Yes, that was our child

It's Mother's Day 2008...my first as a mom. Laurel Ray Parker turned 3 months old on Tuesday. The past 3 months have been amazing...and I'm sure I will write more about all of that at a different time. For tonight, though, I want to write about the plethora of noises Laurel is learning how to make. She is obsessed with her voice. She will make a new noise and then like the way it sounds or feels on her throat and continue to make it incessantly. Her latest is a long, drawn out pseudo-whine that goes on until you kiss her or do something to make her smile. We've been incredibly amused by it over the past few days. On top of that, the episodes increase the more tired she becomes. So, after Sunday School this morning, her new sounds echoed through the Missions Office as she showed off her newly-found noisemaking abilities.

Tonight was the Parent Commitment Service at HFBC. We were excited to participate, but I must confess, a bit anxious as the service fell at 5:45 PM....the time of day we just pray will speed by so we can get the Little Bit into the bath and get her to bed with a minimal amount of fussing. Add to that, Nanny and Papaw, as well as our dear friends Lauren and Matt Jasinski making the journey from Austin for the occasion.  My pride crept in wanting to have "the well behaved 3 month old"...what is that anyway? We set up the day to the best of our ability...made sure she had a good, long afternoon nap, clean diaper, lots of attention, and pacifier in hand. Laurel was a trooper....until about 10 minutes into the service. We marched in alphabetically...all of those other children making noises of all kinds, Laurel just chillin'. As we turn the corner to get closer to the stage...the first whimpers...then her mouth opens...and then the noise...it starts small, but continues to build. At this point, really we are the only ones that know she's started, because there are others making noise. Apparently, Laurel missed the cue to stop that the other babies heard, because she kept going, progressively getting louder. Not crying, just practicing her new noises. By the time we get to the stage we've managed to quiet her with the pacifier, only to make her mad by the time we step down and she's in a full blown cry. Ahh...my daughter has added presence to the service. From that point on, Laurel was silent...no noises, nothing. All the way home, nothing. Had gotten it all out of her system right there in the service. Beautiful.

I had to smile as Kevin and I recounted the evening after the guests had left. "Maybe it just sounded loud to us because we were right there with her". Later that thought was shot down by Nanny and others commenting on how much she had to say. I had to smile, though, in retrospect...how many times did I pray for a child that would be confident and communicate well? How many times have I thought that I would much rather have a child that is not passive? Hmmm...I guess we don't have a little wallflower on our hands. Praise Him!