Twenty-Eight Years of Maxwell David

Twenty-eight years ago Dave and I sat in the hospital with our first tiny newborn. If I could only describe how much joy filled up that room…my heart’s desire for as long as I could remember, motherhood, finally becoming a reality. We sat in awe of that perfect baby boy peering up at us with a wrinkly forehead and big eyes, and marveled that he was ours. It was so surreal to put him in his giant carseat and drive away from the hospital. What in the world were we, two kids who had no idea what was in store, doing with this tiny new creature coming to change our lives forever?

Little could we know all those years ago when we fell head-over-heels in love with him that it would just keep getting better.

And better.

And better.

And better.

With each passing day this boy becoming more and more himself.

Sure and diligent, such a hard worker, confident humility, so respectful, and even a bit quirky.

Little did we know he’d grow up to be the best big brother of all time, flanked with little sisters coming out of his ears…

…and that he’d get two (and counting?) baby girls of his own (and an incredible wife).

He put up with surprise parties from his excited parents even when he was not a fan of all the attention.

(I mean, there are drawbacks from being the first born, right?:)

He would survive living in China for half of his senior year and actually be glad looking back.

That he would go from barely being able to have his feet leave the floor to putting in the hard work to master some volleyball skills:

And even play for a couple years in college.

He always let his doting mom dote:

Spent two years in Taiwan as a missionary:

Found the love of his life.

And oh, watching him be a dad is one of my favorite things.

Yes, little did we know as we sat with that baby at the hospital twenty-eight years ago, our hearts spilling out with so much love for him, that we could love him this much more.

And of course, the journey is still just beginning.

Dave and I got to talk to him on the phone this morning and my heart overflowed just a little more as he turned around our birthday wishes and told us congrats on being parents for 28 years. He’s so humble and cracks us up with his quick wit and endearing earnestness.

Happy happy birthday, Maxwell David. Love you forever.

And ever.