Saturday, September 02, 2006

Real babies don't go bow wow!

Patrick McManus wrote a great story once about a pet pig he had as a boy. He actually wanted a pony, but he had a pig--the title of the story was "Real ponies don't go oink!" If you ever have a chance, read it.

This morning David and I were lying in bed and talking about the past week. I can keep David pretty well entertained lately with Cora stories. I heard this little noise outside the house that sounded vaguely familiar and started to get up, but then recognized what it was--a dog, not the baby. Funny how much your life changes in a week! David was the one who told me, "Real babies don't go bow wow."

But real babies do have some similarity to puppies, you know. Maybe you have had a new puppy at your house--you know those little squeaky sounds they make? Real babies make the same sounds. Have you ever seen a little puppy right after it finished feeding? Eyes closed, milk running down its chin? Real babies do that, too. And you know baby puppies' little fat tummies? Real babies have those. At least Cora does.

There is nothing any sweeter than a sleeping Cora, unless it's a waking one. The little arms start stretching, the feet draw up to the tummy, the shoulders start squirming, the head turns, the little mouth opens wide, yawns, sneezes--eyebrows raise, corners of the mouth turn down, turn back up, maybe a "rrrrrrrrrrrrrrip" in the nether regions--Then the cries may start. You talk to her very quietly, pick her up, carry her to the changing table, lay her down. The arms flail, the eyes open and look around. Off comes the diaper, the warm wipes, a clean little bum, a clean diaper--pick her up again. The eyes are open now, looking around. The little mouth opens, searching for something she remembers having once before. Then you hand her over to the mommy and the feed starts. In the middle of the feed, Cora backs off, lies there very peacefully, another "rrrrrrrip". Again with the diaper business. Back to the feed. This time when she finishes, it's swaddling time. Once she is completely wrapped, arms and legs snug as a bug in the blanket, it's back to her bed. That is, IF you can get her away from Mommy long enough.

That's pretty much how the last six days went. I hope yours were just as great. Love to all, and God bless.

By the way, if you want to see a picture of Cora in all her beauty, check www.thebrownbabyblog.blogspot.com. There are plenty of links there.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

cora loves and misses her granny very much! so does her mommy! We expect to see you again in a week or so. She has yet to get a good visit in with her grandpa, who she thinks is "sooo beau-tee-ful"!

Jenn-Jenn, the Mother Hen said...

I can't wait to meet the little munchkin (and to see you all again, too!)

Love ya bunches!

Just Julez said...

See? Grandbabies are very different from our own kids. I love my boys, but somewhere in the back of a parent's mind is the knowledge that we have a job to do. With The Jadenator, I felt free to just enjoy her.

Its a good thing you retired. Instead of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, we'd have Susan Meadors' Week Off. Not that I'd tell on you or anything...united against a common enemy and all that *wink*

Jenn-Jenn, the Mother Hen said...

Where ya been? Miss you! Love ya bunches!