You might think this post is about her:
But actually, it’s about HER.
Baby Kate was given to Baby Sunshine for Christmas last year. She was kinda an afterthought in my holiday shopping. Olivia already had a plethora of stuffed dolls and creatures. In comparison, Baby Kate seemed a little shabby. Her stuffing wasn’t full, her outfit wasn’t detailed or detachable. Her hair was non-existent. I was sure when Olivia was old enough, she’d attach to one of her much nicer dolls already on her shelf.
But Baby Kate was it. From the time she was unwrapped almost a year ago, she has never been far. She can even be seen in our family pictures this year. We were unable to coax Olivia to give her up. Last spring she was nicknamed “Baby Jesus Kate” because we told her we probably wouldn’t name the new baby “Jesus.” It was her way of taking control and making sure we had at least one baby Jesus in our family.
When we brought Everett home from the hospital, Olivia excitedly informed me: “Now we have five babies in our family!” I was confused. She explained: “Me, Calvin, Baby Kate, Baby GaGa, and now Baby Everett!”
And last week when we were in the van, heading to the airport, Olivia handed me baby Kate, and with concern on her face, told me “You can give this to Everett if he cries. She will help him to be happy.”
As I held Baby Kate on my lap, I had a vision of my life in fifty years. My children will be grown and gone and maybe even grandparents of their own. I will be alone in the way all old people are alone. But then there would be Baby Kate, sitting on my bed, giving me comfort as my only baby who never grew up, reminding me of these sweet moments in life.