Gonna Be a Daddy

You're Gonna Be a Daddy

© Angela E. White 1989
(written for a friend and also Kidd Kraddick) 

                                                     Since you're gonna be a Daddy,

                                               There're a few things you should know.

                                                        Like how to survive this life

                                                           With a little one in tow.

                                                                             

                                                       You have to adapt to change

                                               Changing diapers and your way of life.

                                                        You have to learn flexibility

                                                  It won't be just you and your wife.

                                                                             

                                                 Although you can't bear the children

                                                         It's impossible, that's true.

                                                        There are many other duties

                                                       That you can pitch in and do.

                                                                             

                                                          You can be there to listen

                                                     About your wife's aching back.

                                                        You can feel your baby kick

                                                   And take up the housework slack.

                                                                             

                                                      You can go to birthing classes

                                                    And prepare for the little sprout.

                                                 You can be the COACH in delivery

                                                      As long as you don't pass out!

                                                                             

                                                     After she's panted and pushed,

                                               Accompanied by an encouraging word,

                                                  Your new arrival will be announced

                                                With the sweetest yell you ever heard.

                                                                             

                                                       And then you'll be so proud,

                                                          As new parents often are.

                                                         You won't be able to wait

                                                  To get that bundle of joy in the car.

                                                                             

                                                         At first that innocent babe

                                                  Will sleep twenty-two hours a day.

                                                       You'll want to wake up Baby

                                                    So you can "Goo-Goo" and play.

                                                                             

                                                            It really is all worth it,

                                                         Once it's all said and done.

                                              But get ready for everyone's question --

                                                  "When're you having another one?"

Oma's Babies

When you were first born

and I looked into your eyes,

My love could fill a deep ocean

and reach the highest skies!

From your turned-up crinkled nose

to your tickly pudgy toes…

my love for you, sweet darling,

Just grows and grows and grows!

I love little arms around my neck

Hugging and holding me tight,

And how you fold your tiny hands

when you pray and say goodnight.

I love your lumpy, bumpy elbows

and your skinned-up knobby knees,

Little ears that hear every sound

and lips that whisper, "Please!"

All these things about you

are all things I dearly love.

But most of all is all of YOU

Sent here from up above!!!

For Jennie

For Jennie…

She was a beautiful lady

One with a beautiful heart

Sister, wife, mom and Grammy

A caring friend from the start

She was a great entertainer

With both poetry and prose

A hostess with the mostest

In stylishly elegant clothes

She traveled near and far

Made us laugh until we cried.

She fed us and she led us.

Brought class to a 4-wheeler ride

  

Outrageously and courageously

In joy and in strife

This beautiful lady with a beautiful heart

Valiantly shared her beautiful life

And so sadly, yet gladly

With certainty we know

That this beautiful lady

Is now healed and whole

A beautiful lady

With a beautiful soul

Now calls

Heaven home

With love from Angie White

Why Adopt

NOTE:  This was written for a friend of my mother-in-law who had to submit the reasons she wanted to adopt an "at-risk" child.  The sentiments are hers; I simply put the feelings into words.Done for Billie's friend, Courtney (371-4535)...Meadow Valley

Dear Child,

            I want to be a part of your life for so many reasons.  I've worked very hard to earn the chance to give you love, to read to you some of the books I've been collecting like the Jungle Book, Heidi, and Green Eggs and Ham, to hear you proudly read out loud to me for the first time, to play with you in our backyard and to watch over you while you sleep.  For five years, I've felt you in my arms.

            I want to make sure you eat your vegetables and brush your teeth.  I want to go to church together and sing while we hold hands.  I want to see your fingerprints and fingerpaints all over the refrigerator.

            I want you to drive me crazy with questions.  I want you to keep me awake late at night so I can be Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy after you've gone to sleep, to take your temperature when you're running a little fever.  I want to take you shopping and watch TV with you snuggled up with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn.

            I want to worry when you have a cold and when I loosen the apron strings on your first day of school.  To give you a shoulder to cry on and put a band-aid on a skinned little knee.  I want to hear your laughter and wipe away your tears. 

            I want to show you the difference between right and wrong.  I want you to have your own room to fill with books, games, stuffed animals, and joy.  I want to make sure you wash behind your ears.  I want you because you're a special little person.  I want you to be happy and feel secure.  I want you...to love.

                                                With love,

Dear Parent,

            I know you don't have much choice in giving up your child.  I want you to know how sorry I am that things didn't work out and that I really appreciate the chance to be a part of your child's life.  I know deep down you want what's best for your child and I promise to give your child a home filled with love and security.

            If your child has any brothers or sisters, I'll do what I can to make sure your child knows all its family.  I know how important family is.  My mother and my brother live near by and they are eager to be a part of your child's life, too.

            I have a good job as a postal clerk so you don't have to worry about your child's material needs.  I can take off a couple of months to give your child time to get used to me and a new environment and I'll do everything I can to make it as easy as possible.  When I have to go back to work, my next door neighbor will watch over your child for me when I have to work.

            I am an ordinary person with a lot of love to give to your child.  I like to read, watch TV, see plays, shop, and do crafts.  I regularly attend an old established church and go to church functions.  I don't date -- God hasn't put a relationship in my life yet; I am content to wait until He is ready.  So you see, my heart and my home are open and ready for a child.  I'll do everything I can to meet your child's emotional needs.

            Most people have to wait just nine short months for a child to enter their life.  I have waited five years and during that time, I have worked hard to make sure the child that enters my life will have the best I can offer.  Thank you for understanding that I wish it could be different for you, but perhaps this is what's best for your child.                                   Sincerely,

Liar, Liar

Liar, Liar by Angela E. White

=================================================================

(Note:  This was written within about 30 minutes while waiting in line for cancelled reservations Easter weekend; this entry won the Cedar Hill State Park’s April Fool’s Day Liar’s Contest 04/94)

I would've got me a reservation for campin' earlier, but my tractor broke down on my way here from Hawaii.  I left after lunch yesterday so I could get here in time for the Easter egg hunt tomorrow.  All my family (nieces, nephews, bruthers, sisters, moms & dads) were plannin' on attending, but we all got the chicken pox last night.  Well, we were gonna make alternative plans (we called Queen Elizabeth and she's sick with the croup), but we decided, "What the heck!"  Not everyone was really itchy and the boys were likely to get into poison ivy anyway, so here we are -- on the waitin' list.

I parked my yacht in the Kmart parkin' lot and hitchhiked down here.  Mel Gibson picked me up in that same car -- you know -- the one he drove in Lethal Road Warrior's Weapon.  Anyhow, he dropped me off at Texas Stadium (where I had to turn down Jerry Jones' coachin' offer) then I stole Troy Aikman's horse and moseyed over to The Ballpark where I talked Nolan Ryan into given pitchin' another try and a ride back here to the State Park.  He dropped me off and was immediately abducted by aliens who kinda resembled a cross between Mork and Tonya Harding (go figure!).  Anyway, I hope he makes it back to the ice before the whole team's in the penalty box.  So, as I wuz sayin', I'm just patiently awaitin' in line for Elvis to show (hey, the kids believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny and I believe in Elvis!  Wanna make sumthin' of it?)

Soooo...here I am waitin'--- I bin waitin' for forty days and forty nights.  For gov'ment employees, these folks sure are nice, but slower than my grandpa's favorite laxative (a combination of red beans, peaches, and coffee grounds).

Waitin' in this here line reminds me of the time I was waiting for a slow boat from China.  There I was, trapped on Gilligan's Island waitin' for "De Plane!  De Plane!" when I found out it wasn't comin'.  I had to make a Lear jet out of banana peels and coconut hair.  This discovery incidentally rewarded me with millions from salon formula hair products -- Plane Mane.

Well, I'm movin' up the list so fast, I'm liable to get a speeding ticket for exceeding the speed of sound.  Thank ye for yer patience and I hope you get some treatment for that itchy twitch you've developed -- you must never have had chicken pox or thought you couldn't get it just from reading.  Just shows to go ya!

Sincerely,

Angie White

P.S. I didn't use my real name or address -- I'm really Christie Brinkley in disguise, but don't tell anyone who doesn't already know!

The Emptiness of Joy

I'm having a hard time today. Actually, I've been having a hard week...no, make that month.

Despite all the joy of welcoming a new life into the world...a miracle in the form of a tiny little boy...and knowing that another is on the way. On the edge of all that happiness, is the sharp stab of pain that Tim is not here...not here to share in all the joy...not here with me.

I feel as if I'm having a tremendous pity-party just to admit that. While I have around me a wonderful network of family and friends, none of them can fill the void that is left by him. And, I know that I love and serve a God who is personal, who can and does meet all my needs. I ... still ... miss ... Tim.

Now, when I dream of Tim, he's well. Not depleted as he was in those final days by ALS (or Lyme...or whatever combination of thief that took him from this world). No, he's upright, vocal, and we are usually arguing. Just like the "good old days." How we loved to argue! We had unspoken rules, though, and only rarely would either one of us hit "below the belt." It was more a form of verbal sparring, a debate. If he was losing, he would say something ridiculous to make me laugh. And it would be over. And just about every fight ended with us still loving each other.

I still love him. And I still miss him. I've missed him for more than the year since he died.

I will take the next step and keep going. And keep remembering.

How Good It Is to Be GRAND!

I went from Good to Great when I officially became a Grandmother this week!!! I don't even know if I have the words to describe the sheer joy that entails...but I shall try!

Wesley James Finical made his arrival into the world the day before my 52nd birthday at 1331 hours (I tried really hard to remember how to use military hours, but it's not that easy...fortunately 1:31 p.m. isn't that hard to convert!). He weighed a whopping 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20 inches long (I wonder if they included his long monkey toes in that measurement, 'cause they are loooooooong and oh, so adorable!). Best early birthday present ever!

This precious bundle of joy was supposed to be here by August 24th, but was so comfy and cozy in momma's tummy that he had to be served an eviction notice! (I have a pic of the post-it note of the "eviction notice" she sent to notify us of his new expected due date. Too cute!) So the plan was that Kristen would be induced on September 1st.

I wanted to do whatever I could to help Kristen & Ryan, but not be in the way. I was so thrilled to know there was something I could do to help. I drove down that morning to take my three granddogs to the kennel and then I headed to the hospital. Good thing I got there when I did, because once Wesley was served his eviction notice, he didn't delay his arrival by much!

Turns out, all it took was breaking Kristen's water and Wesley decided it was time to come out (much like his momma & uncle, too. Once his exclusive suite became less hospitable, he was ready to meet the world!).

Ryan's granddad Bob and grandma Gerri were already at the hospital by the time I arrived and it was so much fun to brag on "the kids" together while we awaited the next generation's much-anticipated arrival.

When I went back to see Kristen and Ryan, they were doing so well. She was having contractions and smiling through them. While she was breathing through the contractions, Ryan was gently rubbing her back and helping her with whatever felt good to her at the time (until not much felt good). What a joy to see the love and partnership between these two!

Birthing babies sure has changed since I had mine, though. Watching Kristen sit on her bouncing gym ball (looked like a giant "hippity-hop" without the handle) and rock side-to-side, I thought, "That's not labor...you're having too much fun!" haha. Then I saw her face. Nope...that wasn't fun. I remembered. Labor is called labor because it is WORK! But it was good to see that she could sit, stand, rock, roll...do whatever was comfortable to help bring Wesley into the world.

When it became obvious that I was quite superfluous, and that her contractions were coming quite close together, I went back to the waiting room to do just that...wait. It wasn't really a long wait. We heard the lullaby song over the hospital loudspeaker several times and wondered each time if that was "our" baby arriving.

Due to HIPAA privacy, the nurses couldn't just come out and tell us that Wesley had arrived. We learned the new-fangled way. Ryan sent a text! We got the basics 7 lbs 15 oz 20" @ 1:31 pm and were overjoyed!

A bit later, Ryan came into the waiting room...or should I say that he floated in? The proud papa told us how handsome Wesley was...how great Kristen had done without pain meds...and that he was feeling 10-feet tall. His smile was certainly evidence of his pride and joy...in his wife and their newborn son. My eyes well with tears of joy just remembering how he beamed. He didn't stay with us long...he was very eager to return to his wife and son.

We were allowed to come back to their room and I can't begin to describe the love that swelled up in my heart to see my beautiful, brilliant daughter holding her handsome son. He was absolutely adorable, so very handsome! (And I'm not the least bit biased...we checked with everyone who entered the room and have been quite reassured that he really is a beautiful baby...it's not just our opinion!)

Wesley came into the world with a full head of dark hair. Kristen was pretty much bald as a baby and had blonde hair until she was a teenager and Ryan was quite tow-headed. Both sides of the family have had babies with dark hair and some had their dark hair fall out to be replaced with lighter locks. Not sure what will occur with Wesley, but he is perfect either way.

He has long fingers like his mom, long toes...so far, from the top of his face he looks like Ryan (hoping those baby blue eyes stay), and the bottom of his face looks like Kristen. He has a "turtle" neck that he stretches out and already tries to hold up his head. He has his Grandpa Tim's tiny ears, which are so very cute. His head was kind of cone-shaped at birth (of course, due to coming through the birth canal), but is rounding out day by day. He has perfect bow-shaped lips and a tiny little turned-up nose and chubby rosy cheeks that just beg to be kissed and cuddled. One of his most charming features already is that he is so expressive...he already gives us "the eyebrow" just like his mommy. Lord only knows if he will use it for good! :-)

Oh, how I have eagerly anticipated all the joy this precious little boy will bring. And he has not disappointed one tiny bit. No, sir, he has surpassed all expectations far beyond my wildest dreams. He has already overflowed my heart with such love I just can't contain it.

With that said, that's all I'm willing to share. I'm going to selfishly hold on to how amazing it feels to hold him in my arms, to snuggle him and kiss his little head, to listen to all the silly little noises this wonderful little animal impersonator makes.

Wesley is my grandson. Wesley is my grand son. I hope to be a good grandmother. I hope to be a great grandma. But for now, it is oh, so great just to be grand!!!