August 6
You are a fine specimen of a little man. That is confirmed when Dr.OB/GYN comes in to my room the next day and sees you have finally been released to General Pop(ulation) and your basinet (really, a see through acrylic rectangle box with no cover and a baby mattress on a trolley, wedged in to my bed so we can do some hands on bonding. A huge grin engulfs Dr.OB/GYN’s usually somber, always tired and pale face. As he cups your head in his large hand he says, “You have a grand young man”, and with that pronouncement, he exits, stage left, scurrying to the next mother, the next baby, the next fire to put out.
It is your Cousin, Pretty Little Dutch Girl’s 16th Birthday today. Although I call home, I can not get though to wish her a Happy Birthday – she is doing what 16 years do – having fun. Who needs adults (except to provide food for your belly, and a roof over your head, allowance and shell out for extras like dance classes so that she can later say, you never wanted them anyway). But me, I‘m not bitter.
August 7
I did not sleep last night, just so revved, we are off to our very own Personal Zoo. I don’t care that the day is unseasonably chilly, like a fall day, with sulky clouds, threatening rain to come, obliterating the blue sky. We are going home!
We arrived to a quiet house (apparently Pretty Little Dutch Girl is still out having fun). Your father drops us off in a hurry, leaving you, me and the suitcases at the front door so he can get back to work.
I carry you in your car seat, over the door and we step in to a mostly tidy house but it does not look like a floor has been scrubbed or dusting done since the last time I did it.
I put you down so I can lug in my suitcases, your baskets and flowers and pause to make a plan. You are looking around at this new territory, not sure what to make of it. Geez, it is dark, I mutter as I flip on some light.
I take you out of the carrier to better cuddle you, walking from room to room to introduce you to where you will be living. Then upstairs I go, crossing the thresh hold of your room, my promise to you realized – next time I entered this room you would be in my arms, ready for your crib, put together by Dad’s loving handles, with bumper pads, baby sheets, blankets and duvets, a brightly colored overhead module, stuffed bears, dragons, doggies, even hand crafted stuffed raggedy Andrew doll… fit for a prince to dream of slaying dragons, climbing mountains, crossing lakes, rivers and oceans as you matured in to a Grand Big Man.
But wait. You look so small, so lost in that big crib. No worries, I go to Plan B. I scoop you out and nestle you in a Moses like hooded wicker basket, with canary yellow lining and fitted sheets, blankets and mattress. Now you look at home – comfy and snuggly rather than overwhelmed and overshadowed. One thing about you and me – we always have a Plan B.
Now… the fun part… Reality Check… Up and onwards… Keep calm and Carry on.
The END of the BEGINNING