Eli and Grandma 'Ike

As I said before, Eli and I were lucky enough to swing a visit to California earlier in December to see Grandma Hanaike before she passed.  It was pretty special to me that he got that little bit of extra time with her.  Other than Emerson, my sister Mariah's new baby, Eli is the great grandchild that has had the least time with Grandma Hanaike, just because of distance and age.  On this trip he was a little apprehensive with her at first, but pretty soon was running around her room talking and laughing while she either ate her soup or played peekaboo with him and Avonlea.  

He also seemed to sense the strangeness of being without his sisters...just me and him.  He was pretty happy about it, both of us were, to have the other all to ourselves for a little while.  He had special time with Grandma and Grandpa too, being the only visitor for the first and probably only time.

We spent time at the beach, but this trip we focused on spending time with both of the great-grandmas (and really all the grandparents) as much as we could.  I was even able to get one last interview with Grandma Hanaike recorded where we talked about my recent miscarriage and one that she had early in her married life.  

I'm grateful for it all.  This trip was literally once in a lifetime, especially for this little boy whether he knows it or not.

I'll always be reminding him of Gama 'Ike, as he calls her.