Seeing Shiloh

We head out after work. I had hoped to be on the road sooner, but these things just take time. I wanted to pick up some outfits for Shiloh, so I make a quick stop at Babies R Us and found some adorable newborn things on the sale rack in a variety of colors - including purple! After a long day at work I am tired. I am thankful that Kiel is driving.

The road seems endless. Mile after mile slides by while the darn clock barely inches along. We have to stop several times for breaks, but the weather is not terrible. Familiar landmarks pass us in the darkness of evening. At last we pull off the Thruway and make our way through Amsterdam and the back roads to Saratoga Springs. The trip seems never ending.

And then, we pull into Mark's iced over driveway and make our way with great care to the door. Oooohhhhh. Aaaawwwwwwww. So tiny! Sleeping peacefully, little nose barely poking out of the blanket. Ramseyes comes screaming out of the bedroom, excited to see his Uncle Kiel. I greet him, handing him a present (you can't give one grandchild a gift without giving the other one too!).

Faith asks if I would like to hold her. Would I! I slip off my coat and settle into a chair to receive the bundled blanket with precious contents. I have not held such a small baby in a long time. I am almost afraid to move for fear I will disturb her sleep. She wriggles and stretches, yawning and sleepily opening her eyes to stare at me for a moment before drifting back to dreamland. Not a care in the world.

Mark holds his own baby picture next to her face and proudly tells me how much she looks like he did as a baby. Uh-oh. I can tell this little muffin will have her daddy wrapped tightly around her little finger straight away. I want to sit here for a long time cradling this wee child. It is miraculous.

I remember feeling this way with every grandchild. I still feel like it with the other grandchildren even though they are growing up so fast. But I tire and the hour grows late. We need to make our way up to Mom's house for the night before we disturb my siblings up there too much. With a sigh, I tear myself away, take a million pictures while Kiel and Andrea take turns holding her, and then head back down the ice walk to the car.

Tomorrow we will do something about that ice. But tonight I float on baby sweetness. Aren't babies wonderful? I can say that because I am the Gramma and I can go get a good night's sleep. Good night Shiloh, good night Ramseyes. See you tomorrow.