I love you baby boy Conrad!

Hello to my handsome and "long-limbed" grandson! Oh my gosh, Grandma was so excited to hear the news on Sunday! I was not able to concentrate on any task until your Momma and Daddy called me about the test that identified that you are a wonderful baby boy!! I was to so excited that I was crying tears of joy when I saw your Momma's number on the caller ID--I didn't even need to hear her voice. It would seem that you may be tall and I am sure that all would agree that you received that tall gene from your height-challenged Grandma Gammon! You look quite handsome in your current photos and again know that I cannot wait to hold you, love you, and squeeze those cute cheeks.

I apologize for the gap in my posts but you are always on my mind and in my heart-- every minute of every day.

You, Mommy, Daddy, came to visit one week after I wrote about the twins and we had a great weekend together. They brought a lot of items for a yard sale coming up as they needed to make space for your new nursery! Your Daddy and Momma helped Grandma get "stuff" out of the attic and your Momma cleaned out a lot of things from her old bedroom. Your Daddy got really excited when we found Momma's original Nintendo game. He deemed that okay to save and took it back to your house in Northern Virginia. We had dinner with Grandad Gammon and we all really enjoyed the meal. Your Momma especially loved the dinner because she got to eat two of the fabulous desserts and it would seem that you both enjoyed the dinner and desserts a bunch! Your Daddy did manage to get a spoonful or two of the mini-desserts! although I don't think he was able to get as much of the Creme Brulee' as he may have wanted--your Momma loves Creme Brulee'. Grandma thoroughly embarassed your Momma and Daddy by taking "a bunch" of the fabulous mints from the basket as we left the restaurant. I can't wait to take you there for good food and great mints. I know you will assist Grandma in "grabbing a bunch of mints!" as we leave the restaurant.

Since you all were here, Grandma has been spending a lot of time trying to price "stuff" for the yard sale. It tends to be time comsuming and that is why Grandma has not done a yard sale in a loooooooooong time. I decided to take a break from yard sale stuff to communicate with my grandson tonight.

Congratulations also on the Steeler's win at the football game on Sunday. It was a bit more close than all of we Steeler fans would like but ultimately the "terrible towels" won and your loving family was very happy to see the game in the "win" column. The Redskins also won (against the Cowboys!!) so all in all it was a great football Sunday for the Conrad's, Gammon's, and Santmyer's.

I love you sweet baby and promise to write sooner

Grandma Gammon

Meet the twins!

Little one, I wanted to introduce you to Anne Marie and Duncan Thomas and their parents, Jennifer and Shawn. I was so happy to have lunch with them yesterday and l enjoyed every second that we were together--we had lunch, read books, and laughed as they ran, hopped, laughed, and told me many stories. I love them very much and have spent many,many special times with them. Anne Marie and Duncan are twins and they are now 3 and were born right around the time that you are due to brighten our world.

Some of the special times I have spent with the twins and their parents can be seen in the pictures below. Grandma decided that the twins needed to go to the circus this year and it was so wonderful to see their faces light up as they experienced new adventures at the circus . I cannot wait to take you to the circus!

Anne Marie and Duncan came over when Grandma had surgery and we had fun eating blueberries, lunch, and special treats. Anne Marie's tongue is the color of one of those special treats. We also made visors with foam shapes and watched their favorite shows on PBS, Thomas andCurious George. Yesterday, they could not wait to tell me about a new show, Dinosaur Train.

I was blessed to be able to go to the beach last fall with Anne Marie, Duncan, and their parents as well as their good friends, Sarah, Hannah and Anne Beth and one of their favorite aunts, "M".

Your Momma has already told me that you, your Momma and Daddy and myself will be heading to the beach next summer and that time cannot come too soon!

I love you very, very much,

Grandma Gammon

Welcome back sweet baby!

You all are back from your adventure to Costa Rica and your Momma tells me that you all had a wonderful time. She was a little worried about you on the trip from the airport to the hotel as the road was pretty rough. S0unds like you had your first gymnastic lessons on your trip! I was so glad to hear your Momma's voice when you all got to Atlanta and were headed home. While you were gone 3 moonflowers bloomed and they reminded me of you and I just can't wait to be able to hold you to my heart. I can't wait for you all to come visit next weekend! I love you very much and will continue this note in a bit. Grandma's computer needs to go to Maribeth for a little cleanup this week so I want to get a couple of posts in before.

I love you sweet pea!

Grandma Gammon

Hi there Peanut! Hope you are enjoying Costa Rica

Hi sweet baby. Grandma has had a few problems with the computer for longer than she would like and have tried many times to write to you. I think we have got the problems straightened out!



Last weekend was quite busy as you took your first trip "abroad" with Momma and Daddy to Costa Rica! They have been planning this trip for quite awhile and did not realize that you would be traveling with them. I hope that all three of you are having a wonderfully relaxing time. I miss talking with you all and cannot wait to hear about your trip. You all will be back on Sunday and I can't wait! I hope that the resort, sunshine and food met all of your expectations! and that you enjoyed the vacation.



Also last weekend, Katie had her first birthday and we all had a wonderful time celebrating at her party. Above is a picture of Katie with your Momma that was taken before you all went on vacation and also one of Grandma and Katie. She is very sweet and VERY Active at this stage and I know that you will give your Momma and Daddy quite the same activity level as you turn one. The third picture is from Katie's birthday party when she and her Daddy, Matt and Momma, Alison were opening presents!

I love you very much
Grandma Gammon

Hi there munchkin!

Grandma apologizes for not writing sooner for you have been in my thoughts many hours of each day. You and your Momma came to visit last weekend as her friend Debbie's bridal shower was last Saturday. You helped your Momma choose the food items that she made for
Debbie's shower (they also happen to be some of your Momma's friend's favorites). She had sent me an email saying that you had personally helped with deciding what to make as you were very hungry for those particular foods. While your Mom and I prepared homemade strawberry lemonade, cucumber sandwiches, and buffalo chicken dip (also a favorite of your Daddy's but I do not think there was any left to take back home) you seemed to rest quietly, knowing that you would enjoy the 'goodies' on the following day.

On that Friday, Aunt Barbara's daughter Tivey and her two children, Stephen and Sidney, and her Dad Steve brought a bunch of stuff for you little one. There was a huge box of toys, lots of books including one of your Mom's favorites, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a high chair and a car seat and many many things. Grandma is going to try to import a picture of Stephen and Sidney so cross your developing fingers! And now you can meet Stephen and Sidney as seen in the picture above. We had a good time visiting with Aunt Tivey and Stephen and Sidney and the children discovered a well known treat in Grandma's kitchen---peanut M and M's. Sidney could not eat the peanuts yet but she fell in love with some mini 3 Musketeers. Tivey and her children traveled from North Carolina to bring you the gifts and we are very blessed to have such an extended family. Stephen and Sidney's Dad was studying to take his law boards and we all hope that he did well on them.

On Sunday, your Momma and I went to visit Alison, Matt, and Katie. Matt is the son of one of your Momma' s favorite Aunt's, Kathy and Katie is Aunt Kathy's grandaughter. They also had some baby items to pass onto you but the best gift was getting to play with Katie as she was all smiles that day. Grandma has been trying to bring a picture of Katie and your Momma to this blog post but it has not been going so smoothly so that may have to come at a future date. But for now, here is a picture of Katie on her Baptism day. Grandma really needs to figure out how to place these pictures better!

Grandma has decided that one of your nicknames should be related to the beautiful Moonflower. It is a beautiful white flower that only blooms for one night. Everytime that you have been here, the Moonflower plant has bloomed. Still trying to figure out how to upload the picture for you---there goes all that technology stuff again! But I think that Chief of the Moons or Princess Moonflower would be lovely. I will ask some of my friends who are Mattaponi Native Indians what names would be appropriate.

We learned that you will have a cousin born very close to the time that you will come into this world. Your Mom's cousin, Sarah and her husband Mike are also pregnant. Your great-grandparents have been doubly blessed and we are so happy for all of you.

Getting a little late. I promise to work on the picture imports into the blog but know that I love you very much and you are in my heart every minute.

Love,

Grandma

Grandma made a mess!!

Oh, how I wished you were here today pumpkin! because cleaning up the kitchen would have been better if I had had a helper and someone to laugh with. Grandma was going to make a breakfast pizza to take to work this week and the pizza base is crescent rolls. But.....the rolls were a bit expired (I am sure your Momma will have a comment or two about that fact) and Grandma was going to throw them into the trash (because Aunt Kathy's picture was in the window and she is the Kitchen Angel for Grandma. You will hear much more about Aunt Kathy who I miss so very much).But, I wanted to get the Box Tops for Education for your Momma's school. Before I could get the Box Top label off of the tube, the can of Crescents blew up and there were thousands of pieces of dough everywhere in Grandma's new kitchen--on the ceiling, inside cabinets and drawers (which Grandma leaves open at the most inconvenient of times!), on windows, on the ceiling fan, in Grandma's purse and pieces even blew themselves into the dining room and the living room. I just kept thinking that if you were here, it would have been a lot more fun. The explosion even frightened Gabby, the cat, and she has difficulty hearing these days.

Today, I also especially missed Aunt Barbara. Her two daughters, Tivey and Carrie celebrated their birthday today. I will tell you about my best friends, Aunt Kathy and Aunt Barbara in a future blog because they were so very special to Grandma and to your Momma. And their children and grandchildren are very special to Grandma and your Momma too and you will hear a lot about them as you get to know your family.

Well back to the kitchen clean up although the explosion happened at 1 pm today. The kitchen has not been this big a mess since your Mom and I tried to make traditional strawberry jam. We went to the Berry Farm and picked the strawberries and were so excited to make the jam. We ended up with strawberry jam everywhere in the kitchen--the walls and the floor were red with jam. After that experience we would still have our annual trip to the berry farm but we would make freezer jam which your Momma loved very much (and the kitchen stayed a lot cleaner!)

Hugs and kisses to you little one,

Love Grandma

Hey there sweet baby!

Grandma was able to bring your picture here on her own!

Love you little one.
Grandma Gammon