Five Babies and a Grandma
Jff and I are on a quick spring break trip around the Northern part of Illinois and southern Wisconsin visiting people from both sides of our extended families. I love so many of these people- it really is fun. If I were going to pick a theme for this trip it woud probably be, "Five babies and a Grandma"
The first stop of the trip was to see Grandma. An amazing woman who has loved so many, for so long, that now she is just worn out. Her mind is playing tricks on her and she spends many days crying for reasons she doesn't entirely understand. As I helped put her to bed the other night, and she was enjoying a reprieve from the confusion, it was wonderful to be there and to see a glimmer of the woman I grew up adoring.
Last night we spent most of the afternoon and evening with my aunt, my cousin, her husband, and Baby L. It was a great time, baby L is about 1.3 years old and is about the most laid back baby/kid I have ever met. He is hilarious and is the poster child for why you would want to have a baby. I was floored to see how J and D's lives' have changed since having Baby L. It is amazing- my cousin is the type of person that I never saw as a 'mom type' until she became one. Now it is as though life has always included this wonderful little man. It was thought provoking to watch L toddle around with a remote control he was using as a cell phone and his mom's red Kate Spade in the crook of his elbow.
Five minutes after leaving Baby L's house, we arrived at Jff's uncle's house. The B's household contains: 2 large, loud dogs, a four year old who is convinced the world revolves around her, and not one, but two new babies- one of which is still in NICU care unit at a nearby hospital. Life is a little crazy around here. Jff and I have been busy playing hide and go seek, "Pretty, pretty, princess" game, loading and unloading dishwashers, and walking two large dogs. It is amazing to watch life change for this family as they think about life with not one, but three, little ones now.
I could go on about my other cousin and his wife, about thirty miles from where we are now, who just had their first baby and are struggling with breast feeding and sleeping through the night, but you already have heard this story from someone else you know.
On this trip I have been reminded about two things: first, how much children change your life- and I mean ALL of it. But secondly, how much nothing else matters so much to people. Kids seem to be this magic ticket to a really crazy life- but one that most people wouldn't trade for anything. Amazing really. I think I started to understand a little of this as I was holding three pound Baby A in the NICU today. Occasionally she would stick out her tongue when she yawned. It was half the size of a cat's. To think of being a parent of that small thing- that you had literally created- and then to know that you will watch it and help it grow up to be a regular sized human has got to be awe-inspiring and life-altering.
So as we drive home, and away from Grandma, and all the babies, I am amazed by life's cycle. Grandma now lives, literally, to see her daughters, me and my cousins, and especially the babies- her great grand children. She is one of the people who fed all of us, bathed us, and loved us when we all were so little. Now we do those things for her as she becomes as fragile as a baby in her old age. It is all a great reminder for me to really enjoy each moment of life, whatever stage I am in, and to accept the next stage of life with love and flexibility.
The first stop of the trip was to see Grandma. An amazing woman who has loved so many, for so long, that now she is just worn out. Her mind is playing tricks on her and she spends many days crying for reasons she doesn't entirely understand. As I helped put her to bed the other night, and she was enjoying a reprieve from the confusion, it was wonderful to be there and to see a glimmer of the woman I grew up adoring.
Last night we spent most of the afternoon and evening with my aunt, my cousin, her husband, and Baby L. It was a great time, baby L is about 1.3 years old and is about the most laid back baby/kid I have ever met. He is hilarious and is the poster child for why you would want to have a baby. I was floored to see how J and D's lives' have changed since having Baby L. It is amazing- my cousin is the type of person that I never saw as a 'mom type' until she became one. Now it is as though life has always included this wonderful little man. It was thought provoking to watch L toddle around with a remote control he was using as a cell phone and his mom's red Kate Spade in the crook of his elbow.
Five minutes after leaving Baby L's house, we arrived at Jff's uncle's house. The B's household contains: 2 large, loud dogs, a four year old who is convinced the world revolves around her, and not one, but two new babies- one of which is still in NICU care unit at a nearby hospital. Life is a little crazy around here. Jff and I have been busy playing hide and go seek, "Pretty, pretty, princess" game, loading and unloading dishwashers, and walking two large dogs. It is amazing to watch life change for this family as they think about life with not one, but three, little ones now.
I could go on about my other cousin and his wife, about thirty miles from where we are now, who just had their first baby and are struggling with breast feeding and sleeping through the night, but you already have heard this story from someone else you know.
On this trip I have been reminded about two things: first, how much children change your life- and I mean ALL of it. But secondly, how much nothing else matters so much to people. Kids seem to be this magic ticket to a really crazy life- but one that most people wouldn't trade for anything. Amazing really. I think I started to understand a little of this as I was holding three pound Baby A in the NICU today. Occasionally she would stick out her tongue when she yawned. It was half the size of a cat's. To think of being a parent of that small thing- that you had literally created- and then to know that you will watch it and help it grow up to be a regular sized human has got to be awe-inspiring and life-altering.
So as we drive home, and away from Grandma, and all the babies, I am amazed by life's cycle. Grandma now lives, literally, to see her daughters, me and my cousins, and especially the babies- her great grand children. She is one of the people who fed all of us, bathed us, and loved us when we all were so little. Now we do those things for her as she becomes as fragile as a baby in her old age. It is all a great reminder for me to really enjoy each moment of life, whatever stage I am in, and to accept the next stage of life with love and flexibility.
posted by KLOU | 2:02 PM
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