I showed him...

The last time I blogged I talked about how heavy my heart felt in that I wasn't able to experience the boy's first few years of their life.  After Gabriel's kindergarten teacher had given him the assignment to bring baby pictures and items from when he was an infant to share with his class, I felt this may be an event that would spark several questions from Gabriel about how he ended up with us and why the other kids have so much more to share.

Originally he didn't seem to mind at all, and didn't think twice about it.  Originally I postponed the action of digging out the few photos we do have of him as an infant.  However, I decided, after getting the 4th reminder note from the teacher, that she wasn't going to stand for us opting out of this assignment.  So a few days ago, while the boys were resting I dug into my closet and pulled out the special box of stuff we've saved for the boys about their lives before us.

I carefully sorted through the pictures and decided which ones to pull out for him.  Ones that show how precious and beautiful of a baby he was.  Those that show him with his infant brother and ones that are from when we was 2 and 3.  All precious, all pictures I cherish and as I looked at them, I decided it was time to share them with him.

This afternoon Gabriel and Michael were playing when I could tell Gabriel was ready to move onto a different activity.  It was then that I called him to come into the living room.  Gabriel I said, "Do you remember what your homework assignment is for tomorrow?"  "No Mom, what?"  " I continued, "Remember you are learning all about you and you are suppose to take some pictures to school of..."  He interrupted me and said, "But Mom, we don't have any baby pictures."  He paused and that is when I said, "Gabriel, Dad and Mom weren't able to take any pictures of you when you were a baby because we didn't know you then, but honey, we do have some pictures of you when you were a baby." Instantly his face lit up and his confused expression immediately turned into one of excitement.  "Really Mom?!?!?!  Can I see them?"

And at that point I pulled out the 6 pictures I had selected for him and showed him.  One of the pictures is from when he was hours old and I had put them in order from his first moments to his first 3 years.  He carefully picked up each picture and held them gently in his hand.  All smiles he scanned each picture and studied each aspect of himself as an infant.  When he got to the third picture he looked at me and said, "Mom, I was a cute baby.  Do you think so?"  I replied, "I think you were a beautiful baby and look at all of your hair!" 

Together we sat on the couch and talked about each picture about the clothes he was wearing and about how we could see some of his features from even when he was a few days old.  To me, it is his eyes that stand out the most and boy are they beautiful.  After reviewing each picture several times he yelled for Michael to come and look and they sat on the couch together looking at the pictures and taking in each photo.  Then Gabriel carefully took the pictures into our bedroom where Jarrett was and he said, "Dad, I have a surprise, close your eyes."  Then Gabriel excitedly revealed his pictures.  It was obvious he was proud and so happy to have them.

I feel truly thankful that we have some photos to share with him and even though he didn't make it seem like a big deal, it was obvious it was very special to him that we do have pictures of his life as a baby. 

As he goes to school tomorrow with his homework assignment his teacher has been asking for for several days, I'm thankful that this assignment was given.  Although I was nervous how they'd feel about not having very much from the infant years, I've realized they are very thankful for what ever they have.

And now it is time for me to look for Michael's photos because as soon as we packed up Gabriel's baby pictures, Michael said, "Mom, where are my pictures of me as a baby?"

Until next time,
Angie