I find myself once again in the hinterland between Christmas and New Year – a time to look back and forward; one of the few times in the year when I actually take a leisurely look at life – and this blog.
And realise it’s been neglected for a couple of years. No excuse really – I am officially retired. Should have plenty of time…but for some reason time gets taken up with so many other things. Reminded though buy this blog of its purpose – to commit as much of our family history (what I know of it anyway) to paper – or keyboard – I think the two newest members of the family, who may someday want to read this, deserve to be written about. Especially since one of them has so recently joined us to so much joy.
How do I feel about being a grandparent? So, so happy – especially since I am Nanny to the two most beautiful, adorable and intelligent small children on the face of the earth. Biased? Moi?
Etta June Rose Sullivan was born in the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel on 21st October 2020, right in the middle of the Covid pandemic, and sharing her birthplace with her grandad Chris, making her a true Cockney, to his delight. Thankfully Joe was able to be with Anne for the birth – lots of dads were being sent out of the hospital because of fear of infection – and she came home the same day. We received photos but as soon as it was possible and convenient, we travelled up to London to meet her.
Given the Covid situation, I was prepared not to be able to touch Etta – I just wanted to see her. But as I walked into the room, Anne had this gorgeous tiny bundle of joy in her arms and just held her out for me to cuddle. I will forever be grateful to Anne for that – as well as for the amazing, brilliant mum she has been ever since. I can’t describe the feeling of holding your new granddaughter for the first time but I think the photos taken on the day demonstrate the joy.
For the last two and a bit years I have been so happy and privileged to watch Etta develop from that tiny baby to the confident, intelligent, happy and sociable little girl she is today. She has developed so fast – I had the delight of staying in London for a week in July 2021 to look after her when Anne went back to work for the last two weeks of the summer term, and even then at under 9 months she was taking her first tentative steps – a couple of weeks later she was walking, and by the time she came to the Isle of Wight for the first time in August 2021 for Grandad Chris’s 70th birthday, she was running all over the place – and the first thing she did when she came into the house was climb up the stairs!
By 16 months she was learning to count and she can now talk in full sentences – and is quite capable of announcing to a packed pub that her dad has just gone for a wee. The relationship with Joe was cemented by his working from home due to Covid when she was born, and is as close as the relationship with Anne – lovely to see. She also loves her nursery and has just made her stage debut playing a wise woman in their nativity – chosen because she was the only child who could pronounce ‘frankincense’.
Early this year Joe and Anne announced that Etta was getting a baby brother: the wonderful way they have handled the addition to the family, from making it her brother rather than their baby, making sure Ted gave her a present when he came home and letting her show him off to others has so far resulted in zero jealousy and lots of affection and pride in her new sibling.
Edward Richard Strummer Sullivan himself was welcomed into the world on 8th November 2022, again in the Royal London Hospital – yes, another Cockney in the family – and while we knew Anne had been admitted to hospital the first time round (she spent two days in there), this time it was quicker so the first we knew was a gorgeous photo on WhatsApp from Joe. Like his sister, he was discharged from hospital on the same day and Joe sent us a fabulous video of him meeting Etta – she pointed at him and said ‘My baby brother!’ Quickly followed with a disappointed ‘Baby brother asleep….’
Again we went up to London as soon as we could, and were met by Etta who proudly took us to the little rocking chair and introduced us to Ted, as he will be known for short. As with his sister, I spent the majority of the first visit with my new grandchild cuddled in my arms, getting to know him, marvelling at the tiny fingers and deep blue eyes and looking for family resemblances. We also had the privilege of sharing Ted’s first outing, to the local park where Etta ran round the familiar bits of apparatus and struck up friendships with any other child around, and Ted slept peacefully snuggled in his pram. Another occasion on which it takes the photos rather than words to reflect the joy.
Although small for his age, Ted is developing well and it was lovely to see the changes in him when we visited on the 19th for our Christmas celebrations – complete with a suitcase full of presents. Etta is now only too aware of the potential of prettily wrapped packages and enjoyed opening not only her own gifts but Ted’s too – and it was lovely to see how she showed Ted his presents – though one or two she also had her eye on. We were joined by Ross and Ronan and enjoyed a family pub lunch – Etta has decided that ‘Uncle Ronan funny’ and I adored seeing him and Ross spending time with their niece and nephew. As I write, Ted is not yet 8 weeks old but he is already firmly part of our wonderful family and loved as much as our Etta.