As Sweet a Child As This

I remember one Christmas when my son was still a baby, we decided to go to a Christmas Eve service with friends who were out of town.  At the time, I wasn't exactly thrilled about going to church, but it seemed like the thing to do.  I'll never forget standing in the aisle in the standing room only crowd, my baby in my arms and thinking, "Surely Jesus Christ himself was not as sweet a child as this."

I'm sure it didn't hurt that my ear-piercing screamer was also completely and totally asleep. 

Now my sweet boy is eight years old, and while he's completely disabused me of any notion I might have about his divinity, he can still melt me just like butter.  Especially when I remember him as a baby dozing, so many Christmases ago.

If a sweet child in your life is making your heart beat a little bit faster this Christmas, go ahead and share.  Show us your angels sound asleep (like this sweet Josephine above) or in your arms or full of wonder under the tree.  Merry Christmas, everyone!

Comments

[Chris]

My niece, not so little anymore, but still a sleeping beauty...sigh....you just gotta love babies!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/3393613987/in/set-72157616052600788/

[Petchy]

Not asleep and not under the tree - but this little cheeky man will make my x-mas extra special this year, like he has done for the past 3 years <3

http://petchy.smugmug.com/Other/December-2009/10558581_thCd8#745488150_krn7E-L-LB

[Toni]

jen, this is my now 8yr. old. he was just under 7 i think here. he had a habit of wrapping the sheet around his head like this. he called it his bonnet---i'm so happy i was able to capture this fleeting phase of his, early one saturday morning.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplesparrow/3184364006

[brittany]

my firstborn and my newborn (14 days today!). i had no idea there was so much room in my heart!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/4207821872/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/4177758208/

[Jean M Fogle]

funny, when they are little you never think they will grow up. Even when they are thirty like my son, you still see them as little ones. The pictures I took of him sledding with his wife and cousin still show glimpses of him as a young child. The smile is still the same, just in an adult face. In your eyes, they will always be young!
http://pixels-n-pen.blogspot.com

[bright and blithe]

i love the early morning hours - the bare feet and the bedhead. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brightandblithe/4195062818/in/pool-childhoodthefineprint

[Sue Henry]

It was just a year ago.... *sigh*


http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/my-heart-is-full/

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2008/12/19/babys-first-christmas/

[Jessica]

She is my second, and this time it's different. I know how soon this will be gone.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27982366@N06/4210255406/

[melissa]

I agree that time flies! beautiful memories!

[lucy]

your photos are all lovely -- those kissable little faces! my babies are now teenagers, and if i tried to take their photo while they were sleeping there might be unprintable words uttered. my goal today and tomorrow is to try to get them standing still long enough to photograph them together. wish me luck!

here they are (and me!), way back when:
http://littlelightreading.blogspot.com/2007/12/ghosts-of-christmas-past.html

[Marty]

I posted this is the OWP group...but it fits here too...they grow so fast!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyhadding/4155750430/in/set-72157613051967730/

[jakki]

sleeping babies....heaven here on earth! Here is my great niece...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4157424225_8413aec2be_o.jpg

[jakki]

Sorry...I posted the wrong link (above) !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeenwashington/4157424225/

[Vanessa]

This one was taken on our ride home from a weekend long family gathering last weekend. He had played o-so-hard with the cousins. A two and a three year old are hard to keep up with when you are 15months old but he did a great job. We had hardly pulled out of the drive way and he was zonked out, just like this for the entire hour + ride home.
love...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/4202689990/in/set-72157622234212899/

[Maegan]

It's her first...and I get to feel the magic all over again!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbeasoap/4205546783/

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[bookbabie]

We have a new baby in the family after a year of loss and heartbreak, something indeed to celebrate and be grateful for! Merry Christmas!

http://bookbabie.wordpress.com/2009/12/09/wordless-wednesday-26/

[Mama DB]

my computer is acting up but Merry Christmas, Jen!

[Kiesha]

this is our 3rd son...our surprise...so in love.

http://kbondphotos.blogspot.com/2009/12/thumb-sucking.html

[kristin]

my little ones no longer babes, enjoying traditions of our holiday.
reading
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/4211644757/
and baking
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/4211103185/in/photostream/

[spread your wings]

my niece and nephew were born on Christmas Eve 9 years ago - tiny little babies weighing only 3 lbs. Their arrival into this world was truly a blessing to our family. Today they are healthy and strong and bring so much joy to our family. I look forward to their visit with us this Christmas.

[Elizabeth Harper]

My little girl is all grown up and although we're spending our first Christmas apart, I've been finding ways to keep her close even though we are separated by the Atlantic ocean.

Thanks goodness for iChat.

http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2009/12/25/my-christmas-tree-tells-a-story-that-i-know-by-heart/

[SharronD]

The sweet child in our lives now....our 1st grandchild.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45540182@N07/4216442480/

[Jen]

Just the other night...sound asleep under the tree:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enniferj8/4207967880/

[Tracy]

I don't suppose anyone is checking the comments for this post now, but just in case I have to share these shots of my not so little baby.
full of wonder: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31417716@N00/4210933909/
full of glee:http://www.flickr.com/photos/31417716@N00/4220511735/

[djbeat]

my angel
& his angel

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djbeat/4205055267/

[Kellee]

Ow, my achey uterus. What a lovely little story and photograph. Merry Christmas!