We have a niece who will be 2 in February. This is an amazing age as she tries to put all her worldly knowledge into place. Learning letters, numbers and, most fun of all, names with faces.
From the beginning, she has called my husband Mike, Pop Pop. We think it’s a short version for Grandpa. He takes it in stride, and I believe with a sense of pride, it’s the gray hair. Seriously the cutest little niece ever and I laugh every time she says Pop Pop. I think that may be his Grandpa name for future grandchildren to come. I am not sure what I will want to be called. Her name for me is San San… doesn’t have a grandmotherly ring to it. Maybe my Grandma name will be Poppie. That’s cute.
I am in love with this young age. I also have an adorable nephew who is 8 months old. He hasn’t started putting faces with names yet. His most important job is to keep his sister entertained and teach her to be a wonderful big sister. He has also taught her to keep her piggy tails out of reach….a good lesson when learned at a young age.
I am entertaining a 4-month-old darling baby boy, Greysen, for my friends Katie and Rick. Every morning during the week I am greeted by his million-dollar smile, and he thinks I am funny. (My boys are 17 and 18, they no longer appreciate my humor.) I talk to Grey all day long, which no longer makes talking to myself seem weird. He also likes to dance around the living room to any music I choose. He has even gained an appreciation for my new, yet old, Rembrandts CD.
I never had this with any of my kids. Being a working mom, it was six weeks then back to the office. I now feel that I missed a lot. Last week I taught Greysen to make popovers. He sits in his excersaucer in the kitchen while I perform my cooking show for him. (Like Ina Garten but Greysen is my Geoffrey.) I thought popovers were hard and I have avoided making them before although I love them at restaurants. With my little sidekick cheering me on Pop Pop’s popovers were amazing! When he is old enough to speak, I will try my Grandma name Poppie out on Greysen. I have a feeling it will fit just fine.
Children are not things
to be molded, but are people
to be unfolded.
Jess Lair, author
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
Leave a Reply