The small picture collage above is of him in his swimming class, jumping off the diving board for the first time without floaties. As the first in his class (by choice), he carefully walked up to edge with a nervous kind of smile, appearing for an (extremely) short moment to be shy or hesitant...and then pushed full force ahead screaming "Cannonball!" as he jumped right in. (He has no knowledge, by the way, that a cannonball requires anything more than the shouting of the word "cannonball" while jumping into the water :) This senario in part speaks a lot about him. He is not afraid to break the ice, be the first, and create a contagious excitement for otheres to follow. There is a carefuleness in him that I have often appreciated, particularly in dangerous situations, but is quickly balanced by an extreme, all out exuberance and passion when he choses to "jump in" to something. This includes simply talking. There is a 99% chance that you will hear him before you actually see him!
He is quite the effective communicator (like his dad), negotiater extraoridinaire, persistant beyond compare, intelligent, inventive (though I do grow weary of all the booby traps!),creative and funny. But by far what stands out in my mind is his loving heart. Expressing encouragement and love flows so naturally through him, particularly with his words. I don't think there is a day that goes by that he will not encourage each of us at home in something whether it be "you are the best mom I ever had" or "this food is wonderful!" (haha what little boy says that??). Not to mention I'm so thankful for the protective and loving big brother that he is.
Ok it's true, I could go on and on about my son and there would still be more left to say. I have learned so much about who I am, how ferocious and consuming love can be, and about my God and what it really means to be His child. I became a mom by title the second I birthed Jonah into this world after jumping on the N train (in labor) to the downtown NYC hospital where he would be born 12 hours later...but I learned how to truly become that role step by step, day by day and side by side with him....Yes, this is a HUGE step for us both! New influences, so much time away from me, so much i cannot control (no I am NOT a control friek,call me that and i'll block you from reading this :)...but in the end I do rest in knowing I am not his only protector. Jonah is already teaching me to develop a new level of trust in my Father who is ALWAYS with him. Though there are many variables, unknowns and fears like that day 5 years ago he was born, this is very different from that day. Apart from the obvious differences (pain, blood, drugs, me screaming at a poor innocent intern named Seth...i digress) I know my son now and I know who I have become as a mom, I know the heart of his amazing dad, and I know we are all held by our Father. We are gonna be just fine.
