footnote to baby Mairn

i meant to say not only that i am fond of your 5 uncles, (who now, because of you, will forever be uncle rutledge, uncle andrew, uncle dayne, uncle abram, and uncle drayton,) but that i am also fond of your dad, who will one day be someone's uncle roman. and then of course there is your "pops." 

my dear granddaughter, you are giddily welcomed by an elite but growing minority of women in this nuclear family, that right now comprises  your aunt claire, aunt michel, aunt jen, your mom, and me.  hmmm, i wonder if aunt jen still wants to be called crawdaddy?

to: baby Mairn

i didn't expect to be so amazed when i first heard your rapid heart beat earlier this week, but i was. and i didn't know i would be in love with you already after seeing your beautiful face only today. i have 3 pictures and a million delightful thoughts of you. i love that you are a girl, tho' i am also quite fond of little boys, all 5 of your uncles in fact. but we long for more femininity here, surrounded as we are by male dominant genes. you, my dear angel, for my part, will have one grateful great-grandmother,  twin great-aunties to amuse and claim you, and me, your ranne.

i am late becoming a grandmother, having waited to marry. and  i already see the world thru tinted glasses because of you. you are changing us all by being the first. i ponder what you will call me; shall we wait for you to speak or hold out for the names we prefer? the very thought, and the word grand-daughter, flood my eager senses with worlds of possibility. i saw your face today, dear one, and we are bonded. i will never be the same.