July | 2013 | The Hip Grandmother

We are now in our 6th week of pregnancy….tee-hee I mean (she) is in (her) 6th week. Exciting as it is, I am watching her sleep more and eat things she never would have eaten when she was a teenager. She never liked fried chicken, but at least once a week, the father of her baby Jeremy buys her favorite food. Of course there are things she can not stand smelling. I am a smoker…..and she can’t stand smelling that. Good..She can’t stand the smell of hamburgers or fast food except Taco Bell or Subway.

I do, however worry that she is sleeping too much. When I had to make the dreadful choice I, too slept a lot but I couldn’t maneuver my body the way I wanted to, the way normal people function. I realize I don’t talk about it a lot. It saddens me to even think about that scenario. Fortunately she has her appetite. She surprises me and wakes up only to run into the kitchen fridge and devour as much as she can stand. I was warned by many not to let her gain too much weight so we are going to start doing exercises like arm curls and leg lifts. Unfortunately I don’t know when this is going to happen..

I am happy that she has always been a homebody. Now she is even more a homebody. She has a friend that comes over after work. Her friend has a child and my daughter welcomes her advice. She’s a good kid too and I am very happy my daughter has a good friend. Thank goodness she will start off on the right foot.

Last night was a very scary night for me (and her). She experienced her first time with ‘morning sickness’. She had felt nauseated all night and crawled into my bed like she used to do as a child. As I was rubbing her forehead, she asked me to take this sickness away from her so she can sleep. Well…you know the answer to that.

As she ran to the bathroom to have a “session”, I told her that it is too bad that she is having ‘morning sickness’. I couldn’t hold in a smile when she retorted (in a serious voice), “This can’t possibly be morning sickness. It’s only 2 A.M.” Ok…..(snicker).

I can see now that I am going to have a little fun with this..in due time.

Very nervous, but so proud. Very happy but scared at the same time. I don’t know where to turn but I feel that I have both feet firmly planted on the ground. My daughter is expecting. What to do….what to do now. We both have some money saved in the bank for emergencies and we will get prepared throughout the coming months. It isn’t going to be easy but if my family stays united, nothing can break us down.

Today we went to the many places that you would go to when you are pregnant in America. It was confirmed at the health department that she was indeed pregnant and the lady behind the counter advised us to get WIC. It is a basic program for pregnant women to have milk, vitamins, peanut butter and much, much more. I am happy to know that there is a program such as this. When my daughter was young, this program wasn’t as strong standing as it is today. There were only a few items that I could rely on at that time. Today WIC offers actual classes for new mothers to benefit. I wish they had their act together in the early 90s.

Around the corner and 9 months away..

I am making this blog to document the day-to-day feelings that I have about this. I can say that I am scared to death but happy at the same time. I know it is going to be hard and I realize we are going to have obstacles that are going to be in our way in the not-too-distant future, but the operative word isn’t “obstacles”, it is “we”. And my daughter, the father of the baby, my family and I will be able to raise this child with love and discipline. My daughter needs me right now and as a mother, I want to be there in her time of need. Isn’t that what any right-minded mother would do for their offspring? I just know in my heart that this is the right thing to do.

I am going to be the best grandmother one can possibly be.

Will it be a she…..? Or will it be a he…?