Pool pics

Shasta Pool is finally pouring the concrete for Megan and Andy's pool. I am thinking when I return in March we can take a dip in that new pool. I look forward to seeing the pool completely done and their landscaping finished. They have a big back yard and it should be very nice for Drew and Sox to play in during the formative years!!

Golfing, hiking and Drew

We have been keeping busy since my last post. Friday Mark, Sharon and I went golfing on a very fine day. Saturday and Sunday Sharon and I hiked to the top of Black Mountain near their home in Terravita. Two days in a row was pretty awesome for two old broads on a pretty steep climb. We were proud, and so were our thighs two days later! They were talking to us a bit. :-) I want to go again soon, though. It is so exhilarating. The enclosed pictures show a bit of these adventures. The picture with the home from our hike is Kurt and Goldie's little retreat on Black Mountain. She invited us in for cocktails but that would have gone against our training so we told her no thanks. :-)

Thursday we are going with the Swensen's to the FBR Open. (Formerly the Phoenix Open). I cannot tell you how excited we are about that adventure. Not as excited as getting our first grandchild, but excited none the less.

The picture of Drew is with his Grandfather Thiel, Butch. Butch flew in late Friday night through Sunday night to meet his new grandson. Short stay but he is coming back later for a week's stay which will be so nice for him. I think he thought Drew was a pretty fine little fellow and was quite proud.

Later everyone!!

A boy and his dog......

Drew's mom wasn't thrilled with the pose his dad put him in as grandma shot pictures but I think it is a cute pic anyway. We took the picture REALLY fast. :-) Sox is Megan and Andy's year-old Goldendoodle.....half golden retreiver, half poodle. Sox had been outside running so she was panting pretty heavily and basically rocked Drew to sleep! I will have to remember that trick when I start being Drew's granny nanny. Just kidding, Megan!

Tuesday, it must be Arizona.....

It was a glorious day in the Valley today. Cool in the morning so Mark and I helped Megan and Andy in their home. Mark cleaned their garage and I tinkered around in their kitchen, cleaning the granite, sinks, showers,etc. Took Sox on another walk in the neighborhood.

Drew was very good....again. I think Mom and Dad have been very lucky so far, but we leave before dinner and head to Sharon and Arne's so not certain how he is after that!!! I, of course, think he is a dear. Go figure.....

Sharon made us a wonderful dinner tonight of salmon, salad, rice and the BEST bread we have every tasted. Sis is a very, very good cook.

I will end this post with, what else....pics of you know who! Even included one of Mark and the dog!

First day without daddy.....

Andy went back to work today. I imagine it was hard for him because of Drew and also because he has been gone a week and things have piled up, I am sure. We got along fine here. Megan and I took Drew for another prick in the foot to test his bili reuben level. The light blanket came off yesterday because it started to go down so we hope it continued that trend with this latest test.

Mark scrubbed all the tile floor for them today while I swept and moved the furniture and did some dusting. I took Sox on a 50 minute jog/walk and hopefully pooped her out. The dog has been incredibly good with the appearance of Drew in the household and hasn't acted jealous at all.

And of course, a new picture or two of Drew....just in case he changed since yesterday. :-)

Our first Sunday with Drew. :-)

We have been staying with Sharon and Arne at night but spending most of the day at Megan and Andy's. I have been trying to do some cleaning for Megan. She was incredibly sore from her "anything but normal" C section but is doing much better today. She will definitely be taking it slow for a few more days so any help we can provide will be good. Andy might go back to work tomorrow so then Mark and I will probably be of even more help to her without him. I am so proud of Andy and his role in this. The guy is a champion diaper changer and just wonderful with his son. Megan is quite lucky to have him, as is Drew.

Drew had another poke in the heel this a.m. to check his jaundice level and it was down enough today that they were able to remove his "light blanket" which will be a big help to them. They were pretty much confined to the chair where the blanket was plugged in....now we can walk all over the house with him. Won't be long and I will be taking him on his first jog. Just kidding, Megan!!

Pics are of Drew with his mom, dad, Aunt Sharon and Grandpa and Grandma Swanson. A few years ago I dreaded the thought of being old enough to be called Grandma and now all of a sudden it is the sweetest sound in the world!!

You knew there would be more pictures.....

I promise the pictures "may" slow down, but for now it is TOO MUCH FUN shooting them and posting. I had to put a picture of Grandpa and Grandma meeting grandson Drew for the first time yesterday. An awesome experience that many have experienced and we now have finally joined that group!

Dalhart, Texas......

We left the farm this morning at 5:15 a.m. and drove to a Dalhart motel arriving around 6 p.m. Long, long day but as the pictures will show, I should have kept driving until I arrived in Phoenix to see our new grandson. :-) We just came back from a delicious steak dinner at a steak house within walking distance from our motel. I have a feeling it was the ONLY place to eat in this cattle town, but am not certain. We hope to get out of here early tomorrow and should be holding my new grandson Drew by dinnertime tomorrow night. Now that will make tomorrow's long drive worth it all..........

The green glow is a blanket to help with Drew's jaundice.

Meet our grandson, Drew

via cell phone photo...........

It's Official!!!!!

I am now a Grandma and will be sleeping with Grandpa tonight! Andrew (Drew) Jacob Thiel was born this morning at 7:22 a.m., weighing 8lbs 8oz, 19 inces long and 12 days early. I am so excited I can barely type this post. As soon as Andy sends me pictures I will get them posted on this blog. If old man winter had not decided to finally make an entrance this winter we would be on our way to see our new grandson. As it is, the entire route to Phoenix is a glaring sheet of treacherous ice so we shall wait a day or two to begin our new adventure as Grandparents. Our life as we knew it has just officially changed!

I called Matt to tell him he is now an uncle. He is excited, also. Hope he can make it down there in the next few months to see his new nephew!! Knowing Matt, he will wait until Drew can play catch with a football. :-)

Something's in the air......

Well, it looks like our first major snowstorm of the season is approaching us late Saturday through Sunday. Sure hope our grandson doesn't decide it is time to make his appearance around that time! I won't drive in bad conditions, just too dangerous and scary.

It was so nice in Boone today while I was shopping that I decided to go for a run when I got home. I made it about 1/10th of a mile and felt extremely chilled. I forgot how nice it can be in the shelter of a town and totally a different story out here in the country. :-( So, guess I will do a Chico DVD in the warmth of my home instead. I certainly prefer running, though.........

I don't think Megan will last until her due date of Jan. 30th as things are moving "right along" and I give her about a week to 12 days to go into labor. I have started packing again for our return trip. We will be driving down so can take extra items to leave there for when I go down permanently to nanny. When I get there in late April it will already be quite warm there so need summer stuff to start out this gig. I have no clue when I ever will get back to the farm so am taking most of my things I feel I will need. I would like to have room for items for the Townhouse but our Camry is small for packing due to the Hybrid battery in the trunk. Oh well, that is why they have Costco and Target stores everywhere!

The next time I post will be to say grandparenthood is NOT FAR OFF!

A busy day

Began the day with an 11:00 baby shower at one of Megan's fellow attorney's home. It was a wonderful affair with the BEST food I have ever had at a shower of any type. Many guests and Megan and son fared "very" well in the gift department. Andy's trailblazer was filled to the brim on the way home. She received more baby presents than Mark and I did wedding presents!! When we got home around 2:00 we started trying to organize the baby's room and see what items might still need to be purchased before the arrival of their son. My assessment is that not much will need to be purchased immediately. We weren't really finished going through everything but then it was time for Mark and I to head to the airport and return the rental and get through security. It was hard to leave......I wanted one more walk with the dog and one more chance to give daughter a much needed massage. :-)

Our flight was good and Dan and Katie were there to pick us up right on time. Dan drove the Camry home. Good thing....I don't think I recall how to drive it after a 3 week layoff!!

There is NO snow on the ground. Evidently what came down last night melted off today. Dan and Katie said it has been really warm the whole time we were gone. Unbelievable for Dec-January.

The pics are from Megan's shower today. I need some sleep. Later.......

Our last day in AZ...

and I am sure our daughter and son-in-law are breathing a sigh of relief. We came "close" to the point of overstaying our welcome I am sure! It will be nice when the town house becomes available and we won't have to bug people for a place to stay any longer. I cannot say I am exicted to get home and if you take a look at the picture Katie sent of their place across the road from us you will see why I am not elated. I hardly remember snow! :-)

Megan's c0-workers from her firm are having a baby shower today at 11. I am glad our flight is not until tonight so that I can attend. They needs lots of stuff so a shower is a good thing. :-)

Well, my next posting will be from warm and sunny Iowa. Until then.............

Another great hike.....

There really are so many hiking places in Arizona I wonder if you could hike them all.....we shall give it our best effort! I drove to Terravita this morning and Sharon and I drove to Care Free State Park (??????) for a 5.5 mile hike on the Go John Trail. It was breath taking and very quiet today. On the long hike, we saw only two other hikers......we discussed mt. lions and bobcats and then I started thinking about them a bit too much! I think rattlesnakes are probably more of a worry, though. Whatever, nature is gorgeous here and I will coexist. :-) Photos are from our hike today...... the photo with the hole is an abandoned mine in the middle of nowhere. At least they fenced it totally in.

another day of golf....ho hum :-)

Mark and I just traveled down a few miles on Union Hills to Paradise Valley Golf Course to play 18 holes. It wasn't your "beautiful desert course" but it was great fun. The front nine we golfed with a father teaching his 5th grade son how to golf. The play was a bit slower but we both enjoyed watching them interact. The son got better with each passing hole. The second nine we were paired up with a SW Airlines employee and an elderly gentleman. Both were great fun and we enjoyed the time together. FORE.....

Getting closer to being Grandparents!

Megan is at 36 weeks now. She is wishing it would be over soon...like all pregnant ladies. We will soon be grandparents and getting very excited......