Sweet, darling boy. My love and adoration for you grows each day. I can hardly believe you’ve spent five months with us in the outside world, and over a year in total. I can’t really imagine life before you anymore.
The past two months have been such a sheer joy as we have watched you and your personality burst with life. Already we can tell that you are passionate, you are sensitive, you are joyful, and you are thoughtful. I could rattle off more words that describe you (like how clever and determined you are) but those four were the ones that came to mind as I rocked you during your nap late yesterday afternoon.
We had a good day, but as it got close to bedtime I think your little toothies were bothering you. You just couldn’t bring yourself to take a little catnap in your crib like you often do in the evening while I fix dinner. Dinner was simmering in the crockpot though, and compassion for you just overwhelmed my heart, so the two of us melted into the rocker in your nursery. I held you tightly and you snuggled into me. I watched you and had a proud little moment as you kept intentionally closing your eyes trying to go to sleep. You’ve learned to get to sleep on your own, we’ve worked so hard on that together. And it was really sweet watching you persevere until you finally dozed off.
There was a little bit of light sneaking through the blackout curtains. It was just enough to illuminate the new hair that you’ve been growing with a golden glow. I’ve had so much fun petting it–Baby hair is so soft. We’ve debated whether you’ll be a brunette like mommy or a blond like daddy, but it looks like this new hair is pretty blond. It is so blond in fact, that it still looks like you are mostly bald.
As we snuggled and rocked I thanked Jesus for you. I have learned so much from you already sweet boy. God has been using you in ways you will never know–unless you go back and read mommy’s blog someday. 😉
I have been learning to fully embrace each day. I’ve realized I so easily get caught up in the next “thing” coming up–The weekend with family, or the wedding I have to photograph, the Army FTX your daddy has–And all the days in between can get lost in the shuffle of getting to those “bigger” days. But TODAY is when we live life, and make memories that will resonate deeply, and learn and grow bit by bit into something beautiful. I’ve realized watching you sprout so quickly, I just can’t afford to miss a moment. I eagerly anticipate you learning to crawl, walk, say “mama”… But right now I am busy soaking up your belly laughs; and serious efforts trying to crawl when you can’t yet; the fluffy, blonde, hairs coming in on your head; and your little feet which got too big for your socks overnight. Jesus is teaching me to rest and delight in the moment, in each day–Because fulfillment in daily living is fulfillment in life. Which is important since it is the life the Lord has given us–And I want to be a good and faithful steward of that gift.
And oh how I love daily living with you and your Daddy. As we lean into Jesus, and give our burdens to Him, life is light and sweet.
On another note, you are not so light anymore. At over sixteen and a half pounds, you fit in six-nine month clothing, and have helped mommy get better at heavy lifting. You aren’t all that tall for your age, and you aren’t even all that squishy and chubby (though you have some pretty yummy leg rolls), but you’re “dense” as your Aunt Steph put it recently. And when we look at your tiny baby body, we see pretty impressive muscles for a little one. I think it is because you are so wiggly and busy, and are persistent in trying to walk and crawl before your time. Keep persevering though, baby, you’ll get there! And in the mean time, you, daddy, and I have got a lot of daily, dear living to do.
