January 4th, 2010    Babies

So far, the new year has been full of babies. First it was the baby we saw at Chris and Heather's -- the newborn of some visiting friends, he was a bright-eyed little boy who was almost always quiet, gazing around himself inquisitively. Then we drove down to my Dad's place, where he and his wife introduced us to another baby -- this one not human, but felid. Alex the kitten was much more fun than the human baby, running about, chasing her tail, pouncing on people, and generally making life into one big play-romp.

Then, soon after arriving home, another baby arrived on the scene, this one another human. Tamara had delivered her baby, and we drove over to Minnesota to meet little Evelyn. She was very cute, and spit up a lot.

Now our journeys are over for a time, and we're happy to be nestled back at home. Bear, our black cat, has returned after four nights missing, and we're hoping it warms just a little so we can take the horses back over the hills.

Tonight, however, we'll reflect on the strangely miraculous thing that is mammalian birth. We're so used to the idea of babies that sometimes we can forget just how amazing it is that a woman can grow a tiny person in her belly, and that one day that person emerges forth to take his or her first breath on planet Earth. How amazing this is! We're so happy for Tamara and her husband Dan, and are excited to watch this tiny, fragile creature grow into an adult.

What an amazing world we live in. Welcome to it, Evelyn! =)

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