A Story for Munchkin

Our First Grandchild

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Dear little Munchkin,

Today you are four days old!

The first time I saw your picture, you were one hour and twenty-three minutes old. I cried a little bit because I was so happy to see you. I showed your picture to Grandpa T. and said, “Look at that little Munchkin!” Grandpa T. cried a little bit too.

Munchkin isn’t the name your mommy and daddy gave you. They gave you a good, strong name that suits you and will serve you well. But for now, I’m calling you my little Munchkin. I promise to stop before I embarrass you in front of your friends.

Grandpa T. and I weren't there when you were born because you live in a place called Washington and we live in a place far, far away called Arizona. It was just Mommy and Daddy and you at first. Then Grandma M. came to love you up, and soon Grandpa J. will come to love you up too.

We are lucky grandparents because Mommy and Daddy and Grandma M. are giving you hugs from us, and also because love doesn’t need a plane to travel far, far away. Whenever we think about you, which is all the time, love travels from us to you just like magic, so you always have our love with you even when we are far, far away.

And we are lucky grandparents because everyone is sending us pictures and videos of you, and we can see you and hear you through their phones and computers. That’s a little like magic too. Someday, you will learn all about planes and phones and computers, little Munchkin!

And you are a lucky boy because lots of people love you and have been waiting for you to grow and come out into the world. Lots of people have been loving you even before you were born: Mommy and Daddy, two grandmas, two grandpas, two great-grandparents, and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins. And even though some of those people are in far away parts of Washington or far, far away in Arizona and Oregon and Alaska and Nebraska and Kansas and Nevada, all their love travels to you magically, just like ours. And someday you will get to meet all those people that love you.

But today I am going to tell you a very special story. It’s a story about how all of your grandmas and grandpas found out about you!

Eight long months ago, Grandpa T. and I went on a plane to visit Mommy and Daddy, and we decided to visit Grandma M. and Grandpa J. too. Your mommy and daddy already knew that you were starting to grow, and they thought it would be fun to tell your four grandparents about you while we were all together.

So while Grandpa J. was making a delicious breakfast, your daddy went into the kitchen cupboard and found a bottle of poppy seeds. Daddy was lucky that Grandma M. and Grandpa J. had poppy seeds in their cupboard because not everybody does!

When Grandpa J. was done cooking and sat down to eat with all of us, Daddy put one poppy seed into a bowl and said, “What does this poppy seed represent?” Daddy says things like that a lot. You’ll grow to love it.

So all of your grandparents started guessing what the poppy seed represented. We guessed far, far away things like the sun or a star because your daddy teaches people about planets and stars. Daddy said, “No, no, no. It is something in this room.”

That’s when we realized that you were starting to grow inside Mommy’s tummy. You, little Munchkin, were the size of that one tiny poppy seed!

Your mommy beamed with happiness. We all hugged her and were so excited to know about you. We could hardly wait for you to grow big enough to come out of Mommy’s tummy.

Mommy took very good care of you when you were in her tummy. She fed you healthy food, hiked with Daddy, and practiced yoga. You grew and grew and grew. By the time you were ready to come out into the world, you were not a tiny poppy seed anymore. You were a very healthy watermelon!

And soon, Grandpa T. and I will come on a plane to visit you! I can’t wait to hold you in my arms, kiss your adorable chin, gently pinch your chunky cheeks, sniff your little head, hold your tiny fingers in my hand, listen to your sweet voice, stare into your beautiful eyes, and give you lots of extra love. Grandpa T. can’t wait either.

See you soon, little Munchkin!

Love,

Grandma C.

May 6, 2024