My Ancestors and Me

Dear Gramma Bartley --

I know I missed your birthday on June 15, but I didn't forget you. I was thinking about you but wasn't able to write and publish a post to honor you that day because I was with my older daughter who had just given birth to a baby boy on Tuesday, June 12. I have a grandson now and you have another great-great-great-grandson! (Since I don't know all of your descendants, I don't know if he's the newest or not, but he's definitely one of the newest.) I thought you might like to see his photo, though perhaps his path crossed yours before he arrived here on earth and you're already acquainted with him.

His parents named him Malachi Michael after grandfathers on both sides of his family. He was born nearly 4 weeks early and was -- still is! -- a tiny tyke. He weighed only 5 pounds 5 ounces, then promptly lost 6 of those ounces. I know it's normal for babies to loose weight after they're born but he was so small he didn't have much weight to lose. As of this past Monday he'd regained what he lost plus 2 ounces. I'm sure he'll just keep growing and growing from now on.

My younger daughter celebrated her birthday on June 19, just a week after Malachi was born. Since our whole family was together we were able to celebrate with her. (And I just realized that your birthday and hers are two days (and 170 years) apart. Now we have three birthdays in the space of two weeks. Fun.)

I've heard it said that babies are such a nice way to start people. It's true. There's just something wonderful about holding a new baby that makes the heart more tender.

Happy Birthday, Gramma Rebecca, and Happy Birthday, Brenna! Love to both of you.

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Rebecca Smith Bartley was born on June 15, 1817, and died in 1899. My line to her is through my father, Lee Doyle; his mother Beulah Gerner Doyle; her mother Elvira Bartley Gerner, whose mother is Rebecca Smith Bartley.
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