Uncle David II

It’s official: I have a nephew. And my sister and brother-in-law have a son. And my parents have a grandchild.

That’s a lot of identity for one little guy.

Naturally, visiting Mom, Dad and baby has had me singing this song all day. Bur more significantly, it had me thinking –yet again– about the impact of generations. This little guy is the first grandchild on both sides of the family (thus the first nephew to both sides of the family). He has upset the lives of a whole lot people. Not bad for a dude who doesn’t do anything but sleep, cry, eat and sleep (in that very order).
Per my sisters choice, we didn’t know whether it was a niece or nephew when I first posted pictures, but the verdict is in and Justin lost the in-house pool (speaking of which, there are more pictures at Justin’s blog.).

More importantly, I wonder what he is going to think of all the hullabaloo when he’s old enough to appreciate it? He’s not even two weeks old and he’s already had four blogs announcing his birth, not to mention Facebook and Twitter. Sixteen years from now, will he post a comment on this post? “Dear Uncle David, thanks for posting my ultrasound picture…again. The diaper pic was a nice touch.”

I understand cognitive development well enough to know that he will in no way remember the crowd of adoring family members who stand around his crib waiting for him to move. And then after the blessed event, reenact and interpret what that movement means

“Oh, look! He’s covering his ears! He’s all like, ‘I sure wish these people would stop talking, I’m trying to sleep.”

“Ha ha! Look at his mouth go, I think he’s ready to nurse.”

“No, he’s still sleeping.”

“Maybe he’s dreaming of nursing.”

“Baby’s don’t dream.”

“Sure they do.”

“Aw, look at him stretch! He’s so cute!”

There we all are, like a flock of John Maddens, narrating, evaluating and taking pictures with anything that takes pictures. I really should get some video of this to show him in a decade or so. He’ll never believe me otherwise. “No kidding, your aunts and uncles really did talk like that.”

Sitting and watching my nephew and watching others sit and watch my nephew has brought a lot of pieces together in my mind. The last few months I’ve held a 12-hour old baby, watched a 4 year old play a violin recital, taught a 9-year-old how to play violin, taught highschool students, gave a commencement address at a highschool graduation, hugged my friend after he completed his very last college assignment, emceed for my friends’ weddings, talked with parents about school options for their students, talked about church policy with my elders, swapped stories with my grandparents, and this Saturday I’ll be playing music with my siblings at a memorial service.

That’s a lot of perspective coming from one little guy.