Center Of Attention...

 We gathered as a family earlier today for food, conversation, a chance to catch up. But when one group entered the house, a definite change raced throughout the room...

The grandbaby had arrived.

And just like that, he became the center of attention.

I, of course, participated in showering attention on the little guy. Smiles all around, grown adults making baby noises, and every camera phone sprang to life. 

We live in such an amazing time. When I was my grandson's age (almost 58 years ago...), some pictures of my mug were taken. My parents sprang for a few family photo sessions and I'm glad they did. It's been wonderful to see how I looked as an infant and compare to how my children--and now grandchild--look. There's something about peering into the eyes of a descendant that's special.

Children born in the digital age will have more than a few pictures of themselves when they reach adulthood...they'll have thousands or tens of thousands. We'll know who they looked every week, every day. I wonder how that will change them...will it be for the better, or the worse?

The center of attention will continue, and I'm glad it will. Children should feel they're a miracle, for indeed, they are. And as long as we here and they're here, we're going to keep making them the center of attention.

Give Thanks...For The Stink-Eye

 We had the family get together tonight for food and fun. The grandchild turns three weeks tomorrow...he's much more active (I heard a crying fit for the first time...) which means, he's able to emote many facial expressions, including...

The stink-eye.

Yeah, he gave it to me as I hovered for a shot. How can I not? I'm a grandpa, for goodness sakes. It's required, it's expected, it's in my D.N.A. As I moved about and snapped a picture, hoping for a great shot, I clicked the button on my phone and the finished product is what you see. 

Little cuss gave me the stink-eye.

I'm so blessed that my family could gather together tonight. In a few months a few of us will be relocating south and we won't see them as much--not too far away, but far enough so we can't just jump in the car and twenty minutes later we'll be together. Kids will continue to grow, grandchildren will, too. I hope my children can look back on memories like hanging out in the backyard of their parents's house--something we did tonight--with fondness.

I hope we can as well.

I'm grateful for tonight, for these last three weeks, even for that dang stink-eye.