525,600 Minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?

Or in my case, three. In just over 24 hours, Z will turn three years old. As I sit here, on the eve of this momentous day, I think about time. God has, so far, gifted me with 1,576,800 minutes of time with my son. When I look at that number, it seems like such a large amount. In reality, it is so very small. I know that every parent says the same thing, "It seems like only yesterday that he was born." Cliche as it may be, it is also very true. I feel like I blinked and here we are.

The day he was born, I had been eagerly awaiting his arrival. We had been trying to have a baby for almost six years at that point, and we had sent our first son, Aidan, home to be with Jesus. I had spent 42 weeks waiting to meet Z. I had a relatively easy pregnancy and expected labor to be the same. Not so much. Fourteen hours later, my doctor decided that since Z was not coming on his own, he would go get him. I was not allowed to have my glasses, so it would be another few hours before I was able to meet my son.

Another cliche proved to be true the moment the nurse brought his bassinet through the door. "Love at first sight" does not even begin to describe how I felt about my son. He was bundled up in the hospital blankets with a hat that had been crocheted by hospital volunteers. He was sleeping so very soundly and looked so peaceful. My heart and mind were overwhelmed with love for him.

Now, three years later, I still struggle to comprehend how it is possible to have this much love. I watch my son and husband play in the floor, listen to Z tell his dad to stop, run away, and then run back for more, and I think I am the luckiest woman in the world. Over the last three years, we have endured ear infections, tubes, allergies, shots, bumps, and bruises. But, even more important, we have seen crawling, walking, learning, growing, and more giggles than I can ever count (which, I have to say, is my favorite sound in the world; it beats ANY music ever composed).

Only God knows how many more minutes He will grant us in this life. All I know is that I will not waste even one that I am given. I will love my family with all that I am, give them all that I can, and not look back on any moment with regret. I pray that God will give us as much time as possible to be together and be thankful for all the time we are granted. I will ensure that Z and his Nana get their time together. Most of all, I will continue to give God the glory for all He has done for us and remember that all gifts are from Him.

For now, it is time to spend the next 60 minutes or so building a mega block birdhouse.

The dulcet tones..

...of an almost 3-year-old fill the house tonight. He is learning to compose music on a plastic shopping cart while attempting to sing in tune. He has found "drumsticks," and he is proceeding to beat on every surface of our home. There is only quiet in my home when he is asleep or has just woken up. And I have to tell you: I LOVE IT!

From his curly head to his above-average feet, he is everything I have ever wanted in a child. He makes up songs as he goes along. He still sometimes speaks in gibberish that only he understands, while trying to convince you that you have to know what he wants. He tries to get the non-fuzzy green bunnies to come out from under the bush where they are hiding because they are scared. He kisses the boo-boos on everyone in the house (some of which he creates) and offers the BEST cuddles (one of which was just offered to me as I was typing this).

He is at times shy and soft, at others loud and rough. He is me at home and his dad in public. He knows the rules and follows them, sometimes. When asked if he is Mommy's Boy, the answer is always a resounding "uh-huh." He usually remembers to say please and thank you. He lives for chicken and "cheese" fries (which do not actually contain cheese). I try to convince him that it is time to go to bed, and he thinks it's time for another round of Fireman Sam. My son is teaching me so much. I learn patience from him. I am normally getting that lesson at 7:05 am when we are running late, and he wants to unlock the car door. I get that lesson when he is saying "Mom" for the seven-thousand, three hundred, forty-second time. We are learning together, and that is definitely the best part!

As I look at him, I wonder how in the world I have been so lucky. What is it that I did in my life that was so deserving of a reward that God gifted me with this child? Whatever it is, I will not question it too deeply and continue to thank Him for the gift.