Sixteen years ago, I had more time, or perhaps it was more energy, than I do now. I started writing letters to my grandchild the day I found out my daughter was pregnant. I am posting here tonight, the letter I wrote a couple of days after he was born.
Friday, February 16, 2001, 9:30 am
Dear Grandson Cole:
Here I am sitting beside you while your mom and dad are
taking a nap. It’s been an eventful few
days but well worth it, that’s for sure.
You’re here! You arrived 2 days ago, on February 14th. What
a beautiful Valentine’s present for everyone. Beats all the flowers and chocolates of a regular Valentine’s Day. You
chose one of the stormiest days of this winter to make your arrival. It was somewhere
around minus 20 with a strong north wind and blowing and drifting snow. None of this mattered a darn bit to you. You were ready and you were coming.
Right now, you’re all wrapped up in little blankets and
lying on the couch while I’m sitting at the coffee table in front of you
writing this letter. Your dad and Friskie, the cat, are snoring away on the
next couch, and your mom is having a well-deserved rest in bed. Hopefully they
will get a good sound sleep while I’m here to help out.
I couldn’t wait for the day you would arrive. It seemed like
the day would never come and now that you're here, it’s hard to believe you are.
It all happened so fast. You woke your mom at about 5 am and she called me at
7:30 to give me the news you were on the way.
I got to your place around 8:30 thinking I would stay and
help out as much as I could until the midwife arrived. By the time, she pulled
up the drive, it was 10:30 am. When I asked your mom if she wanted me to
stay, or go, and come back later, she asked that I stay, and that’s how it came
about that, two hours later, at 12.35 pm, I witness you coming into the world.
To see the look on your parent’s face when you arrived and when
you were placed on your mother’s tummy, was priceless. I wish I would have had
a camera to record this for you but there was too much going on and everyone
was caught up with just living the moment. We couldn't believe that you were finally here and the miracle of birth that had just
taken place.
As soon as you were born you curled yourself up bringing
your knees up to your tummy and a warm towel was draped over you. Your mom
held you on her stomach and kept saying, “My baby, my baby, I had a baby,” while
your dad kept looking you over making sure you were all right.
There was a few minutes where the two midwives, myself,
and your mom and dad were breathing sighs of relief that you were here and
everything had gone well. But, all this time a big question was still floating
around unanswered.
It wasn’t until the mid-wife, Kathy, said, “Who will do the
honors; should we find out?” that your mom got a huge look of surprise on her
face and blurted out: “Oh my God, we don’t even know what it is!” A quick check
revealed the big news, and your mom exclaimed, “It’s a boy!"
You’re such a good baby so far. We
hardly ever hear you. I don’t think you’ve even had a real cry yet. Tonight,
your two aunties, Jody and Brenda, are driving from Calgary to come to meet you
and I know they are super anxious to get here.
So, it’s true. I’m an official grandma now. It’s been quite
the day and I feel privileged that I was here to experience it. I look forward to having many
happy hours spent in your company.
Love,
Grandma
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