Trickster!

He tricked me.

He’s a leprechaun. I mean, look at him. All he needs is a beard.

Here’s what went down: He had some cereal puffs laid out on his highchair tray, and I was sitting on a chair across from him while he munched on them.

He has a funny way of eating those things, kind of grabbing each one with his pinky and ring finger, securing them to the top of his palm and then maneuvering them into his mouth.

I was surprised when he picked one up in what I consider the regular way and extended his hand toward me with a quizzical sound, like, “Mmm?”

Clearly he was offering to share a puff with me. Cutest thing ever. I moved toward him and he fed one to me. I dramatically crunched it and thanked him. He was pleased, and laughed about the exchange.

I like the fact that a one-year-old was willing to share his stash with me, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

It didn’t end there. Because he seemed to get a kick out of this, he offered me another with the same result, same laugh.

As his grandfather, I could do this all day.  I love being around that kid. When I am with him, nothing else seems to matter.

He wasn’t done, and his generosity was impressive.

On the third pass, he moved the puff toward me and I was ready to accept it.

But as he got closer to my face, he did a 180 and quickly ate the puff himself.

As he was munching, he let out a laugh I had never heard him laugh before.

This was not the laugh of a baby. It was the laugh of a seasoned trickster.

Well, played, sir. Well played.

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Life “Off the Mat”

My son came over with my grandson yesterday.

I get as excited as a Jack Russell when its owner comes home from work…

It starts with a quick and purposeful knock at the door. My son also raps on the window of my office, which is adjacent to the front door.

I savor the moment, and take my time opening the door. First I stand behind it, peeking out with one eye before opening it fully.

My son with his son, standing there. My grandson in his arms, looking at me while taking pulls from his binky and smiling at the same time. You can tell he’s smiling because of his eyes.

Photo: Wes Yale aka Daddy

I melt.

And then, the handoff. Anderson knows I am about to grab him, and he acknowledges this with outstretched arms. He’s solid. Almost ten months old.

I give Wes a kiss on the top of his head. Anderson always notices this interaction. I wonder what he makes of it.

We show Anderson the Halloween decorations Brenda has done (it’s her specialty, Halloween). He takes it all in.

Brenda is jonesing to hold him. We make the transfer.

He sizes her up and proceeds to grab her cheek. And then he chomps down on her chin with his four front teeth – two up top and two on the bottom.

It probably hurts. She loves it. I’ve seen him do that to my daughter-in-law too. Somehow I’m jealous.

He “tells” us about how he is doing.

We set him on his playmat and he explores. In no time, he’s off the mat. He pulls himself up to standing position at any opportunity. Coffee table (protected by pillows), couch, chair. Proud as can be.

There’s an old commercial where a guy tells a little girl that she can only ride her bike in a little squared off area. Her response is classic:

“You can’t really ride in this little space.”

Anderson embodies that statement.

Enjoy life off the mat, Anderson. As Sam Cooke sung, that’s where it’s at.

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Hanging With Anderson

My grandson, Anderson, is growing by leaps and bounds.

He’s just shy of the six month mark. In just a half a year, he has made a huge impact on the lives of those around him.

His way of looking at you, “talking” about his day – and that smile. That incredible, magnetic smile.

Over the past few days, we were able to visit with him in several places: His parents’ house, the YMCA for a swimming session – and at our place.

Having him here was such a high point for us, and even now we can feel his energy when we look at his play mat – now folded in half by our fake fireplace and ready to be put away. There are a few toys out still – all indicators that he recently graced us with his presence.

We almost don’t want to put that stuff away.

Brenda and I work second shift and Anderson is in day care, so the most we have been able to see him is on our evenings off, but more like one visit per week. But the stars aligned to allow for three back-to-back visits.

We were thrilled to be invited to tag along to watch him in the pool at The Y with other parents and babies. My son was in the pool with him. The instructor/attendant was awesome, giving instructions and guiding everybody through assorted aquatic activities. My daughter-in-law was at work, but we took scads of photos and sent them to her in real time.

It’s wonderful that Wes and Leigh have started him so young – allowing Anderson to get accustomed to being in the water. This will make for a well-rounded young man.

Afterwards, Wes brought Anderson to our place. I am happy to report that my grandson was comfortable in this new atmosphere. He played happily on his mat, exploring (and tasting) the toys we had set out for him, but it was clear that he was a bit worn out from the pool.  Brenda fed him, I burped him and Wes put him down in the little crib we have set up in our bedroom (thanks to Leigh’s parents). I put a white noise video up on YouTube on my tablet and laid it near him – but it timed out somehow.

He didn’t really sleep. Instead, he kept looking out from the slats and fidgeting – flopping from tummy to back and “talking.” He’s also got a cute little growl. It’s a trip!

Soon, Wes grabbed him up as we were about to head to work. Their next stop was a visit with his mom, who works not far from where we live.

I’m not sure if he conked out for long, but Wes sent a photo of Anderson sleeping in his car seat. I need to find out how the rest of his day went.

If you are a grandparent, you know. Being around this little human is unbridled joy.

And I can’t get enough of him.

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I’ll Show Them Cute

Chris with HIM

I was playing a show with my brother at LuLu’s North Myrtle Beach last night.

Family is in town, and most of them showed up for the gig, and I am happy about that.

But something happened that topped it all.

My heart skipped a bit when I saw three people come in: My son, my daughter-in-law (hard to miss with her gorgeous red hair) – and I know they were pushing a stroller…

It was HIM!

Anderson, my grandson, came to his first Yale Brothers show!

When I play shows, I enjoy making eye contact and waving at people – sometimes to distraction – and I thought for sure I’d be running offstage every two minutes to see Anderson. But I kept my cool, never mind my excitement. Keeping my cool is different from other people keeping their cool. My face is not an ally in these situations. It tells on me, which is why I probably wouldn’t be a very good poker player.

My brother went to the table a couple of times while we were playing. He has the benefit of playing his guitar with a wireless connection. I am tethered to my stage piano.

Anderson stole the show! On break, I got to hold him. Some young ladies were there for a bachelorette party, and there were oohs and ahs when they saw him. I brought Anderson to their table, and the group let out a heartfelt “awwwww” – and another passing young lady said something like… “I can’t…even…”

I get it. Me either.

There was a commercial where two grandfathers were exchanging photos of their grandchildren from their laptops, and one of them said… “Cute? I’ll show him cute!”

That’s where I’m at.

Somebody pinch me.

The Force Is Strong With This One

My daughter-in-law knocked it out of the park with the above photo.

My grandson is two months old today and recently weighed in at 13.7 pounds.

He’s talking to himself now and in a recent video my son sent me, I swear he could have done the voice-overs for Grogu.

Anderson’s been infatuated with the outsized ceiling fan in his parents’ living room. His mom contents that the contrast of the dark fan against the white ceiling captures his attention.

I need to get better at describing him.

Right now, all I have is that he’s perfect.

I’d like to think he smiled at me a couple of times. But that could be wishful thinking.

I have plans to start reading to him. I would like him to get used to my voice, my vibe.

Pretty soon he’ll realize that he owns me.

Holding Anderson

My grandson arrived on December 29. He’s beautiful and healthy, weighing in at just over seven pounds at birth. His mother is doing just fine, and I thank God on both counts.

He’s a week old today.

I’m supposed to be a writer, but my powers of description fail me just when I need them. Maybe this is because of the sheer joy I experience whenever I lay eyes on him – the flood of emotions, the circle of life, right here and right now.

Watching him sleep. Noticing every flutter in the eyelids, every movement, every pursed lip – every adjusting movement.

Listening to his magnificent voice. It’s not shrill or over-the-top. It’s appropriate.

My daughter-in-law asked me if I wanted to wake him up yesterday before handing him over to my son for a diaper change. I told her I’d love to, as long as he didn’t resent me from that moment on.

Holding him as I talked to him and he began to awaken was surreal. He was not swaddled this time, and I could feel his warmth and his breathing – his presence.

This little person probably still has a direct line to the infinite.

With no language or bias to encumber him, I wonder what goes on in his mind.

Do any of us really know?

Imagine feeling nothing but love from the moment you open your eyes.

Safe. Secure. Cozy.

I am in love.

The Main Event

Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com

I am going to be a grandfather very soon.

My daughter-in-law is going to be induced tomorrow.

I am blissfully ignorant of the process, but I understand that the delivery ETA is anybody’s guess. Could be quick. Could be drawn out.

And I can only imagine what Leigh is about to go through.

She’s a tough cookie, my daughter-in-law. She has worked throughout her pregnancy with a dignity and resolve that renders me speechless. I already know that she is going to make a wonderful mother.

It’s funny how time seems to compress now that the big moment approaches.

This reminds me of any significant life event. Things seem so far off at first but as time goes by, the reality sets in.

Weddings are like that. Babies are like that too.

Ready or not, the day arrives – the result of a snowball set in motion months earlier.

It blows my mind that my son is going to be a father. In a blink of an eye, the circle of life continues – and I am sure Wesley will embrace every facet of fatherhood.

Soon, these two beautiful humans will step into their new names: Mommy and Daddy.

My grandson is coming, and things are getting real.

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Preparing for Arrival

Photo: Anna Lauren Meeks

My grandson will be saying hello to the world before the end of the year.

He’s ready.

Leigh and Wes are as ready as they can be as first-time parents, and that is enough. The rest will be the day-to-day, and their support system is already firmly in place when it comes to the respective families of both parents.

For me (to the extent that this can possibly be about me), the fact that I am about to become a grandfather is surreal.

My father didn’t live to see his grandchildren, but he was such a ray of sunshine in our lives that I am sure he would have followed suit with them – singing to them, reading to them, encouraging them, loving them.

My first-time fatherhood event was my only-time experience – and in my case there were two babies. The idea of twins was surreal as well, although I am a twin. But by the grace of God, I relied on intuition and common sense when I needed it – in the myriad day-to-day tasks that make up a father’s life.

To the annoyance of my two, I tend to treat these wonderful adults like kids now, but there is a difference. Wes and Taylor enjoyed sense of agency from the time they were little, meaning that I treated them with the sovereignty they deserved – unencumbered by the cliches handed down in parenting books or by others who might have tried to steer me into some kind of direction or agenda.

Of course, I sought out practical advice when I needed it and got a lot of help. I made a shit-ton of mistakes, too.  

But I sang to them, read to them, encouraged them, loved them.

And through it all, I know that we made memories.

As my grandson prepares for touchdown on this planet, I am ready to sing to him, read to him, encourage him, love him.

Much love to the parents-to-be.

I can’t wait to meet him.

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