Best Gift Ever!
My daughter and her husband
had decided, when they were in high school and dating (18 years ago!) that they
wanted 4 children. This past Easter they
announced that baby #4 (or BK4) would be joining the Clan in November. They decided not to find out whether BK4 was
a boy or a girl, nor did they announce the names they had picked out and this
fact kind of drove old Gaga nuts. I had
guessed boy at the very beginning and held steadfast onto that thought until
about 10 days before BK4 made its worldwide debut. I then thought girl but wavered back and
forth with thinking boy.
IT’S A GIRL!!!! Opehlia Adélie arrived on November 16, 2018
at 11:52 pm and weighed 7 lb. 10 oz. and was 20” long. And once more, my heart
exploded with love and pride! She is healthy
and beautiful and oh-so-very-loved by her 3 older siblings and all of our
Clan.
Ophelia arrived on my
deadline day for the December issue of Movin’ Out but I had a feeling this
would happen and so I moved that deadline up a day. Steve and I took Mackenna, Althea and Declan
to the hospital the next day to meet their baby sister. It was a chaotic, wonderful, fabulous
time! Ophelia was greeted with cheers
and lots of hugs and kisses.
Ophelia Adélie – never
forget that you are loved, little girl.
You truly are our best Thanksgiving/Christmas gift ever! I love coming over in the mornings and
grabbing a quick cuddle from you. I have
to fight off your siblings for my turn to hold you but that is ok because we
all love and adore you so very, very much.
I like to hold your hand; your long fingers will wrap around mine. You are usually sleeping, which amazes me
because there is always so much going on in your family’s house. I sing to you, offkey of course, and you will
give me a sweet little smile. My favorite
thing is when I snuggle you and you curl up in my neck. I do believe that we
both exhale little sighs of contentment.
Part of me wants you to be
a tiny baby forever – what if you are my very last grandbaby? And then there is
the part of me that can’t wait for you to join Pap Steve, me and your siblings
on our grand adventures – whether it is just dinner and a movie or going to the
zoo, the museum or nature walks.
My darling Ophelia Adélie,
my wish for you is to always know how much you are loved. The meaning of your name Ophelia is
“help”. I hope you have a kind and
loving heart and strive to help others.
I wish you days of utter joy and happiness and nights of peace and
contentment. I hope you gaze up at the sky and wish upon a star and then make
that wish a reality. Always know that
because of you, this Gaga’s heart has quadrupled in size and is bursting with
love and pride and joy. You are loved,
Ophelia, so very, very loved.