I had a very special blessing today. I spent the majority of the day babysitting my nephew, Sean. I think I had forgotten how tiring that can be....but I had also forgotten what a blessing that can be. Sean is 19 months old. He is just learning to run, to throw, to kick....and he is ALL boy! He loves to be outside so we spent a fair amount of time outside. We filled his little pool with water and I showed him how he could fill his little watering can by dipping it the pool. He was having fun watering "Titi's" toes (that's what he calls me...Spanish for "Auntie"). By the time we were done, I was wet up to my knees and he was soaked all over! We blew bubbles. He is also at that adorable stage where he can parrot pretty much any word you say to him. He was saying "Bye, bye, Bubbles" and waving at them as they floated over the house. We picked up pebbles and put them in a bucket, then walked down to the dock to throw them in. The look on his face as each one of them made a "plop" and a splash as they went into the water was priceless. It was such a treat to watch him react to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, at the sound of airplanes flying over, at a white herron that was standing in the water. Then we went in for a "nap". I needed it as much as he did! I cuddled with him on my sister's bed. I think I went to sleep...he only dozed. But as he woke up, he pressed his forehead against mine and giggled. He is doing his little baby jibber where he rattles off little incoherent phrases to you in a very serious manner. We laid on the bed for a long time just playing with his toes (this little piggy) and reading books, which he loves. He points and gasps in surprise as you turn each page and lift each little flap, even though you've read the book a dozen times. It is especially cute when he growls if he sees a lion or an alligator. There was a crab and a bee in his book. I would point to them and pull my hand back and say "ouch". He loved that game. Meal time was fun too. He had some peas which I had warmed up and with each bite he would pull a funny face and say "hot, hot" even when they were long past even being warm.
I guess this is just a lot of silly nothing to most of those who ever read this blog. But it was just such a sweet, slow day. It was a blessing to spend the day outside, to sit on the floor and build towers out of duplo blocks so we could tip them over and say "uh oh". A blessing to throw pebbles off of the dock and watch the rings ripple over the water. A blessing to watch the wonder on his face when we found a catepillar and I let it crawl up his arm or the lizard that we found (which I wouldn't pick up). A blessing to watch him react to wind and especially to lay and listen to his breathing as he napped, having his little body nestled against me, lying in my arms.
It was just a flood of memories to when my own children were that size. I guess, back then, my house was never as clean as it could have been. There were often dishes in the sink and laundry piled on the floor and dust on the furniture. But I spent many hours like that with my children....just enjoying them and their company. I still enjoy it to this day. How the years have flown. It seems like just yesterday that my little guy was that size. Sean reminds me alot of Kyle and it was easy to imagine it was him.
Children are such a precious, sweet gift of God! It was wonderful to spend the majority of my day, experiencing God's creation and the world he has given us through the eyes of a toddler!
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