Once Upon a Grandma

"Once upon a time, I had a baby."

     "You've had more than that."

"Well, this is about the first one. I had to start somewhere. 

Now, hush! I'm telling a story. 

Where was I? Oh, yes. 

Once upon a time, I had a baby. We named her Annie, and she grew up."

     "That was fast."

"You're tellin' me.

She grew up and she got married to a very good man."

     "Aww..."

"Yes, it was very sweet. 

Annie got married and soon she was growing a baby of her own and I became a Grandma."

     "Just like that?"

"That's how it works.

All the while that new baby was growing, I was waiting."

"Patiently?"

"Of course. I am always patient, pretty much... some of the time... 

if it's warranted.

Look, I think we're getting off track, here.

Annie found out her baby was a girl."

"So that made her the first daughter, of a first-born daughter, of a first-born daughter, of a first-born daughter, of a first-born daughter..."

"Yes. It's very cool. Stop interrupting.

Annie grew that baby until the baby decided she needed a change of scenery. 

I went with Annie and her good husband, Isaiah, to the hospital."

"A stowaway?"

"No, they invited me. Why would you...?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it past you."

"Hmm... Shall I continue?"

"Be my guest."

"Thank you.

We all greeted Eloise as she made her entrance into the world."

"Eloise is a nice name."

"Isn't it? 

Eloise was beautiful and tiny, and perfect, and cute..."

"She couldn't help but be all of those things, just look at her Grandma."

"... and her parents?"

"Oh, yes, them, too.

I admit, both Annie and Isaiah are doing an amazing job. I'm very proud of them.

You know, I heard that grandchildren are a reward for letting your own children live... or something like that. 

And I love being a Grandma. 

I love grandma-ing. Yes, I just made that up. Feel free to use it.

"Uh..."

"She was baptized."

"Eloise?"

"Yes. That was a blessed day. 

We celebrated with Isaiah's family (who had traveled a very long way) and all of our church family. That little girl was welcomed into the Church as a newly born child of God. I tear up even now just thinking about it."

"Tissue?"

"No, thanks. I'm good, now.

You know something wonderful about being Eloise's Grandma? I get to hold her."

"Okay."

"No, you don't understand. I love babies. I love to hold them, and rock them, and talk to them, but you can't just go around grabbing other people's babies to hold. They tend to look at you funny."

"Um..."

"So, now that there's another baby in the family, I can hold her and rock her, and talk to her to my heart's content. 

Grandmas are allowed to do that. 

And since Annie and Isaiah hold her all day long and enjoy a little break from time to time, they don't complain at all. 

Their arms get a break and my arms get a baby." 

"That's what's known as a win-win.

And the Grandma lived happily ever after.

The End."