Never Say Never

Just about the time my husband, Art, and I were saying “Wesley will be our last grandchild,” events were unfolding to prove us wrong. I think there may have been about a week between that statement and the call that proved “last” is a relative term. 
When was the “last” time your youngest child asked for a bedtime story or sat in your lap for a good snuggle? If one knew it would be the last, surely we would have held on tighter, lingered longer, or at least recorded it in the baby book or Facebook, (depending on one’s age). The truth is you never know which one will be the last – even with such monumental events as the birth of grandchildren.
Our son, Benjamin, lives in Austin, Texas, with his beautiful wife, Soledad, and their two boys, Francis Bennett and Wesley James. I use their middle names because I am Southern and we like to add dimensions and family connections in that infrequently used name, which in the North is seldom heard or seen once the birth certificate is filed.
Benjamin is rather Southern also, if not in speech, at least in traditions, but his wife is at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to naming their children. She has only one name and can hardly think of splitting that naming drama by adding a second.
Our whole family really gets a kick out of this nine-month-long dilemma of “what will our child be called?” Soledad loves to tease us all and begins the process by sending out a long list of naming possibilities. The first and most memorable name was Apollo! Oh no! What can she be thinking? Is she serious? Our texts back are guarded and careful because she is from another culture (Argentinean) and maybe that is a favorite name down there.
A mother-in-law needs to tread these waters very carefully so I send a message that says something like, “Well, that is certainly different and whatever the two of you chose will be just perfect for him. “ Does that sound diplomatic for, How could you possibly saddle a little boy with a name that will mean schoolmate teasing his whole life?
After a time, the naming texts die down, and we all think, “Perhaps they have settled on a good, solid name, and they would like to surprise us at the end.”
Art and I left New Jersey on Dec. 5 to drive out to welcome our next grandchild to the world and to our ever-growing family. This little boy was scheduled to be born on Dec. 11, and we were slowly driving out to keep the boys during the hospital stay.
On Dec. 14 (even scheduled births come undone) a new little boy came into this world. With great excitement, we and the two “big brothers” went to greet him and find out what a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old would think of their new baby. Francis (5) was charmed by that tiny creature, and Wesley (3) was really excited by all the fancy equipment in the hospital room.
Were we saying hello to Apollo? No, the parents said. And I quickly sent out texts proclaiming the arrival of our latest grandchild and what had been the latest name suggested: Conrad Maximillian Hall. What a mouthful but you know whatever the parents choose will soon feel perfect.
It wasn’t until two days later that I discovered my mistake. Between birth and birth certificate, a change had been made, so now I introduce to you the most perfect angel grandson whose real name is Conrad Augustine Hall.
May the Lord bless him all the days of his life.