Congratulations ! Time to get in training for the sleepless nights.

Congratulations .... Grandad

Congrats Cap'n and Mrs. starkers. 

Should liven things up on the Pirate ship! A new mate to train!!!! 

Yes, coffeegrinder, sleepless nights...  not that much 'll change for me as I suffer with insomnia anyhow.  I suppose, though, if I'm up anyway, I can lend a hand to mum if she needs it.  A spare pair of hands could come in handy and I still know how to change a wet/dirty bum and make up bottles as needed.

Yup, the little fella will get spoiled rotten, Frankief, what with mrs starkers still clucky after her grandkids were here a couple of months back.  Me as well, though.  As it is I've picked out a couple of nice little outfits I thought would look good on him... and I know it won't stop there.  It seems in my old age I've become more....um, ugh..... well I'm taking a greater interest in those things I used to leave to the women of the family.

Thanks, Taz, I'm feeling rather chuffed at the moment... even though I haven't seen him as yet, I know that he's healthy and hairy.  Yeah, that was the one thing my son Robert did manage to pass on in his excitement... "He's a hairy little bugger.... got a real head full of it, he has."

Congrats to you and the Mrs., and of course to your son and his lady! Oh, I am so envious, a new baby!

How very true.

Congrats, Mark, I am sure you will soon get into the swing of looking after junior, my daughter took only three days off work when she gave birth to her daughter, she could not afford to do any other, being self employed, so Granny & I had to gear up real quick, but it all came back really quickly.

Don't forget, when he has finished his pirate training, he needs to be introduced to skinning & Wincustomize.

Congrats, old Man 

Yes, and it's such a shame that some of us don't realise this until we're past our prime and in old age..  Admittedly, I am enjoying time with the grandkids a lot more than I would have as a younger man.  It was like I was always busy back then, and kids were often a chore after a hard day's work, so yeah, I'm so glad that I've mellowed out and wiser... that I'm not too busy to be grateful for the little ones.  I mean, Nataley isn't of my flesh and blood, but nonetheless she is part of the family and just as precious.... as are Decon and Zabia and our other grandkids... Shiloh, Dominic, Markus, Jake and Ruby.  Each is special in his/her ow way, yet still very much equal in our eyes.

Thanks Robo, it sure has been a fantastic day, and all these congrats are icing on an already fantastic cake. I'm going to sleep well tonight.  For the first time in a while I actually feel I'm going to get a good night's rest for a change.  It doesn't often happen these days so I'll be dozing off with a smile on my face, rather than the usual grimace due to arthritic pain 

Yeah, it's like riding a bike... you might get a little rusty over the years but you never forget how to attend to all those baby needs..  I pretty much raised my kids on my own as their mother left when my daughter was just a wee baby, so all that stuff came naturally came back to me when Decon and Zabia were here a couple of months back... changing nappies, bathing and preparing bottles/suitable food just came flooding back to me like I'd never been away from it.  And what's more, it was fun... and will be again this time.

As for his training, well there's nothing wrong with introducing him to WC and skinning at an early age... and by the time he's ready to start school he'll be doing a proper job, right?

Yeah, it will be like the bonding I had with my grandfather on my mother's side.  He was always a part of my life as a child, right from the get go, and I had a terrific relationship with he and my grandmother.  Yes, at 11, 12, 13 I thought old people were strange and from another planet, but not my grandparents.  They were always cool, great, just so darned special, and hopefully thing young bloke will feel the same way, that we are the ones he turns to whenever... just as I did when I was troubled, in trouble, had a falling out with mum and dad.

Congratulations, Cap'n-grandpa-san!

Became a grandparent myself, it will be two years a month from now. Sure changes your whole outlook. I'm much more...er...laid back, now and able to appreciate it all. What a gift, eh?

Best wishes to all of you from (still @#!**! snowing!) Idaho

I dunno, every time I think I've answered everyone... but thanks for dropping by and the congrats 'seldom' old mate, it's appreciated. 

You're right, being a grandparent gives you a whole new perspective in life... and yeah, life is so much more enjoyable with these precious gifts our children bestow upon us. We can have that play time and the enjoyment of watching them grow... the chance to hand them back when we have to take an afternoon nap.  Not only that, it gives us the opportunity to tell our kids: "Now you know exactly what you put me through!"

Thanks Lady Xi, I'm totally rapt with having a new grandson and thanking my lucky stars for blessings such as these in my life.

And here I was, going to bed about 4 hours ago.... could it perhaps be the high of being a grandad again?

I'll hold my congratulations til you have raised it up big enough to move away...hehehehe.