Just a year later I stood at the front desk and looked at the lady behind the counter as if she spoke swahili. Congratulations, Mrs. Stephenson, you are going to have a baby." Her voice came from far away, as if through a time machine. Shock couldn't even describe the feelings I was experiencing. In fact, as I numbly got in my truck and drove away from the clinic, my mind refused to concentrate on the matter at hand, namely driving, and I ran through a red light and almost collided with another car. That was enough to bring me back to reality.
I broke the news to the Mr. and we began to prepare for our second arrival in what would be just 21 months.
We weren't sure how we could afford another child. We weren't sure if we could handle a second child. All we knew was that this surprise child was wanted and that, like his sister, we would do our best to give him a good life and love him endlessly.
We went for the ultrasound and the doctor seemed worried. He went out and brought in another doctor. They consulted and whispered and went out and got more doctors. He explained to us that he thought there was too much fluid in his kidney and then they went and got the head doctor. He came in and went out and then everybody was gone, leaving the original doctor to explain that what he thought was a kidney was really the stomach and everything was fine. Our hearts stopped hammering in our chests and we started breathing normally again and then they told us the sex of the child. I will never forget the childlike expression of delight on the Mr.'s face when he heard the news that he was going to have a son. Complete and unfettered joy. Now we were complete, with one of each a girl and a boy. Our little family was complete.
He was born in the middle of October, just two weeks before Halloween and he was one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. Strawberry blond hair, golden eyes, and happy from the start. I knew he was going to be a genius when he was seven months old. He looked straight at me and recited the Gettysburg address. Just kidding, haha. He was sitting on his daddy's lap. The sun was bright in the room. I was on the couch a few feet away. I looked up and he was looking straight at with those golden eyes. He said "Mama". I couldn't believe it. I knew I hadn't imagined it, both the Mr. and I heard it. Seven month old babies are not supposed to talk, and what shocked me the most was that it was not babbling, there was clear recognition in his eyes as he called my name. And then he never said another word until he was a year old.
As children do, he grew up fast. Smart, talkative, sensitive, artistic, talented, he is a force to be reckoned with. And loved. He graduates from high school this year and I couldn't be prouder of the young man he has become. Today I am thankful for my son. His name means "Gift of God" and he has truly been that to me.
I wrote a poem when he was a little boy. I almost forgot about it until tonight. It would probably embarrass him...Of course you know I will do anything to embarrass my children :D so here it is.
Baby faced and toothless
he
regards me with a smile.
five
years old and happy
to
play with me a while.
everything
about him
has
had me from the start
from
the freckles on his little nose
to
the sleeve that bears his heart
he
chatters on about his day
and
putters with his toys
planes
and trains and tracks askew
as
is the way with little boys
birthday
comes and Christmas too
seasons
spinning round
one
by one the years go by
never
slowing down
then
a disappearing act
sleight
of hand and eye
in
a blink the child gone
without
so much as a goodbye
In
his place a stranger comes
tall
and strong of frame
but
the childs eyes with endless depth
regard
me still the same
pools
of warmth and wisdom
and
old beyond their years
sometimes
filled with grown up pain
that
bring the childlike tears
Tho
time will come and change him
And
fly him from my arms
In
my heart he will remain
A
boy with toothless charms
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