Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Boy Has Arrived and is Looking Around

I was cheating a little bit, or declaring in faith, I will let the reader choose, when I recently put on my Blogger profile that I am grandmother of nine. Number Nine arrived today, on his due date. He is the seventh boy. Each grandboy who is the oldest of his siblings--and in all three families of my married children the oldest child is a boy--has a name that begins with C.

But these patterns are not so engaging as was this slippery child as he emerged into daylight and his mother's arms. I was impressed at how the staff at this small-town hospital encouraged all the practices our generation had to fight for. Baby was birthed and instantly put on his mom's chest, and no one wanted to disturb him for a very long time. Eventually he was swaddled, and while his mom ate supper I rocked my grandbaby and sang lullabies. It's been quite a few years since my last opportunity, but I still remember the songs about colors of ponies, Daddies gone hunting, and the Wind of the Western Sea.

A newborn baby has a way of startling us oldsters--and all of us are old and dried-out by comparison--into catching a glimpse of the mystery and wonder of life. What else on earth but a freshly-born human is so fascinating in that he is clearly one of our kind, but out-of-this world new and different. No wonder I like to think that they fall out of Heaven, or that storks bring them.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh...how very sweet! Congratulations to you and your family!

Sunday blessings,
Sharon

Pom Pom said...

Yes, I like to think they smell of heaven and still ponder the Spirit's secrets. They don't talk right away because they think in the heavenly language. Soon it's replaced by speech. Babies = holy.
Have fun whispering sweet somethings in that fine boy's pearly ears. I'm so happy for you.

Jeannette said...

So sweet that you posted this under your "church" category...
I liked the post with pictures of the blue church, the children afar that are also your people. The prayers that are answered in this most current and lovely event ..."Lord you have been our dwelling place in all generations"( Psalm 90:1)are both long ago and current prayers, aren't they?

Please give H and B and C our very best wishes. I have joy for their sake...and yours and Grandpa B's as well.

Gumbo Lily said...

"Fresh from God" is how we put it. I'm praising God with you for this new grandboy. Does he, too, have a C name? What joy!

Jody

Janet said...

Congratulations! Welcome to the world, Little C.

DebD said...

What great joy for your family! Welcome to the world little C. Gretchen, I hope you get to spend many hours holding him.

Matushka said...

Many years to you and your family. What a blessing to yet another baby to love on!

M.Michelle

Anita said...

Congratulations on the birth of your new grandson..what a blessing!

margaret said...

A seventh grandson? I'm sure there must be a Celtic blessing for that somewhere. Give him a kiss from me :)

Left-Handed Housewife said...

Congratulations! Mazel Tov! A baby is a wondrous, holy thing. Blessings all around!

frances

gretchen from lifenut said...

Congratulations! :)

What it must be like to watch your child have a child...just wow. My mother has a ratio similar to yours.

8:3, boys ahead.

Rose said...

Many congratulations! There's very little on this earth as miraculous as a newborn baby.

Anastasia Theodoridis said...

Congratulations! Truly a new-born child is a miracle, a joy, another window into heaven, an icon of innocence and sweetness. And holding a newborn is sheer bliss.

Seven grandchildren! Sigh...

GretchenJoanna said...

Anastasia, I have seven grand*sons* and two granddaughters. I know, it is an almost unbelievable blessing. I am hardly grown up myself!
Thank you all for your warm wishes. I do appreciate your participation in my joy.