Babies, Babies, and More Babies All Month Long!
“Babies are God’s way of saying the world should go on.” Even if you’re not religious, that phrase captures the idea that babies are a joyful, fresh beginning. Lish McBride summed it up perfectly: “You know what the great thing about babies is? They are like little bundles of hope. Like the future in a basket.” In September, Tulsakids is focusing on babies, which, selfishly speaking, is perfect timing for me since I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of my second grandchild at the beginning of October!
2020 has been a rough year for everyone. If you’re a frequent reader of my blog, you might remember that my family has had a heartbreaking time due to late-term pregnancy loss. My daughter and her husband went through painful loss and grief, but they never gave up hope. Now we’re excitedly counting down the days to the arrival of our new family member, my granddaughter!
Before I became a grandparent, I knew it was going to be one of the best parts of my life. Being a grandmother was a role I anticipated with great relish. Yet, with perfect hindsight, I can tell you I had no idea what complete joy was in store for me. From the moment I held my grandson in my arms, I started falling headfirst into a bottomless well of love. Now, three years into Callister’s life, I am still hopelessly falling down that well with no end in sight, completely smitten. I’m so obsessed with my grandson; I’m having a difficult time imagining how the new baby will fit into this love fest. But I know when I hold her in my arms, my heart will grow to make room for my new grandlove.
The first time I held my grandson, it was love at first sight!
In addition to counting down the days, I’m beginning to get necessities ready. It’s different this time around because I won’t be providing childcare for my grandbaby as I did with my first grandchild. My son-in-law is now a stay-at-home dad, so I’ll only be watching my granddaughter on an occasional basis. Since I already have all the essentials stored in the attic, I can spend some money on fun things like cute clothes.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has strictly limited my shopping to online, which isn’t as much fun. I’ve also pulled some of my daughters’ clothes from over thirty years ago out of storage. I only kept my favorite outfits; it’s amazing how good some of them look after washing. Looking at some of those clothes brings back beautiful memories of my children. It will be special to see my granddaughter wearing her mother’s and aunt’s baby clothes.
Babies hold so much emotion, hope for the future, and links to the past all in their tiny, little bodies. They are helpless at first, totally reliant on their caregivers to provide sustenance for their very survival. Babies were designed to be irresistibly cute to keep us jumping at their every demand. Despite their vulnerability, there is a power within them that causes even the strongest grandfather to melt into a marshmallow when holding their brand-new grandchild. It’s one of life’s most delicious experiences.
I do remember the first time I held each of my children. Although it was a beautiful moment, the happiness was tinged with pain and exhaustion. When my second child was born, the experience was also shadowed by the knowledge of what was to come. I knew that once I left the relative comfort of the hospital and the solicitous help of the nurses, I would be on my own at home with the care of a newborn and a 15-month-old. As a grandparent, I have the luxury of meeting my grandchild with fresh energy, and the knowledge the long days and nights ahead will not be at my house. It’s all the joy without the responsibilities that makes being a grandparent the icing on the cupcake of life!
My oldest daughter meeting her little sister for the first time thirty-two years ago! It’s probably a good thing I didn’t know how hard that first year would be!
A pandemic is not the ideal time to have a new baby, or is it? Maybe it’s the perfect time to bring forth a new life to give us hope for the future. Maybe a new baby in the family is exactly the silver lining we’ve been seeking to bring light to this dark cloud that has been 2020. Hope is that thing with feathers; hope is a new baby!
