So let me take us back to your first month of life. You Nora were a terror in the crying department. As Jessica said (Ashley's mom), "She goes from 0-60 in a second!" She meant that you would be sitting there perfectly content and then next minute you were hysterically screaming. Like someone had pinched you hard in that skin under your arm where it is really sensitive.
You never ever had a cute "warm up" cry like waa waa waa. 'Come and comfort me' cry.
Oh no. You would WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
'what the hell! come over here and pick me up!' cry.
I was afraid to take you out in public because of this cry. People would think I was pinching you. What if a complete stranger thinks I'm a bad mom??? I know it seems stupid now... but then I was a new mom and wanted to impress.
Getting on with the story...
So my parents agreed to take us out to dinner. How we ended up in a diner in college park with a bunch of 20 year olds? I have no idea whose idea this was.
Nonna, Nonni, Aunt Katie, Uncle Kevin & you and I. We were smashed into a booth in a corner of the diner. I was nervous you would scream. I was nervous that you would embarrass the family and we would have to leave because of one of your screaming episodes.
Oh how silly I was.
Nora you have never embarrassed me. Not once. Ever. I embarrass myself quite often. But you have never.
Nonni? He has been one giant embarrassment for the duration of my life.
All us squished in a booth. We were passing you back and forth. Cooing and loving you. For some reason we were all on edge. Aunt Katie didn't feel good, Nonna was being cranky. I was a pile of nerves out in public. Uncle Kevin was holding you facing the table and Nonni on the other side. You were alert, looking around, taking in the circus that is your mother's family. Suddenly you raise up both your arms in the air. Now, you have done this quite often as a newborn. Apparently its a common stretch babies do (there is a technical name that I don't know). I thought nothing of this.
But I should have predicted, knowing my family for my whole life.
Nonni all of a sudden stuck both of his arms up in the air to mimic you and screamed (at the top of his lungs):
"TOUCHDOWNNNNNNNNNNNNN JESUSSSS!!!!!"
In the middle of a crowded diner with college kids.
People turned. People giggled. People looked at us like "oh you brought your demented father out of the insane asylum for a nice dinner."
I was in shock. My mouth hung open. You did not smile yet, but I think you would have laughed.
Because we all did. Howled in laughter.
Nonni never fully explained why he did that. Obviously you looked like you were signaling a touchdown... but what about the Jesus part?
It's a statue in Notre Dame's stadium in South Bend, IN. But what reminded him of that? Who knows. But now it is one of our goals to get you to South Bend and take a picture with the "Touchdown Jesus" statue.
Nora, there will be many embarrassing stories in your future. Especially with your father and I. Nonni is also not going anywhere.
We are family... it's the duty of a family to provide embarrassing moments.
Always know that you are fiercely loved Nora. In the times of great annoyance... remember that we only embarrass the ones we love. And the more we embarrass you... the more we are showing our love.
I am including a picture of your "Touchdown Jesus" pose with Aunt Kaethe. This was a couple weeks before the incident at the College Park diner.
You are my angel Nora. I love you with my entire heart and soul.
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