May 25 started out like any other. We woke up, showered, dressed, and went about our day, completely unaware that my youngest sister, Grace, went into labor at 1:00 a.m. that morning. Then we got "The Call" announcing that Grace had just delivered her firstborn!
Zachary Warner Huber came into the world on 5/25/09 at 7:00 a.m., a 6 lb 7 oz Masterpiece. Baby Zachary, in the eyes of this aunt, is no less than perfect. A sweet child sent from above. With an angelic face and a full head of hair, he is sure to melt your heart. He is the 11th grandchild in the family, making my parents 11 times as proud.
Upon hearing the good news, Danielle exclaimed, "Oh my God!" as her eyes grew wide. You could almost see her skin crawl with excitement. Joseph, who is typically reserved, let out a jubilant scream. "Y-E-A-H!" he yelled while pumping his fist in the air. "ALRIGHT! IT'S A MIRACLE!" he added with equal vivacity. He had been hoping for another boy cousin. Mary, on the other hand, took a departure from her sunny disposition and sadly admitted, "I wanted it to be a girl." But it wasn't long before she, too, was caught up in the excitement.
My initial reaction was one of relief and praise to God. Relief that her labor lasted only 6 hours, 10 hours less than my labor 13 years ago. Relief that the painful ordeal has come to pass. Praise that she and the baby are safe and sound. Praise for the miracle of life! I felt motionless, incredulous that this day had finally come. Incredulous that my sister, the youngest of 7, the "baby" of the family, is now a mother. My mind flashed to a particular memory when Grace was just a little girl of 8. It was a lazy summer day and she asked if I would play Barbie dolls with her. At 13, I certainly felt "too old" to play with dolls; but I agreed, realizing that she was feeling bored and somewhat lonely at not having a playmate. Fast forward thirty years later and that same quiet, unassuming little girl has since grown up and blossomed into motherhood.
From the moment her baby is conceived, a woman begins the transformation into motherhood. She undergoes physiological, emotional, and (much to her husband's chagrin) hormonal, changes. Other lifestyle changes soon follow. Instead of a trendy tote bag, a cute diaper bag becomes her favorite accessory. And like American Express, she won't leave home without it. Whereas she once traveled to many lands in search of the perfect spot, her newest vacation destination will be Lala Land. Her worst enemy, sleep deprivation. In motherhood, the abstracts of life are redefined. Time is measured in increments of feeding time, nap time, bath time, and bed time. Success is determined by her ability to rise to the challenges of parenting. Faith, hope, and love, once intangibles, are now embodied in this tiny human being. Beauty is everything having to do with her baby. And joy is knowing that every fiber of her being is inextricably woven into this precious little bundle.
Welcome to The Club, Grace!
Welcome to The Family, ZWH!
1 comment:
That is absolutely beautiful: Faith, hope, and love, once intangibles, are now embodied in this tiny human being. Beauty is everything having to do with her baby. And joy is knowing that every fiber of her being is inextricably woven into this precious little bundle.
TRUE TRUE!
Congrats to Grace and new little Zachary. Isn't it wonderful how much more full an already full heart can grow to be?
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