!
ReplyDeleteI have two kids, 5 and 7, a husband and a job as a public school teacher. I am originally from Russia and I came to the US 20 some years ago.
Looking forward to writing with you!
Momofchildren.com
Your family is sure growing! We have another blogger pal down your way who dealt with the Milton storm too. Take care.
ReplyDeleteHi there Martha! You and I have some thing in common- we both live in Florida (I live in Boca, across the state from you.) You have grandkids- I CAN'T WAIT to have grandkids! My son is 22 but in a serious relationship, and they want kids. My daughter is still in high school and hates kids, lol, so my hope lies in my son. Do you take care of your granddaughters during the day? Sounds like a fun job!
ReplyDelete... it's so lovely being a Grandma, or as you are called Gamma :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I’m so glad you are back to blogging. I know after losing your husband, the last few years have been a mix of sweet and sour. So glad to hear about the grandbabies and the wedding!
ReplyDeleteI know of two bloggers in Florida besides you, Jenny, above, and Stephany (both are doing NaBloPoMo). I think Stephany lives closer to you than Jenny, her car was totaled by a hurricane last year.
Hello, again, Martha! I'm thrilled to know that you are enjoying your grandchildren and that one is expected a Christmas. My father's birthday was on Christmas Day, believe it or not! Many years and tears ago, I lost my husband to a freak accident in 1997. I don't know if there's anything more traumatic than that than losing a child. God blessed me with Danny when we met in 2003 and married in 2005. We've been together, through thick and thin, ever since. Danny is the only grandfather the grands have ever known, and they love him so much.
ReplyDeleteBlessings always!
Nice to meet you Martha! I look forward to getting to know you better this November!
ReplyDelete