Meet my granddaughter

Since 22 December, life has been a whirl and there is no nicer reason than knowing our very first grandchild has safely arrived.

First the arrival date was to be 27 December, then the 20th.  Or it could be the 21st but in the end Grace Era was born on the 22nd.  Excellent timing really, since we had arrived at our holiday “cottage” the day before.  We are so thankful that all is well, both for my daughter and Grace herself, and not forgetting her Dad!

It has been a splendid time, for myself quite emotional too.  Naturally my mind has been flooded with memories of when our daughters, now both in their 20s, of when they came into the world themselves.  I had to learn quickly; how to carefully hold a newborn, understanding the language of little cries and constantly listening out for that gentle breathing.

I smile to myself when I see my daughter hold Grace and do those same things, whispering calming words while she gently sways a little, or even walk up and down the stairs as a way of settling her new baby.  All these things are exactly as I remember.

Speaking of things being exactly as I remember, there’s the ‘new baby’ smell.  I think it only lasts for a day or so and it is the most precious, unforgettable scent and yet I haven’t experienced it for over twenty years.  It was so precious as I held Grace, nestled against my chest and I could lean over so my nose was just above her head and then to breathe in that precious smell.  By the time she was a couple of days old, it had disappeared.

When we were altogether as a family (12 of us), I wondered what Grace would see and do in her lifetime.  She will probably live into the next century and that seems almost beyond our imagination with the pace of change.

We speculated about her career and perhaps we might be able to pick up a few clues with her current family.  Her mum and dad have both got degrees in mathematics (her dad is currently embarked on a PhD).  One of her uncles is a maths teacher.  One grandmother is an accountant.  Everyone was laughing about the inevitability of her career in maths until I suggested she might become a gardener, or perhaps an artist.  Who knows?

My feelings are running so deep at the moment.  I want to press a “record” button in my mind to make sure I remember these first few days.  I feel there is a sense of completeness in life now, I hadn’t really thought of it like that before but there definitely feels a certain ‘full circle’ has just fallen into place.  My beautiful daughter, who I saw come into the world, has now become a mother herself.  Feelings of joy and thankfulness for Grace are flooding through my mind constantly and with complete wonder – what will she become, what will her character be like – how much of her life growing up will I see – all thoughts of wonder and thankfulness.  Either way, one proud grandad.