Little Jack’s Corner

An infant is a marvelous creature.

On one hand, they are completely helpless and dependant on adults for care.  Left alone, they will starve to death or die from some other calamity.   Unlike many other mammals, a human infant can not care for himself after a few months, go to the bathroom, eat alone, or leave his mother.  It takes years for them to master the skills they need to live independantly.

The youngest infants (those less than 3 months) are so “helpless” they can not even sit up, hold their head up, see clearly, or (for most) show a reaction to most of the world’s typical stimuli.

Does this make them void blobs of nothingness?

Absolutely not.

A tiny infant, although dependant for all of their basic needs, is like a large sponge, soaking up his entire world.  And what a vast world it is!

Looking through the eyes of an infant, everything is re-born.  It’s new, fresh, and exciting. 

• Lighted, twirling ceiling fans are a magical thing
• Flower on the couch just has to be watched
• Edges of shelves call out to be stared at for hours
• A familiar face is the most comforting thing in the world
• Stroking mommy or daddy’s skin puts you to sleep
• A door slamming causes jumps
• Fingers and hands yearn to be moved, folded and stretched over and over
• Voices, with their strange new sounds, are fabulous things to ponder
• Mirrors are doorways to another world
• There is no shame or embarrassment over anything
• Learning to poopie is rough!

Before Jack was born, I hadn’t been around an infant for more than 5 minutes since I was a teenager.  And it had been well over 14 years since I had spent an extra amount of time personally caring for one.  Because of this, I had no idea what to expect with having to live with a baby 24/7.

I especially didn’t know what to expect living with a boy baby!  All of the babies I had been around had been girls.  What in the world would I do with a boy?

I’ve learned quickly, however, how fascinating a little baby boy can be!  Although he’s not even 3 weeks old yet, the things he does proves that infants are not just the helpless little fragile things that some may view them as.

Jack’s repertoire of body movements, noises, grunts, and actions are more fun to watch than the Super Bowl (well, at least in my opinion).  When he’s a little tired, a huge yawn emerges.  After laying in one position for a while, he’ll stretch in a cat-like arch better than most gymnasts, and when he’s content his arms flop at his side while his eyes close halfway.  The voices of those he loves causes his head to turn in that direction, he can fold his hands together perfectly (interlocking his fingers just-so-sweetly), and behind his eyes lay the innocence of life.

They are far more than helpless creatures!  An infant comes with a zest for life and a personality just as huge.  They are angels on earth, giving us a glimpse of far simpler times - taking us briefly once more back to the slendor and innocence of Eden.

How can anyone harm these magnificent God-sent beings?