Windows to the Soul

Today, for the first time, around 4:30 pm, baby Oliver opened his eyes and looked at us.  I am not talking about a fleeting blink or a quick glance, like he has been doing quite frequently during the last few days.  This was something entirely different.  The boy simply opened his eyes, turned his head as best he could towards his mother and I... and stared.  I was awestruck, momentarily frozen like a rabbit in the headlights of a passing car.  Not a word crossed my lips.  What really was there to say?  Only one thought could describe what I saw deep within his gaze... life.  At that moment, something changed inside me.  I saw him, my only son, as a real human being for the very first time.  It is not that I didn't realize him to be a real person before, but something about his look made me feel different inside, like Oliver knew who I was and that I right there beside him.  I could feel his tiny stare travel through my body, and through those eyes, I could see into his soul.  

He left them open for quite some time too, enough for me to shake myself out of my temporary trance and grab the camera.  Our little man gave us yet another gift today.  We are truly blessed.