Liam; moments old.

I’m, quite literally, in Nana Heaven.  My daughter Rachel, and her husband Isaac, gave us the greatest gift when she delivered a beautiful baby boy three weeks ago.  He is my first granchild, and I’m still pinching myself to be sure it’s all real.

Liam’s early arrival came as a shock to all of us.  As a matter of fact, it was so unexpected, he was almost born in my house while my daughter was visiting.  She barely made it to the hospital on time!

Now, I’m rediscovering the anesthetic joy of holding a baby in my arms as he nods off to sleep and reliving the sounds and aromas of a newborn; his unique sighs and his bird-like cry when he’s hungry, the incomparably fresh smell of his perfect skin.

On a side note, the tsunami happened in Japan during this time, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the babies being born there in the midst of such tragedy and chaos.  Births are so profound, I think that despite circumstances surrounding the event, new babies bring a surge of hope to the world and are a reminder that we are not forgotten.