HEART BEAT

December 22

Dear Baby Brown,

Simon spent the afternoon with me today. That’s because your mommy and daddy went to see Doctor Taylor for the first time. Doctor Taylor is the doctor who is going to deliver you to your parents. While they were visiting with the doctor, they listened to your heartbeat! Your daddy told me that they heard your heart beat at 160 beats per minute…that is fast! The “old wives’ tale” is that a fast heart beat means that the baby is a girl. Are you a girl?

Let me just tell you right now that your grandmother (me) doesn’t’ care whether you are a boy or a girl. I just want you to be healthy. BUT … If you are a boy, I know what to do! I know that boys are made of “… snakes and snails and puppy dog tails." I know that boys are rowdy and rough. I know about boys. I have had brothers and I have had sons….I know about boys!

If you are a girl….wow! I have never had a girl…I don’t even have “blood aunts”! My mother didn’t have a sister, my daddy didn’t have a sister, and I don’t have a sister! The only girl I know about is me, and I have always been a “tomboy.” I don’t know about girls! But people who have girls tell me girls are wonderful, amazing people. I do know that girls are made of “…sugar and spice and everything nice.” If you are a girl, I will be happy to learn what girls are like!

I will be the best grandmother that you have ever had!!

I will love you, whoever you are!

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

December 13, 2010

Dear Baby Brown,

This weekend I decorated the house for Christmas. I set the crèche on the mantle surrounded by garland. I put the lights and ornaments on the tree. And I hung the Christmas stockings. Right now there are four stockings hanging up at my house. When your daddy celebrated his first Christmas, my mother, your great-grandmother, made him a stocking with Santa Claus on it. She spent a long time working on it because it has lots of stitches and sequins to make it beautiful. When your Uncle Robert celebrated his first Christmas, she also made a stocking for him, but when it was finished, she didn’t think it was as fancy as the one she had made for your daddy, so she added a Christmas bell to make it more festive. Each stocking has its owner’s name at the top: Jay on one; Robert on the other. Until two years ago, those were the only two stockings at my house. Then, when your daddy married your mommy, I bought two more stockings and had names embroidered at the top: Christy – Simon. Now those stockings are hanging up too. Next Christmas there will be another new stocking hanging on the mantle at my house…and guess what? Your name will be at the top! I wonder what it will be? Of course, your name will depend on whether you are a girl or a boy. Will your parents choose a family name for you, or will your name be the beginning of a new tradition? One thing is for certain: whatever name they choose, it will be the perfect name for you!

THANKSGIVING!

November 27, 2010

Dear Baby Brown,

Thanksgiving 2010 is history. This year the Brown family had something new and special to be thankful for….YOU!! Thirty-one years ago, I was impatiently waiting for your daddy to arrive on the scene. The doctor had told me that he was due to arrive the week of Thanksgiving, but, even though the entire family was elated that he was coming, they had warned me in a good natured way …” not to mess up Thanksgiving dinner by going into labor.” I didn’t. In fact, your daddy didn’t arrive for three more weeks – ten days before Christmas to be exact! He was well worth the wait.

Even though your arrival is still several months away, your mommy and daddy will find out if you are a boy or a girl in just a few weeks. Thirty-one years ago your grandfather and I had to wait until your daddy was born to know if we had a son or a daughter. We left home at 4:30 a.m. on his birthday to go to the hospital, but your daddy did not arrive until 7:30 p.m.! It was a very long day for all of us. When I first saw him, he was red, bald-headed, and one eye was swollen shut. Since he was three weeks late, his fingernails had grown very long, and he had cut himself just above his right eye (he still has the scar). Boy! Was he funny looking! It didn’t matter to me. He was my miracle.

Now my miracle baby is having a baby. Whether you are a boy or a girl is not important. You are a continuation of the miracle that came into my life thirty-one years ago and you too will be worth the wait. I love you!

BEGINNINGS

November 21, 2010

Dear Baby Brown,

I have known that you are on the way for over a week! I am beginning to get used to the idea that my “baby” is having a baby. Your dad called us on Thursday night, November 11 after I had just talked to him at a basketball game. He talked to your grandfather first and then asked that I get on the other phone. That request alone made me highly suspicious that something special was “up.” I probably didn’t react the way that either your dad or I would have anticipated….I hardly knew what to say! I have thought about you so often in the past two and a half years….hoping that you were in the “plan”; wondering how you would be “announced”; anticipating how I would feel! I never thought about a phone call on a Thursday night after a ball game! But your dad was so excited. He and your mom had known about you since Monday and all he could say was, “I was just ready to tell SOMEBODY!”

On the next Sunday, your dad announced the news at church as a "joy" at prayer time. “Pastor, last Monday I was taking a shower and getting ready to go to school just like any other day. When I got out of the bathroom, my beautiful wife informed me that we are going to have a baby! She said that it was the longest shower that I had ever taken!” Everyone in the church applauded the news!

Now the real waiting begins…July 19 seems like a long time away. So many new things to wonder about…will you be a boy or a girl?…what will your name be?…and, of course, the biggy….what will you call me?!!! But whatever the answer to those questions will be, please know this Baby Brown: you will be born into a family who already loves you very much!