It's been a full 8 years.
In some ways it has flown by.
In other ways, it feels like an eternity.
I barely remember the days of being childless, footloose and fancy free.
But really this isn't about me.
It stopped being about me 8 years ago...
Three months before the whole world changed forever. {9-11}
June 6, 2001 : D-Day
We went to the hospital to induce labor and meet our baby girl.
An uneventful day suddenly became one of the most defining of our lives.
Her head had dropped on the umbilical cord, and her heart rate was dropping fast.
I was rushed to the O.R. and quickly put under.
Hours later...
I wake and ask where my baby is.
Your baby boy is in the nursery.
Boy?
I was supposed to have a girl.
No, you had a boy.
A boy....huh! I have a boy....
Joshua Reed came into this world quickly, screaming loud and perfectly pink.
Praise God.
That BOY with dimples and piercing blue eyes changed our lives forever.
So who is Josh today?
Where do I begin?
Active. Energetic. Cautious. Loving. Caring. Smart. Creative. Artistic. Enthusiastic. Tenacious. Eager. Imaginative. Compassionate.
I know there are so many other words that could describe Josh.
And I'll be honest...
Some things about Josh are downright frustrating.
But, we love him.
We joke that one day he'll be famous for the very thing that drives us the craziest.
Josh likes to make noises!
All KINDS of noises!!
It's what he gets in trouble for the very most.
But, we love him.
There are so many wonderful qualities we can see in Josh.
He's a devoted brother.
A caring friend.
A tender son.
Sometimes we get a glimpse of the man he will become.
I particularly remember the watchful care he took of me during my pregnancy with Nathan.
I thought...what a sweet, compassionate husband he will be one day.
I watch him as he takes Nathan from my lap, just to play with him.
Or how he patiently handles his crying until I can get free to take him.
And I think....what a patient, playful and loving daddy he will be.
Then there are the times when we kneel as a family in our living room floor to pray.
And I hear him begin to echo the things he's being taught about Christ.
And my heart smiles.
And hopes.
That one day...
He'll be a great man of God whose LOVE knows no limits.
HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY sweet Joshua!
We LOVE you!
A look through the years......
1 year old - 2002
2 years old - 2003
3 years old - 2004
4 years old - 2005
5 years old - 2006
6 years old - 2007
7 years old -2008
8 years old - 2009
MY.... how you've grown!
4 comments:
Happy birthday, Joshua! What a wonderful post about a neat kid. I still remember having a baby shower at my house for your mom...pink everywhere. I also remember just getting home from the hospital with my little bundle of joy and hearing your mom on the phone, tired but happy, say, "It's a Boy!" And I said, "It's a what?" What a cool surprise God had planned for your mom and dad! Look how much you have grown the past eight years. I cannot wait to see the man God has designed you to be.
Reba
PS Katie, this is exactly what I had in mind for Lauren but didn't get to...maybe I should hire you next time. :)
How precious....tears, tears, sniff, sniff....where do the years go? Josh does have such a tender heart and loving spirit while still being very rambunctious. I love him so much...your first born.
You did a beautiful job with this post. Happy Birthday Joshua! We love you.
He looks SO much like you! Neat post by the way!
Katie this is beautiful. This is such a nice memory for Josh to keep.
Happy Birthday!
Love,
Carole
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