It's a GRAND feeling...

I know other grandmother's will join me in agreeing that there is nothing in the world that compares to becoming a grandmother. I saw this on Facebook this morning and just had to share it. 

I love my five grandchildren so much. They each have their own personality traits and interests and it is so much fun to watch them grow. It just amazes me what changes come from year to year....

Meet Garret. Our first grandchild. In just a couple of months he will be turning 16. I am not sure where the years have gone, but I am so proud of the fine young man he is becoming. This picture marks that moment in time when my first grandchild stole my heart. This was taken when he was just barely an hour old if not less.

He loved helping in the kitchen when he was little. My mom was teaching him to make homemade biscuits.

Those eyes always have a twinkle in them.

I am just amazed at how grown up he is now. But still as handsome as ever.

Our second grandson, Caleb, will be 12 this year. He is starting to get so mature. I can't believe some of the conversations we have. He is very interested in semi trucks and heavy equipment and talks to me a lot about owning his own trucking company when he gets older. He had the cutest head of hair and tons of curls. It broke my heart when he got his first hair cut.

He is an awesome big brother. He has watched over and cared for his sister, Shelby, ever since she was born. She worships him and they are very close.

This made his day. We went to a semi truck show in Knoxville and David Berry Trucking had his big black semi dump trailer in the show. Caleb was in 7th heaven when he got to sit in it and check it out. His Daddy drives a semi so that is why Caleb loves them so much.

He is so grown up. I hope he never loses that passion for what he loves and does own his own company some day.

Then 10 years ago last September, God blessed us with Alexis, our first granddaughter. She is such a delight to be around. Always happy. Always smiling. She is just one of those little angels that everybody loves when they meet her. As her mom says "she just couldn't wait to see the world and roared in at a whole 1 lb 14oz and hasn't slowed down since." She was two months early but a was for the most part very healthy for a preemie. 

She came home from the hospital just shy of what was her due date. Here she is with Papaw on her first visit to our house when she was just a little over 2 months old. She hadn't been out of the hospital long, but you can tell how healthy she was.

Here is that million dollar smile that melts the heart of everyone who meets her. This is my absolute favorite picture of her. It is just so natural and so her. She just sparkles all the time.

We have a special Mamaw-Granddaughter day for her birthday every year. We go shopping and out to eat at Applebee's. 

Our next gift was Shelby who will be 7 in July. Our second granddaughter. When you talk about quirky personalities you are describing Shelby Rayne to a T. Some times there are just no words to describe this child. She is 6 going on 26. You never know when she opens her mouth what will come out. Her mom keep saying she needs to write a book with all the silly things Shelby says and does.

She has a lot of different "looks". The sweet and precious smile, the comical comedian, the silly crazy when she comes up with something new and fun. But nothing makes you want to run for the hills more than her "I'm plotting something" look. She definitely has kept us on our toes. 

Then she has that soft princess side that is just so girly-girl and dainty and petite. She is just a chameleon ever changing. And I wouldn't want her any other way.

She's a big first grader now. She loved for me to pick her up and carry her and when she started school she told me she was too old and I couldn't do it any more. But then she would let me once in awhile. So she turned 6 and told me I couldn't carry her no more, but still reaches those arms up to jump up in my arms for a hug every time I see her. The NEW rule is I can pick her up until she is 7. 

And our sweet precious Colby James just turned 4 this past fall. He has been a delight from day one. He is such a character. He is hilarious. I just want to follow him around all day because you never know what he will say or do. He recently did something funny and I said to him "Colby, you are hilarious." He replied "I know. I crack myself up." How can you not love that. Check out that head of hair. 

He is a sports nut. He is the only child I know who started at age two wanting to watch the races or a ball game instead of cartoons. He loves all sports and loves to wear his big brother Garret's uniform to play football in the house. He may be tiny but trust me you don't want to get tackled by him. He packs a mighty punch for such a little tyke.

You will never see him in a really bad mood. He is always fun and running full throttle at everything he does.

I got him an electric football game for Christmas and he was so happy. He opened it and shouted out "Oh my goodness!" I knew it was the perfect gift for my little sportsman.

Papaw and I love them very much. It is so hard to get a pic of all 5 of The Grands together and I didn't have any with me and Papaw and them. Papaw doesn't like to have his picture take and you can tell it. But last year we at least got him in the picture...even if half the group isn't looking at the camera. This is my most cherished picture.

I am very proud of each and every one of them and love them to the moon and back. If I do say so myself I have some beautiful grandchildren.