Christmas Innocents

It's settled. We're in love.
Me, my husband, my daughter, her husband, his parents:  our whole family is in love.

With the darling baby boy who's inside this shirt!

If you've wondered why I haven't been writing quite as many posts as usual, blame my new baby Grandson and Christmas: 

Baby's Christmas, by Esther Wilkin, illustrated by Elioise Wilkin
Photo credit:  Cindi Rose

the smiling, decorating, photo snapping, rocking, baking, shopping, ordering, photo snapping, cooing, listening, nuzzling, singing, photo snapping, oo-ing, aahh-ing, gift wrapping, diaper changing, errand running, card addressing, photo snapping, praying, remembering, laughing, crying, hugging...  

The busy-ness, but also all the emotions that come with my first Christmas season of not only enjoying my Grandson, but missing my Dad.  

And even more emotions while still contemplating the families missing their children after the horrible shooting and tragic deaths of so many innocent souls at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday.

Today I read a beautiful poem for those Innocents, that is attributed to someone named Cameo Smith (it's all over the Internet, but I could not find the original source.)  Here it is...

"I AM STILL THE LIGHT" 

Baby Jesus in the manger From "The Christmas Story" ,
a Little Golden Book, 1952; Janet Werner, Illustrations by Eloise Wilkin.

Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate

their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air. 

they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there. 

they were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say. 

they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day. 

“where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse. 

“this is heaven.” declared a small boy.

“we’re spending Christmas at God’s house.” 

when what to their wondering eyes did appear, 

but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near. 

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same. 

then He opened His arms and He called them by name. 

and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring 

those children all flew into the arms of their King 

and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace, 

one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face. 

and as if He could read all the questions she had 

He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.” 

then He looked down on earth, the world far below 

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe 

then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand, 

“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!” 

“may this country be delivered from the hands of fools” 

“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”  

then He and the children stood up without a sound.

“come now my children, let me show you around.” 

excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can. 

and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight, 

“in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”

Baby on the Brain

Since the birth of my grandson has me in Baby Land right now, I thought it would be a perfect day to highlight some of my favorite baby books - feel free to add to the list!  I'd love your input. 

Little Peter finally had a good night of sleep, and he and my daughter are taking a nap right now; so I'll start with this precious book...

Whisper softly, 

take a peep, 

the babies are all fast asleep...

ALL ASLEEP by Joanna Walsh (baby-toddler board book). The gentle text is about all babies - from tall babies to small babies, from babies asleep in cars, to babies snoozing under the stars. It's a perfect bedtime rhythmical board book story for babies everywhere. I also love that babies of all ethnicities are represented in the illustrations.

Dream of purple twilight skies,

a bedtime kiss from butterflies.

Caterpillars in cocoons

are tucked in tight beneath the moon.

SWEET DREAMS LULLABY (toddler-preschool)
This imaginative, peaceful bedtime book invites a bunny (tucked snugly into bed) to dream of comforting scenes from nature's nighttime.  Each page reveals a delightful dreamscape for children to imagine as they drift off to sleep with the lulling, rhyming text.

You were born in your very own month of the year and the world was
waiting to welcome you here with daydreams and wishes and circles
of love and in turn you brought a gift from above.... 

JANUARY'S CHILD by Andrea Alban Gosline, illustrated by Lisa Burnett Bossi. Every day is someone's birthday, a fact this book celebrates with creative attributes for each month of the year. More positive than the traditional "Monday's Child" rhyme, and geared for families to share among youngest and oldest members, this is a beautifully illustrated treasury, perfect as a gift for birthdays or new babies.

On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder
that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered,
"Life will never be the same..."

ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN (baby/toddler) board book by Nancy Tillman. This is an exceptional book. The sweet rhyming text of this book celebrates and praises the uniqueness of a newborn.  All of creation - polar bears, giraffes, geese, the moon, the wind - is shown as jubilant in the poetry and rich illustrations of this gorgeous book (also makes a wonderful baby shower or birthday gift)!

You can read my post "How to Find the Best Books for Babies and Toddlers" HERE (it includes a list of some of our family favorites).

Past posts about books for babies:

Click HERE to read about Helen Oxenbury's wonderful books for babies/toddlers.

Books about Dads and Babies, click HERE.

 Go HERE for not one, but two "Goodnight" books from Margaret Wise Brown.

I'll leave you with one of the most popular baby books of all time:

Pat the Bunny by Doroty Kunhardt, has been a classic baby's first gift for over 60 years - click here to read the story of how this interactive book came to be written.

Parents are Heroes

[source]

“You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting.” (I love this quote, though it's from the movie, Hook, not from J.M. Barrie's book Peter Pan.)

My daughter and her husband were up most of last night with their newborn son, Peter.  I imagine they felt like they were in a place between sleeping and waking as the night wore on, but I know that is where they love Peter most.  It's an unconditional love: their tender care, sleepless nights and many other future sacrifices will prove it.

But eventually there will be less crying and more smiles. And, according to J.M. Barrie, lots of fairies : "When a new baby laughs for the first time a new fairy is born, and as there are always new babies there are always new fairies"... and Guardian Angels!