Little Boys

Rick, me, and Danielle

Me, D, Brian and Debra - just before the screaming began!

This past weekend, my older brother, Steve, and his family came to Atlanta so that I could baptize my Great Nephew (ugh....that makes me feel old!), Brian. Brian just turned two, and he is a bundle of little boy fun! Our first adventure was climbing the stairs from our foyer to our upper floor. It was a huge adventure that brought a huge smile to Brian's face - and I'll admit I was grinning from ear to ear as well. I thought to myself, I guess I can still keep up with a two-year old even though I'm a bit out of practice with the whole small child gig.

Then we moved to our back deck, where my Jack Russell Hannah thought Brian would make a great playmate. They ran around alot together, but then settled down to dinner. Hannah is a great- natured dog who loves children, so she didn't mind sharing her food with Brian one bit! When Debra, Brian's mom, saw him pick up a piece and start to put it in his mouth, I assured her that kids only do that once and spit it out. So she allowed him to partake. Only problem was - he liked it! I guess GIRLS spit it out. Boys are an entirely different animal (I think I really mean that literally after a 24 hours with Brian!). The rest of the evening it took all 6 adults to keep up with young Brian.

I'll admit that a part of the attention I paid Brian was to ensure that he would fall head over heals in love with me so that on Saturday morning for the baptism, he wouldn't fuss when I would oh so gently disperse water onto his young head. Danielle was assisting me with the bowl, and I made sure we filled it with warm, soothing water so as not to upset my young friend. Well, all seemed to be going very well as I placed that soothing water on his head and he gazed up at me with those precious eyes and beautiful boyish grin, and I thought - hey - I did it! But one second later as I began to pray over him, he decided the bapitsm was over and began to scream, loudly.

Having 3 girls and being one myself, I was not prepared for Brian. I realize now that God knew what he was doing when he gave me girls and not boys. Boys are way too energetic and they don't mind making a mess. They actually do things like stick pine bark and dog food into their mouths and like it. They eat on the run. They don't like to be restrained in any fashion, not even for a hug.

A different breed, indeed. But oh how he stole my heart. What a blessing it is to see the complete satisfaction on a child's face at the simple things. Looking down from an upstairs landing (that he has just conquered) and seeing his grandpa smiling up at him from below. Being licked in the face by a Jack Russell Terrier named Hannah. And being swung upsidedown by a great aunt with no hair (in the photos above I'm wearing one of my two Cranial Prostheses--the non-sexy one).

God is good. I am blessed.