In fact, it is clear that all Matts think alike, as a good friend of mine, also named Matt, had a son about a week before our daughter arrived. Three days after that, another friend of mine, named Matt, had a son. One other buddy of mine, yes, his name is Matt, has a child due in July.
If you are wondering, this was a plan. We had a secret Matt-only meeting and made an agreement that we were going to take over. If your name is Matt and you were not at this meeting, you’d better check your birth certificate because your given name is probably NOT Matt. In fact, we agreed to name all girls born through this plan Maddy and all boys, yep, you guessed it, Matt. We are flooding the market with Matts. Just trying to make it easier for all you non-Matts to remember our names. Most of this is true ... some of it. Well, at least the part of me and three friends named Matt all having babies.
Seriously, there is nothing more fulfilling than celebrating the birth of your new daughter with your wife and two children. There is also nothing more awkward as sitting in front of the big glass window looking in on the hospital nursery, watching your newborn daughter, only minutes old with your family, friends and some total strangers who were standing in the waiting room and have the following conversation with your daughter.
“Daddy, is that the baby that was in Mommy’s belly?” asks our 3-year-old daughter after thoughtful consideration.
My answer cannot hide the joy I feel in my heart, “Yes it is.”
Several moments pass as everyone crowds at the window of the nursery to share in the glow of a newborn. My daughter breaks this pleasant silence with, “Daddy, how’d she get out?”
All heads slowly turn toward me, waiting on this answer. I feel their gaze as they anticipate my response. I stall. I wait. I act like I didn’t hear her, but it is clear nobody is moving until an answer is given. I considered every possible answer:
“A stork delivered her.”
“Magic.”
“Taxi.”
“Horseback.”
But none of these answers seems to fit.
Finally, I looked at her and said, “God. God blessed us with another member of our family. Aren’t we thankful?”
I felt everyone look back in the window at this newborn baby girl and heard our daughter whisper, “Yes. Yes we are.” And the smiles on the faces of everyone in the room showed unanimous agreement, “Yes. Yes we are blessed.”
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(Editor’s Note: Matt has a family of six — a beautiful wife, a son, two daughters and of course, the family dogs — Tucker and Boomer. Matt and his family want to thank everyone for the love, support and prayers during this exciting time of growth in the Ryerson family. Matt’s column appears every other Wednesday in the Cleveland Daily Banner.)
