Harper Ann Vukasinovic - May 7, 2013

I've written snippets here and there about the arrival of my sweet granddaughter, 
Harper Ann Vukasinovic, but to do her justice - and for posterity - I feel she
deserves to be memorialized in one of my blogs!  All along, we didn't know if
this first grandchild of mine was to be a boy or a girl.  Laura and Alex were
adamant at every ultrasound that they did NOT want to know the sex of the
baby, that they wanted it to be a surprise.  They didn't care if they had a boy
or a girl.  I was equally vocal that, if I had a choice, after raising three sons, I
wanted a girl!!

Harper's due date was April 21st.  The kids invited me to go to Laura's ultra
sound on April 10th so I made the two hour drive to West Sacramento, planning
to stay for a three day visit since my India journey is drawing close.  Laura was
told the baby was weighing in 8 lbs!

You can definitely see Harper's face here, hair and an expression that seems 

to say, "Good grief, let's get this show on the road."

At Laura's OB visit after the ultrasound, her doctor initially was saying the first baby 
is often late but, after examining her, he said labor might begin that week!!

On Saturday morning, April 13, as I was preparing to head back home, Laura told 
me she was having back pain and hadn't slept all night.  She was having irregular

contractions, she thought, about twelve minutes apart.  A shopping trip with her

mother was planned for the Galleria instead of downtown Sacramento so she

would be near the Sutter Roseville Birthing Center where she was to deliver.

I moved my suitcase back into the bedroom, amused at Alex's text, "Oh, no, I'm

not ready."  

About 5PM, i headed to the hospital and joined Christine Calhoun, Laura's mom 

for the grandmother vigil.  I was most impressed with Sutter Roseville's beautiful 

birthing rooms and, especially, with Donna Taylor ( I think that was her name ),

a wonderful OB MSN from Alabama - I picked up on that kindred accent 

immediately ) - who was simply amazing.  As the hours passed, Laura finally

decided to have an epidural and then the atmosphere became downright festive.

Alex's two brothers arrived as did another family member of Laura's and we

waited patiently for the debut of "baby Vook."  

Here are the three brothers together.  Shawn Smith, the oldest, at 42, is senior

to Alex by 12 years.and is 14 years older than Jeremy.  I don't think I could

have managed without his help when I had extensive back surgery when his

younger brothers were just toddlers.  He says he will remain forever single 

and has done his child rearing with his two brothers.

As the hours passed, everyone began to grow weary.  Alex hopped up on the

hospital bed and napped between Laura's contractions and everyone else

got a little shut eye wherever they could.

Jeremy had borrowed a motorcycle from a friend and made the two hour drive from

San Francisco in pretty cold weather and he was totally exhausted.  Shawn, in military

style, can sleep anywhere.  "Nana" and "Nina", both nurses, of course, could sleep

standing up, if necessary.

Christine Calhoun, who will be "Nini" waited patiently for her grandchild.

Laura's cousin, Iva, was also a cheerleader all night.

Finally, as dawn approached, serious contractions began and all but Alex were

urshered out so Laura could begin pushing earnestly.  A short while later, Alex

came out and said Christine and I were grandmothers, still not telling us whether

he and Laura had a girl or boy.  "See for yourselves," he told us.

The first thing we saw on entering the room was the sign next to the door:

A GIRL!!!  The answer to my prayers - a beautiful, healthy baby girl in our family

of testosterone laden men.  

With Nini

With Nana and Daddy

With Uncle Jeremy

I've got my eyes wide open for Uncle Shawn

I was waiting when Laura, Alex and baby Harper arrived home from the

hospital on April 15th.  She was greeted by Taffy and Bucky who wondered

about this strange little creature.  She must have immediately aroused some

dormant maternal instinct in Taffy who responds to her every gurgle and cry.

Bucky says hello

Now it's Taffy's turn

At 8 lbs, Harper is already outgrowing newborn sizes!

I am overjoyed with this sweet granddaughter.  I have to get the kids hooked up

with Skype so we can have weekly visits the six months I'm in India.  June 1st is

such a short time away.

Laura and Alex have settled into parenting so easily.  I am very impressed.

Harper isn't really fussy at all.  She's a good eater and she can sleep just

about anywhere.  We've already had her on outings and, as long as she's dry

and fed, the adults can enjoy dinner without interruption, for the most part.

One of Harper Ann's favorite spots to "hang" out

With great Uncle Charley, Nana's brother, from Georgia

Supervision from Taffy

Lunch at Awful Annie's in Auburn, CA with Mommy and Nana

Needless to say, this is only the first of many pictures to come of Harper Ann 

Vukasinovic.  There will be a bit of a hiatus while I am in India for six months but 

I will certainly post an update from time to time.  I expect to be back in California 

for her first Christmas and I will need to have her stocking finished by then.  What 

a joy she will be to all of us, that is for sure.  Thanks to everyone for your wonderful 

wishes and prayers at the start of her life.