My Namesake

Many famous people in history have a namesake.  It is quite common to be named after someone in your family’s history.  My middle name, ‘Kay’, is named after my paternal grandmother.  My daughter Melody’s middle name, ‘Ann’, is after my mother.  Even Cooper’s middle name, ‘Ray Donald’, is after his grandfather and great uncle.  My family happens to have Wilbur James Peck Sr., and Wilbur James Peck Jr., and Wilbur James Peck III, and finally Wilbur James Peck IV.  Will it ever end?

I did not know that Emilija was going to be my namesake. I wasn’t even sure what her first name was going to be because Joe and Melody decided that when they saw her, they would know which name would fit her.  

After a long night in the hospital, she finally arrived at 5:06AM.  Excitement of the birth was soon followed by exhaustion.  I decided to go back to Melody and Joe’s house to get some shut-eye and then take a nice shower, so I could return back to the hospital.  Soon after waking-up, I got a group text announcing the birth of ‘Emilija Lisa Madzar’.

The tears began.  I was elated that my first granddaughter would be named after me.  I had no idea that my name was even being considered.  

I am very proud to let everyone know her name is not just ‘Emilija’, but ‘Emilija Lisa’.  I want her to be proud of her middle name and so I must do my best to not tarnish it.  Thank God I am in my mid-forties and the possibility of being ‘good’ is so much easier now.

So as the saying goes.....  Cost of baby gifts for your first grandchild - $250;  Cost of a airplane ticket to Wilmington NC to witness the birth of your first grandchild-  $300;  Having your first grandchild named after you - priceless.

Thanks Melody and Joe!  I feel very special.  You gave me the gift of a lifetime.

My Heart Hurts

Back in April, Melody and Emilija came to visit us for a week.  It was wonderful.  Emilija experienced a few of her “firsts” while she was here.  It was her first trip to Florida. She flew on an airplane for the first time.  She swam in a pool for the first time and she had her first boat ride out into the Gulf of Mexico.  

I forgot how fun it is to have a baby in the house.  Making goofy faces and talking in a silly, high-pitched voice just to get that 5 seconds of a toothless smile.  Waiting impatiently for her to wake up from sleep because you feel like it’s been forever since you last saw her.  

But just when we started to get use to Emilija’s eating and napping schedule, it was time for them to go.  Before I knew it, I was taking them to the airport.  I had that “hard to describe” feeling when someone you love is leaving and it may be a while before you see them again.  

I thought of something our sweet nephew, Dean Patrick, once said.  After spending a week with his best-buddy and cousin, Cooper, he was boarding the plane for home and he looked at his mother and simply stated, “My heart hurts”.  Three simple words - I know exactly what he means.

So, Emilija, Melody, and Joe even though I know I will see you all soon, until then ............  “My heart hurts”.

And She Shall Be Called...... Mimi

I’ve been a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a mother, and a wife - actually in that order.  All titles bestowed upon me, by chance or choice.  I have often wondered whether I have been the “best” I could be with each role.  Maybe I could be a better daughter by calling home more often and maybe I could be a better mother by being better organized and maybe I could even be a better wife by ...... hmmmmm ..... nothing seems to come to mind :)

But now, I have been given the grandest title of them all - grandmother.  I am the matriarch of a new generation.  I am the “Queen”.  I actually have descendants!  

The dilemma of all this excitement?.......what shall I be called?  For those who know me well,  the name “grandma” just doesn’t fit.  After all, I am a young grandmother of the 21st century and I don’t have gray hair, so I googled “names other than grandma”.  There were many traditional grandmother names as well as modern grandmother names.  So I settled for “Mimi”.  It seems to fit.

But even if Emilija can’t get ‘Mimi’ down correctly and ends up calling me “MoMo” or even “MooMoo”, it will be the sweetest sound I have ever heard.