Well, he finally arrived.   Holy Moly he was worth the wait.

The Little Man, as I like to call him, arrived after many, many long hard hours of labor, concern, and procedures required. The little bugger was stubborn. The Mother was exhausted, overjoyed and relieved.  The Father was so proud and was actually the solid caregiver that held it all together.

Holding my new born daughters was life changing.  Holding my first grandchild, a granddaughter, was mind numbing, ecstatic. Holding The Little Man was surreal.

Holding a new child in your arms is spiritual in a way.  You are called upon at that moment to protect, secure, shield, and nourish a new human being.  It is like nothing else you can experience.  I was so happy that he went to sleep in my arms, as I had expected, and stayed comfortable and asleep cradled in my rocking embrace. Wow what a feeling!  Of course it kept my reputation in tact of being a “baby whisperer.”  Actually, I think infants do well in my “holding” because I tend to give off a lot of body heat (I don’t sweat) and the warmth I generate makes them feel comforted.  Now my secret is out.  I always do well with children.  It is a gift, one that I will use every chance I am given.

The Little Man is simply just that – a tiny little man.  He can’t focus yet, I know, but holding him and having him look up at me was so inspiring.  Of course he was thinking what a cool guy this old Grandpa is staring down at him.

Honestly he won’t have a clue who I am for years, and undoubtedly I will have little impact on his life other than holidays or reunions, but conversely as we grow older, our children, and subsequently their children, impact our lives exponentially for what years we have remaining.  It is a joyful partnership.

So welcome Little Man – you don’t know me, but someday you will know how much it meant to me to have you cradled in my arms – and you will always be loved. You will make your parents proud, not because of what you will ever accomplish, but because you changed their lives forever.

Love, Grandpa