it's almost christmas. this time last year, it was the last day of my last period. i know that's an odd and funny thing to write, but it's pretty memorable for me. when i first found out i was pregnant, i went to all these "determine the due date" generators. they all asked, what was the last day of your last period? and yep, last year on this exact day, december 23rd, henry was a tiny egg waiting in my ovaries. this time last year, he was a mere possibility. now, he's here sleeping next to me.
i don't think i need to tell you he's perfect-- but i will.
he's introspective and curious. he questions his world constantly; you can see the gears in his brain working it all out, delicately. he is smart, truly, a thinker. it's amazing to see him processing the world around him, becoming familiar. i know he'll be a hands on learner. he wants to be a part of everything. sometimes he'll fight sleep just to be around the action. he has just started recognizing wrigley and has recognized eric and me since nearly the very beginning. now, when we walk into a room, he greets us with the widest of smiles.
i have never seen anything as miraculous as his smile. the corners of his mouth turn, the right side first and then the left. it's infectious. his smile is filled with kindness. it is not a selfish; he smiles because he loves. i don't think i could ever adequately describe it. you'd have to witness him smiling to truly understand the strength of it. and he's slowly beginning to laugh. it's a small giggle right now. one day, it will be full and boisterous. one day, he will be laughing with us. how amazing is that?
hen only cries when something's wrong, and it has never taken us too long to figure out what he is attempting to communicate. but ugh, i hate hearing him cry. i'd heard that his tears would break our heart, but at times it's really too much. we decided to vaccinate, and when the nurses put needles in his tiny legs, something inside me broke in two. if i could, i would save him from every pain in the world. the longing to shield him from reality is overwhelming.
with God's help, we'll do right by him.
pictures in this post all taken by my good friend, Amy Werner
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteIt's been awhile since I've seen you, and I am sorry to say I have only seen pictures of Henry, but he IS beautiful. After reading your last blog here I thought of something Rod posted on his blog a few days ago. I thought it would encourage you and Eric as new parents. Here it is,
Genesis 8:13 Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up." This is a verse that helps start to unfold covering-right. (You may not think so, but I think so.) Covering was over the ark (the protective housing that carried the life over the death of destruction). the covering is not the ark. The covering is removed to release the life to go forth. The covering was needed for a time. The covering was a servant to the whole and the whole did not serve the covering. Rod-ology. If you want to be someone's covering (or a part of that covering) you will need to conceal them during the storms of life, providing shelter and safety. Not just words of advice but they will need to use your wealth, strength, provision, wisdom and whatever else you have for their well being. The one who covers is a slave to the one they are giving their life for. Then in time, at some point of maturity and will of God, the one covering is peeled away and removed so that life may come out from the one covered into the world. Go get em "lifers"! If I am unwilling to give all I am and all I have for you I am not your covering. I may be in authority over you or I may be responsible for your life. I may be called to rule and I may be required to sustain, but I am not covering. I may be pretending to cover though. I have pretended to do this. I thought it made me look good. In the end it just made me look selfish and stupid. So Rod, why are you saying all this? The real covering you have is most likely coming from someone who is very close to you and never demands or seldom even asks that you are aware of their service and love. Like a Mom and Dad, they are giving their life and strength for you, and you do not even need to notice it. It is nice when you do, but it is not required for in their decision to "parent" or "cover" you they accepted the good and the bad, honored and un-honored, loved and unloved. They chose to cover you and it was without condition of response or approval. Like the Father above, they just cover you to cover you. Free are you to choose and live because of this unconditional service.
This may not make that much sense because I cut some of the blog. Rod was actually talking about church life and people using the term "covering" as a pastor covers his people. But it so applies to the life and love of the parent and child.
So happy you get to share in the joys of parenting. They are many!
Shirley Drury