JACOB

Our grandson Jacob Nathan Wegener, son of Becky and Nate, spent a few days with us while his parents, two brothers, Jordan and Grayson, and grandparents Ray and Rita Minkler, went on a Disney Cruise.

Becky brought him to us on November 12. She stayed over that night and the next day to help Jacob make the adjustment. He did well...better than Becky we guessed. He obviously wanted his Momma that first day and there were a few tears as he looked for her. But Jacob adjusted...and Grandma Kathie and Poppa Tony adjusted. We actually had a great time together...but it really was a two (old) person assignment...we were a pretty good tag team.

Jacob is a delight. He has long blond hair and big blue eyes. He is an absolute clone of his Dad at the same age. We have the baby pictures to prove it. And he was into everything...he dumped Wheaties onto the floor twice...and Kathie's grits onto the floor one day. He did not like walking on grits barefoot very much. But you play...you pay. Much of the house was off limits, but he did not go exploring...he had to have one of us in sight most of the time.

What a sleeper!...in eleven nights he only woke one time. And what a drooler...his shirts were constantly wet with drool. We concluded that Jacob drooled enough that he really did not need to pee. But he did of course and we were retrained to diaper duty.

Jacob started walking while he was with us. I know...we are inspirational grandparents. But he wanted Poppa Tony to go walking, holding his hand of course. He would tug on a finger until I moved. He would not walk alone on cue. He would be holding on to someone or something one minute and then take off by himself. Five steps was his record. We would clap. He would stop and clap also, but that usually resulted in a flop to the bot, since his balance was not coordinated with handclapping.

As fun as those days were, we were really glad to see Becky again late on Saturday, November 22. Unfortunately Jacob was not. He would not give Becky the time of day. So parents, there is an emotional price to pay for leaving your children with others. You pay when you leave...your heart breaks...you pay when you return...your heart breaks again, when you are ignored, even rejected. We just had to smile...been there...done that.