Welcome, Corinne Mae!

Two months ago from this writing my daughter Eileen gave birth to her first child, Corinne Mae. She came three weeks early and spent her first days of life in the neo-natal intensive care unit. Donna and I were in New Jersey for the weekend to visit Donna’s mother when Eileen called with the news.

Corie is beautiful and healthy, with very well-developed lungs that turbo-power her cries. When awake, she is alert, her big eyes tracking what is in her field of vision; when asleep, she is the most beautiful thing imaginable.

She is my first grandchild, and the first grandchild among my family and Eileen’s husband Andrew’s family. She is the first great-grandchild of the 22 grandchildren of Donna’s parents.

I have delayed in writing about her while I processed the meaning for me of her arrival.

I’m still processing. I am reminded of Donna’s and my own experiences of welcoming new life into our family. First was the relief that mother and baby were well. Then came the onset of sleeplessness and fatigue. I remember the frustration and sense of helplessness of not knowing why our baby would be crying and worrying that something was wrong. And I remember the awesome, terrifying sense of responsibility, and the new perspective you have for caring for and protecting this new person.

Above the relief, the fatigue, the worry, even the awe, what most comes back is the joy. Donna and I were beside ourselves with the joy of having this little being of our flesh who we would love forever. Donna went through the incredible pain of childbirth not once but three times to bring forth these new objects of our love.

When you are holding your child, or, I have learned, your grandchild, the bond is primordial and innate. When you are looking into your baby’s eyes, and she into yours, you are as close to experiencing perfect love as you can be.

And now, here is the work of our flesh bringing forth her own progeny.

It’s obvious in an instant how devoted to Corinne Eileen and Andrew are, what love-filled, dedicated parents they already are. They will doubtless pass on the love that their parents passed to them.

I am torn between enjoying Corinne in the moment and looking forward to seeing who she will become. How will Andrew’s and Eileen’s traits combine and manifest in her? Today she looks more like Andrew. Whose temperament will be dominant? For given characteristics, will the balance of her parents’ genetic power shift over the years? Will she be musical? Athletic? Drawn to science or art or some field of study we don’t even know of yet? Will she love her Granddad and Nana as much as they love her?

I can’t wait to find out.

Corinne Mae Swanekamp, welcome!