Special visit

I LOVE kids...I have always loved kids. At 12 years old I took the Red Cross babysitting class so I could be a certified babysitter that knew CPR and all that jazz. I remember the first baby I got to regularly babysit - Elliot Bethel. His mom reads our blog and while I can barely believe it, he's a handsome 16 year old who is talented, well rounded and even has a girlfriend. In Waco, the family that "adopted" me through our church had two babies I loved getting to see during post-church lunches. Then in Lubbock I befriended the kiddos of a professor (not to kiss up, I promise - I just thought they were a cute older family with kids. Funny they were in their 30's...) as well as several kids at my church. Basically, I've always had to have some kiddos in my life in order to have my fix. When I moved to Austin and found Gateway Church I immediatly started working in the Kids area to find some new kiddos in my life. One of my first weeks there I was handed a fussy but precious little boy who just wanted to be held. Little Aiden had my heart from that first Sunday. That little baby eventually was the ring bearer in our wedding and now is in Kindergarten. Geezzz...why do all these cuties have to keep getting older?!

Anyway, Aiden and his older brother Gray and younger sister Melia have been dear to Chris and I for some time. Together we've babysat them and enjoyed our kid fix together while hanging out with them. These charming kiddos helped us have our own very real dreams about the kind of kids we wanted. Ted and Stephanie have done an AWESOME job with them and we hope to gleen wisdom from them for years to come on the wild web of child rearing. All of that said, you can only imagine our anticipation of them coming to meet Chloe. No other children had held our precious bundle and I wouldn't have had it any other way than to let the Beasley three have first cuddles. What I didn't expect is how touched I would be by their innocence. Adults who come by ask the normal - how is she sleeping? Are you guys delirious? Etc. etc. Nothing is wrong with that and in fact I would have never really thought of it had we not had the kiddos here.

The Beasley's didn't think about how Chloe was affecting life, instead they marveled in the miracle of her life. They could barely wait to each have their turn to hold her. Gray lovingly stroked her head, stole a kiss from her cheek and wanted to hold her again as soon as he passed her on the first time. Aiden couldn't believe her tiny parts! He was thrilled to unwrap her and see her tiny feet, her little fingernails, and gasped when she opened her eyes while calling Gray over to see the wonder of open eyes! Melia just smiled from ear to ear and of course wanted to see her room...I love a girl who thinks about important things like what colors I put in Chloe's room. The kids didn't want to leave, they all wanted to hold her again. They were amazed and enamored in a precious innocent way that touched me deeper than I could have expected. It was dear and so very special. We LOVE those kiddos and seeing them with our Chloe only made our hearts grow fonder for them! They were so sweet with her. Check out these pictures!