I don't know what colors and looks you prefer, but my wife gave me a mini shrub rose for Valentine's Day called "Baby Love," It's buttercup yellow with single blooms (5 petals). Not the hybrid tea form I usually go for. But the name is certainly appropriate for the occasion; and here's the kicker. It's wonderously disease resistant. I live in Blackspot hell and spray all my roses except my couple of old china roses and this one. So far this year, not a hint of disease anywhere. Just water it and feed it occasionally. A couple others that will get blackspot but are much more resistant than most are Linville(white with a hint of pink blush in the center) and Winsome (a deep mauve-magenta with exquisite hybrid tea form. Linville has pretty good form too, and both are slightly fragrant (to me that means I can't smell them outdoors in the heat or with any breeze, but in my air-conditioned office I notice a light but pleasant scent).

Well I have read all your comments about the rude DIL. The mother that said "have patience"....I've been patient for 10 months now. My grandson was born last October. I welcomed my son's girlfriend in my home 2 years before she became pregnant (living with me). I think I have a great relationship with her personally. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to come to the hospital for the birth. I respected their wishes because they wanted it done this way. No one to be there so they could relax and bond with no company. Her mom did not respect this and showed up anyway and stressed her and my son so bad by being there (constantly talking, laughing, etc) all day that her labor became stressful. My son was so upset. Finally they booted her mom out. Again I'm saying, I respected the wishes. My DIL breastfeeds and she claims he won't take a bottle. I say she's wrong. A little bottle manipulation will take care of that. Mfg. companies do not make the nipples wide enough so not enough milk comes out. (I breastfed my son but pumped so my parents could feed and bond with their grandson--I had to have the nipples opened a little more so he would take it). I feel she doesn't want me and my husband to feed him, which is a bonding experience to grandparents. When I told her about this trick, my son was excited to try it because he too wants to feed his son. If I'm giving to her (money, gifts, going out to eat, etc.) she comes over and stays for a good while so I can play with him. If I don't have anything to offer, I never see her and she's always busy if I want to go over to her house. Her mother and family dont help them out or see the baby but once a month, but when there is holidays, her family gets first dibs on the visit. Me and my husband are always last and the baby is tired because they get to my house so late. His first birthday party is being planned around her mothers schedule, not the grandparents that have literally spent out thousands of dollars to help with their bills and baby items. (they have asked and I have offered). Yes, I am expected to help her out with buying decorations, food, and the rental space at the park but me and my husbands schedule didnt matter. I, too, have taken care of many babies and know what I'm doing. She won't let the baby out of her sight. She's always "right there" and seems she wants him to always want her or cry for her when he sees her so she can take him. I feel I haven't got a grandchild or bonded the way my parents bonded with my son. I've respected their wishes since she gave birth to him. I've only babysat 20 minutes a couple times. Although one time she and my son was doing some delivery work to make some extra cash and left him with us for 3 hours when he was 5 months. I insisted on them not to ride around that long with the baby in the carseat. They agreed reluctantly.....Believe me, by the time they got back, my grandson was not happy. He wanted food that I couldn't give. Did not have a bottle because i was not allowed to feed him. So needless to say, I dont watch him long periods like that anymore (with no bottle). She pumps but claims she doesn't pump enough. He feeds and within an hour he's hungry again and she feeds him again. Seems like she's breastfeeding constantly. Like I said, I feel I'm being used and I have to "pay" to see my grandson. When hes out of the baby stage, boy, people will be getting some good deals at my yard sale because everything is new since I see him maybe once a week, sometimes once every two weeks. I've tried everything. In my opinion she's too too too overprotective. I'd like for my grandson to grow to be a tough playing little boy not the opposite. I need that bonding experience. Yes, i have tried to talk to both of them and theres always excuses that doesnt make sense. I do want you to know I love my DIL very much. I just want to feel I've got a grandson and feel the baby stage experience... not blink and he's a grown boy. Any advise, please help. I've done everything I know of and now just being unemployed, I'm short on money. Makes me feel I'm being used. My husband is upset, too. HELP!!!!

Hi Liz Marie, Yes, this DD is the very same :) We have met his family, the part that lives in this state. His family seems genuinley excited about the baby, his mother says the baby should live with her out of state until he is ready to raise her. The dad (who lives 2 blocks away) is tickled pink with both DD and baby, but doesnt get along with BF. Both his parents were shocked when they found out that he has gone to 2 OB appts, and neither of the hospital runs. DH has always been a 'let it go', laid back person was rather upset with me for the accidental texting, and initally said this whole blow up is my fault. He had talked to BF who puts on a very different face when Daddy is around. I had DH read the text message BF sent me, then had him listen to the voice mail I received today (which was not even remotley polite). DH is no longer convinced I am the one at fault (except for that damned original text). DH feels that BF is controlling, but just needs to grow up. He at one point was going to ask BF to stop coming over but decided we need to all try to 'get along' because BF will be part of DD life forever. DD decided not to put his name on birth certificate, he will have to petion the courts after he gets his DNA results. Because she is (Hopefully) close to delivery, DH and I decided that when BF comes to check on her, visit, whatever, for the time being, I will just leave the house to keep the peace. FIL is here to make sure she is safe (BF likes to yell at her) so with me gone, tension will be reduced. She does plan on nursing, and stress does affect it. We just honestly are not sure what DD rights are once GD gets here regarding the father. He has already threatened more than once to take custody Tracystoke-Quite frankly, my drink was a cup of black coffee, my preferred 'drug' of choice. While texting myself does actually sound childish, it is technique I learned from the CEO of the #3 Credit Union in the US who mentored me for a few years. While at the time, writing on paper and putting in a drawer was the preferred method, with todays technology, I simply use my phone. I went back and re-read to see if I was slanting the story in my favor. Asking for help on an inaccurate situation would help noone, least of all DD and GD. I have done alot of soul searching in the last few months, since BF first told me I am a 'control-freak'. Honestly, I have to say, I am not. I am not a perfect mother. I offer advice, sometimes when it isnt asked for, I give opinions, whether my kids like them or not. I set rules, and try to enforce them. When my kids make mistakes, sometimes the consequences really suck, but they pay them. Sometimes, so do her father and I. When my children are at stake however, there are no boundries. When a 26 yo impregnates an 18 yo, calls her a tramp, accuses 3 different boys who have been 'brothers' to her since the age of 5 of fathering the child, criticizes her job, her friends, her AA program, her values, then begins to tell her how to make her life 'better'. I cringe. When a household that for the last 10 years has been filled with laughter and bodies of first adolecents, then teens slowly empties after his arrival until he, and his friends, are the only ones who come by, I have to wonder, am I truly the problem?

many of those oldsters have contemporaries that found themselves in the same position. I'm not so sure they'll be as shocked as you think. Though they might like the fiction to be preserved a little. And maybe it would look more seemly for the couple to try to separate the events by as much time as is practical. My nephew and his bride moved their wedding from October to June, so they could be married before the due date (important for insurance reasons), and so that she wouldn't be showing too terribly much. We all knew why, and thought it was a smart move. I will say that I admired them for moving it up as far as they did; an obviously large tummy would have been a bit of a distraction. And I liked the acknowledgment (implied by their timing) that marriage should come before babies. Something else the bride might want to consider: When you start to show, all the attention is now on the baby, it's all anybody can talk about. if she's showing at the wedding, all the focus will be on the baby, and it will not be on her and her groom, or their marriage, etc. The marriage idea won't be treated as a fresh, new thing for them, something people are excited about. It'll be treated as a check-off-the-list item related to the upcoming birth. I wouldn't want my marraige to share the spotlight on my wedding day with some other life event. I wouldn't even really want to make a big fuss about someone else's 13th wedding anniversary or 72nd birthday. Having been through both (wedding, and being pregnant w/ extended family around), I can tell you--babies trump everything. I would want my wedding to be its own focus. I wish them luck!