Ah ha - now Angie and Brad make sense.

I love babies as much as the next guy, I guess. They're cuddly and soft and make sweet noises and have that incredible baby smell, but to be honest, when both my boys reached their respective first birthdays, I was somewhat relieved.

The breastfeeding, the bottles, the burping, the sleepless nights, the spit up, the worries. Did I mention the spit up? Not to scare any of you new mommies out there, but it's what I imagine Green Beret boot camp, hard-core interrogation and head zoo keeper duties would be like if all rolled together.

I actually laughed at a new acquaintance the other day when she asked if we were planning on having any more children. Ah, no - I won the lottery.

Twice.

Thanks, but I'm not bellying up to that bar again.

But then I had an experience of such pure parental bliss today, that I clearly saw why families continue to have children. It must be so that they may relive this moment again and again...

The Youngest and I were trolling around our local Super Target when he happened to catch a glimmer of the Christmas aisles.

If you're not privy to the classic Super Target layout, what I consider "necessities" are on one side, while the "frivolities" reside on the other. I do everything possible to stay on the necessities side, because really, I have absolutely no self control when it comes to candles, frames, random seasonal items, etc.

But today, we happened to skirt the dark side while picking out a birthday card for my brother.

"Mama!" with one sweet finger on the verge of loosing that baby fat pointing down the way - "What's! That?!"

A baby's First Christmas is pretty cool. By the second, they're kind of getting into some of it. But watch out for that magical third - oh, how it's like every. single. strand. of tinsel was created just to mesmerize them.

So we proceeded to go up and down seven aisles of Christmas paraphernalia, and he ate it up.

From snow globes, mangers and automated village scenes to wreathes, yard art and twinkling light displays, with even a little Hanukkah and Kwanzaa cheer thrown in. His reaction to the NASCAR ornament selection was one of complete amazement, and just when I thought it couldn't get any better, we reached the pinnacle of his experience.

Behold, the Pre-Lit Iridescent White Glacier Tree - 7 foot:

Now granted, naked this thing looks like a reject from the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Lot. But imagine it with sparkling glass ornaments ranging in color from raspberry to egg plant, and on top, the most majestic star ever created - hand blown just for wide-eyed, open-mouthed Youngest.

"Oh Maaaamaaaaaa - it's so boooootifuuul." He actually grabbed his cheeks.

Some might say all of this is just excess - the product of how far the celebration of Jesus' birth has fallen to mass marketing and common greed.

I say, lighten up - it's a birthday party after all.

Peas and carrots. Leather and lace. Christmas and children.

Thanks for reminding me baby.

In all my Holiday worry, I had almost forgotten the magic.

Isaiah 11:6 "...and a little child shall lead them."

- to my visiting SiTSas, welcome!! Make yourself at home. So glad to have new visitors - your comment love will sustain me as I face the mile-high stack of dirty dishes from Thanksgiving dinner. Wish me luck!