Читать книгу Just Breathe - Honey Perkel - Страница 11

Laura and Kari met us at our house with a long banner that stretched out across the porch. Welcome Home, Brian, it read. Laura had made dinner for us: a macaroni and cheese casserole, salad, and peach cobbler. And she informed me she was planning a baby shower for later that month.

During those first few weeks our house was over-run with the comings and goings of family and friends. Aunts. Uncles. Nieces. Nephews. Cousins. Friends and friends of friends. Everyone was excited, wanting to meet the new arrival and to welcome him home. Bouquets of flowers, balloons, and gifts were delivered almost daily. I spent my time writing thank you notes while Brian took his naps.

Overnight the appearance of our home changed from the pristine clean of no children in sight to the careless, haphazardness of baby toys and paraphernalia everywhere. It took me time to obtain some kind of routine, but eventually I acquired a system. We moved comfortably into our new life. Brian was an easy baby. He was a good sleeper, a good eater, and was on a self-regulating schedule. He loved to be held and cuddled. There was no shortage of that.

I couldn’t get enough of my son. I sat in the bentwood rocker and stared at him while he slept, watching his tiny chest breathing in and out. I loved how his eyes twitched in his sleep. Was he dreaming? What did an infant dream about?

As I held Brian I thought of how rich our lives were now. How he’d grow up happy and healthy. I’d walk him to school. Bob would teach him how to shave, teasing him when he took his first razor nick. We would see him graduate, get married, become a father. God willing.

“You’re mine forever,” I promised him. “I’ll be there to keep you safe.”