Guess that baby!

So, as you’ve probably heard by now, we’ve got a new baby at Twin Oaks.  I’m quite happy for Rosie & Elspeth that they’ve produced a brand new wee one, and quite pleased with myself for having become a grandfather.  You see, although Rosie actually gave birth to the baby, technically that cute little bundle o’ love belongs to my son Sami.

Yup, you read that right.  One of our curious Twin Oaks customs, which has been going on for years and years, is “Guess that baby.”   Here’s how it works: sometime in the last month of pregnancy, the expectant parent(s) put up a homemade calendar,  sometimes with holidays and due dates highlighted, in ZK.  Everyone is then welcome to make a guess as to the date and time the baby will be born.  In the case of our most recent addition, we were also encouraged to speculate as to gender, weight, relative hairiness, and whatever other details we wanted to add.  Then, once the little bundle of joy pops out, whoever has guessed the closest date and time wins….you guessed it…the BABY!!!   In the case of little Sylvia Popcorn Tupelo, everyone’s guesses were clustered in early July, closer to the official due date.  Sami chose Thursday the 27th at 5:00 AM.  Although he was an entire 24 hours off, he was, by far, the only Oaker who guessed such an early date, so he won!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo of their “guess that baby” calendar, but I have one from Sami’s birth back in 2009.  On that occasion, I guessed my own birthday, March 17th, at 3:17 PM, which also happens to be the time I was born.

As it turns out, I got the date right, but he was born around 7:30, so Rie, whose guess was closer to the right time, won the baby.  Here she is with her baby, experiencing the thrill of parenthood:

Typically, the parents are then obligated to purchase the baby back from the winner with gifts of chocolate, beer, or whatever else the baby’s owner chooses (assuming they want the baby back).   With Sami, Rie was willing to sell her baby back to Mala and I for a six-pack of high quality beer.  As of this morning, Rosie & Elspeth, who have been taking care of Sami’s baby for over 24 hours, haven’t yet purchased that baby back, so it’s still his.   And let me tell you, I’m thrilled to be a grandparent at the tender young age of 40, even if it’s just for another day or two.  I figured it would be at least a few more years before my babies had babies of their own, but hey, I’ll take my grandkids any way I can get ‘em!