Grady, 2013
Grady and Drew at Zoo Atlanta, December 2013
Here are some photos from our Christmas visit:
Is this kid excited or what? December 22, 2013, just after arriving at MeMe and PaPa’s home.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas:
Grady listens to the famous poem read by his parents and Uncle Matt, Christmas Eve 2013.
Ho Ho Ho, on with the show! Christmas morning 2013
WOW! Christmas morning!
It turns out his favorite thing was the curling ribbon.
And here’s where it all started…
I walked through the door snapping away…
Grady looks happy to see his mama face to face!
Grady gets a good look at his father
This will give you an idea where they got the name…
I waited almost 57 years for this!!!
Grady and me, 7-30-13
Grady with Uncle Paul, MD — if you have to wait all day for a baby, it’s nice to have a physician nearby to do the play-by-play. Drew was texting everything to Paul, who has a smart phone. Hey, I’m a grandmother, did you REALLY expect ME to have one?
Megan, looking great after her 24-hour ordeal, and Drew justly proud of her.
UPDATE: see our first, very brief video of Grady, sent to us on Sunday morning 8-11-13:
Jeff was able to visit Grady for a few hours on Saturday, August 17:
This is Drew’s idea of a 1-month portrait. This guy is SERIOUS about baseball.
Grady looks as if he is thinking, “Whatever baseball is, I hope I like it or I’m TOAST.”
Hooray for Grady! Wish I could see this in person…
Grady sends you a fist-bump!
He is liking the world better all the time!
Here’s Grady at 10 weeks.
Grady has his Halloween costume!
Although Megan says pretty much all his clothes could double as costumes…
It appears from the video below (October 30, 2013) that Grady has inherited a rather quirky but robust sense of humor!
Grady has decided he’s a pretty fun guy!
Official Four-Month Portrait – scroll up to see a comparison to the One-month-old. What a difference three months makes!
Grady at four months, grinning and growing!
Grady considers adopting his grandfather’s career, December 2013
Defeat Despair 
Welcome to you,Baby Grady! Enjoy this precious new life, Denton family. Thank you for the photos, Julia. Best wishes to all! Sheila Vann
Thank you, Sheila! I am so happy to have you sharing all these major events with us – finally a HAPPY one!
I just know this little guy will impact your life in unimaginable ways. Now we can share stories of adoration….. It’s gonna get really exciting. “Mimi”
Hey Sheila, do your grandkids call you “Mimi?” Grady might call me “Mémé” (French nickname for Grandmother, which also sounds like the Chinese Mei mei, which means ‘younger sister’ that also describes my birth order in my family of origin). Of course, he will ultimately decide what to call me. My mother is still “Granny” and believe you me, there is only one of her!
We are so happy and rejoicing with you all!
He’s adorable…but how could he miss! 🙂
I told Drew and Megan before he was born: no matter how hard we try to imagine what these babies will be like, they always come out completely themselves and unique. It amazes me how many people there are in the world, without any two being alike. Way more impressive than the snowflake theory.
How delightful to discover Grady’s page and see your happy faces! Love it!!
I figured I might as well give him his own page; soon they will be mandatory, I’m sure. Yesterday when they took Grady to do his “vital signs” Drew and Paul went with them – when they returned, Paul said “OK, he has all his NSA papers in order now.” 🙂 Glad you like the page.
O How wonderful that he’s here! Julia you look radiant as Grady’s MeMe!! O what joy all of you are in for!! Love and Blessin’s!
Thanks, Cindy!
What a handsome baby boy! Wonderful to see such joy! Please extend my congratulations to everyone.
🙂
Thank you Beth! I will always remember your Mom coming to Ohio to see us after Matt was born! 🙂
Congratulations on this beautiful new addition to your family.
Thank you Anna!
Julia: It is not possible to believe that the photo of you & your precious “treasure”, Grady, is of the lady who has such an enormous amount of stress in her life! You look like a movie star! I am so happy for the entire Denton family. Uncle Matt will be thrilled! The onesie he got is perfect! Being a grandmother is a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father. I sang each of them their own version of “Jesus Loves Me”, “Oh, How I Love Jesus” & other songs as one song; adding their name & details to make it personal.
Please tell Drew & Megan, they are a beautiful family…
Love to Grandpa, Grandma, & Uncle!
Praying for health all around! MaryAnn
Mary Ann, you are always so sweet and generous with your comments – thanks so much for having such kind things to say every time I hear from you. I just spent a wonderful time rocking Grady and singing to him. It will likely be a long time before I see him again; Jeff starts combination chemo and radiation 5 days per week next week, for six weeks, and they say he will be really SICK this time, so Grady will be quite a big boy before we are together again. We’ll just have to do SKYPE! That’s how we kept up with Drew while he was at Oxford, but now they have it with video too. Maybe you and I can try that sometime and you’ll see how I REALLY look! 🙂 Love to you and your family and I hope that Grady can meet his Daddy’s “Momba” someday!
I was going to look up the Swahili words for “proud great-uncle”, but did not take the time. I am so greatful for people like Mary Ann who express the thoughts and emotions shared by most of us readers of this blog. Also, the “reply” affords important info like the news of six daunting weeks of therapy. Thank You to everyone who extends love, joy, laughter, shared anxiety, grief, and most of all Hope through this medium. Eric Bond Hedden
Thank you Eric. Technology, as with any man-made tool, is a two edged sword; a good servant but a poor master. These ten months, it has been an indescribably good servant for us, bringing us encouragement daily and enlisting countless “prayer warriors” who have manned the front lines in this ongoing battle. I am so thankful for the many responsible citizens of the great online world, who use it for good. For all the nastiness and evil that happens online, I think there are far more of us who are people of good will, all over the world. Thanks for thanking those who have been among them, who have lightened our burdens!
How special I would feel to be acquainted w/ Grady, his mom & see my Drew again!
We are praying for Jeff AND for my Julia!
Mary Ann, I have been plotting a trip back to California for several years now…there are so many people we want to see again, and you are on that list! If you see Elizabeth Miller, please send her our love and good wishes. I so miss her being online. Love to all.
In the hills of Tennessee, there is shouting and echos to be heard. The family tree has a new branch! I can’t wait to see Grady in his shorts, t shirt, and ball glove with Daddy throwing his first ball to him! Who knows we may be seeing the next Atlanta Braves pitcher or 1st baseman! But most of all, we are thankful that the blessing of a new life is born in the image of God and we are blessed by his giving Drew and Megan this child to raise in his glory.
Thank you Larry. I know you speak for all our Tennessee family. Drew hasn’t started fungo with Grady yet, but I’m sure it won’t be long! He is a good-natured little guy so I think he will take it all in stride!
You don’t know me, but I found your blog via The Upper Room devotionals on-line. Your upbeat attitude, words of wisdom, and optimism always me feel stronger, and I thank you for that. It has been delightful to see pictures of your newborn grandson – congratulations to all of you! I hope you don’t mind that I have Jeff on my daily prayer list. I wish the best for all of you! Wendy in Fredericksburg, VA
Hi Wendy, thanks so much for visiting and for your comment! PLEASE DO keep Jeff on your prayer list – we need prayers continually and I am truly convinced that they have helped us survive; I don’t think we could have without all the saints who are lifting us up to God daily. I am always threatening to come to Fredericksburg on a shopping trip – we pass through there en route to York County and I think it would be a wonderful place to live, as long as one did not have to get on 95 at the worst traffic times! Thanks again for being here. I am so happy you like the blog.
Congratulations to all. He is adorable.
Thank you Janet. I hope you will send me some of your best “subversive grandmother” tips — by private email, of course! 🙂
These are wonderful pictures. Everyone looks so happy! Your faces are beautiful – congratulations Drew and Megan and Julia and Jeff and Uncle Matt, just to name a few! I got a little choked up a little bit remembering when Drew was born – I think this tiny emotion I’m feeling now is going to be a HUGE one someday when I, LORD willing, have my own grandkids. 🙂
Loolamay, that time will be here before you know it. Really. You will not be any older when it gets here (in fact, you may be younger in all the ways that count) and I can just imagine that Jacob will probably be a very serious little Daddy who will take on the challenges and leave you with the fun. Now Jackson…hmmm, he might just be a fellow conspirator! But his kids with grow up with lots of laughter!!! Thanks for being here.
Ha! It sounds like you already know my kids pretty well! 🙂
Lucky me! 🙂
Dear Julia, I also found your blog on the UR site. What a blessing it is. I had no idea what Grady’s page was so you can imagine my surprise when I clicked it and found your pride and joy displayed over Grady’s arrival. Congratulations to you and your family.
Our first grandchild was born 18 years ago. I didn’t just love her but fell “in love” with our Isabella. She will be attending university this fall (how’d that happen) and has lived all the hopes and dreams we have ever had for her.
We were originally Nana & Tata to her along with our two grandsons. Over time and different mutations our names eventually morphed into Nots & Tots which we are now known, far and wide. 🙂
You and Jeff are in our prayers as you go through his impending chemo and radiation. God bless! xo, an admirer
Carol, thank you so much for your comment! I am always so happy to hear from anyone who likes the blog. It sounds as if your experience with being “Tots” has been wonderful. Congratulations on your granddaughter entering university this fall! We really appreciate your good wishes and especially your prayers. I truly believe the prayers have made all the difference for us. I’m so glad you let me know you are reading! Have a great weekend!
Oh my, sorry for the double post.
No problem, it happens all the time. It’s confusing sometimes when comments are moderated, you can’t tell whether they went through or not. The other day I think I posted a comment 4 or 5 times before I figured out they were getting through! It’s very easy to delete the duplicates – and better two than none! 🙂
What wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing your joy with us. Sincere hope that they will give you and Jeff moments of happiness during the upcoming weeks of treatment. Prayers for you both.
Ann
Thank you so much, Ann! I appreciate your visits here.
Beautiful child. My wife and I wondered if we would have any grandkids too. I am glad the mother came through all right after so long of time. Praying for you and your family
Thank you so much! We really do need and appreciate the prayers. Thanks also for visiting here, and for your comment!
Love the pictures of baby Grady and you and his mom and dad. What joy a baby brings. I love your blog and start each day reading it. Praying for Jeff and you in the weeks to come. Pray for the treatment to be effective in shrinking the tumors and strength for Jeff to endure them. God bless you and know you are being prayed for.
Janette, thank you so much for your visits, your kind thoughts and especially your prayers. It is a great comfort to know we are being prayed for; I honestly put more faith in that than any other of the blessings that are helping Jeff right now (hospitals, treatments, doctors, good health care, etc.) Everything works together, but the prayers are enabling us to live through it all. I am so happy that you like the blog!
Beautiful family, mom & dad, son, and grand mother. Enjoy your new addition to your family.
Thanks so much, Merry! I’m praying Jeff will be able to see and hold Grady while he’s still an infant. They grow so quickly, he will likely look different the next time I see him. I’m feeling thankful for Skype! I’ve got to figure out how to do the video thing, though. I haven’t used Skype since 2005 and it’s bound to be way different now.
Julia, I love the comment that said you look like a movie star! I think you are radiant, and the love and joy shines on your face. Grady is precious, and we are happy for all of you.
Thank you, Maggie!
He is adorable…just precious. Wishing you & jeff much joy as g-parents. :}
Thank you Merry! I hope Jeff is able to see and hold him soon. He is already growing so fast!
Great looking little guy! Thank you for making this first video available.
Thanks Eric! I hope Jeff will be able to see and hold him soon!
Gorgeous AND intelligent: notice the action, movement & alertness!!!
A blessing from our God!
Thank you, Mary Ann! What I notice most is how content and happy he looks, as if he delights in his little blanket, hands, parents’ voices, etc. His Daddy was a live wire from early on, and restless to get going even as an infant. Grady seems to enjoy being a baby! I said the first time I held Grady, that he seems to be a calm and contented little boy. This video seems to back that up! Of course I think he is absolutely precious.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
Absolutely, Ryan! I am sure that you have a greater understanding of these words than you did 5 or 6 years ago!
Each time I watch this, my heart is warmed.
Thank you, I feel the same way!
I watch this and think “Love reflecting love”…..wonderful moments!
Yes, Jeff loves babies and I am so happy he was able to see Grady before the chemo/radiation knocked him for such a loop. I have watched the video of them together so many times already, and it brings joy to my heart each time I see it!
Love the pictures. Especially the video of Jeff and Grady, made me smile too. I am praying for you guys.
Thank you so much! We need and appreciate the prayers. They are the scaffolding that supports us as we work to heal and survive. Lord willing, we hope to see Grady this weekend! His parents are driving him all the way up here so he can meet his Uncle Matt, the only person in either immediate family who has not met him yet. I’ll try to get more fun videos! Thanks again for being here with us.
Julia,
Thanks for all you do and share. You are such a blessing to others. You have been through so much but you shine God’s love and encouragement through it all! I will also be 57 later this year and became a first time Grandma in July, what a joy! Our prayers are with you all!
Blessings, Susan
Thanks Susan, for being here and sharing your kind words. We obviously have some big things in common – first time “Grannies” at 57! Thanks so much for your prayers; we need and appreciate them.
Grand children are very special in many ways, each one a precious bundle from our Father in heaven. Julia, I am glad for you and your dear family that Grady has come to you, May He be a great blessing to you and you to him. Thank you for sharing Grady’s page with us. The pictures are wonderful and meaningful to cherish. Good to see the happy expressions on the face of the grand parents, you and Jeff. God be with each one. Will continue to uphold in prayers.
packia
Thanks so much Packia, it is wonderful to hear from you here! I appreciate your letting me share our photos with you. We continue to need and appreciate your prayers…thanks so much for being here and also at UR with us!
I love the Frog costume. He looks very handsome.
Thank you! I can’t wait to see him. They are planning to come for Christmas.
Oh, so precious! Grady is the cutest little frog that I’ve seen in a long time. Julia, you must be so excited ….. Baby’s first Christmas! I’m so happy to know the family will be sharing the holidays together. Enjoy! 🙂
Yes, Grady will still be too young to really get into opening gifts, but he’s so aware of everything, I hope he will enjoy the bright colors and excitement. I need to get busy NOW to get everything ready. Our lives seem to be speeding up and I’m slowing down, but I keep reminding myself that the most important thing is to enjoy each day, whether or not everything gets done. Thanks for being here!
That video was just great, Grady is so cute. Matt I hope you remember me, I ‘m the Carolyn that worked with dad in Bartlett.
Thanks Carolyn, glad you enjoyed it. I lost count of how many times I’ve watched it! Matt says he does remember you. I asked him what he remembers about you and he said “She was kind to me.” 🙂 I think he’s remembering the right person!!!
Congratulations to you! And what does Grady call you? He’s adorable by the way! 🙂
Thank you! It is wonderful having a grandson, just as everyone told us it would be. The plan is for Grady to call me MeMe (from the French nickname for grandmother) but of course, he has the final say on that!
I love that! I want to be Mimi when that happens for me as well! xo
It seems to be very popular right now. I think Sheila is a Mimi, as well as several others I know of. Maybe Grady will decide to call me YouYou, and that will be OK, too! (My little brother Al, when he was very young, told our neighbor who said that she liked our mother’s dress, “My Daddy brought that back to her from His ammy.” (Daddy had told her he got it in Miami.)
So cute! My boys called their grandma “Ga” before they could say Grammie! I think that’s the beauty in little ones ~ they simple are who they are and that is the best part!
Yes, and as I told my son, no matter how much we imagine what they will be like, when they arrive they are always, always new and unique! Infinity personified, one little baby at a time!
My heavens Julia! What a complete joy. Thanks for sharing this link in your letter, I had no idea you had started an extra page just for Grady here at your Blog. ( Geez, I’m not too observant am I ?)
I know you wish you could be there and thank goodness technology is such that you can be part of Grady’s days while at home managing all that you do. I’m so happy for you all to have this little wonder gracing your lives, he’s just a knock-out. I think Drew has a great sense of humour too with the baseball themed measurement photo 😀
Hey Boomdee, that baseball pic was actually for a purpose – they take each month’s birthday photo of him compared to the bat, to show how tall he is getting. Grady is such a joy, even from a distance! I have watched that giggly sleeves video and that mirror video too many times to count! Silly Grandmother!
I have not been on Grady’s page lately! He is really growing and I love the videos!! He is absolutely precious!
Thank you Maggie! Of course I agree with you, but I’m slightly biased 🙂
Loved seeing all the pictures of Grady. Sure hope all is well there in VA. We are fighting colds here in CA.
Thanks Janet! I hope you didn’t get miffed at me for starring your family in the blog awhile back. We miss you always, but never more than at this time of year, having spent so many Christmas Eves and New Years Eves with you. Hope you have a wonderful 2014!
Julia,
don’t know how we could add anything to all the wonderful words from your “cyber family”.
Grady’s Page is a great idea and we enjoyed the pictures and videos immensely.
Thanks Daddy. Be sure to see my reply to Michael on the 12-31-13 blog post re: his question about flying, which has a link to the beautiful “Who has touched the sky” video that was filmed in Laredo while Eric was in T-38 training there in the early 70’s. Years ago, I gave you and Mama the wall hanging about there being only two lasting things to leave your children: roots and wings. Today, I’m thinking with such gratitude for the gift of wings! I love you.
Those some great pictures of Grady at his first xmas! What a smile. That must have been a special Christmas morning around the tree. Great Grandmother really enjoyed seeing those pictures. We are putting them on a CD to make some hard copies also. Have a wonderful and happy new years day while lounging around with a good cup of your favorite tea. We love you all.
Thank you Larry, love to all of you and especially to baby Sadie! Happy New Year!
I picked up your web page from the Upper Room sometime last year and have followed your journey first thing every morning. Thank you for the beautiful photos and quotes. You and Jeff and family have been in my prayers since. I only just found Grady’s site and felt I had to post a comment. We were 71 when our first grandchild, Dexter, arrived in July 2012. What joy and overwhelming love a grandchild brings.
May God bless you all.
Dorothy, thanks so much for your comment; I am delighted to hear from you, and to know that you are joining us here and praying for us. Are you in Australia? From your email address it looks as if you might be. A close friend of ours was there with her family when I blogged about them recently. They had a wonderful time! Congratulations on becoming a grandmother in 2012, exactly one year before I did – you are right; it’s joy beyond description. Blessings to you and your family, and thanks again for letting us know you are with us here.
Thank you for replying, Julia. I feel I know you a little from reading your thoughts every day and yes we do live in Australia, just west of Sydney NSW, in the Blue Mountains! I loved the idea of a page for Grady, what a gorgeous little boy. We too, have lots of photos and videos of Dexter. What a difference you’ll see in another year. Your precious grandson will bring much joy amid all the worry of Jeff and Matt.
Dorothy, I was just looking at some photos and videos from Grady that were made 3 months ago, and he has changed so much already! He continues to be a real blessing in the midst of all the other trials. I hope we will both keep taking those photos and videos of our precious grandsons; so much will be forgotten if we don’t capture it. I hope that we will be able to visit Australia someday. In high school I was good friends with an exchange student from Sydney and ever since then have wanted to go there. Thanks for joining us here!
Of course I had to swing by here too. A-dorable, every single photo. What a lucky meme and papa you are. The photo of Grady’s Halloween outfit and the one just above it will melt your heart. Just pure sweetness xoK
Thank you, Boomdee! Of course I agree with you, but then I’ve always loved little babies, human or otherwise.
It’s time for a new picture of Grady next to the baseball bat! He sure is a cutie😊
OK Ann, thanks for the reminder – I just posted four new photos at Grady’s page – not in chronological order, but all taken within the past 6 weeks. I appreciate you thinking of him – if you think he’s cute, that gives us something else in common!
Popping in for the latest, greatest. What a happy looking little guy, my gosh you must just melt like butter to see Grady’s sweet face. My favourite is the tomato sauce mayhem. It makes me smile a mile and the big is cute too 😀
Yes, he’s a cutie, I’m glad you agree! We just did Skype with him for the first time tonight, and he kept lunging at the screen (he’s into lunging right now) and it made him look giant, like in Honey I Blew Up the Baby. I sang him “The Rainbow Connection” for a lullaby. He is SO ready to have some actual food, no wonder he was smiling. But he’s a pretty happy little guy all the way around. I just love babies.
just me again, it’s like a sugar fix over here, HA.
I just wanted to say, when Drew says goodbye at the end of Snow Day Grady, the little “herumph” from sweet Grady made me laugh. Right on que little one 😀 You must lose your mind when they visit, Omgosh what a sweet pea. You’re right, who could resist?
Hey, that’s my favorite part of the video, that little laugh at the end. I also love it when he gives Drew that fishy look after he tells Grady to say hello to MeMe and PaPa – at first he grins and then he looks like, wait a minute, there’s something that doesn’t make sense about this…where are they? 🙂 I have watched this video so many times I’ve lost count. Silly grandmother!
Wow! I didn’t realize you had amassed such a wonderful collection of photos and videos. What a cutey-pie.
I have a photo of my oldest son in pjs with his foot pulled inward. Your photo is so reminiscent of that. It really took me back.
I just love those baby pj’s. Jeff and I have had a lot of “deja vue” since Grady was born. It does take us back, doesn’t it? But in a good way.
It is in a good way. Funny how we can wax nostalgic for those times, even though I know they had lots of challenges. In the end, we forget about sleepless nights and fussy babies and remember the beauty of holding them, loving them, smelling them and marveling at every new thing they did. I still marvel!
So do I – babies are so cuddly and precious!
The best. Full of hope and goodness. When my boys are launched, I may sign up to hold babies in a neo-natal ward.
Hey, great idea! I remember seeing some grandmotherly types (probably about the same age I am now!) holding infants in the hospital where Matt had his first open heart surgery before he was a year old. One infant was crying and crying until this sweet lady came to rock him or her. I had felt so sad for that baby, and was SO relieved that someone came to give it some love! Maybe I will someday have a chance to do something like that too.
You would be a natural. It’s so essential to have that human touch early and often. I feel sad for any child that has to go without.
Yes, it’s hard to think about.
I love the pictures and thanks for sharing them, Grady is growing up and so cute. I know you all enjoy him so much when you can get together. Love to all .
Thank you Carolyn, it is amazing how big he has gotten, and so fast too. I wish we could be together more, but that just makes each visit more special.