A Boy Named...

Its a whole new world...with boys, and for us, it began three years ago. Being accustomed to the softness of girls, we were curiously excited about 'the other side', so when The Prince arrived, everything...ev-er-y-thing changed. The entire paradigm of our family shifted in the space of the few hours of labor and delivery. I remember the first thing i saw was his red hair and i knew The Queen was going to be happy, i remember telling her, "Its got red hair!" (still not knowing which flavor we were about to have) and then out he came...all 10 pounds 4 oz. of him. I remember thinking (as always) "Good Lord...all THAT fit in THERE?" Childbirth will always be an amazing event for me.

So many things i remember about those early days with him...so many really special memories. One thing in particular i remember is one night we were getting ready for bed and he was laying in the bassinet, wiggling into the warmth of the blankets, quietly fussing over why he couldn't be in The Queen's arms. I was laying across our bed with my head close to him gently rocking the bassinet, listening to him slowly acceding to the grains tossed by the Sandman. I think i may have been singing to him, perhaps humming him an old Welsh lullaby, and thinking, "I have a son...We have a boy...and man, is he ever precious. I wonder if this will be the last time i get to do this?"

And now, a split second later, he's outgrown the bassinet, he's handed the down the crib to The X...and he's sleeping in his own bed, by himself, and has been doing it for over a year now...and now he's three. THREE.

Its funny, we were just talking to some very close friends tonight over dinner about how we have never gone through the 'terrible two's' with any of our kids. Two has always been a great age...and now we have one more graduate of that wonderful year of discovery.

The Prince, as previously mentioned, is a very, very affectionate young man. Not only towards his immediate family but to many who he knows and interacts with. Always quick with that beautiful white smile under those two dark melted chocolate pools, and crowned by that tuft of rusted copper shafts sticking out all over his head, everyone loves The Prince...he brings a smile to all that are in his presence. Sometimes out of nowhere, like a bolt of red lightening he'll fasten himself around someone he loves and squeeze with an "I wub you!" sealing the moment...and off he flies again to grab his sword and make ready for fightin' the 'Dwed Piwate Wobuts' from Princess Bride. Yep...he's all boy...but don't let that fool you...there is a spirit of mercy and grace already at work within him, and its a rare privilege to watch.

A quick story before i put the bow on this...

A few know this, many don't...The Prince was named after my favorite Irish whisky. I wrote to the distillery soon after he was born, telling them the story and including a picture we had of him around 6 weeks old. I was actually somewhat pleasantly surprised to one day receive not only a personal letter, but a bottle, compliments of the distillery (which i obviously still have, unopened). When he turns 21, i'll give him the letter and the bottle.

My Prince, I love you, your Mama loves you...your God loves you...may you continue to grow in the Grace and Mercy already accomplishing good, yes and perfect things within you...Happy THIRD Birthday my little man! I count it an honor to serve you.