Funny Kid

One of my Dad’s defining characteristics was his sense of humour. He was a master teaser. This caused him to bring a smile from even the most recalcitrant child. He could find the humour, albeit sometimes dark, in almost any situation. I was lucky enough to inherit just a bit of his knack for wit.

We talk with Norah a lot about her Grandpa Paul. She often asks where he is, and we tell her he is gone, but that he still loves her, and he is in her heart. A few times she has poked at her chest, where her heart is, and said, “I want my Grandpa Paul come out now!”
Dad would appreciate that. Today, Norah told me, “My Grandpa Paul was funny, and I’m funny, too!” I can’t think of a finer gift for Norah from Grandpa.

Nolan Paul

So, we have a baby boy! Nolan Paul joined us on March 24th after some drama and an emergency c-section. Kid already knows how to make an entrance. We now have what everyone over 50 tells me is the “Million-Dollar Family.” I’d never heard the phrase before, but can only assume that it refers to the amount of debt accumulated raising both a boy and a girl – hand-me-downs be damned!

B: Well, there’s only a pink collar and one purple flower on this sleeper.
Teaching: He’ll love it!

Having a healthy child is something I appreciate every day – ten fingers, ten toes, fat cheeks. What more could we ask for? Nolan definitely has the chubby cheeks part down – he was 9lb 7oz when he was born, and at his 8 week checkup was 16 lbs. Some simple math says that at this rate, he will be almost 60 lbs at a year of age! Hey, I said “simple” math.

Norah wasn’t a sleeper. She preferred instead to writhe in pain as her stomach struggled to process her Mom’s milk, throw up said milk, cry because her stomach was empty, and then eat like crazy, causing a stomach ache. She repeated this cycle for four months.

Nolan, however, rarely throws up, and has far fewer stomach issues. He prefers sleeping on Mom or Dad, but can usually be put down after an hour or so of sleep. At night he usually sleeps five hours in a row. So, we look much less bedraggled than we did with Norah — except that now man-to-man defense is required. Laundry piles up. Supper often waits until 8pm. But such is life – this small inconvenience perils in comparison to the payoffs – cuddles and hugs from our kids; funny interactions with Norah; watching them learn and grow. I am not sure what life was full of before having our kids, but it sure doesn’t seem important now. We are so lucky!

So, welcome Nolan Paul – it hasn’t even been three months, but already I can’t imagine life without you!

Norah and Grandpa Paul

Yes, it has been a while.

Today, Norah, now 2.5 years old, had a friend over to play, and was showing her around her room. She pointed to a picture of my Dad on her wall, and said, “That’s my Grandpa Paul. He’s gone.” And, without missing a beat, continued on to show her friend her pajamas, socks, and books.

It is comforting that we have talked about Dad enough that Norah, who was just five months old when he was killed, knows who he is, and talks about him. It helps that I have Dad’s old farm truck on the driveway and Norah sees it every day. It is currently in need of a fuel pump, and every time she sees it, Norah tells me, “Grandpa Paul’s truck’s broken. Daddy fix it!”

Today, my sister and I went to the farm to help mow the cemetery and for her to take one last look at the farm. There is an auction coming up in July and she will be back in Montreal then.

As we stood near his grave, my step-mom drove up with her new boyfriend. I averted my eyes, and chatted with her briefly before making a hasty exit. It seemed so inappropriate, for him to be there. Later in the day he ran the mower at the farm, preparing the yard for the sale. I don’t begrudge her any happiness, but am distraught to see my dad so easily replaced in her life, and still so glaringly absent in mine and my kids.