I'm Going to Be a Grandma in April 2020!

On September 27th Matt, our son-in-law, and our daughter Sarah drove up from their home in Davenport to our house in Iowa City for my husband Jim's birthday dinner (Little Caesar's pizza, of course). They came bearing a card and gifts.

Jim's birthday card said, "Happy birthday, Grandpa! When you open the bag, all will be revealed..." Jim was astonished. Grandpa?!

"Why did you give Dad baby shoes for his birthday?" I asked cluelessly, after Jim had withdrawn his baby shoes present from a green bag. That's the extent to which I was gobsmacked.

On the baby shoes Sarah wrote, "Due April 16."

There was more. They brought Sugar Babies candy with the final "s" crossed out and Sarah and Matt chipped in on a new bicycle light for Jim's commuter bicycle, his Bianchi.

We were so happy and excited that we pored over the ultrasound photos they brought and marveled at how distinct the baby's features were. I saw a long arm with long fingers crossing the baby's chest and saw a little something that suggested a boy.

Sarah said, "I want a mini-Matt because Matt's so great."

We'll know soon enough because Sarah had her blood drawn this past and she'll know the baby's sex and whether there are any genetic abnormalities. She'll know by next Friday or Monday and will call me and Matt's mom, Renee, ASAP!

Matt's an only child so this will be the first grandbaby on both sides of the family!

Sarah asked if I had a preference on sex, and I said, "Not at all! I'll be thrilled either way."

We congratulated them both. Our baby (younger of two children) is having a baby. New life is beginning in the spring.

I've heard grandparenting is even better than parenting, and I've always loved babies and toddlers. It's reassuring to know that Sarah has already looked into schools, college savings plans, daycare centers, and is planning to move to Bettendorf when the time is right. She'll have most of the summer off. She's done a lot of research for someone who's only been pregnant for three months. I'm proud of her.

I know Matt and Sarah will be great parents. They were both similar when they were babies themselves. They both slept well through the night. They were both calm and sensible. Sarah would crawl into her crib and cover herself up at age 16 months. I couldn't believe it, but no one else had put her to bed.

Renee said Matt was "off the charts" throughout his childhood in terms of development and size. He could walk and talk in full sentences when he was nine-and-a-half months old. He's built like an athlete (6'3" and 200 pounds, very muscular) and was Phi Beta Kappa at Penn State.

"He's still off the charts," Jim remarked when I told him. Matt's an imposing but gentle and amiable presence.