After finally getting to finish my highly-personal, and exciting, dedication for ANNA MARIA & MAESTRO VIVALDI (Red Deer Press, 2022, art by the amazing Francois Thisdale, whose work I’ve admired for years), I’m taking some time to reflect on November and December. We were in Ontario for those two months, back and forth between Kingston (a very easy city to live in/get around) and Toronto, spending time with Shannon & Peter, Liam & Rachel as they awaited their first babies.
Ada Jane (AJ) Vooys (named after my late mum and Peter’s Grandma Jane) arrived on November 22nd, on what would have been my parents’ 64th wedding anniversary, and Noelle Clara Coates arrived on December 21st, the first day of winter. Sadly, I can’t show you pictures as their parents have wisely decided to keep them off social media, but I’m completely in love with both of these sweet little girls. It’s early days, but it already seems they may have very different personalities – who knows? I’m just so grateful for their safe arrivals – thanks to their Mamas who did the hard work of growing them!
They’re so beautiful, snuggly, soft, sweet, cute – all the baby adjectives, and I loved them from the moment I met them (or possibly before they were born), something that kind of surprised me. I loved my own kids from the moment they were conceived, I think, but I didn’t know it would be the same for grandbabies. Best of all is watching their sleepy parents love them, too, as they figure out this parenting thing. Both couples will be such great parents, and they’re all taking a teamwork approach, supporting each other, exchanging bleary-eyed smiles, even across poopy diaper changes, with Vaseline-slathered hands😊
Both AJ and Noelle are lucky little girls to have the parents they do, and I am so looking forward to being part of their life stories as they unfold, chapter-by-chapter (diaper-by-diaper)! Fortunately, my almost-forgotten baby-holding skills kicked in immediately – there’s nothing like that new baby smell and warmth to send a new grandma into raptures.
Meanwhile, back home in Wolfville, I’m still making masks – I stopped counting ages ago, but it’s well over 5,000. Lots of snowy days to work on my illustrating, too. Hope you’re able to tune out Omicron for the most part, and that you’re vaccinated, boosted, and finding your way through this endless pandemic.
Jan L. Coates - "What if...?" 
A huge congratulations! I can tell you will just love being a grandmother. It is just the best. What adorable names they have as well. Stay warm and safe, I’ve heard all about the snow and cold. xo
Thanks, Darlene – really missing them…. Zoom just doesn’t cut it:)
I may or may not have grandchildren in my future, one never knows. But I hear from friends, who are as un-mushy as they come, that grandbabies are heart-melting. Lucky you ❤
Thanks, Mirka – I do feel very lucky – it’s a long day/night, waiting to hear that all is well with both mama and baby, but we’re busy zooming as often as we can, watching them grow from a distance. Happy 2022!
So happy for the parents and to you and Don on the safe arrival of your grand babies Ada and Noelle. Enjoy watching them grow in the years to come. You know how fast this happens. All too fast. ❤
This is wonderful, Jan. Both baby girls are so blessed to have a grandmother like you and the best is yet to come in terms of making special memories and watching them grow. Plus, their names are just gorgeous! Can I admit (at the ripe old age of 34) I’m already looking forward to being a grandmother? It feels like the best of all the worlds – someone to love and nurture, without the middle-of-the-night feedings!
Welcome back to Wolfville!
Thanks, Elisabeth – hope all is well in your corner. We must have one of our long coffee chats one of these days…