Little Gifts

I never used to like kids. I was one of those people that got incredibly annoyed at crying babies on planes. And God was just plain mean because somehow...I would be the one to sit right next to the wailing infant.

I was always uncomfortable around babies and small kids even. I didn't know what to do with them or how to entertain them. I was afraid of holding a baby because I didn't want to make it cry or drop it even. I went through a big chunk of my life thinking that I didn't want to have children. But again...God thinks He's pretty funny because He put a guy in my life who loves kids, wants lots of kids, and IS a kid himself sometimes. :o)

Kids are inevitable apparently.

My feelings towards babies and kids have changed dramatically over that past couple of years. My nephew Jake was born August 7, 2005 and ever since then..my world hasn't been the same. I love that little guy more than anything. It's fun to watch a little person who is new to the world. Watching them discover EVERYTHING is so fun. Their fascination in the smallest things is amazing. Life is so simple at that age.

Jake is just now starting to really say things. He can say the entire alphabet. He will pick out all the letters of the alphabet and say them "D!", "S!", "Q!" with such enthusiasm. But when he says " I wuv oo"..it melts my heart. When I go over to Tara's for sister time, I look forward to the "thump, thump, thump, thump, thump" of Jake's little feet running to greet me at the door. His finger always pointed at me and saying "AM!" with his toothy little grin. He hasn't quite gotten the "Auntie" part down but "Am" is good enough for me now.

I guess something switched inside me. Now when I hear crying babies...I smile because it reminds me of Jake. I think of Jake as a little gift that God put in my family's life. Jake seemed to slow the pace down. My family spends more time together because everyone wants to be around him. He's the glue. My sister and I can act like complete dorks trying to put on a show for Jake, dancing around, singing at the top of our lungs, making funny faces and he will think it's the most hilarious thing. I love it.

Life is just so much more fun-loving and interesting when you have a little person in it.