Once we had Crocket safely on the ground, and then survived the rush-hour traffic on the highway to safely reach our backyard, reality began to settle in for our family. There was a new baby in the house, and we would have to adjust ourselves accordingly. With the Girl and the Boy at home to share the arrival of our newest member, many memories surfaced of the days when they came home as infants, changed the dynamics of the life the Big Grownup and I were building together.

The Girl just turned 27 this month, and even though that is not a very long time ago, many things that are taken for granted now were not even invented then. We didn’t have the option of baby monitors and video cameras to keep watch on our sleeping infant; instead, the Big Grownup and I improvised, purchased an intercom system that was plugged into the bedroom wall that we turned on when the Girl was sleeping, so that we could hear every gurgle and every rustle of blanket happening in her crib. I don’t think they even make plug-in intercom systems now like the one

we had way back then.  Sonograms were something reserved for special situations only, so the Girl arrived into our family without our having an inkling of whether the baby shower planning should be centered on pink or blue favors. It didn’t matter to us whether we had the right stroller or swing or car seat system; we just wanted a healthy baby. We softly counted all of her fingers and toes and considered ourselves lucky indeed to have this bundle of joy to call our very own.

Her nursery was comprised of family heirlooms, furniture that was lovingly cared for through the years and passed infant to infant within the multi-generational growth of the family unit. For the first few months she curled up fast asleep in the Big Grownup’s bassinette, which had been purchased by his grandmother to celebrate his arrival into the family. It was a white wicker bed shaped like a basket, its wicker frame on legs with wheels, the inside adorned with pink silk, the legs concealed with row upon row of white organza material loving restored by Grammy Hanley. When the time was right the Girl graduated into the crib that I had as a baby, my side of the family’s heirloom safely stored and then well-cared for by her Grandma Dodie. Our home was carefully baby-proofed, our family, neighbors, and friends cautioned about what would be a good time to drop in so that they would not disturb the sleeping baby. I remember the Big Grownup and I being very exhausted, each of us taking turns getting up for the 3 o’clock feeding, pretending for one another that we were not tired, everything was great.

By the time the Boy came along, things for us were very different. We had a daughter in college, a daughter in high school, a daughter in first grade, and a new baby. Even though other options were available to us, we stayed with the element of surprise, opted not to find out whether to buy pink or blue, chose to keep our counting fingers and toes theory of the universe. The shower was held after the Boy arrived, a new baby monitor and a fancy stroller gifted to us at the event. The bassinette came to stay at our house again, this time lined with the blue satin reserved for all the boy babies in our family, the ruffled organza adorning its wicker legs, thanks again to Grammy Hanley. Having seen better times, we decided to retire the aging crib, chose to buy a new model to contain our slumbering baby, complete with blue gingham bedding to dress up the mattress. The three o’clock feedings were done by me, so that the Big Grownup could grab some Z’s and take care of the older girls while the Boy and I slept late in the morning. And friends and family were encouraged to drop in whether or not the Boy was sleeping, so that I would have company and another set of hands available to hold the Boy while I was busy doing all the other things that needed to get done.

Fast forward to now, to this four-legged baby, and to what our lives are like now with a baby in the house. This time we decided to have a say, decided to make the choice to have a new little girl in the house, studied her picture on the computer monitor, knew everything about her before her actual arrival. As soon as we held her on our own, we counted every toe on all four of her feet, consider ourselves lucky again to have this new baby to call our very own. No bassinette is necessary now, just a small crate to hold her brindled frame. We have opted to skip the baby monitor, have made her a special place in our room for her to call her very own. And for a change of pace, the Big Grownup is doing the three o’clock walk, feeding not an issue for our brindled bundle of joy. As with all of the other babies, we are up at all hours of the day and night, so please feel free to stop in and visit.

Bring along all of your energy; Crocket loves to play, and the Big Grownup and I are exhausted. Perhaps you won’t mind while you’re here if we take a quick nap?

Stay tuned.

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My Backyard News is proud to announce Cody Book One!

Now get the early editions of the Cody Column in one very entertaining book.

Whether you are raising your first dog or you are of an age where you "never again" dog is a cherished memory, these conversations with Cody will make you laugh and cry and you will find yourself reading them out loud to those you love.

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