The last time we met in this space I shared some thoughts about my first-born grandchild — a girl born to my son and his wife on June 1.
Well, believe it or not, this week’s thoughts are about my second-born grandchild — a girl born to my daughter and her husband on July 5.
Evelyn Ann arrived four weeks early and weighed 6 pounds and 1 ounce. We believe she arrived early because her mother is a “planner.” You know, the sort that has all her ducks in an orderly row? (Heh heh — tiny little Evelyn is already putting THAT personality trait to the test.)
She also made her grand entrance just 30 minutes after her parents arrived at the hospital. I couldn’t tell if Evelyn enjoyed the mad scramble she created in the delivery room, but I did.
And, with just a few hours of life under her belt, she began to hold some rather strong opinions.
For instance, she believes diaper changes are a crime against humanity, or at least against babies. Or, at least against her anyway.
For Evelyn, the routine maneuver of exchanging a damp diaper for a dry one includes a loud vocal performance and a prominent display of her tonsils. She turns beet red, too.
The adults in the room console each other by saying, “Well, I guess it’s good for her to exercise her lungs ...”
It’s fun to see a 6-pound person as “head of household.” Evelyn makes the decisions now. Decisions about who gets to sleep and who doesn’t. Who gets to eat and who has to wait for her to go first.
She has displaced Ernest, the cat.
Ernest, himself an odd creature, is trying to make sense of this new, loud, red, creature in a blanket.
He’s made a few surveillance passes near the baby, but seems unable to determine what the fuss is about.
(“If it can’t reach the treats, of what use is it to me?” he wonders.)
He spends his nights staring at the baby hoping they don’t plan to keep it.
Evelyn’s parents stare at her by day.
My daughter, gazing in to the face of her baby said, “I always thought it was weird that people would sit there and just stare at a baby, but I get it now.”
She continued gazing.
I thought back 27 years when her dad and I stared at her for hours. We marveled at every little expression, every finger and toe.
And then we blinked. Now and she has a baby of her own.
And I am the grandmother of two little girls. One arrived on time. One arrived early. One seems laid back. One seems ... to hold strong convictions.
One is plump as a pumpkin. One needs to get “a little meat on her bones.” One lives on a farm by Luverne. One lives in a city in Nebraska.
Both are absolutely the most wonderful, precious gifts that a family could ever receive — especially at nearly the same time.
We are all looking forward to the many memories these two girl cousins will make together.
Who will be the ringleader? Who will be the sensible one? Who’s the artist and who is the volleyball player?
Grandma can’t wait to find out.