My son was only a few days old when this was taken. He was so tiny and strapped to machines. Just days after birth he’d had his belly cut open and his insides rearranged. A new diaphragm was made. He was tired and sore but he was strong. As we sat beside him, he held our hands. Even when he could barely keep his eyes open, his hand would clasp ours, never letting go.
I know some would say it’s a reflex, something all kids do, but I say he held our hands.
On days like today, when he grabs my finger in exactly the same way and drags me to his toys so we can play, I pause and think of those first moments. As he holds my hand I think of how different things are now and how much things have changed. He’s his own person with ideas. He’s thoughtful and funny, inquisitive and stubborn. There’s so much he brings to our lives. I’m grateful we are able to watch him grow.
