Our "little fire cracker"

This will be her first sleepover.

I've forgotten how much STUFF you have to pack up to move an infant around. There are strollers, car seats, diapers, extra clothing, bottles, breast pumps and pads and then you have to pack and bring your own things. I'm glad that nature let us forget and puts the responsibilities onto the new parents. Ahhh... being a "grandparent" is just fine!

Our little Aliza came to the beach house for her first sleepover with her parents on this Fourth of July, 2008. We all did very well, I believe. She was extremely cute and adjusted easily to her new surroundings. So did her parents and grandparents. It was the perfect time to try out the first overnight, not the usual big crowd of family and friends that makes the small house even smaller. It was just the five of us and it seemed just right for this trial run.

She was the center of all of the activities. As it should be. She had dinner with us, came out to the fire pit as we made our smores, and then she slept through the fireworks. I worried that she wouldn't sleep well in this strange place. She slept VERY WELL.

The next day we would have our first shot at babysitting. It was our first time to be with just HER. Her parents went off to the movies during the afternoon to see Wall-E, the new PIXAR movie. We settled in to play and snuggle with the baby. Well, she fell asleep and that was all that she did until just before they returned home. We watched her sleep. I did have the opportunity to feed her a bottle of her mom's breast milk. She had pumped earlier and had this all ready for us to use. She took it easily, happily, because her dad and her "Nonna" have given her bottles already. But this was our first time. We were finally alone with her and it was so special and magical. We look forward to having lots of time with her as she grows up. It's different than your own children. Everyone says that, but until it's your turn you really can't really understand that "grandparent" feeling. It is so different and so very wonderful.

Later in the afternoon, we all went up to the road, to watch the neighborhood Fourth of July "parade". I use the term "parade" loosely. It's lead by the old Town Fire Truck.

Neighborhood families decorate their golf carts and the kids decorated their scooters and bikes. They are all covered with streamers and balloons. One family dishes out fresh Lemon Ice, some throw candies to the curbside. It 's a fun tradition. It won't be long until Aliza might ask to decorate her beach bike and take part in it!

Waving goodbye as they pulled away from the beach house was a happy feeling for me. My in-laws were always so sad when we would leave to go home with our children. I am thrilled to have had the time with them and I am eager for all the days and years that are still ahead!