Last Wednesday, May 11,

I was walking around singing &uot;I’m the happiest girl in the whole USA.&uot;

But some of it was not true. Instead of girl it should have said &uot;woman.&uot;

On May 11, 2005 at 5:14 p.m., my only daughter, gave birth to a little girl, Jase’lle Aunyai, weighing six pounds and 9.9 ounces and 20.3 inches long. Yes, I was the happiest person on earth. I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. She is the prettiest little girl, and the sweetest one also.

After so much what seemed like bad luck for a while, this was a happy moment, one of the most happiest ones I think I’ve had in a while. In September of last year I lost my husband, and in October my brother passed. Then I found out not long ago that I am a diabetic.

You know, I have never witnessed the birth of a baby, and with this one, it gave me the opportunity to do so. It was an amazing thing to witness. After the baby was born, I cried. Someone asked me why I was crying, I told them it was tears of happiness and sadness. You see, my husband didn’t have children, and he loved all children, so I know, he would have been very happy to be a grandfather and for me, this was my first grandchild, my grandchild.

I have nieces and nephews that I love, especially a five-year-old that has my heart also, but this is my grandchild, or you can say, this is my baby. I know my daughter probably wants to be a mother, but I think I can give her some guidance along the way.

I followed her with most of her office visits, so glad when we got to see the first ultra sound of the heart beat, then a picture of the baby with the new 3-D, you can almost see what the baby looks like, how much she weighed.

Dr. Robert Cooke and his staff were excellent, always pleasant and ready to answer all questions. Everyone there was so nice.

The morning we checked into Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, we were made to feel welcome and that was great. I also have to say my co-workers were great also. Always asking how things were going, and are you a grandmother yet? To them I say, &uot;thank you&uot;.

You know it was amazing that the baby was born at 5:14 in the evening and my birthday is 5-14. I was hoping that she would have arrived on my birthday. When she arrived, Dr. Cooke called her Cookie, so I’m quite sure now, that will be what we will call her. So I just wanted to share my moment of happiness. You know, about the 5-14, it was amazing. Saturday night I thought it would be great to play this number and then on Sunday morning my daughter’s friend called me and said, &uot;Miss Lynn, you know what, pick three last night was 514.&uot; You see, I can’t win them all, but I will take what I have for now. This little person has already changed things in the Manley household.