What I would tell my son....

I was thinking today about all of the things that I would like to tell my son, Adam, as he and Jenny are just a few days away from the birth of their first child.

I would tell him that watching the miraculous birthing process is one of those moments in life when everything seems to stand still. You will never forget this minute...this hour...this day. You will find a new admiration and respect for Jenny, this amazingly strong woman who has carried, and will now give birth to, your child.

It is the one time that hearing your son's first loud cry will bring you a combination of love, joy, as well as, relief. As you count the fingers and toes, you will marvel at this beautiful being that you both created through your love. You, and your life, will be forever changed.

Your child's safety and well-being will always come first, no matter what. Your needs become secondary....but that is totally okay with you. You may go days with little or no sleep, but the complaints will be few and far between as you come to know that this little one depends on you for everything. The connection and responsibility that you feel is indescribable.

You will stare at his tiny face looking for some familiarity....does he have your smile....your nose.....your eyes....?? You will delight in all of the small things that he does....as they will not seem so small in your new eyes as a mommy and daddy.

You will find yourself applauding when he poops...and being delighted when he smiles....At least, you think it is a smile.....(or, could it be gas????)

You will spend countless hours just staring at your new son as you daydream about how he will be as a grown man. You will anticipate taking him out in the yard and tossing a ball with him...just as your dad did with you. Or, maybe he will want to learn to play the guitar, or piano....or violin... or develop a cure for cancer....or climb to the top of the highest mountain.....

You will watch his every move with wonder as he begins to explore the world all around him. You will say how brilliant he is as he begins to coo and make new sounds ...and how strong he is as he tries to lift his head and shoulders up when you put him on his belly...and how there isn't another child as precious as this one.

He will fascinate you with his boundless energy and become even more endearing to you as you watch him sleep.

You will learn that if you hold him to your chest and gently move up and down he will be soothed. Thus, you find yourself walking around all of the time doing this little 'jiggling' motion as second nature.

Your pockets will not be able to hold enough pictures of this incredible son of yours...and you will enthusiastically show them to whomever shows the slightest interest....

Much to your astonishment, you will swear that he has changed from when you left the house in the morning until when you arrive home from work in the evening. And, you will miss him so whenever you have to be away.

Your interests will change and you will find yourself reading up on the latest child-rearing books with an eagerness that will surprise even you. You will quickly learn which bottles produce the least amount of gas in your babies tummy....and you will begin to study the reports on pajamas that are flame-retardant and car seats that have the highest safety rating.

There is a feeling of completeness that you feel...and, staying home on a Saturday night sounds like a wonderful way to spend your time.

You and Jenny will experience a closeness that knows no bounds and you will be forever linked together through this new baby's birth.

Oh, there is so much that I would like to tell you, dear Adam.

I know so much of this because I felt it all and more when you were born.......and I still delight in all of it to this day.

"Wisdom begins in wonder." -Socrates