What Is A Baby?

Here is the second in a series of guest blogs written by my mom April Felts. These were written about fifty years ago too.

A baby is happiness, happiness for worried mothers, proud papa, unaged grandmother, and experienced grandpa. One gurgle can panic his  mother, confuse his father and bring mist to grandparents eyes. A smile can create laughter from anyone and baby talk from most everyone.

A baby is fun. Fun for daddy who hurries home from work to pick him up, toss him in the air, and create a stimulus that takes mother 15 minutes to calm down. A baby is fun for grandparents. They know just what to do to spoil baby and make him happier than anyone else. He is happiest on grandpa's knee listening to his deep laugh and cooing with pleasure at the big man talking and making faces. A baby is fun to aunts and uncles. Aunties kiss and cuddle him while big uncle John tosses him aloft to make him laugh. A baby is fun to mother, she is his happiness at eating time; companion all day; understanding when he is tired and the stubbornest person when it's bedtime.

A baby is work. He is constantly wet, fussy or wants attention. He demands his breakfast at a certain hour, his lunch prepared immediately and his supper warmed and ready when he is hungry. A bottle should be prepared and ready at all times, and his water a constant temperature of 98.6 degrees.

A baby is love. A baby's smile can bring a rush of hugs and kisses from daddy. It can create an emotion from mother that is communicated softly in her warm caresses. A baby can bring mother and daddy more love in one laugh than all the money could.