Life before 2008 06 Mar 2006 03:23 pm
It’s 3:10 in the afternoon, March 6.
Ten years ago I was clutching the rails on my headboard, concentrating very hard. The midwife hadn’t gotten there yet but her two very capable assistants were helping get into a good squat up on the bed. One reminded me to open my eyes; I’d want to remember what this looked like. Someone’s head was about to enter the world.
By 3:28 that entire someone was here. They put that little wiggler on my tummy and my arm cradled him. Everyone was laughing and smiling and the afternoond sunshine was streaming in through the windows; my hand reached around and felt this baby’s bum. I had a BOY!!
And what a pretty baby he was to! Perfect little man features and the prettiest peachy skin. Eight pounds, four ounces, and a light dusting of red hair. A total dream come true. I named him when I was 12; I was sure my first born son would be an Andrew, and his middle name would be his father’s, and so it was. It means Brave And Strong, Beloved of God. And….so he is.
Last night he was up late as usual. Old insecurities lead him to try to stay awake until he knows we are down for the night. Yet another example of how it’s suposed to be the other way around but never quite is. His cheeks were puffy for some odd reason and just for a second it seemed I could easily see his toddler face: little staight bangs and overalls, white t-shirt and red keds. My little buddy in the garden, always by my side. It seems more often I get a whisper of that Man-Face lurking under the boy’s. Very soon he’ll be taller than I.
This boy is a strong one. A poet. Creative thinker who is catching more than he’ll let on. He’s got one of the strongest senses of justice I’ve ever seen. He’s asked for pork chops, brussel sprouts, asparagus, and cheesecake for dinner; he’s got his momma’s taste in food. He’s gardened enough with me that I could just about send him out there on his own and he’d do just fine. When he was 3 his daddy taught him how to say, “dilapidated” and he’s been a lover of words ever since. He can just about kill both of us in Chess. He’s still happiest out in a tree where he’s as likely to enter a fantastical world the rest of us can’t see as he is to be counting the variety of woodpeckers he spies.
Ten. How’d we get to double digits already?
on 07 Mar 2006 at 10:21 pm 1.Rachel Taylor said …
I’ve been checking all day for today’s entry…you are very interesting to read. Have you ever considered writing a column?
on 08 Mar 2006 at 8:57 am 2.Tia said …
Hi there! I don’t always write every day; yesterday’s big task was to actually start getting our new computer up and running. It has me intmidated because I feel like there is just going to be a ton of obstacles along the way that lead to frustration. But it’s silly to have it just sitting in a box!! I do think about a column; one of my goals is to be a food writer with a regular column. I have some options available but I’m not sure I have the time right now :-).