He Brings Out the Best in Us

Davy turned 3 months old about a week and a half ago.

He's been with us for 101 days.

That's not very long.

But I can hardly remember what life was like before he was here.

It is so much better with him.

He brings me an unspeakable amount of joy.

I love when he wakes in the morning and I lean over his crib and his whole faces smiles to see me.
He loves me.
More than anything else.
And I am relishing it.
Because I know it doesn't last forever.

Even more than with the other kids, this time seems to be going by faster.
He already smiles, laughs and "talks" back when we talk with him.
He's ticklish.
He wants to be a part of the action.
He already hates being left out.
He wants to grow up.

Having him is a daily reminder to take notice of every small, beautiful moment that I so often let slip by.
The way he grabs hold of my shirt in his little fist while he nurses.
His deep dimple and the big grins he flashes when he talks to his Daddy.
He reminds me, also, to cherish my big kid moments too:
To hold onto a little boy's hand a bit longer and remember its sweetness.
The way Lilly wraps her arms around my neck and whispers, "I love you, Mama."
An unsolicited hug from a 7 year old in front of his friends.
Sitting around the table together, just us 3, reading, talking and laughing together.
These are the days.


His presence makes me more fully aware of all the joy in my life.
He brings out the best in me.

Most of all I love to watch them all together.
I am not sure whether he loves them more or they him?
If he's upset, I hear 3 little voices immediately begin to croon, "it's all right Davy, it's all right."
They run to him, offer him toys or their special blankets, singing, dancing, anything to make him all better.
I have never, not once, heard them complain when he cries.
Not even in the car and it's loud.
And that's saying a lot because my kids are not some kind of perfect.
It's just that they love their baby brother more than anything.
He brings out the best in them.

They make him forts.
And then crowd in there with him.
I tell them not to smother him, to give him space.

But he loves it.
He's happiest when they are around.
And if he's left in a room by himself, he'll whimper until you move him to the room where everyone else is.
I've never had such a social baby.

Or one so ticklish.

His little life is already so rich in love.

What a lucky boy he is.

As I have said before, all of the inconvenience, the sleepless nights, the long hours, the hard work, the added expense, the extra laundry and any other reason you could come up with to not have all these kids, pales in comparison to this:

Having Davy has made our family, our life, more beautiful, more complete and more rich than we ever could have known.

He brings out the best in us.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  James 1:17

Davy, I'm so glad you're here.

Love from,

Mommy