This is Cole Robert Kreienkamp, recent arrival in the home of Matthew and Caitlin Wild Kreienkamp. Cole was born on 11-22-11 (a palindrome) at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis County, Missouri, where his mother had also been born some 28 years earlier. He is the first grandchild, and I've been challenged to come up with a name for him to call me. I suggested Hizzoner, but my wife suggested I be serious. Maybe I'll be Daddy John, as I remember calling my maternal grandfather Daddy Clem. My paternal grandfather never made it past my father's late teens, passing from a heart attack in the 1930's.
Cole came into the world at !2:49 AM, which gave him that "same backward as well as forward" birth date. I think that's really kind of neat. He also had a full head of hair, so unlike so many babies who are born looking like Eisenhower, he looked more like Moe Howard. His poor father has less hair on his head than his son, although there is talk that hair color and density may change in the next few weeks. I'm also told that women who give birth to children with full heads of hair experience heartburn during their pregnancy - I'll have to ask Caitlin if that was true for her.
Anyway, Cole is now here, one week early and Caitlin was ready to move to the next phase. Knowing my daughter, she'll snap back into shape quickly. Her oldest dog, Jo Jo, has shown a maternal instinct toward the child, while young Toby appears frightened by this new arrival. I plan to meet the child when driving weather improves, but my wife will fly north to visit in a week. That'll be about right when Caitlin is willing to say "here - take this child" and head out with friends knowing he'll be in good hands. My wife says "the best side of grand-parenting is the ability to enjoy the child, then hand him back".
Until Cole learns how to jump into my lap, and give me wet sloppy Beagle kisses, Ripley's place is safe in my life and heart. C'mon boy, grab your leash and we'll go for a walk.
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