Two Special Moments, One Beautiful Baby

They had told me. ‘They’ being all the grandmothers I know. They had told me that being a grandma was the best, that there was nothing like it, that it was incomparable. They were right.

As a new grandma (a.k.a Mimi), I can attest that there really is nothing like it. Of course, I’ve only been Mimi, officially, for 70 hours and counting, but I can tell you that it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.

The day of Maddie’s birth began much like any other day, except that I started the day earlier than usual, could hardly sleep the night before and felt so much excitement I could hardly stand it. Okay, so it wasn’t quite like any other day. In fact, I was so anxious to get to the hospital, I had to set my cruise control to keep from speeding on the highway…and on the side streets. Let’s face it. I lived on cruise control the whole way; it just wouldn’t do to get a ticket on the day of my granddaughter’s anticipated birth.

After much waiting and anticipating, the hour had finally arrived. In the waiting room, the father of the new dad got a text message (thank God for technology!) that read: Call me and put it on speaker phone.

As relatives and friends huddled around the cell phone (and, yes, it was rather like a football huddle), we found out Maddie had been born! And, just in case we might have doubted or thought this was some kind of joke, Maddie made herself known with an announcement of her own. Almost, as if on cue, the group’s audible “Awww…” carried through the waiting room in unison. Then, again as if on cue, we were silent, listening to Maddie’s sweet cries.

Expectantly, we waited by the nursery window to catch a first glimpse of ‘our’ Maddie. After a bit, there she was, with dad close at hand. I’d never seen him smile so big, except maybe the day he married my daughter. This was truly a special moment for all of us.

Cameras and cell phones clicked as pictures were taken. The excitement mounted. Every little movement, cry and yawn captured. We crowded by the window, stepping back only to give another member of our little troupe a closer look. After taking a few pictures, I realized, here we were, all together, rejoicing. All except MY baby girl.

I quickly texted her: How’s Maddie’s mama?
My daughter responded: I feel like I’m in a dream. But at least there are good French fries here. LOL

I wondered. Were there French fries or was this some crazy drug-induced figment of her imagination? I texted again: Can I sneak back there?
She responded: Yeah, but no boys allowed. I’m not decent.

I smiled. I love that girl’s sense of humor and the way she can turn a phrase.

The second special moment of the day was about to begin. I slipped away from the group of “oohs and ahhs” and found my way back to her room. There she was. My little girl. Now, not just a woman, but a mother. We spent a few sweet moments together before the nurse came to help make her ‘decent.’

And the French fries? They were real. It felt good that someone was taking good care of my little girl….and her appetite…after so many hard hours. And I realized how God is like that. When we’re alone and the people in our world are focused on other things, He’s there for us, taking care of our needs.

Two special moments and a beautiful baby. It just doesn’t get any better than this.

Those grandma friends of mine? 'They' were right.

Jean
a.k.a Mimi