Connie's First Baby, part one

Leta had six grandchildren, three from her daughter Vivian and three from her son Dale. Vivian’s son Donald was the oldest, and Dale’s daughter Constance was next in line. At age 19, she married Edward Demski. Nine months after the wedding, in May of 1963, their first child and Leta’s second great-grandchild Christopher was born. Leta’s daughter-in-law Kathryn was ecstatic. “I’m a grandmother!” she would gush to anyone who would listen and some who were not interested at all. Her joy was infectious, and she spent many hours showing Connie, who had never had much interest or experience with babies how to take care of the newborn.

On one particular August evening, Leta and Richard were visiting the new family. Leta had performed all the proper processes. She telephoned and asked what day and time would be best, and she also told her granddaughter that if she or the baby were not having a good day, they could postpone. They arrived at the appointed time with the intention to only stay for a couple of hours. Leta made them a peach pie.

Connie and Ed welcomed them. The baby was sleeping.

But Connie looked exhausted.

“He doesn’t like to sleep much,” Ed shared, “but he’s started to grow. And that’s good. At first, he was losing weight. That was scary, so we tried to feed him more but he wouldn’t eat more.”

“Babies always lose a little weight right after they’re born,” Leta said. “Didn’t Kathryn tell you that?”

Neither answered, and Leta was a little dismayed. She started to wonder what else her daughter-in-law had not told the new parents about babies.

“Mom told us to keep him wrapped up,” Connie added, the first she had spoken, even though it is so hot. He’s always sweaty—.”

“—and he developed a rash,” Ed interrupted. “So we rushed him to the doctor’s office. It was just heat rash, the doctor called it. Lots of babies get them. So we wiped him off with a cool washrag a couple of times a day, and started giving him a bath a day, and it went away.”

‘Mom didn’t like that. She worried about dry skin,” Connie added.

Leta noted that her granddaughter was falling asleep.

“Connie, darling,” Leta said. “You don’t have to entertain us. If you need to, you can go lie down for a quick rest. Lord knows you don’t get much of an opportunity to sleep.”

Ed stiffened.

“No, no, no, Grandma,” he said. “She’ll be all right, won’t you, honey? Why don’t you go into the kitchen and start the coffee. I’m dying to have a little taste of that peach pie your grandmother made.”

Leta stood. “Let me take care of that,” she offered. “You two just sit and relax.”

It seemed as though Ed was preparing to protest Leta’s decision, but just then they heard the baby fuss. What little energy Connie was mustering suddenly escaped her, and she sunk deeper into the sofa where she had been sitting.

“I’m up,” Leta said. “Let me get him. He’ll probably want a change.”

“I can do it,” Connie said, forcing herself to stand. By this time, the baby was wailing.

“I’ll go with you,” Leta offered. “It’s about time for me to hold my new great-grandson.”

To be continued.