A MonT-SteR sized apology

Dear tMR Readers,

You have no doubt noticed that my blog has been a vacuum of inactivity since my last post on May 10th. I apologize for that. The MonT-SteR has been very occupied since that time. The photo below explains why:

As you can see, there is a new bouncing BabY MonT-SteR in my household; it was one month ago today that he entered the world. And the picture accurately represents what has been happening in the MonT-SteR household since BabY MonT-SteR arrived — Daddy or Mommy catching a desperately needed nap while Baby takes a snooze. Actually, I didn’t intend to fall asleep here. It just kind of happens these days. As Bill Cosby said, “Those of you with children, you’ll understand.”

Since I’m explaining why The MonT-SteR has taken another hiatus, I might as well turn this entry into a formal birth announcement:

Robert Etienne Monti was born by c-section at Sentara-Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, VA on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 9:50pm. He weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and measured 21 in. at birth. Mom and Dad both give thanks to God for seeing the whole family safely through a trying labor, and for blessing us with such a beautiful, precious baby boy.
And how is parenthood, you ask? To answer that question, I have to describe a dream I had shortly before we found out that Christi was pregnant. I dreamt that I was carrying a baby girl around our apartment. She was dressed in one of those little pink sleepers, and she was so cute that to look at her was to just go to pieces inside. In fact, I was actually surprised in the dream by how intensely I loved this tiny bundle I was holding — so much so that my affection for her was more like a sharp pang. The emotion was also indescribably warm, and very pleasant to feel. I loved loving this little baby that way.

Parenthood is like that dream. I find myself “going to pieces” several times a week, moved to tears as I hold my newborn son. He is my angel. But for the dream I had, I never would have guessed that I would be so enamored with my children. Little Robert is my precious son, and my life with him is unspeakably blessed.

Psalm 127 says that children are a reward from God, and that a house full of them is a recipe for happiness. I am not so naive as to forget that there will be challenging days ahead as Robert matriculates through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. But I am indeed happy, as Scripture foretells. Now that Robert is here, I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.

Blessings,

Rob
aka The MonT-SteR