It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a baby in our immediate family.

By “immediate,” I mean a direct descendant of my wife and me. Our sons have been all grown up for many years. One of them got married in March 2012 and this past March, he and our daughter-in-law delivered us a 7 pound, 14 ounce angel named Emma Nicole.

So, we now have a baby in our immediate family.

I mention this because I’ve learned how babies change one’s perspective about time.

I’ve been fond for years of kidding other family members and our younger friends who would say something like this: “Oh, I cannot believe our baby is three months old already. Where in the world does the time go?”

I usually chuckle at that and come back with this: “Talk to me in about 20 or 30 years … when you’re still asking the question about where time has gone.”

Everyone has a chuckle and I might get a knowing nod and an “OK, I get it.”

I say that because I remember as if it was yesterday the moment both of our sons entered this world. The first one arrived nearly 41 years ago, the second one joined us 39 years ago. I remember how I felt when I held them for the first time. I remember my mother squealing with joy when the nurse uncovered our first son to reveal that her first grandson had just arrived. I remember the task of naming our second son when he was about 15 minutes old.

This all happened decades ago. The memories are as fresh now as they were then.

Now, though, I’ve become like a new parent. Our little granddaughter is growing in front of our eyes. She changes every time we see her, which isn’t nearly often enough. Our son and daughter-in-law live in Allen, which isn’t exactly across town.

What’s even more interesting is that I now find myself saying things like, “Emma? Oh, she’s eight months old, going on nine months. Where in the world does the time go?” I say all that without the slightest hint of irony or self-awareness of the kinds of responses I have given for years to others who say the very same thing.

I become aware of it only after the fact.

What am I going to do about all of it? Not a single thing.

I love sharing the joy of having this new life in our midst. I just wish time would slow down just a little bit.