"My toof's' wobbly, Nana.  See … Loook!  It goes wibble wobble." Jack helpfully demonstrates!

Since becoming an Oma, I've become a bit of a sucker for all the vast array of products I now discover on the market for children.

Simple but unusual hand-made gifts are the specialty of Monique Nickalls at Your Cheeky Monkey.

I've already been off to YCM's site buying cute goodies for my baby granddaughter.  In particular I am finding that her simple little TagNCuddle is a very helpful tool when soothing the separation anxiety.  She clutches on to it, and it goes to bed with her in her cot at Oma's house.  (At this stage after a few distraught babysitting sessions, Oma's grateful for anything that will work!)

However not all at YCM fits the young baby market.  In fact, far from it!

And this one really caught my eye!

When I saw it, I knew it was a BIT premature for my 6 month old girl, even to this indulgent grandmother.  However, I reckon this would be gorgeous for anyone with a 4 or 5 year old who's getting ready to shed those first baby teeth and join in the "Tooth Fairy" Fiction!  After all Gorgeous Granddaughter doesn't even have any teeth yet.

But your grandchild might. 

I really believe in rituals to mark important occasions, and one of the first signs of growing up is when you lose your baby teeth in readiness for that adult tooth.  

That's how you'd be having that conversation with Jack (or Emily.)

I reckon it's worth thinking about a Tooth Fairy Pillow.  Beats those bloody glasses of water, bearing tiny teeth or shiny coins which used to get knocked over in our house!  (No I wasn't a tight wad!  When my little darlings were loosing teeth, the going rate was about 20-50cents!)

 Anyway I suggest you head over to Your Cheeky Monkey and have a look at the Tooth Fairy Pillows and go be indulgent of your grandchild.  It's better than buying 'em lollies!

At first I was so busy answering questions for the gobsmacked pair that it didn' really hit me.  I'd stepped into professional mode, helping a young couple who had questions.  In a former life, I had spent many years as a midwife and Infertility nurse so pregnancy is an area of expertise! Apart from having borne three of my own, that is! 

But then It began to dawn. 

Visions of wrinkles and white hair danced before my eyes.  (No I don't mean wrinkles like mine and a few stray gray hairs!)

I'd been throwing out hints for years and assumed My Three Sons were keen to help me out. 

That must have been why I was still grandchild-less and happy to be that way.

Well actually they weren't really hints.  They were probably a little less subtle than hints. And it's not like I was making it all about me or anything.  

"Don't you DARE make me a grandmother yet!  I'm not ready!"  Of course, I'd say it gently and I'd only ever say it whenever I saw them, so I wasn't banging on about it or anything!

"I'm too young to be a grandmother", was my endless lament.  Obviously My Three Sons agreed, and were working hard to keep me happy.  That would be why, wouldn't it?  Sons make that kind of sacrifice for their mothers don't they?  Don't they?

So anyway back to last year!

And the big announcement!  I thought they were coming around to show us their new car.

Lovable Geek knew he had a problem on his hands so started by helpfully suggesting I should sit down!

Stupid Idiot!  That's what his brothers used to say when the school wanted a "chat", or when there was a bloody big hole in the wall that we were going to find when we returned from a weekend away! 

SIT DOWN!  They were words that sent a shiver down my spine!

I'm sorry dear, you just can't do that to me!

Anyway!  

Let's move on.  In March the call came!  "We're in the hospital and they haven't sent us home", he said helpfully!  Surprisingly enough, hospitals don't usually send women home when they're in established labour!

And a short few hours later, along came Oma's Girl.

I'd spent the whole pregnancy in denial!  "You haven't got a cot or a car seat yet?"  said other horrified grandmothers at the Baby Shower.  Why would I do that you silly woman?  I'm too young to be a grandmother!

 We dutifully turned up to the hospital a few hours later. 

And that wicked girl, Ms GG wouldn't let me TOUCH MY GRANDDAUGHTER. 

Just because she was worried and protective or something!  (Actually maybe she thought I might do something stupid! Hadn't thought of that!)

Unfortunately for me,  I'd forgotten about a greater force than me.  (Yes hard to believe a greater force than me exists, isn't it?)

Babies have mysterious mechanisms.  One Look Wonder I call it. I've seen it happen at myriads of deliveries.

It happened with Number One Son.  "If it's a boy it's going over the cliff ", I'd declared persistently all the way through my pregnancy.  "Boys are just naughty and snotty-nosed, I'm only keeping a girl!"

Then came the One Look Wonder and I was blabbing on about how gorgeous he was.  Disgusting really, the way we mothers give in so easily!

Well Oma's Girl saw the return of the One Look Wonder.

One bloody look and I'm besotted!

(What?  You hadn't caught up on Apple Tart turning into Oma?  Well more about that on Monday!)

Back when I was a Yummy Mummy … (Hmm – that's one thing we 'self-indulgent baby-boomers' would never have dreamed of calling ourselves.)

Anyway! Back when I was a Yummy Mummy, there was no internet.  There were barely any baby shops, and even more extraordinary was the look of astonishment I received because I restrained my baby's carry basket while driving in the car!

In the Noughties, shopping takes on a whole new meaning. 

The Joys of Girlie Shopping

Especially when I have the delicious excitement of shopping for a little girl (after all those years of testosterone in my world) and I can do it at any hour of the day or night sitting in my office, or in front of the TV with laptop on knee!

There are an abundance of businesses owned by stay-at-home-mums and focused on their own target market.  Many of them are to be found hanging out in places like Real Mums or on Twitter.

As I shop, I intend to share my discoveries with you.  After all if I have to be a grandmother at my incredibly young age (more about that on Monday!) you all have to share the journey!

New Discoveries

The first one I found has been Your Cheeky Monkey run by the delightful Monique Nickalls.  I recently won a voucher for the site and now my little Oma's Girl has a gorgeous TagNCuddle of soft fabric with myriads of bright little ribbons and tags to grab hold of while I change her nappy!

And while I was shopping there I also bought the cutest little hand-knitted Tiger finger puppet so we can continue to indoctrinate Oma's Girl into following Daddy and Oma's AFL Team the Tigers.  And of course I did buy a few other odds and ends.

YCM makes beautiful
Handcrafted products for baby showers, new babies, and children, and
fun practical items for the special
child in your life.

Being the generous soul that she is, Monique seems to have another competition going.  This time it's for a soft Whimsical Cat.  Don't bother entering the competition as I intend to win that one too!!! 

By the way, can anyone recommend any other places for an indulgent Oma to visit?

Now don't forget to watch out for Monday's post about Apple Tart becoming Oma. After all, it's all about me!