Baby Molan!: Christmas Morning...

It's almost 5:15am Christmas morning...I can't sleep. I've not looked forward to Christmas this much in many years....and I LOVE Christmas! My little man and I were up for a mere five minutes around 3:30am. After he fell back asleep I tossed and turned for an hour....Then I decided I could get up and get some things going for the day and nap later if needed! So Santa has come, and the icing is made for the cinnamon rolls (Strickland Christmas morning tradition--Yay Grandpa Randy!)...I've spent the last twenty minutes or so looking over my recipes for this evening's feast. I've never cooked a big piece of meat before, so this rib roast staring at me is a little intimidating! Instead of worrying about the technicalities of the day, I'd rather reflect on exactly why I'm too excited to sleep...

I'm staring at baby Harper on his video monitor, watching him sleep, listening to his deep breaths, and I'm so grateful for those breaths. For those little arms stretched above his head and how his little fists tremble as he stretches them higher and higher above his body. His little (yet rapidly growing) cue ball of a head glares off of the night vision monitor, and I wonder what he's thinking about...If he's dreaming, and praying he's still unable to sense fear from a scary dream...or anything for that matter. Three and a half short months ago I never thought he would make such an impact on me. Sure babies are life-changing events, you'll never be the same, you'll forget all about labor, ailments of pregnancy once you see their faces, yada yada yada....It's so true. But I'm so blessed to know this little man in particular. And again, yada, yada, yada. I'm sure every mother feels this way, but I'm so happy that God created this little man just for Gus and I. He's perfect. Hilarious already. Shows more love through wordless conversation than I could have ever imagined. And every time I look at that tiny little monitor my heart fills up just a little more.

I know that years from now Harper's only recollection of todays events will be through the hours of video we film, and the thousands of pictures we take, and that's okay with me. I'll be excited all over again next year to show him how his family celebrates their time together, and the birth of Jesus. I am excited for today. For time spent with my wonderful family; for bringing multiple families together to love on this more than deserving little guy. Also, to see the look on his face, the wonder and curiosity of all the new things in store for him...Yeah this includes the superficial presents, but it also includes the end of a year and the beginning of a new decade. It leaves me pondering again who he will become, and what great things he is capable of doing. I hope he's just like his daddy...

I feel so blessed, and undeserving of all of the love in my life...I guess I'll chalk it up to all the beauty God wants for us in our lives. I'm so thankful that He feels I deserve these men as my family...

...And here they are!