Last week was so much fun, as I went with my parents down to see our new baby, Parker. Seeing her for the first time was such a joyous occasion for our family and we were all smiling as we got to hold her, kiss her sweet cheeks, and generally snuggle this little one. There’s nothing like a new baby! We are all officially in love with our little miss and no doubt she will feel it and revel in being spoiled. I don’t think there’s any getting around that part. She’s a much loved baby girl on both sides of the family.
If you are not moved by this pic, then I don’t know what would do it. My mom is the most precious person you will ever meet and seeing her breathe in this baby girl was just the best. I love this pic so much! A great grandmother in baby heaven.
Mom got her share of holding Parker, as did the rest of us. Mom got extra time and we certainly let her.
Dad even took a turn. We had to take pics of him holding his great grandbaby and she was perfect for him.
She immediately zoned in on his face and gazed at him the whole time.
He talked to her and she was mesmerized by him. So sweet!
Happy smiles all the way around. We loved every minute of our visit.
I got my turn too. Aunt Rhoda is one proud Auntie, you can bet on that. She is the snuggliest thing ever and I held her and fed her one of her bottles. It’s been a long time since I’ve held a baby, but it comes back to you. The best part was her grunts, chirps, yawns, and squeaky baby noises.
All the girls had to get a pic together. My sister, Renee, Mom, Parker, me, and Lauren. What a special time this is for our family. Doesn’t Lauren look amazing? Almost a month after birth, she is fitting back in her skinny jeans already.
We let Dad in on the picture taking too, getting a shot of the whole family together.
Sweetness with Stickers and Parker both napping on the couch.
Proud mama, Lauren with her sweet as pie baby doll.
We are all equally smitten by this 7 lb. bundle of softness. Lauren is a wonderful new mama too.
Several of you mentioned on Facebook, as I put live updates over there while we were in New Orleans, that we should take pics of the 4 generations of hands, so we did that too: Mom, Renee, Lauren and Parker. Those fancy nails belong to my stylish sister.
In one special moment that first night we were there, we girls were all gathered in the nursery and mom knelt down and gazed at Parker while we all looked on. Parker was staring right at her and mom said, The Lord answered my prayer and let me live long enough to see you. We were all choking back tears at this point.
Mom said this very thing on her birthday last year, not knowing that she was about to have a new great grandbaby before her next birthday in May rolled around this year. God is so good, isn’t He?
We only had one full day in New Orleans this time, so we decided to all go to the World War II museum downtown. We thought Dad would really enjoy this and he totally did. We all enjoyed it, such a beautiful presentation of history.
They have several buildings that house the museum and we only had time to take in one of them, but it was very enjoyable and I’d highly recommend it for the veterans in your family.
Dad was so proud to get in for free for being a Veteran. It was nice to walk around the museum and take it all in.
Wonderful family memories.
Dad reading and remembering. He was young and got in the war right at the end as the war was ending, so he never got into combat. But, he did fly over there and was stationed there for a bit.
He remembered flying in an airplane like this one and we were all surprised to touch it and realize it was metal with stretched canvas over it.
Remembering the veterans and seeing all of this was very touching.
I was the dummy who forgot her camera at home. Too many things to remember and it ended up being left in my trunk, so I was really glad that Philip had just bought a new Nikon, so he took all these pics for me and they turned out great.
I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of our family’s happiness in celebrating the birth of baby Parker. It’s a real milestone for our family and one to treasure always. I’ll be back soon with pics of her nursery. It really turned out great and her new furniture (chest and hutch) arrived the same day we did, so we got to finish putting the nursery together while we were there. Lauren is coming home in a couple of weeks with the baby to visit for a week or so and we can’t wait to see both of them again!
Rhoda,
I tell you I was WEEPING by the time I finished reading your post! So joyful to see that beautiful picture of your mom with her great-grandchild. So thrilled to see all of you celebrating God’s goodness in the arrival of that sweet baby. So proud and thankful for that wonderful father of yours for serving our country and protecting our freedom. And most of all, so grateful that you choose to share your life with all of us. I tell my students all the time that great writing evokes great emotion, and you certainly proved that to be true! Have a wonderful week!
Oh my goodness that first pix of Parker and your Mama is just the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! That picture should win an award…I am so thrilled that y’all had such a great time visiting your sweet niece. Much love to y’all!!!
Baby Parker is precious! Love all the photos. What sweet memories you all made on this trip! My husband’s grandmother said the same thing about the Lord letting her live long enough to meet her great-grandbaby when we had our first son 6 years ago. Now she’s still as spunky as ever at 92 years old and has lived to meet 13 great-grandbabies over the past few years!
Such a precious baby! Congratulations to your whole family Rhoda… what a special trip… especially loved the ones with your mom and Parker. I so wish my grandmother had had the same good fortune to meet and snuggle her great-grandchildren. She would have loved that and I know it was so special for your mom!
Just precious !! What wonderful and special memories were made ! Yes God is good !
Rhoda, these pictures are so precious. You are so right about the one with your mom and Parker – it’s perfection. You can tell she’s welcomed and loved.
Our nephew and his wife had a baby girl a year ago – we just had her first birthday. We are all just as ga-ga over her as you all are. There’s nothing like a baby especially when it’s been a long time.
Such a lovely picture with your Mom and Parker…. Got to have that one framed and up on the wall! Glad you all had such a lovely visit.
Your pictures are beautiful! What a special time and all the better to have four generations all together. Parker is so alert and precious!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful family moments. Your parents are amazing! It is wonderful that they are going to enjoy their great-granddaughter!
Your dad is amazing in all that he did to help you with the make over of your house.
Blessings to all of you.
What a joy for you and your family. You truly are fortunate. My dear mother passed away last week but not before we were able to tell her that her first great – grand baby
(My first grandchild) was on the way, due in August. She was able to open her eyes and smile with happiness. In our sadness we are able to deeply understand the circle of life. Blessings to all in your family.
I have a new Great-Grandbaby too, so I do know how precious these moments are. Parker is adorable, we will have to introduce her to my little guy Bronx. Hugs, Marty
I must say, this one has me choked up on several levels – the baby with your mom, the hands, the family pet with Parker, and the photo of your dad in front of the headline of surrender. There is nothing more important or better than family. So happy you’re able to experience this altogether, Rhoda.
I was going to comment on how precious the black and white photo of Parker and your mom is, but you beat me to it. All the pictures are great, and Lauren looks wonderful. My dad was also a WWII vet and would have loved the museum.
Rhoda, we have been friends a long time, and I think this has got to be one of my top three posts on your blog! I loved it, and I cried like a baby. So sweet. Thank you for sharing, and those pics of your parents with that baby? Priceless! Loved all the pics, every lat one. And hats off to your sweet daddy for serving our country!
xoxoxo
Sheila 🙂
Thank you, sweet Sheila, we sure do go way back in blogland! I hope to meet you in person one of these days.
Right back at you, sweetie pie girlfriend! xoxoxoxoxoxox
Rhonda…these were just great. Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve been following your blog…it seems like forever…and I so enjoy the way you mix in your own “story” (a happy one now), projects, thoughts and opinions. I believe it is what gives your blog longivity.
Parker is beautiful. She’s very fortunate to have been born into this special family.
Eva
Such a sweetie – nothing is better than baby in the family. Loved every photo.
What a precious & very beautiful love story! We are four generations living together here; my mom, myself, one of my daughters, and her precious baby, my just recently turned 2 yr. old granddaughter. It is a true blessing to raise her all together like we are, she is surrounded by love. Parker is just adorable, can’t wait to keep reading about her!
I lost both of my grandparents last fall, but will always be so thankful that they got to love and know my boys before they died. There is something so precious about 4 generations of love. I know your parents were over the moon and Lauren will cherish those pictures forever! Congratulations to all of you!
You need to have that gorgeous shot of your Mom and Parker enlarged and framed. How precious!!
Congratulations.
Judy