Who needs toys?

I know it has ONLY been 17 years since I had a baby this size, but I have come to the conclusion that the baby toy industry is over-rated. There are so many beautiful, brightly colored, child engineered for the "right" age, out there and all the Zane wants is the box, or forks, or card games, or my billfold. Just as long as it is something dangerous, or something I don't want him to get into and it can hold his attention for a long time. Long enough for him to be quiet and I'm wondering what he's up to. Even at this age.... I knew this once. They don't need red and yellow phones, or "look like" computers. They can get by with the real thing.

Zane and Mama

We really ought to have a picture of Zane with his Mama in here.

No Teeth

This little Zane boy of ours has no teeth yet, but that doesn't prevent him from wanting to eat FOOD. Not mushed up stuff from a spoon, but things he can pick up himself. Right now he wants grapes, so I have to put them out of sight, since he can't eat all of them in one day. And, in case you're worried...I cut them up for him.

Speech Competition

Lynette tried something new last night by competing in her first speech competition with a duo. They did very well for Lynette's first time. This is a requirement for her Honors English class. She is already looking forward to the next spring competion with perhaps TWO speeches. They were required to dress up. There was a bunch of very nice looking kids there.

An exercise in futility.

Yesterday I tried to get some housecleaning done. Zane isn't exactly a big help, but it looks like it right now as he "sweeps" with the feather duster. Are you noticing he isn't hanging onto anything? He is walking halfway across the room now, but still crawls more than he walks.

It was so nice yesterday that an outside job was in order. I thought I would give Zane some outside time, but he was less help outside than in. He had all kinds of fun crunching those leaves and finally was pushing them like a truck, very nearly down the steps, Zane, leaves and all, but I got there first. So, he had a nap and I swept the deck.

Zane is just pretty cute in his froggy suit at almost 10 months of age.

Getting Started

This cute little guy is part of the reason for the name of this blog. In my case, though, being a grandmother is more than a name, it is a state of mind. When I was in fourth grade studying Nebraska history and pioneers and such, one of the girls sat in a rocking chair knitting and the kids called her "gramma" for years, as is often the case in small schools. I didn't. I did my best in the coming years to be like her. I like old fashioned things and old fashioned ways of doing things. I believe less is more and making do with what you have, to the annoyance of my family and likely my friends. For example, what I did on my last "free-er" day, was to repair a ripped flannel fitted sheet by inserting the top sheet, all nicely sewn, of course. Help Yourself