No, I’m not pregnant. If you thought so, you’re either nuts or a new reader. If it’s the latter, welcome to The Runaway Mama! Where two kids are plenty!
I’m not having a baby, but I am a New Mama! Introducing Gertrude Glenn (a.k.a. Gertie)!
Gertrude was my girl name. You know, the name I would’ve given a human girl. I know what you’re thinking. GERTRUDE? It’s a grandmother’s name! It’s dated! It’s dreary! For your information, I also love the name Agnes, and before we decided on Dylan, Oscar and Henry were on our short list for boys. So there. I’m an old-fashioned name kind of girl. (Somehow, I ended up with a Dylan and a Riley – which I love, by the way – but such is life!)
As well as being classic and beautiful (if I do say so myself), Gertrude is also a family name (on both sides of the family), and Glenn is after my Great Aunt Glenna, a firecracker of a woman whose style, whit, sharp-tongue, and big heart I admired greatly.
Gertie Glenn is teen-tiny bundle of deliciousness (and a peeing pooping mess!), and it was totally and completely love at first sight for the whole family. Before we met her, I feared her presence would be a painful reminder of Harry. I’m happy to report that it’s been just the opposite. In fact, it feels a lot like Gertie was a gift from Harry.
I see so much of him in her. Like when she twitches her front legs in her sleep or tries to drag a palm frond three time her size across the yard or chews grass with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. In these moments, I feel like Harry is talking to me, and I’m a Grateful Mama for the connection.
Whereas my theme song was “Say Something” by A Great Big World…
Say something, I’m giving up on you
I’ll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere I would’ve followed you
Say something, I’m giving up on you
…it’s now “You’ll Be Okay” by the same band…
You’ll be okay
You’ll be okay
The sun will rise
To better days
And change will come
It’s on its way
Just close your eyes
And let it rain
‘Cause you’re never alone
I will always be there
You just carry on
You will understand
After one full day with Gertrude Glenn a.k.a. Gertie Glenn a.k.a Flirty Gertie a.k.a. Gertie McShmertie, I’ve developed a highly complicated, uber-complex hypothesis about parenting human and canine babies: There’s little difference between the two.
Case in point, the following happened (or didn’t happen) during my first 24 hours with Gertie:
1. I forgot to eat.
2. I felt guilty.
3. I cried.
4. I accomplished one half of one task on my 50-item to do list.
5. I did the one half of one task during naptime.
6. I cleaned pee and poop all day.
7. I talked about pee and poop all day.
8. Because of the aforementioned pee and poop, I did a lot of laundry.
9. Exhaustion-induced clumsiness resulted in several bumps and bruises, including a doozy on my left leg that happened when I moved “baby equipment” (the crate) from the kitchen to the bathroom where…
10. I finally took a shower at 4:30pm.
Five o’clock has new meaning, my friends. All over again. And just like with human babies, this too shall pass.
A toast to New Mamas of all kinds! Cheers!
The Runaway Mama by Jen Gregory 