Hammocks and High Tea: July 2009

My parents and grandmother came to visit for two weeks at the end of June/beginning of July. We had a lovely relaxing time, not doing too much except enjoying each other's company and playing with Lula. We celebrated Dad’s birthday and Father’s Day the first night they arrived. After doing Mom and I did our online job frequently the first week, the ladies were able to go out frequently while Papa Jack gladly babysat the second week. We even hit JoAnn's four days in a row to take advantage of their remodeling discounts and to help me prepare for my booth at Cider Days! (hopefully!) We really took advantage! We enjoyed the 4th of July at the home of a church member where we could clearly see James River's firework display. And later in the week Pat and David joined us for dinner and our famous homemade peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream that's a 4th tradition.

I told Jay I felt like I had a newborn all over again after they left! The extent of my care taking involved feeding Lula. Other than that, there were three eager helpers who did everything else! I also felt like I had a newborn because my sweet little angel who was on a lovely little schedule and very content with playing alone occasionally became rather fussy after the grandparents left...can't imagine why! Lula's usual few minutes of crying before naptime was not allowed while Papa Jack was around. And despite many warnings that she didn't need help fallling asleep, we would frequently look at the video monitor and see a large, gentle hand reach over the side of the crib to pat Lula until she fell asleep, which of course kept her awake much longer than usual. Occasionally I would look and find my child missing from her crib completely...oddly, Papa Jack was missing too. Based on a book that our pastor in Nashville wrote called The Mighty Hand of God, we began calling these frequent incidents The Mighty Hand of Papa. Eventually my dad started covering the camera upstairs so we couldn't see what he was doing, but of course we knew! I had no idea he was such a softy. He simply couldn't stand to hear her cry. It was very sweet. My dear grandmother also found a soft place in her heart for baby Lula. She fell in love and therefore began worrying immediately about my little one...was she too cold, too hot, hungry, have a cold, need her head held up, takend out of the Bumbo, etc. Overall it was a very nice visit and we were very sad to see them go...truly! Can't wait til they come again.