Evie!!

     So, there I was, as I usually am, minding my own business, and I get the shock of my life! It was a good shock, but it also came with a bit of a pang. It was just before Christmas 2023, just 10 days before, when my son called me out of the blue to let me know he's a father. He didn't let me know that he was going to be a father, or that his wife was pregnant, and they were expecting their firstborn, no, he said, "Merry Christmas, it's a girl".  He and his wife Josie had kept their "secret" from most people. Maybe out of necessity, Josie did tell her family and employer, but we were all very surprised, for the most part.

    When I say I was over the Moon, I mean it. I love babies, and my kids' babies are the only ones I love more than my own.  I won't give you her full name; we call her Evie.  Evie was born on December 15, 2024, and of course, because she's lucky, she was born in the Great State of Oklahoma. My other two grands were born in Indiana; they're Hooisers! Evie is now about 18 months old and running everywhere, keeping her parents on their toes. Her snappy, dark eyes and thick, thick, thick brunette hair set her apart from all the rest in our family; she certainly took after her mommy.

    It's been a minute since I got to play with her, but Gramma always says that the minute they leave my house. I would love to live closer to them and see them more often. It would make me happier than a Golden Retriever meeting someone for the first time; that happy. I would be happy if I could see my grands more often. They all mean the world to me. Evie is no exception. She's so pretty, sweet, and smart, and of course, you know I'm not just saying that because I'm biased.  No, if you ever meet her, you'll have to agree. It's simple. It's the truth.

    A few months after Evie was born, and because I told my son how it hurt not to be a part of her coming into the world, he and his wife decided to tell us when she found out she was pregnant again! Wow! Woot!!  Evie would be a big sister, and she just barely got here herself!! What a birthday present!  "Hey, kid, what did you get for your first birthday?" Well, her little brother came about a month before Evie turned one, but she's already the quintessential big sister to little Averick. When I say they are two peas in a pod, they are. They are both dark, have lots of hair, and are by far the cutest kids in their city. I won't say where that is -- but trust me, there are a lot of kids there.

    I love my little Evie and my little Averick!! I'm sure I'll kiss them soon, and she'll have to tell me all the things her little brother has been doing that annoy her!