Nate the Great

Tomorrow, my baby boy turns nine. Did you hear me? Nine. How can that be? It seems like just yesterday I was trying to convince George that although we already had two beautiful boys, we really needed a third. He wasn't so sure. Not that he didn't want Nathan, but the prospect of the financial commitment to raise even one child, let alone three, is quite daunting. I had George on the fence about another baby when I threw my winning blow. You see, I had two previous C-sections (really wish I had elected for my ob/gyn to install that zipper upgrade with the first), so we knew a third delivery would mean a third C-section, and since I would be there on the table anyway, why not go ahead and have that tubal to just close that chapter titled "Birthing Babies" or if we chose not to have any more children, the less invasive choice for permanent birth control would be for George to have a vasectomy. Well, I didn't even have to finish that sentence before George asked if I had any names picked out for our next little guy...and so began the life of Nathan Connor, aptly named as Hawthorne would say, Nathan meaning gift from God. Yes, the Lord gives.

God has amazing timing. You see, just as I learned that I was pregnant with Nathan, my favorite great aunt passed away. The Lord gives and He takes away. A few more months into my pregnancy, as this big headed beautiful baby was doing somersaults in utero, we learned that my granddad's cancer was reaching it's final stages. Our days were numbered. The Lord takes away. My granddad was overjoyed to be going home but he was my person. He had always been my person. I couldn't imagine how I was going to survive his passing but God knew. God gave me that precious baby growing inside of me to keep me together not only for myself, but  for my boys as well. You see, I am married to a wonderful man who has no qualms about stepping up and filling any voids that may arise due to me not feeling up to it that day, and I really could have allowed myself to wallow in my grief knowing that George was taking care of our boys, but because Nathan was depending on my well being for his impending grand entrance into this world, I knew I couldn't wholly give in to that all consuming grief and frankly, Nathan brought about so much joy that he assuaged my sadness. Nathan, gift from God. The Lord gives.

Now, I have this head strong and determined boy who is my fiercest warrior. He is a lover of all creatures, especially blue whales and wolves. Connor, lover of wolves, aptly named indeed. He is all knowing when it comes to the likes of Legos and Clone Troopers.  He loves his bestie with all his heart that he would have gladly given him every single one of his toys if we would have allowed it. He is a mama's boy through and through but has the countenance of his papa. He will battle with his big brothers over the smallest of things but have their backs in a split second should someone else try to do them wrong. His baby sister is the apple of his eye and probably not one of her boyfriends will he ever deem worthy to be in her presence. He cried the night he invited Jesus into his heart, feeling so much concern that he would never be able to show his God just how great his love is for Him. To say that I am lucky to have this beautiful blue-eyed boy would not be accurate. You see, there was no luck involved here. Nathan, gift from God. I am blessed. Blessed beyond measure. Yes, The Lord gives.