I find it quite fascinating that scents we come across in everyday life imprint on our brains and each time those scents are smelled, they take us right back to the first moment and memory we smelled them.
My Grandmother's house had a very special scent that hit your nose the instant she opened the door to greet you with her "Hello Sweetheart" greeting and was instantly followed by her very special hug. My Grandmother passed away just a few months ago and I now have one of her blankets from her house that has been in use since I was a child and it still smells like her. When I myself really missing her, I bring out that blanket, wrap myself up in it and just sit and sniff in her special scent. Grandma's house always smelled sooo clean and fresh, her sheets and blankets were always so soft and smelled like they had been hung outside to dry in the sunshine. It is really hard to describe her scent... but when I smell it... it smells like love and I sure do miss it!
Then there is this new scent my nose is soaking up... and that is the scent of my new Grandbaby. I can tell from across the room if he has voided in his diaper... which totally surprises me. Of course you can smell when a baby has a poopy diaper... but this is when he wets his diaper and I can be in the kitchen cooking and I can still smell it. Is this some kind of instinctual signal my brain is in tune with that I'm not aware of? Will I still be able to smell a wet diaper from across the room the next time I see him after I have returned home from this visit? Hummm... it's just really interesting... these are new things that have me completely amazed! I mean I know a Momma can smell her babies special scents... but I'm just a visiting Grandma. But again... when I smell the scent of baby Henry... I smell love.
I also love the way ALL babies smell after their bath... the smell of baby lotion is just the sweetest smell ever... and it makes their skin so soft, all you want to do is rub their sweet skin. And all babies develop their own individual scent that new Mommies instantly recognize.
There are thousands of scents I could describe...and I can still remember what I was doing and just how I felt when I catch a whiff of those memory scents. I don't even realize that I'm going down a scented memory lane until I deep into it. When my husband is out of town I never wash the bed linens until his return because I love smelling his scent on the pillow next to me.... yet another love scent.
Henry is responsible for this blog about scents because last night after everyone was tucked in bed and fast asleep I could still smell Henry's scent on my clothing and I realized just how much I am already addicted to his special love scent. I'm looking forward to my nose learning baby Liam's love scent when he arrives in a couple of weeks. UMMMMMMMM it smells soooooo good!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Welcome To The World Baby Henry
It's official!! I'm FINALLY a Grandma!!! Henry Enzo Clouse joined our family tree on February 8, 2011. He is a BEAUT!!!! Teeny little fella weighed in at 7 lbs 1 oz... 20 1/2" long and has a head full of dark hair. He is truly his Daddy's clone with bits of Momma's personality thrown into the mix. I know ALL Grandma's proclaim their Grandbabies are just the sweetest, prettiest babies ever.... and I must admit... this is also true with Henry. Henry has his fathers looks and laid back disposition... in fact... he is a sleeper and has to be wakened to be fed... in fact... today Henry is a whole week old and sleeps from midnight to 6:00am... then he has to be wakened to feed. He rarely fusses and is quite alert when he is actually awake. I told my daughter this is exactly the kind of baby most new Mom's wish for because he is just so sweet, laid back and easy.
I am currently in Akron Ohio with the new "House of Clouse" family... thus the reason for the long stretch since my last posting. It's been a bit hectic and busy... but... WONDERFUL! Both Grandpa and I made it in for the birth... and I had the honor of being in the delivery room with Lauren and Kevin, along with my oldest daughter (Amber) who is a labor and delivery nurse. I honestly never wanted to be in a delivery room to witness a birth (I tend to be quite squeamish with blood and such)... ESPECIALLY my own daughter's delivery... however... when I was requested to be there... how could I say no??!! When I said SURE!!! I'd love to be in there with you... I thought that I would remain behind the bed and out of the view line... but... it's like watching a train wreck... once you see the head coming, you can't stop looking! It was the coolest thing I have EVER seen in my life!!!! Sooooooooo glad I was forced to witness the birth... it was the most AMAZING moment in my life thus far! Unfortunately... there is video documentation that Grandma was like a cat on catnip during the birth... all but jumping off the walls! I was just soooo excited!
There is literally no describing how incredible being a Grandparent is... too priceless for words! I also find it quite amazing how all the men in our family have gone completely gaga over Henry! They are all baby holding hogs! Once they get their hands on him, they have no intention of letting go until the baby is literally taken from their arms... I definitely did not expect this reaction from the men... the women for sure... but not the men. And I think it is the look of complete wonderment in their eyes while they are holding Henry that takes me by surprise as well... but I love watching the men with Henry.
Grandbaby #2 (Liam) is due in just a couple of weeks and now that I know what to expect... I am giddy with anticipation! I will also be staying with Momma #2 for a couple of weeks postpartum. I feel sooo much more prepared for Liam, since we have learned via trial and error with Henry on how to be organized in feeding, diapering, breast pumping and packing/loading/traveling. In just one weeks time we feel we are now a 'well oiled machine'... and it is amazing what can be accomplished with one hand holding the baby and the other preparing bottles, diapering and bathing.
Abundant with Blessings and looking foward to all the lessons these babies will teach us as they themselves grow and learn. My new favorite pastime is holding and snuggling Henry. I have already claimed "Grandma's spot" to nuzzle... which is on his neck, between/under his ears and chin. Henry is a cuddle bug snuggler, and he doesn't care who does the cuddling or snuggling!
Before closing this post... I have to share the funniest thing that has happened since Henry's birth. Lauren and Kevin have a year old dog (Zoey) who on day one was quite confused... thinking Henry was a toy... but she quickly learned he is the new alpha-dog in the house and is now very protective over Henry. On the rare occasion when Henry fusses... Zoey has to come sniff or lick Henry's toes and ear to make sure he is ok. Last night after Lauren had breast fed Henry... she fell asleep (aka passed out from exhaustion)... head back on the couch, mouth wide open (close to snoring)... both breasts still exposed... I had taken Henry out of her arms to change his diaper and Zoey was army crawling up next to Lauren... like she usually does to claim her spot next to Lauren. All of a sudden I hear Lauren yelp and startle awake... she thought she still had Henry in her arms and he was rooting to nurse... but... it was actually Zoey who decided to seize the moment and give her breast a big slurpy lick... and when Lauren startled awake and realized it wasn't Henry, but Zoey who wanted to suckle her breast... Zoey just sat and looked at her like "WHAT!!! I didn't do anything"! Sooooo wish we had caught that on video... it was hilarious!
This blog that started out as a tribute to Julia Child and has since become a random thought/experience blog will most likely have many more postings about the joys of Grandparenthood and/or about what precious new thing these babies accomplish or do. But one thing is for sure... you can bet that Grandpa is going to encourage their interests in sports... especially golfing... Grandma is going to encourage their interests in the world of culinary treasures and we both will encourage them in world travels/cultures and the love of wonderful food. Oh what fun we are going to have helping them discover the world.
Welcome to the world Baby Henry... and Liam... we await your arrival and look forward to watching you boys grow up together as brother cousins!
I am currently in Akron Ohio with the new "House of Clouse" family... thus the reason for the long stretch since my last posting. It's been a bit hectic and busy... but... WONDERFUL! Both Grandpa and I made it in for the birth... and I had the honor of being in the delivery room with Lauren and Kevin, along with my oldest daughter (Amber) who is a labor and delivery nurse. I honestly never wanted to be in a delivery room to witness a birth (I tend to be quite squeamish with blood and such)... ESPECIALLY my own daughter's delivery... however... when I was requested to be there... how could I say no??!! When I said SURE!!! I'd love to be in there with you... I thought that I would remain behind the bed and out of the view line... but... it's like watching a train wreck... once you see the head coming, you can't stop looking! It was the coolest thing I have EVER seen in my life!!!! Sooooooooo glad I was forced to witness the birth... it was the most AMAZING moment in my life thus far! Unfortunately... there is video documentation that Grandma was like a cat on catnip during the birth... all but jumping off the walls! I was just soooo excited!
There is literally no describing how incredible being a Grandparent is... too priceless for words! I also find it quite amazing how all the men in our family have gone completely gaga over Henry! They are all baby holding hogs! Once they get their hands on him, they have no intention of letting go until the baby is literally taken from their arms... I definitely did not expect this reaction from the men... the women for sure... but not the men. And I think it is the look of complete wonderment in their eyes while they are holding Henry that takes me by surprise as well... but I love watching the men with Henry.
Grandbaby #2 (Liam) is due in just a couple of weeks and now that I know what to expect... I am giddy with anticipation! I will also be staying with Momma #2 for a couple of weeks postpartum. I feel sooo much more prepared for Liam, since we have learned via trial and error with Henry on how to be organized in feeding, diapering, breast pumping and packing/loading/traveling. In just one weeks time we feel we are now a 'well oiled machine'... and it is amazing what can be accomplished with one hand holding the baby and the other preparing bottles, diapering and bathing.
Abundant with Blessings and looking foward to all the lessons these babies will teach us as they themselves grow and learn. My new favorite pastime is holding and snuggling Henry. I have already claimed "Grandma's spot" to nuzzle... which is on his neck, between/under his ears and chin. Henry is a cuddle bug snuggler, and he doesn't care who does the cuddling or snuggling!
Before closing this post... I have to share the funniest thing that has happened since Henry's birth. Lauren and Kevin have a year old dog (Zoey) who on day one was quite confused... thinking Henry was a toy... but she quickly learned he is the new alpha-dog in the house and is now very protective over Henry. On the rare occasion when Henry fusses... Zoey has to come sniff or lick Henry's toes and ear to make sure he is ok. Last night after Lauren had breast fed Henry... she fell asleep (aka passed out from exhaustion)... head back on the couch, mouth wide open (close to snoring)... both breasts still exposed... I had taken Henry out of her arms to change his diaper and Zoey was army crawling up next to Lauren... like she usually does to claim her spot next to Lauren. All of a sudden I hear Lauren yelp and startle awake... she thought she still had Henry in her arms and he was rooting to nurse... but... it was actually Zoey who decided to seize the moment and give her breast a big slurpy lick... and when Lauren startled awake and realized it wasn't Henry, but Zoey who wanted to suckle her breast... Zoey just sat and looked at her like "WHAT!!! I didn't do anything"! Sooooo wish we had caught that on video... it was hilarious!
This blog that started out as a tribute to Julia Child and has since become a random thought/experience blog will most likely have many more postings about the joys of Grandparenthood and/or about what precious new thing these babies accomplish or do. But one thing is for sure... you can bet that Grandpa is going to encourage their interests in sports... especially golfing... Grandma is going to encourage their interests in the world of culinary treasures and we both will encourage them in world travels/cultures and the love of wonderful food. Oh what fun we are going to have helping them discover the world.
Welcome to the world Baby Henry... and Liam... we await your arrival and look forward to watching you boys grow up together as brother cousins!
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About Me
- Vickie G
- I am a short little lady with a passion for cooking and pilates. I have been married for 31 years to my high school sweetheart (my soulmate and love of my life!!!) and we have 3 amazing daughters. I am 50 years old and love living life with as much zest as possible.