We look after our granddaughter Phoebe every Thursday. She is with us all day and most weeks her parents join us after work for their evening meal after picking up little Margot from nursery school.
It used to be that Phoebe needed assistance with her attire but today I noticed that she put on her own coat, put on her own boots and later put on her hat and gloves. She's really growing up. With regard to vocabulary, today I asked her if she could say "Lincolnshire". She mimicked me perfectly and added, "I can say anything Grandpa!"
It was a clear and sunny autumnal morning but chilly too. We decided to take Phoebe up to nearby Stanage Edge for a walk. Stanage Edge is a three mile long ripple in the landscape - an escarpment made from millstone grit . First of all, we headed for a much photographed cluster of abandoned millstones before climbing up onto the edge itself.
Up there, a German woman asked me where Stanage Edge was and I said, "This is it! You are standing on it!" Then I gave her some other guidelines. Soon, to my surprise, I noticed her putting on a knee support brace ready for her hike along the rocks with two friends.
Phoebe was somewhat over-confident on the edge and kept saying, "I'm all right Grandpa! I can do it!" or "You don't need to hold my hand! I'm a big girl now!" Luckily, she didn't fall. In spite of her assertions, she was closely shepherded.
Back on the main path back to the car, Shirley let Phoebe change into her wellington boots specifically so that she could splash through the puddles. She enjoyed that.
It used to be that she would never communicate with strangers but today I noticed another change in her. She confidently greeted passing ramblers with a cheery "hello". This was so nice to witness.
We came home for lunch and then afterwards, Shirley took our little princess for her weekly swim at Dronfield Sports Centre. "I'm not a princess Grandpa! I'm Phoebe!"
The evening meal was pork sausages with fried onions, baked beans and jacket potatoes followed by sticky toffee pudding with vanilla custard but instead Phoebe finished off with a mini ice cream lolly covered with milk chocolate and nuts. Of course, she got some of this around her mouth. Well, she's still only three.
Grandbabies are just the best! Except she's not a baby, she's Phoebe!
ReplyDeleteIf only she understood the preciousness of childhood but it will slip away as it always does.
DeleteIt's a great day to spend with little ones and expose them to some history. They will remember.
ReplyDeleteShe enjoys every day, loving life.
DeleteShe's a little precocious, that Princess Phoebe, and I love it.
ReplyDeleteShe might even say "Hello" to you if you happened to walk by!
DeleteShe's an early learner it seems.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. It is hard to remember how my daughter was at this age.
DeleteShe may be only three in years but she is confident and grown up , a real little girl now. I'm happy that she now says Hello to people on walks with you and Shirley. The rocks are amazing and I love that Phoebe was allowed to splash in puddles. I allowed my kids to do that too and now the newest young members are learning to do the same.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it too cold there now for a weekly swim? Or is it in a heated swimming pool?
Oh yes - heated indoor pool Elsie!
DeleteSounds like a great day for Phoebe (and her grandparents) with lots of activities. I bet she slept like a baby that night!
ReplyDelete"I'm not a baby! I'm a big girl now!"
DeletePhoebe is sounding very confident. Look out Grandpa.
ReplyDeleteComing soon to cinemas, "The Grandpa from Hell".
DeleteShe is growing up to be a confident young lady isn't she.
ReplyDeleteYes and still so lovely.
DeleteNice photos of Shirley and Phoebe - who looks much older than three. She's quite grown up now and very confident. I suspect Grandpa will be rather sorry to lose his little princess, now that she's Phoebe!
ReplyDeleteI need to be nice to her so that when I am older she will be willing to push my wheelchair.
DeleteThey know their own mind at three and are very independent, and lovely and funny and cute.
ReplyDeleteIt is a delight to see younger members of the family developing their personalities. With her confident 'can do' attitude, Phoebe will do well. School beckons and with that come even more changes and challenges.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. You could make photo calendars instead of sending Christmas cards?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a brilliant young person, being raised by a wise family.
ReplyDeleteSuch sweet photos. Phoebe didn't walk the whole three miles, did she? She's growing like a weed too.
ReplyDeleteShe really is growing up!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a marvelous day. Moments to cherish!
ReplyDeleteI believe that one of our greatest gifts as grandparents is our constant astonishment at how fast our grandbabies are growing, how quickly their skills are increasing from rock climbing to vocabulary. Not only noticing but praising our little ones for these accomplishments, letting them know that we see them. That we are proud of them. Phoebe is a very lucky girl to have you and Shirley to help cheer her on in this world.
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