It’s been an amazing Fall thus far. We became grandparents again twice!!! first to Lucy Margaret born at home in Maryland on August 24, 2020, weighing 7’11’, and then again on September 8, 2020 to Ian Joseph in NC weighing in at 9′ 2″! That makes 22! – 11 grandsons and 11 granddaughters, the oldest turning 26 this month.
Lucy boasting her “Born at Home” status 
Ian wrapped in flag blanket
Both are beautiful little miracles. It was so difficult, having both of these grandbabies arrive and not being able to be there to help out right away, partially because of the distance, but more than that, because of Covid 19, that pesky horrible virus that has wreaked havoc in so many of our lives. But, on Saturday, October 3 we left mid-morning and drove straight through to Faith and David’s home, arriving at 2 AM, striving to get there before David had to leave for the week. We got there before he left while he was sleeping. He left at 4AM that same morning. We did not see him. We were sleeping.
David had been in Africa for most of Faith’s pregnancy, arriving home less than a month before the birth of Ian. Thankfully we were able to be there for Faith and help her out while David was away on Army business. We stayed long enough to make it a full week and were able to visit with David a bit before we headed to Maryland to meet Lucy Margaret.
Faith, Lucas, and Ian relaxing on the porch 
Papa holding Lucy
We left Sunday at about 11 and arrived at DJ and Dawns about 7:30 in the evening. DJ and Dawn had not told Addy and Betty that we were coming, and I wish you could have seen their faces when we showed up at their door. Their surprise and delight ranks among the greatest pleasures of being a grandparent.
During both of our visits, the Army dads, David and DJ, were away part of the time on Army duty. Army wives are strong and independent, and both Faith and Dawn step up to the plate and take over as sole parents without missing a step. Still, we are so happy to have been able to see and hold those new babies (hands sanitized and masks on) and hopefully, to be a bit of a help to the moms who, when not on maternity leave, are also busy with their own careers, Dawn an attorney, and Faith, an occupational therapist and ISR (Infant Swimming Resource) instructor.
All in all, we put 2,400 miles on the van. There’s never been a time when we haven’t been on hand for the arrival of a new little one. No corona virus was going to keep us from maintaining that tradition!
