COLUMN: Grandpa Mark – kind of catchy!

     A few weeks ago Darcey asked me about my columns I had written about our first grandson, Sullivan Clark. She was working on scrapbooks or something to that effect. I had to inform her I actually haven’t used the young lad as a subject.

     I guess it is time to change that up. I have discovered, as I assume Darcey has, that becoming a grandparent is pretty awesome. I think my other three kids would also attest that becoming an uncle and aunt is pretty cool too.

     Sullivan is 15 months old this week and belongs to our oldest, Allison and her hubby, Kevin. They live out by Des Moines. Of course, we don’t get to see him as much as we would like to but we sure do enjoy him when we do.

     A few weeks ago I stayed over and spent the day watching Sullivan. I think Allie was skeptical of my ability to watch a toddler, even though I had four of my own. Darcey may have been a bit cautious too.

     Needless to say I survived, Sullivan was well taken care of and Allie’s two pages of notes did come in handy. To be honest, I would give myself an “A” if I were being graded on my day spent with my grandson.

     Lunch went off without any hiccups.

     I was told it would take four books to get him to fall asleep. Sullivan was down for the count before I finished his second book.

     When he woke up from his nap he crawled onto my lap and fell asleep for another hour or so. That’s probably not considered a big deal but this kid never shuts it down until naptime or bedtime.

     Of course I snapped a photo of this sacred event (according to my daughter it hasn’t happened in five months) and sent it to her at work. She wasn’t happy. I was ecstatic!

     Sullivan and I played together endlessly that day and had several conversations that seemed to be the most important jumbles to ever come out of his mouth. We worked on saying “Grandpa” over and over and he has that word down pat.

     This past Friday Darcey traveled to Allie and Kevin’s to watch Sullivan for the day. Darcey talked Allie into bringing Sullivan back home as Allie was coming to Monticello for the weekend.

     Sullivan got to go visit the fire station for the first time and seemed to enjoy that experience. He’s got a crazy funny laugh and more energy than the Energizer Bunny. He spent some time with us at the Monticello School District Foundation Dinner and his Great Grandpa Bob was the high bidder on a miniature Mercedes Benz car.

     We fired that bad boy up on Sunday morning and he loved driving around the neighborhood in it. And come Sunday around noon, he left with his mom to travel back home. Becoming a dad was awesome, becoming a grandfather is pretty cool too.

     I look forward to a few more grandkids over time but this first one is pretty special, just like me, also the first grandkid! (I like to remind my brother and sisters of that).