Is there anything more dreadful than a cold grey November day?
What could brighten it?
Really?
How about a ray of sunshine, bundled in a soft pink blanket?
That will do nicely – I say!
Within moments of emerging from the warm womb
The arrival of my one and only niece
The little sausage
Is broadcasted everywhere.
From Tehran to LA and every dot in between
Blackberries ring, monitors ping, cell phones sing
She is here. Oh yes – she is here
A multitude of phone calls criss-cross
The Atlantic, the Pacific
Even the Baltic and the Adriatic
She has arrived – She is here
Hip hip Hooray
From the moment of conception
To the moment of birth
Each and every move of this little bean
Is avidly observed
By jubilant grandparents
Many uncles and aunts
Prim and proper female cousins
And rambunctious male ones
Two goodly brothers
An ecstatic father
A roundish expectant mother
Hold hands and cuddle tight
As they wait for the delight
She is coming – She is on her way
We see her move in the womb
We see her get bigger
And give her Mummy the first quiver
A kick was delivered
A tiny heart beat was registered
All this down the phone line – we heard.
After each visit to the doctor, we’d ask
What did he say?
How long will this wait last?
She is well. Soon here she’ll be
The final excruciatingly slow weeks drag and drag
We can barely contain our brag
The final touch to the nursery is complete
For the tiny rose – the ultimate treat
A brother loses half of his room – willingly
Another gives up part of the bathroom – seemingly!
Banisters are secured
Windows draped
Corners and edges, firmly caped
A crib in cream-colored maple
A cradle lined with lace.
Soft toys, dolls and oodles of clothing
Find on shelves and in drawers, their place
A collective gnaw at nails and knuckles begins
The family gathers for the final stretch
A whole tribe starts to pray
For grace
We hear of the dilation – centimeter after centimeter
We wring our hands, wait and wait
Another ring on the phone – and a few moments later
Our monitors are splashed with the first picture of a new daughter
A miracle, a joy – one wonderful treasure
A big head (ouch), huge red cheeks, a tiny mouth
Half-moon closed eyes, cute ears – a full head of hair
She is a darling – an angel. Nothing can compare
We shed tears at the first feeding
As she puts her rosebud lips to the breast half sleeping
And later while she is carried outside
We curse the cold London air for touching this little bride
A picture in front of the house
Flowers, balloons and loads of smiles
Brothers ever so happy
Mother exhausted – elated, bright
And the father – overjoyed, grinning with pride
We see the first bath
Of the little poppet
A tiny tush
Curled up limbs
A round tummy
Fingers and toes wiggling silly
The first real smile
Is that a dimple on her right cheek?
What a poser? What a charmer?
She looks like Baba! Oh no – more Mama
Hang on – chimes in the old Nanny
Those are the eyes of one classy Grandma!
Across the waters, the old lady beams
And for now – everyone agrees
Inside of a week everybody has forgotten
The life they once had before her
We have yet to hold her
But have already opened
A huge space in our hearts
With adoration for her
She is everything one could ever want in a baby
Health, Hope and Happiness
A bright future
We send our plea to the One above
A wonderful life for this newborn we request
And please – lots of love
Life will never be the same
Life is better now, we know
For what could possibly be grander than a new she
Right before the winter snow.
Welcome Sweetie. Welcome to our world.
