They leak. They squeak. They can suddenly smell bad. They're selfish.
True, I was once a baby. However I gave it up as soon as possible.
I don't like babies.
Now I do like people. Grown people. Two people who are friends (I'll call them "Eric" and "Suzanne" since those are their real names) recently experienced a nine-month pregnancy which resulted in the birth of a baby.
Wesley Ericson Harris was born around 4:00am in the morning on Friday November 19, 2010.
The next evening, on Saturday the 20th, Wendy and I went for a visit at Sharp's Mary Birch Hospital for Women.
It was nice to see our friends, and though they both looked quite tired, they were also radiating obvious inner joy.
When Suzanne offered to let Wendy hold the infant, now a day and three quarters old, I thought it was cute and snapped a few photographs.
Then Wendy asked if I wanted to hold Wesley.
Now I haven't held a baby for as long as I can remember. Logic tells me that I probably held my baby sister when I was about about 5 years old. However, I don't remember it, and any other babies held were quickly returned so that the awkwardness would end.
Of course I said yes. I said out loud that it had been a long time, and I wasn't all that skilled at "baby holding".
"I know I'm supposed to support the head", I offered.
Suzanne, the mother, simply said "yes, support the head, and just don't drop him".
Wendy handed me Wesley in a slow motion exchange, our arms momentarily enmeshed.
The first thought I had: he's so light! Compared to the last living thing I cradled in my arms, a full grown cat, this little tiny human was nearly weightless! (Later Wendy told me that he weighs only 6 pounds).
Wesley's eyes were closed as he slept soundly, but from time to time I could see them rolling about beneath his eyelids. His face changed expression every few minutes. A couple of times his entire body jumped like people sometimes do when they're falling asleep.
My heart began to melt onto the floor.
You know... as I type this blog entry, I realize that what I'm about to type has been said again and again throughout history. People hold babies... their hearts melt all over the floor. I guess I'm just saying that it happened to me.
After I handed him back over to his father Eric, my arms suddenly began to ache, since I'd been holding him so long.
That Saturday night was one of the most unforgettable in my life. It was a privilege (thanks Mom Suzanne and Dad Eric for letting me hold Son Wesley) and a very moving experience.
I love babies!
ps:
Holding a cat is nice, too,
but nice in a substantially
different way than holding
a human baby is nice
