I remember the day he was born, June 15, 1986, little Garrett Paul. He was our first grandchild and we loved him to pieces.
Probably only other grandmas and grandpas are very interested in hearing about this new experience, but having been through it, they really know. It's special all right, an emotional experience different from anything else. It's even more exciting than when I had my own babies. When Garrett squeezed my finger in his little hand and looked up at me with big bright eyes, I knew he was a part of me, a part of me that would continue procreating and live on forever.
Baby Garrett initiated me into the joys of boys. I'd only changed diapers on my three baby girls and I didn't understand that boys do things differently. The first time I changed Garrett's diaper he squirted me in the face. Then he made a little sound and sprayed bright yellow mustard (it sure looked like mustard) all over the crib. But it was fun, a laughing experience rather than a chore. Is that one of the differences in being the grandmother instead of the mother?
Whenever I would hold him and rock him he would hang on to me so tight and try to chew on my neck. He had no teeth, I loved it. I would listen for baby Garrett to stir in the night and then Mama Lisa would get up and nurse him. How could she, our first-born baby, already be a mother herself? It's all a part of God's plan, His plan for living and loving.
It was just two years later when our daughter Lisa had another wonderful baby boy. Taylor Lawrence was born on Oct. 8, 1988, and he looked just like his 2-year-old brother Garrett, another miracle. And then, right on schedule, a third baby boy, Davis Andrew, was born on Aug. 26, 1990. He was a beautiful little clone of his two older brothers. That made three baby boys under 5 years old. Luckily their home had special play areas that were strategically placed throughout the house and the whole backyard was securely fenced and outfitted like a preschool playground.
It took 10 years but finally Lisa had a baby girl. Jenee Marie was born on March 2, 2000, and I had the privilege of witnessing the miracle of her birth. I even got to cut the umbilical cord that connected Jenee to her mother. The boys are grown now and two of them, Garrett and Davis, recently spent a week up here visiting with all the extended family. Garrett brought along his girlfriend who works with him as a nuclear technician on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier.
Davis brought along his skateboard and Taylor's in college in Utah and couldn't make the trip right now. I really wanted to get a picture of all three of these handsome brothers together, but we already know that they look alike, just like when they were babies. We still love them to pieces. God bless them all.
n Linda Monohan may be reached at 782-5802.
