"we" is wonderful

I don't plan on blabbing on this blog only about our firstborn but our product of conception is kind of a big deal. Its a common occurrence among humans to reproduce but as common as it is, it is so unusual for Christa and me. It is strange and beautiful to be involved first-hand and, as we are one, to be responsible for all 26 chromosomes. Pregnancy is typical yet so foreign. Its the newest and coolest thing we've experienced since... well, since we've been doing what married people do. Which is also awesome. The act is even better because we didn't invent the act. God is a God of pleasure. I believe God delights in our pleasure. And one of the pleasures is to be blessed with such a common, curious addition to our family. This five pound baby is a big deal.

Its our last, first pregnancy. If its our only pregnancy, it will be our best. The growing human in Christa's uterus is unbelievable to me. The past few weeks, Christa has told me on the phone, "we'll be home soon", or "we are at the store", or we've been taking a nap."

"We" is wonderful.

Wherever she goes, Christa has been accompanied since August by someone we haven't officially met. Mama's had a well-behaved and friendly tag-a-long for the past 34 weeks.

And I love when she says "we".


Recently, our conceived product was pretty heavily involved in our first Christmas letter:

Hi.
I want to tell you a bit about 2008 from my perspective. I have experienced unspeakable joy, miraculous growth, new challenges and divine blessings this year. I was always warm. I never doubted my safety. I was given no responsibilities. I ate and slept at will. I didn’t worry. I did not pay taxes. I did not even think to care about this year’s election. I had wide open availability all year to do as I pleased. I have thoroughly impressed myself all year. I have been fully alive and enjoyed each minute.

My creator is good to give me such a great year. He must be really smart.
Recently, I have begun eavesdropping on everyone around me. I heard my mom and dad have been married since December 30th of 2007 and I can tell they really like each other. I overheard, following their promise of life-long commitment to each other, they had an amazing time along the Caribbean in the jungle of Costa Rica and in the jagged San Juan Mountains of Telluride. I hope they take me along next time.

I look forward to getting to know them. I expect to join Mom and Dad for bike rides, camping trips, morning coffee, reading nights and cooking lessons soon. I can tell my dad is romancing my mom despite his regular blunders. He is learning how to better lead and love my mom and I think they will learn even more once I arrive. I know he is lucky to have my mom. I think we’re going to have a very fun time together though I don’t know why they didn’t invite me into their lives until just August of this year.

At first they talked about moving out of the city and into the suburbs but I think their experience living in Denver has opened their eyes and hearts to the needs of an urban community and to the command to love their neighbors. I observe they have been blessed with an incredible church in the downtown area. In between my naps, I have been impressed with the challenging sermons, friendly and accepting people and lives that are being changed.

Life is a gift. That’s what I can hear my parents say about me. And the joy, growth, challenges and blessings I mentioned earlier are also present in my parents’ lives. I hope you and yours consider Christ’s life as the best and most important gift this year. Christmas is a time to make much of Christ’s birth. How good it is when we make less of ourselves and more of Him. I get the feeling our purpose on earth is greater than pleasing ourselves and no less than glorifying God. While difficult for my little developing brain to sort out, my 155 beats-per-minute heart is convinced in this.

Despite my parents’ effort to anticipate my arrival, they can’t fully understand the new challenges and abundant joy they are about to experience as parents until I am in their arms. They undoubtedly will continue to thank my Creator for the gift of my life but more importantly, for the gift and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. May we all celebrate and contemplate this reality, truth and hope more than ever.

Before I go to ingest more amniotic fluid, I need to ask that somebody please talk some sense into my dad prior to mid-May. After my mom’s water breaks, he intends to ride bikes to the hospital and then he wants to deliver me personally. If that wasn’t crazy enough, he has plans for a family cross country bike trip for 2012. My training wheels will surely put me at a severe disadvantage.

Merry Christmas!

Love,
“Pipsqueak” Payne