Journeying into the living room, my baby girl quickly settled into my arms, gazing upward at my face with a look that can only be described as pure contentment and joy; her eyes connected with mine. We re-swaddled and quickly, if not instantaneously, I saw a dreamy heaviness fall upon her eyelids.
Crisp white lights twinkled throughout our festively trimmed home. creating a soft, hazy glow amidst the remnants of the previous night. As we swayed back and forth together, Daddy and daughter, a flood of emotion and realizations inundated my heart and mind.
I can't believe I'm here, right now...in this moment...under these circumstances! The very thing that my heart has hoped, prayed and waited for, for years on end is now my present - it's my reality! I'm so thankful for the beauty of simple moments like this.Alexis soon teetered on the edge of sleep within the comfort of my arms. Intermittent smiles shown widely upon her perfect cheeks and delicate lips as gentle streams of vicious baby gas streamed from her (which shall heretofore be referred to as "Princess Puffs").
Wow - baby girl - you must get that from your mother! [Gasping to regain composure and non-methane breathe, my mind raced to return back to the slightly less warm, yet equally fuzzy emotional epiphany]. I can't believe how big my girls are getting! Every day their world grows larger and larger as new milestones are achieved. Lexie phrases several syllable sounds, rolls over completely at any given opportunity and loves to play with her hands, feet and toys. Sophia now belly laughs, fake coughs and is getting closer to sitting up on her own! Where has the time gone? They were just born - it feels as if I just blinked and we're here already!
I've often vowed to myself in similar moments, "I will remember these moments for the rest of my life!" Truth is, however, I sometimes forget when the last time I showered was amidst the craziness of new parenthood, work and school. The numerous memories like the one created this morning, often and easily are clouded out by the new (or sadly, by the pressing and temporal issues or circumstances directly in front of me). Hence, I am here, fiendishly typing away before it is soon Sophia's (aka "Sophie-soo") turn to make Saturday morning memories, in hopes of creating a written landmark of the blessing of these children in my life, commemorating the exceedingly, abundant provisions of God in granting me the privilege of Fathering these darling hearts. May I never lose sight of the opportunity and charge that God has given me within my home; may my heart ever remain soft and tender, seizing every moment to create and capture these momentary, perpetual gifts from God - time with my children.
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16)
