Signing with Lorelei

Sign language was introduced to Lorelei by her parents at an early age. Mimi spent a lot of time teaching signs to Lorelei and reading and signing stories and songs. As a result, Lorelei knows quite a bit of sign language. Teaching sign language to babies gives them a language and way to communicate needs well before they develop verbal skills. Lorelei could tell her mommy and daddy that she wanted milk or a cookie before she could say it. This is especially neat for our family as Lorelei's Papi Bryant is totally deaf. These pictures show Papi practicing signs with Lorelei as well as Lorelei signing "car" and "apple." By age 14 months she knew at least 35 signs!

Tucker's Pre-K Graduation

We were so proud to be present for the pre-k graduation of our oldest grandson Tucker in May 2009. Tucker flashes a grin during the program...poses with Mimi & Papi...reads a card with great-grandmother Nanny Bryant. We are looking forward to celebrating special events with all of the grandchildren in the future!

Baby Genevieve Joins the Family

We welcomed our second granddaughter a year ago this month on January 7, 2009. Genevieve Hope Bryant made her debut that morning via C-section.
Lorelei meets her baby sister for the very first time...she was not sure what to think!
Lorelei begins the bonding process with baby Gena (as her parents dubbed her) by investigating her mouth.

Reading Time with Lor

Mimi and Lorelei share one of many books during my visit to her house last January. Lorelei loves books and often "reads" the stories herself, making up a story to match the pictures. She always gets so excited when she sees the Mimi bag I carry with me because she knows it contains activities and books that I planned especially for her. I will have to read her every single new book multiple times. Of course, there are several favorites which include "Beautiful Babies," "Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother?" "My Mimi and Me," and books I made for her that contain photos of family and our outings. One of Lorelei's favorite things to do is lay back on my arm while we recline on the sofa or bed to read...I did this with my own son many years ago !

Love of Reading

Reading has always been a love of mine! I am pictured here with my cousin Lynda with our Grandma Schwarzkopf reading to us. I am continuing this special time with my four grandchildren. Currently I am not permitted to see my granddaughters like last year so I resort to storytelling during our phone visits. I make up cute stories that have Lorelei (age 2 1/2) as a character. To help keep her paying attention since I am not there to monitor her, I ask questions throughout and have her make animals sounds or do actions. Yesterday I told her a story entitled "The Best Pet for Lorelei." She loved it! I hope to be able to continue the reading traditions I established with my granddaughter in the coming years.

First Grandchild

My husband Rickey and I became grandparents for the first time in May 2004 when our grandson Tucker Jordan Bryant was born. We were so excited about this event! We spent several days with our oldest son Chris and daughter-in-law Michelle in Seneca, South Carolina where they lived at the time. Tucker was such a cute and cuddly baby boy. I recall studying every little thing about him and touching each finger and toe as I imagined about what he would be like as he grew up. We are partial to little boys as we had raised 3 sons ourselves. We enjoyed watching Michelle and Chris settle into their new roles of parents. As Tucker grew over the following months, he was such a bright-eyed, adorable baby and it was the beginning of many joyous hours spent with our grandson. Tucker will always hold a special place in our hearts as the first grandchild. Newborn Tucker is pictured here with his devoted Papi!

Remembering My Grandfather

My grandfather was a unique man who in his heyday worked as a building contractor. He loved boats and while I can't remember going out in one with him, I've seen pictures. A favorite activity with Grandpa was going to the park to feed the ducks. Grandpa had a routine for my sister and I and our Michigan cousins as well whenever we visited. He would give us 10 M&M's and 2 Tootsie Rolls every day and we thought that was such a big deal and looked forward to those treats each visit. I recall Grandpa lining up his many medications on the counter, colorful pills and other tablets, to take each day. You see, he had a hole in his heart and eventually would succumb to heart disease in his 50's. Grandpa was a great grandfather and I cherish my memories of him. He is pictured here with me and my cousin Lynda.

First Christmas With My Maternal Grandparents

December 1960 found our family in Clearwater, Florida celebrating my first Christmas with my Grandma and Grandpa Schwarzkopf. This picture shows my grandparents with me (in blue) and my favorite cousin Lynda, both of us age 1, as we both have December birthdays! Thus began the tradition of going to Clearwater, Florida for a week at Christmas every other year.