Emma

Today is babysitting day for me to look after my granddaughter Emma. The apple of my eye or the cause of my hernia! She was pretty glum when I received her early morning, to find out from her mummy that she had thrown up in the car. But when I brought her home, she immediately brightened up and was fully charged. Back to her usual self, she was totally at home demanding that I entertain her with Barney on tv, biscuits, bread sticks, her doll house and anything that belonged to me including my Rosary.

Carrying her around, there was this pervasive aroma of boiled egg, which turned out to be her 'poo-poo'. My daughter had earlier told me that she had constipated the day before. Later in the day she was to 'poo-poo' again. Seems she had accumulated her 'poo-poo' for her grandfather and grandmother! To make matters worse, she is teething because her molars are cutting which all mothers know, gives off the worst smelling 'poo-poo'.

Nap time, and Emma refused to sleep wanting to play and wander around the apartment. I ended up wrestling with her on the floor as she tried to sit on my face jumping up and down. At one point I nearly pulled my stomach muscle, which was quite painful. Sometimes I forget my own age! Finally I placed Emma between my lap, placed a small pillow behind her head, dump her sling, which has her mummy's body odour, for her to cuddle ( it was washed earlier since Emma threw up in it), with the tv playing Barney, Emma finally fell asleep. It was intermission for me and my wife.

Emma is a very passionate baby. She will cuddle and kiss on the lips and when I play with her on the floor, she will suddenly give me a big hug and shower me with her wet kisses. Especially so when Barney's theme song is sung on the tv. She also has a weird sense of humour, like her mother. One day, her mother was putting on her socks and shoes. Emma turned to her bare foot, turning her sole to her face, she waved her foot bye-bye and kissed it before letting her mother put on the sock. She is also very musical minded and rock and sway to the music everytime, ever since she was a few months old. Hopefully when she grows up, she will take up some musical intrument.

It has always been nice looking after Emma now that my two elder grandchildren are schooling. The highlight of my mundane retired life, it is a joy to be with her everytime. Seeing her antics and mischief bring me much cheer and enjoyment. She will be back tomorrow and I look forward to it. Night, night Emma! May the good Lord bless you and send his guardian angel to look after you. Till then....