h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well - he's here. Our little grandson. Four hours old, but I haven't seen him yet. At 9-ish this morning DiL rang to say they were on the way to the hospital; her waters had broken. At 12-ish, son No 1, the new father, rang to say it was all over and all were fine. We're now waiting for a call to say we can go and see them - they're just up the road. I don't even know his name yet - DiL was keeping that to herself.

This is all very unexpected as the earliest due date was at least a week from now - the actual due date was four weeks from now. It's been moved about a bit, so they've been a bit vague about it.

I'm not as emotional as I thought I'd be.

Yet.

Congrats to all involved!Enjoy the grandmother gig, I hope the lad grows up as musical as you.

This your first? Congratulations!

'It was all over' -- now it's all begun.

Well done

And thanks for giving me a Depeche Mode earworm

congratulations, TC!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Congratulations what lovely news. Enjoy, it is very special.

Websailor

Congratulations

MC

Congratulations!

congrats!

Went to visit this evening. They were working very hard at trying to get him to drink something. It took ages. I don't remember any of that at all. I hope they get it sorted soon, and he learns to suck properly without putting his tongue in the wrong place.

He's so tiny, being early and all. But he is fine without an incubator or any other equipment.

Aren't you lucky! More details when you have them, please.
I gave mine small sums of money in the equivalent of Premium Bonds to be added to at birthdays and Christmas. The oldest has already doubled his money in prizes.

I've never heard of anything like Premium Bonds here, but there are countless varieties of savings schemes. I was thinking that I could open a savings account or similar and, not knowing how many grandchildren I'm going to end up with, use it for all of them so that at any given time, any one of them can have access to their portion. If there are two, then that's half each - if another comes along, they get one third each.

Saving money seems such a silly thing to do these days, though. When I look at the pension plans I'm in, what I'll be getting out each month will be about the same as what I've paid in each month all these years.

Didn't take any photos yesterday because he was either crying in his efforts to get some food, or in a disadvantageous position in relation to his Mum. Or there were so many hands and faces around him. So far the parents have demonstrated exemplary patience. I do hope they stick at the breast-feeding.

Visited again last night. Hubby got some photos. When we got there, our son was laying on the bed with the baby on his chest, fast asleep (baby, not son, although he was pretty drowsy, too) and DiL was having a bath. We were then given a huge Ikea bag of washing to do. Bedlinen and all the baby clothes that they hadn't washed ready yet, due to the baby being born several weeks early.

Son is making a great effort to speak English to him, although it doesn't always work because everyone around them is speaking German. When they move to the States, the German language will be in the minority, and they'll have to work another system out there.

Anyway - have got the second machine of washing on the go, but must get off to work now.

Thank you for sharing your news. Lovely to read about new life when I'm in the midst of knowing so much of life isn't life...

I think the savings idea is excellent. It might not seem so great, but I think it is more important than it seems, that a nest egg of money helps provide more choice. The nest egg my grandparents gave to me was very valuable - I added to it with my pocket money when I was young, and it made an excellent contribution to the deposit for my house a few years ago.

"When we got there, our son was laying on the bed with the baby on his chest, fast asleep (baby, not son, although he was pretty drowsy, too) and DiL was having a bath."