My Little Man, My Big Tears

Tomorrow, Little Man will turn one week old, which just seems impossible. All those cliche things I read about motherhood during the past nine months have come Tru: I fell in love with Little Man the minute I held him; I'd do anything to protect him; Everything he does, blinking even, is fascinating. But what I've found during the past six days is that there is a beautiful clarity that accompanies my hormone-driven, post-delivery emotional highs and lows.
Looking at Little Man's dad makes me cry because he is such a good father to his children. They will always come first in his life.
I can't fully grasp how it is that children are more resilient, more adaptable than adults. Children are so needy, so dependent and yet they are so strong.
And I'm amazed at how a baby can inspire generosity and kindness among people who don't really know us. Some people, some of you, have sent e-mails wishing us well. Some of you have phoned. Others gave us presents, some small, some extravagant. And what is most surprising is that some people you'd expect - or I guess hope is the better word - to touch base haven't. And others, who don't owe us anything at all, have reached out and been outrageously kind and supportive.
This isn't my usual thought process. It's much too gushy for me. But I wanted to put it down so that it's out there so that the next time I'm consumed with greed and money (I don't want a second car; it will completely wipe out any extra cash we have... Do we really need another iPod? ... I really want that green $100 Matt & Nat purse that's for sale downtown); or the next time I'm feeling particularly stressed about my on-hold career, or I'm oozing venom over someone's selfishness, I will look back to this week and try to remember the moment when a Grey's Anatomy episode brought me to tears. In the show, a mother is dying and is using her last few hours to give her daughter final life lessons that no one else can teach her: Always wear panties under your pantyhose. It's slutty not to. Only drink one glass of champagne at your wedding. No one likes a drunk bride. And when you have a baby,cherish him every minute, because you can't turn back the hands of time.
And now, I have to go because I've made myself cry, remembering all the crying. But they're happy tears.