Anxiously awaiting the birth of a grandchild!

I recently read a comment from a grandmother who was so anxious to become a grandmother that it was somewhat overwhelming to her. She was a woman in her early 50's who had been forced to retire due to an injury and now this grandchild was all important to her.
I began to wonder if this is a common phenomenon with grandmothers and their first grandchild. Is it peculiar to grandchildren born to daughters rather than to daughter-in-laws. Do we mistakenly refer to ourselves as "mama" sometimes, when alone and talking to our grandchild? If so why is this? Is it role confusion as we adjust to actually being a grandmother.
How does it feel when we first see our grandchild? How do we make the adjustment to being a grandmother when it seems like only yesterday we were holding our own child who has now just had her own baby.
Our children are always our children so how do we suddenly deal with the role of grandparent particularly grandmother? Is it difficult for some more than others? How is it for those grandparents who become the primary caregivers of the grandchildren for whatever reason?

On the flip side of this experience how do grandparents for whatever reason not develop a relationship with their grandchild? How do they stay away by their own choice. As parents themselves how can they deny their grandchild this relationship, what kind of parent were they and what kind of parent will their child be with them as parenting models? It seems to me that as parents we must model parenting skills for our own children and that includes being a good grandparent to our grandchildren. It is a belief of mine that grandparents must make the effort to stay in touch with their grandchildren and not expect their children to always be bringing the grandchildren for a visit and initiating contact. Children need family connections in their lives and in our adult wisdom we should try our hardest to provide this with no strings attached.
Try to balance parenting with grandparenting by remembering to not confuse the roles and by always respecting our grandchild's parents and their wishes.