ARMS WIDE OPEN

Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face.

Well I don’t know if I’m ready
To be the man I have to be
I’ll take a breath, I’ll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we’ve created life.

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I’ll show you love
I’ll show you everything

If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope she’s not like me
I hope she understands
That she can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And she can greet the world
With arms wide open…

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I’ll show you love
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open.

-CreedI remember when I heard this song from Creed on the radio for the very first time.  I was in the car and I was pregnant with my second child, our first daughter.  Tears poured down my cheeks.  I have always listened carefully to music lyrics.  I love poetry and this song is beautifully written.  I remembered feeling the huge weight the responsibility of being her example felt (and still do).   I wanted so much for her.  I wanted to build on the relationship I had had with my own mother and have an even better one with her.  I was excited…and scared…

It wasn’t until after the session with beautiful baby Amaya that I stumbled across her Father’s face book page.  Post after post was filled with the anticipation of his daughter being born.  And then the excitement of the delivery, followed by several proud posts about being a new father.  It wasn’t just the one standard, “she’s here” post you get from most Dad’s.  This dad was different.  According to his face book profile it was all he could think about;-)

I reflected back on Amaya’s session and I realized just how much Dad had been a part of the whole experience.  He was always there with a bottle of warm milk, the pacifiers were cleaned every time they fell on the floor, he helped with pulling the wrinkles out of my blankets and then when it came time for him to pose with his precious daughter it was so natural.  Some Dad’s need a little coaxing to help them relax and to really feel the moment.  Not Amaya’s Dad.  I would look up form changing a setting on my camera and he would be cooing to her, humming softly in her ear, and it was all I could do to take the picture fast enough before he noticed.

Truly devoted and loving father’s are such a beutiful thing.  This father’s arms are “wide open”.  His life has changed and he welcomes it;-)

PS…I got goose bumps reflecting on my time with this wonderful family!