It’s been a bittersweet week for Mommy as William turned three on August 15. I can hardly believe that such a little baby has turned into such a huge boy. Yesterday William announced to me that he is now a “Grown-up”. Oh my, do I have my hands full. That was after he announced to me the order of his day: “First, I’ll watch my new movie. Then I’ll take a nap and after that maybe I can have a sucker!”
After three years, I like to recall the day when I woke up realizing my water broke. I was anticipating another five long weeks of being pregnant and the doctor tried to keep William from coming for another few days, but five hours later, all six pounds, nine ounces of him arrived. We spent eight days in the NICU waiting for his little lungs to develop so we could take him home. That week stands out as one of the hardest times of my life, though I feel guilty as I remember how many parents there were afraid for their baby’s life. We always knew William was never in danger of living, it was just a matter of time until he could develop a little more. Nevertheless, it was so hard to wait until the doctor gave me permission to hold my little guy. I remember it clearly—he was four days old and I had only held him a bit right after he was born. Peter was running an errand and they asked me if I wanted to hold him. Of course, I sobbed out a yes and they put him in my arms. A few minutes later, Peter’s mom , Polly called. She was staying at our house and driving back and forth to help us. The electricity had gone off and she was frantically looking for candles or a flashlight or something. I’m a bit ashamed to admit I told the nurse there was no way I was giving up holding my baby. Poor Polly spent the night in the dark! We can laugh about it now, but I’m sure she was a bit upset with me at the time.
Each night after we pray and before I put the blanket on William, I sing to him the verse we’ve picked for his life. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, Oh William, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” He loves to sing it back to me saying, “Oh Mommy” instead of “Oh William”. (He also likes to replace the last part and sing “Walk humbly with your fox”—why, I have no idea. I don’t think he even knows what a fox is.) Anyway, the first night he sang it back to me was one of the best moments of my life. Being William’s Mommy is both the most exciting and exhausting adventure of my life. But my joy in hearing him repeat his verse—and now teaching him how he can live it in his life—is a rare privilege. We have been so blessed by this boy!
After three years, I like to recall the day when I woke up realizing my water broke. I was anticipating another five long weeks of being pregnant and the doctor tried to keep William from coming for another few days, but five hours later, all six pounds, nine ounces of him arrived. We spent eight days in the NICU waiting for his little lungs to develop so we could take him home. That week stands out as one of the hardest times of my life, though I feel guilty as I remember how many parents there were afraid for their baby’s life. We always knew William was never in danger of living, it was just a matter of time until he could develop a little more. Nevertheless, it was so hard to wait until the doctor gave me permission to hold my little guy. I remember it clearly—he was four days old and I had only held him a bit right after he was born. Peter was running an errand and they asked me if I wanted to hold him. Of course, I sobbed out a yes and they put him in my arms. A few minutes later, Peter’s mom , Polly called. She was staying at our house and driving back and forth to help us. The electricity had gone off and she was frantically looking for candles or a flashlight or something. I’m a bit ashamed to admit I told the nurse there was no way I was giving up holding my baby. Poor Polly spent the night in the dark! We can laugh about it now, but I’m sure she was a bit upset with me at the time.
Each night after we pray and before I put the blanket on William, I sing to him the verse we’ve picked for his life. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, Oh William, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” He loves to sing it back to me saying, “Oh Mommy” instead of “Oh William”. (He also likes to replace the last part and sing “Walk humbly with your fox”—why, I have no idea. I don’t think he even knows what a fox is.) Anyway, the first night he sang it back to me was one of the best moments of my life. Being William’s Mommy is both the most exciting and exhausting adventure of my life. But my joy in hearing him repeat his verse—and now teaching him how he can live it in his life—is a rare privilege. We have been so blessed by this boy!
