Guided Discovery: Time to talk about Amelia Myrna

The following paragraph appears in the The Great Adventure article, which, to date, is the only mention of my lovely granddaughter. I now intend to correct this oversight.

"We departed April 2 (2012), for our trip north to Chicago and made a slight detour to Savannah that allowed us to connect with Lesley and Myrna who were visiting there. Dinner with them in downtown Savannah turned out to be another life changing event when I learned I was to be a grandfather some 7 months later (October 19, 2012). Wow."

"WOW" (aka Amelia Myrna Shapiro-MacBeth) was born on Friday, October 19, 2012 at 3:55 PM, 6 lbs and 11 ounces and 19 inches. She was delivered by C-section. Those are the hard stats.

The next "WOW happened the following day when at around 6 PM, Diana and I visited Lesley, Scott and Amelia at the hospital. We had carefully planned this trip to ensure we would arrive about a week after Amelia was born so as to give Lesley time to recover. Well, turned out Amelia was a bit late and our travel plans put as on the spot within 26 hours of her birth.

Scott, Lester, Amelia and Lesley on Day 2

WOW! She was beautiful and mother and daughter were doing just fine. We visited for two hours and then headed north to my sister Myrna's home in Cambridge, Mass. Note: You can see where Amelia gets her middle name.

Amelia Myrna Shapiro- MacBeth on Day 2

Day 2. Amelia's first reading lesson. It's never too early

Side Story 1: Lesley intended to have a home birth and had made extensive preparations for this to occur including having a birthing pool. Everything was in place on Thursday night when the process started and, according to the midwife, she was in the perfect head down position. With pool filled and all players in place on Friday, they waited for Amelia's arrival. Oops. Amelia had other ideas. Overnight she had performed a 180 turn and was in a breach position. So it was off to the hospital where the doctor performed a C-section.

Side Story 2: When I first learned of Lesley's intention to birth at home I was extremely skeptical and initially argued against the idea. I changed my mind after visiting with Lesley in June on my trip east to prepare the 48 for the second phase of the Great Loop. Lesley's data showed that the home birth was a good idea and that she had all the bases covered in case the home birth was not feasible.

Lesley went home from the hospital the next day (actually 40 hours after delivery). Myrna, Diana and I drove down from Cambridge to visit Amelia.

Myrna, Lester, Lesley and, of course, Amelia Myrna

Scott, Lesley, Amelia and half brother Robert

On November 26, Diana and I headed to Sarasota for our second annual winter retreat from Chicago's cold and snowy winter. The first retreat, in 2012, was for Diana's recovery from the accident with the doberman (see The Great Adventure).

More good news. We've got to watch Amelia grow up. Lesley and Amelia visited with us in Sarasota in December, February and this week. We've seen her at two, four and six months. We also get daily and weekly photos.

December Visit - 2 months old:

Diana and I had great fun preparing for Amelia's visit, which included getting a Britax Boulevard car seat, a Pack and Play portable crib and a Fisher Price Play Mat. All of these were obtained on Craig's List. Besides being spectacular bargains ($100 vs $300, $120 vs $400 and $20 vs $60) the process was great fun.

Diana with Amelia at 2 months

Amelia preparing to be my next protege'?

Amelia visiting with our cruising friends Darrell and Sue on Siesta Key

February Visit - 4 months old:

Scott, Lesley and Amelia stayed with us in Sarasota on their February vacation. Note: Scott and Lesley teach biology at Classical High School in Providence, RI. The highlight of this trip was a dinner party with our friends Marjorie, Dick, Stanley and Norma. Lesley orchestrated the entire meal in what she described as camping kitchen.

Amelia as the center of attention with Marjoie, Dick and Norma

Lesley, Amelia, Scott, Dick, Marjorie, Norma and Stanley

Lesley and Amelia with Kodi Looking on

Amelia with Jake at Marjorie's house

Amelia playing with her Fisher Price Play Mat at 2 months

April Visit - 6 months on April 19:

Lesley and Amelia arrived on Saturday evening for a seven day stay, which turned into an eight day stay when their flight was delayed. Amelia at 6 months is developing well, has a calm disposition, is very aware of her surroundings and is great fun to be with (read as rarely cries). Compare the photo above with the one below. At four months she played on her back and randomly touched the objects. Now she is sitting up and actively engaged with the objects.

Amelia Myrna sitting up an playing at 6 months

This trip included visits to Naples to participate in Scott's mother's birthday, the Red Barn (flea market), Selby Gardens, Mote Aquarium, swimming in our pool, a Southeastern Guide Dog reception for their new Keith G. Hurst Canine Assessment Center at their Sarasota Discovery Center and a dinner party on Friday evening with the Singers at our home.

Checking out the fish at Mote Aquarium

Fun with mom in the pool

Along the canal at Selby Gardens

Dick took this photo of Marjorie with my family

Amelia is still the center of attention

Well not quite. Kodi still gets her share of attention

Bonus day: Lesley's flight was scheduled for 1:34 PM out of Tampa with one stop at Dulles. We dropped Lesley and Amelia at the airport and headed home. Minutes later Lesley called to inform us that the flight would be delayed until 4:00 PM. We turned around (not an easy task when heading south from Tampa) and arrived at short term parking 30 minutes later. We joined Lesley who was waiting in line with lots of other unhappy people. The flight was now delayed until 7:08 PM. Lesley got the last seat for the same flight on Sunday and we got another day with Amelia. Another side note: No sooner had we left the airport heading home Lesley got a text message informing her that the flight was now delayed until 9:00 PM.