Grandmother

 

Today I am a grandmother. Actually, I became a grandmother yesterday, August 18, at about 3 p.m. EDT. Welcome to the world, John Edward Thompson IV.

Strictly speaking, I’ve been a grandmother since sometime back in December, right? Or was it when I heard the news from Jett and Kimi back in January? Or was it when we learned the baby would be a boy, and be named after his dad, his grandfather and his great-grandfather? 

Side note: We joked a bit about what we’d call him. Our son, John Edward Thompson the Third, has always been known as JETT. It’s an acroname; get it? So would JETIV be Cuatro? IV (like, ivy)? J4? We can take some guidance, as always, from the Bible. Luke 1:13, 1:60, and 1:63 all make it clear: “He shall be called ‘John.’”

Which brings up another issue. Nowadays, people choose their own grandma/granddad name. I always thought kids kind of came up with names themselves, as they started babbling real words. But I guess it makes sense to give them direction. Just as they learn to pronounce “antidisestablishmentarianism” or “yacht” correctly, they can be taught the preferred rendering of their forebears’ preferred names. So John (Jr.) and I have landed on our names. John (Jr.) is taking the granddad name of one of our favorite Republican presidents – George H. W. Bush – whose grandchildren and even some staff members, I believe, called him “Poppy.” For myself, when I was going to camp as a youngster, people called me “Emmy.” It was my favorite nickname. Thus, we are now “Poppy and Emmy.” Sounds like a puppet show, though, doesn’t it?

We Facetimed with the newbie yesterday. He was so happy and content, skin-on-skin with his dad (John III). Today, we’re seeing more pix. We have reason to believe there will be plenty more to come.

The new parents look pretty serene and joyful, too. Part of their pleasant demeanor may be relief and fatigue. The labor and birth went without a hitch (thank God), but it was about two weeks ahead of the due date, and stretched out over three days. And let’s remember. There’s a good reason they call it “labor.” Kudos to you, Kimi.

Our working plan has been to fly to Washington in early October to meet our new sweetie. We haven’t changed those plans, but I’m sorely tempted to drive to the airport and get on the first plane flying to Washington. I don’t want to miss any of that new-baby aura!

Tomorrow, I’ll pack up and mail a bunch of Jett’s old baby clothes, along with a note that explains why I kept them. I’ll include some of the 479 items I’ve already knit or crocheted. (Okay, it’s not actually 479 items, and I’ve already delivered a number of crafty things.) Then I need to get snapping on the birth announcement cross-stitch and a Christmas stocking! For one who likes to do handwork, having a new baby in the family is heaven.

All in all, this new John in our family is a gift from heaven. Thank you to all, in heaven above and on earth below, for bringing him to us.