October 13, 2008
iPhone to the rescue
Grammy Tanda and I went to a cultural performance with our son and his wife and their daughter. Our granddaughter, baby Isabella, is now 5 1/2 months old.
It was lots of fun; singing and dancing by several groups from Latin America. The problem is that the baby was supposed to be sleeping. There was just way too much excitement for one little girl — with the loud music, interesting movements, and colorful costumes. So on the way home, she became cranky. Even Grammy singing Isabella’s favorite song wouldn’t calm her down. (She still loves you Grammy.) 
Then I remembered I have thousands photos of the family on my Apple iPhone. (I figure it’s a grandparent’s duty to carry around as many bragging photos as possible.) So I said, “lets see what this high-tech grandpa can do!”
I whipped out my iPhone, chose a photo album with cute photos of the grandkids, and put it in slideshow mode. I held it in front of Isabella. She looked at and calmed right down. She was fascinated with all the photos of her cousins!
Now, the baby is at that stage where she loves reaching for things and grabbing them. She put one hand on each side of my iPhone and held it there, mesmerized by the pictures on the screen. Well, she is also at that stage where her first teeth are starting to come through, and she likes to put things in her mouth. So she started “chewing” on the corner of my iPhone. I gently pulled it away, but she’d seen enough of my slideshow for one evening! She would rather chew on it. We went back and forth for a minute; a power struggle over who would win this high-tech duel! Luckily, we were about home by then.
If your baby is “beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time,” you’re the grandma. ~Teresa Bloomingdale
I’m happy to report that our high-tech grandbaby had a nice warm meal from her mom, and a pleasant night’s sleep. And in case you’re concerned, I’m also happy to report that my iPhone still works, ready to come to the rescue again at a moment’s notice. I love technology!
Keep on smilin’, Shayne
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Filed under Grandchildren, Humor, Stories by Grandpa Shayne
Comments on iPhone to the rescue »
hey!! grandpa and that iphone really saved the night! – for isabella and for all of us who were in the car. it is amazing how little children are getting into technology now and how grandparents get connected to them. She looks adorable in that picture! as always.
good job grandpa!.
@Cecilia – Thank you for the comment. Yes, Isabella is adorable. She has such a pleasant personality and fun smile.
FYI: Cecilia is Isabella’s mom.
Next step is to get some videos on that thing! My daughter will sit there for hours watching videos on her grandma’s cell phone. Isn’t technology great when used in good ways?
@Jodi – Good idea. In fact, I do have family videos on my iPhone, being that it’s also an iPod. Whenever any of the family makes videos of the grandkids, I can download them and use iTunes to add them to my iPhone. I could also use iTunes to add TV shows if I wanted (but I don’t). I do have a couple of family-friendly movies though.
What a good excuse for me to get an iPhone!
@Nina – Go for it! They are so much fun to use and so much more than a regular cell phone.
Hey, I just had an idea for a new post: “Why you should buy your high-tech grandbaby an iPhone for Christmas”.
– just kidding
- High-Tech Grandpa
There is nothing quite as mesmerizing for my kids as a sideshow of pictures on a computer/phone. My kids are also HUGE fans of their Grandpa’s iPhone. They especially love it when he lets them take pictures with it!! I’m glad that Grandpa can share his tech toys sometimes.
That picture of Isabella is so adorable!!
Okay, Shayne, THIS Grammy is just learning to use her laptop!
What a great idea. All but the very youngest of my 17 gkids have their own iPods. I’m thinking “I” should ask for an iPhone for Christmas! I’m wondering if it will take two years for me to learn to use IT, too!? This Grammy isn’t very high tech, but you’re making it look like it could be a lot of fun!
@Emily – Thanks for commenting about how cool your children’s Grandpa is!
@Cheryl – I hope Santa brings you an iPhone this Christmas. It’s better than a lump of coal!
You’ll be able to figure it out just fine. After all, it is an Apple product you know. They invent the most user friendly products.
Oh how I wish I had been weened on iPhones as an child! Good idea, with the slideshow, too. I need to get some pictures on my phone and try that with my nephew.
Isabella is adorable! Shayne you are turning into the “#1 grandpa”. I think we should all have had our grandchildren first. Think of what great parents we could have been!
What a fun idea! I have put together picture books for my kids to look at before, but this is much faster and more interesting I’m sure. Of course the picture books I made could be chewed on without as much damage! May be the next ipod marketing product could me a teething cover