Visiting Vivian

Frank and I just got back earlier this week from an extended weekend, six days Thursday through Tuesday, in Southern California. We were there to meet and visit our new granddaughter and to celebrate Dan's birthday. Vivian Ruth Chambers had been born on Sunday April 6, at 10:50 pm, weighing 8 lbs 1 oz and measuring 19.5 inches long. It just warms my heart to see our son Dan and his wife Carrie doting on her and loving her to pieces.

This photo showing my son gazing at his newborn daughter instantly tugged at my heartstrings. 

Carrie had a relatively easy pregnancy except that Vivian was nine days overdue. However, giving birth was a bit more challenging. After an induced labor and hours of ineffective contractions, Vivian gave no indication of intending to leave the comfort of her mom's tummy. Vivian was brought into this world via C-section. Carrie is recovering well. It was fortunate that her mom had planned to fly out from Ohio shortly after the birth. She  stayed with them for about ten days to help out. On Easter Sunday, at two weeks old, Vivian went to church all decked out in her finery.

Dan, Carrie, and Vivian on Easter Sunday April 20, 2014.

We arrived when Vivian was only 18 days old, and we were excited and thrilled to hold and cuddle her. I had brought with me two blankets knit by my mom and Dan's christening gown sewn by his godmother. They are described in my other blog DianeLoves2Quilt in the post for April 30th, 2014. We also brought a few birthday presents for Dan.

Frank and I are the proud grandparents, each of us holding Vivian for the first time.

Dan's birthday was April 25th, the day after our arrival. We celebrated with a HUGE Costco-sized chocolate cake and a few gifts.

Those are large sheets of chocolate flakes around the side edges of Dan's three layered cake.
 The cake had to be easily over 6 inches tall.

One of his gifts from us was a custom mug sporting his favorite picture of Vivian that was taken at the hospital when she was just two days old. She is sticking out her tongue. The message on the mug states how proud she is that HER dad is Dan Chambers. Dan echoes the sentiment.

Dan liked his birthday present of the mug with Vivian's photo on it.

While Dan and Carrie were at the hospital giving birth, a water pipe had burst in their slab foundation. Yes, timing is everything. Pipes had to be stubbed off and re-routed, wallboard removed, and industrial fans employed to dry out the wet walls. Given their family situation, Dan and Carrie were placed on the top of the priority list for fixing the leak that affected eight units of their condominium complex. Dan was on the phone quite a bit with contractors since he was unable to be there. Spending his time at the hospital with Carrie and Vivian he was judiciously selective in his updates to Carrie. He told the plumbers that the key to the place was under the doormat. They should be aware that inside there was a 50 lb pit bull... but not to worry. He was friendly. All was fixed within a couple days but drying was taking longer. Vivian and Carrie's first days home were punctuated by the noise and humidity of those big blowers. Frank helped Dan with the remaining cosmetic tasks. They replaced baseboard and repainted walls in the mudroom, under the counter, and behind the refrigerator so all was restored by the time we left.

The wall under the counter is primed and ready to be painted.
The baseboards were salvageable and could be touched up and reattached.

Even though Frank and I were away at night, sleeping undisturbed at a nearby hotel, we still were able to help a fair amount with holding, feeding, burping, rocking, and walking Vivian.  Frank made the comment, "Isn't it amazing how one person can exhaust four people?" I am sure Snoopy was also happy at the presence of four more hands to pet him. Things are quite different with a baby in the house. He has accepted his role as her guardian very well. It is fortunate that the contractors were gone before Vivian arrived.

Contrast the energy level in this photo with that of our bright shiny faces on the first day of our arrival.

With a new baby and all the accompanying baby paraphernalia, Dan and Carrie have been looking to move to a larger home. We visited the models for a development they are considering. They are pre-qualified and on a wait list for new releases. If indeed they go with this builder, it will be fall at the earliest that their name comes up for consideration as buyers. It seems as if Southern California cannot produce new homes fast enough for those who want to buy them or the permitting process is interfering with supply and demand.

Dan and Frank pose in the kitchen of a model home.
Maybe within a year or so Dan and Carrie will be in a home with a roomy, bright, kitchen just like this.

Frank and I left on a Tuesday morning after hugs all around. It was great seeing Vivian and a little bit daunting to realize how much she will have changed the next time we get together. All in all it was a fantastic visit and we plan to get together again soon.

Vivian Ruth Chambers at two days old.