A Small Moment of Wonder

I had a lot of beautiful moments today to choose from and had a hard time deciding what to write about.  Between Tes taking a mud bath while I was watering the yard, the kids telling secrets in the bath tub and Nick and Christian laying in bed playing a toy horn together, I was overflowing with beauty.  However, I must say that my absolute favorite moment of the day happened at the end of a baby shower.

Today I threw a shower in my home for a very dear friend, Leilani, who is due in early september.  Although I started the day stressed as I raced to finish cleaning my house and setting up the tables and chairs outside, once the guests arrived I fell into party mode and had a great time.  Tessie, of course, had a blast at the party.  She made four costume changes and twirled around the guests.  Bed time was late last night and so I was concerned that her behavior wouldn’t hold up, but she was a perfect little lady.  She was a great hostess to the other little girls at the party and had exquisite manners all day. 

As everyone started to trickle home, Tessie, Christian, the few remaining guests and I wandered down to the river to dip in our toes.  I loved watching Leilani, whom I met long before children, swing Tes through the water, her own growing baby anchoring her midstream.  We came back inside and said goodbye to the last of the guests and I got to spend some quality time with my friend. 

Christian was happily sitting on the couch having a snack but Tessie wanted to be part of our conversation.  She danced in front of us and talked about princesses and fairies.  Then the baby, who had been shy all day, started to make some big moves.  I called Tes over and watched her cautiously set her hand on her “Auntie Lani’s” belly.  Her eyes grew big and she looked at me.  “Did you feel the baby?”  She nodded and smiled.  Then the moment of wonder was over and she was back to dancing around the living room.

This small moment of quiet amazement as I watched my daughter marveling at a new life was magical.  She made a connection with that baby that was beyond what anyone else could understand at that moment.  Tonight as we were headed to the bath I asked her what she thought about feeling the baby.  “It was so cool!  I think the baby was dancing.”  I smiled.  How beautiful.