Our waiting is over. Sorry to have been coy in my earlier post the; story wasn’t primarily mine to tell. But Tuesday morning we had the privilege of bringing this Little Girl to the hospital to meet her baby brother, to see our son holding both of them, to reflect on how much he’s changed since she was born, and to hug and congratulate our sweet daughter-in-law and listen to her birth story. (She’s a hero, and her exclusion from the photos here is solely out of respect for her privacy.)
Little Brother, Mom, and Dad are still in the hospital another couple of days, and we’re loving our solo time with Big Sister (although I will admit that we’re both glad she’s in preschool daycare for a good chunk of each day — she’s a busy Girl!).
(And in case any of you ever read Russell and Lillian Hoban’s A Baby Sister for Frances to an earlier generation and wonder if the antics of that little badger still hold a child’s attention? I gave her the book on arrival Monday afternoon, and I’ve personally been asked to read it to her four times since then; once, I finished the last page and she asked me to read it again right then — yes, I obliged. Her Granddad’s read it to her at least three times, and her Mom read it to her once before heading to the hospital.)
So there’s my news, and now I’d better go change the blog masthead — six grandchildren now!
Ah. Congratulations, Frances. She's lovely They're all lovely. Your masthead is having a hard time keeping up with you:) xox
Congratulations, Frances, on another grandchild.
Wow!, does your son look like your husband, or what?!
(Just realized the "or what" really makes me sound like I am from New England)!
Have fun with big sister-she must be loving all the undivided attention.
A.in London
Just like an "eh" added would make you sound Canadian (we do the "or what" as well, at least around here)
Susan Burpee, We were on the exact same wave-length, at the exact same time…published at the same time. And, here we are-4,000 miles apart. Isn't Frances' blog the best for making the world a smaller place?
A.in London
Congratulations! All your grandchildren are beautiful. (I think, from my less than perfect memory, you have shared something on all of them)
Suz from Vancouver
I think I probably have, Suz. Thank you!
Wonderful news. Six grandchildren wow. Enjoy. B x
I feel the same way. Wow! 😉
thank you
Very best wishes to all!!
thanks!
Such great news…
I do love that book and sounds like its a hit with your granddaughter!
Enjoy your family time.XO
Thank you!
Congratulations. Thanks for the reminder what a good read the Frances books are.
Thank you! And they do hold up, those books featuring my namesake 😉
Seeing this, this morning, makes all the difference . . . enchanting photos, such happy news!
I'm glad you enjoyed hearing our happy news, thank you.
Congratulations to all, what lovely news and now I must look out my copy of A Baby Sister for Frances!
Thanks, Lucille. I like to think of some of the commenters here, in their various spots across the globe, sitting down with their copies of this lovely classic 😉
Congratulations, Frances! What happy, happy news!
🙏
Lovely, happy news, congratulations to all. Beautiful photos full of love. Wilma D
Thank you!
Such a lovely positive post, Frances. What could be more wonderful than a new life to welcome Spring. Many congratulations x
Yes, our new little guy has more than made up for all the rain 😉 Thank you!
How wonderful! Congratulations to all the family!
🙏
Congratulations Mater and Pater on the safe arrival of your precious new grandson. Lovely pictures of the baby with dad and older sister. Many congratulations to your son and daughter in law!
Amelia
Thanks so much, Amelia. I'll be passing all these good wishes on to Mama and Papa…
Congratulations to Mater and Pater as well and to the proud parents and big sister. Wonderful photos. I loved "A Baby Sister for Frances" and "Bread and Jam for Frances," all the Russell Hoban oeuvre including his wonderful post-apocalyptic "Riddley Walker." Enjoy your new grandchild. Brenda
I must read "Riddley Walker." Just quizzed Paul (a science-fiction buff also) on whether he's read it, and he doesn't think so. On our lists now…
Congratulations! What's his name??
I'll just say it begins with C, and allow him a privacy that I hadn't with the others. It's becoming more important these days, perhaps….
Congratulations! Love the Russell Hoban books. Enjoy.
🙏
Congratulations to all! I have to say I guessed something along those lines. I looked up the book – adorable! I always try to give a gift for big brothers/sisters too.
So I wasn't as coy as I thought 😉
I'm glad to hear of someone else who offers the older sibling a gift. I always think a gift for the big brother/sister makes as much sense as one for a baby (who couldn't care less). Although it's always fun to indulge in shopping for a little one… 😉
What a wonderful news!
Congratulations to you and Paul,as well as to the young family. Having a grandmother and grandfather to help -just precious!
(I've first checked the masthead :-))
The kids are so sweet!
Dottoressa
Aw, thank you, K!
Exciting times…. well done!
Ali
Thanks — it was a joy and a relief…
Congratulations to the whole family – including Pater and you, and your other children and grandchildren.
Thanks, lagatta. I really appreciate this sentiment, because the other cousins, the aunts and uncles, really do feel enriched by this new little one.
How lucky for everyone, and what a great choice the new baby book is! As they get older, Max the rabbit has an older sister (blanking on her name) who is wise and loving with Max's antics – there is a series of board books that got lots of mileage at our house and that we have given as "older sibling" gifts over the years. Must look up author…..ROSEMARY WELLS, and the big sister is Ruby, how could I have forgotten?
ceci
Oh, I'd forgotten, but yes! I love Max and Ruby, so charming, so apt.
Congratulations, Mater and Pater! I'm so happy for you and your family. Such darling photos. Doesn't it make your heart contract a little to see your son with his children? That's such a beautiful photo.
It's really gratifying to see him as a dad, yes. Thanks so much, Lorrie.
Wonderful wonderful! It is a special thing to see one's grandchildren born and to be part of their growing. As a parent I was always rushing them and myself to make the whole fragile structure of our lives hold together. Now I enjoy the slow time of grandparent life, of giving the two year old as long as they like to poke about in soil, of giving the eight year old endless complicated games despite the fact that I am not a natural game player. And in my view, the more interesting your life the more you can offer your grandchildren. Totally win win.
It's true — the pace is so very different. Not so much that we have more time available now, although most of us do, but that we know how quickly it will go, how quickly they will grow. . .
I love this observation of yours that we offer them more if our life is more interesting (although we will all define "interesting" in our own way).
Oh and have you come across "Aren't you lucky?" Going down very well with granddaughter two who is coping, generally very well, with the arrival of her new baby brother!
Going down well here too! It was one of the books on my list when I worked at The Bodley Head just before my second was born.
I hadn't seen it before, but have looked it up and can see I might want to find a copy for E.
How wonderful to welcome a new baby into the family! Congratulations! And I remember those days of "again!" as soon as the words "the end" were uttered. Such a pleasure…
Yes, it is a pleasure. The lure of the story is strong. . .
Huge congratulations! And yes, I thought it was Paul in the photo. Still some way from grandparenthood here – if ever, who knows, it may not be their choice – so living it vicariously through you. Al good wishes to the newly expanded family!
Thanks!
Interesting to hear that Paul and Zach look alike, as I don't often see that.
There are no guarantees that young people will choose to have children, of course, so it's good to keep expectations tuned to their lives. We feel very fortunate, but I hope I would have been as supportive if they'd chosen a different lifestyle, pursued different goals.
So precious, rosy and beautiful! After the rain, a huge burst of sun. Congratulations to all!
Thanks, K. Beginning to think it's the only kind of sunshine we'll see here . . . and he's lovely, so we'll take it 😉
Congratulations on the new baby..
Thank, Givi
A .. And congratulations!
What joy! Congratulations to all.
How sweet! Congratulations- your group keeps growing!