Two years ago today, the words “Hold you,” had little meaning. They were simply two seemingly unconnected words that didn’t really go together.

That was before a tiny redhead entered my life.

Born Feb. 14, 2013, Anna was simultaneously both the cutest thing I’d ever seen — next to her mother — and the most terrifying thing too.

Suddenly my life had changed.

The dozens of wiser-than-me parents who warned that, “She’ll grow up before your very eyes,” were incredibly on point.

She’s done exactly that.

After two years, at least a little of the initial terror that I might break her has now given way to a sobering sense of responsibility to raise her to be a good person.

Parenthood has been an amazing and utterly fulfilling experience for Julie and me.

We’ve been blessed with a healthy baby, and we deeply are grateful to God for that amazing blessing.

Runny noses, finger painting and enough Cheerios to fill a small house have filled the last two years, but mostly the 24 months since she arrived into the world have been filled with laughter and joy.

We celebrated her second birthday yesterday with her grandparents and an aunt and a cousin, and she couldn’t have been happier.

Several months ago, Anna began stringing together multiple words and some of the combinations have been quite comical at times — “Anna tooted,” “big booger,” etc.

Some are funnier because of how she delivers and annunciates the words.

Her Southern drawl is quite evident in her long pronunciation of the word “diaper.”

It comes out a bit like Die-uh-purrh. Foghorn Leghorn couldn’t have uttered it any more Southern.

And the simple household staple paper towel is relegated to Scarlett O’Hara and Blanche Dubois status.

Pay-purh tah-wool.

Most parents have memories like that of their children. Each is unique and special to the their family.

But the phrases that are more special are ones that are simply sweet and child-like.

She quickly learned to use the word “up” as a command for “pick me up, please.”

Later that morphed into, “Hold you.”

To this day, months and months after she first debuted the phrase, the two simple words still have the ability to make my heart melt.

Hold you.

It’s a simple phrase that seems to evoke both a need to be held, a sense of love and a sense of belonging all at once.

In fleeting moments, it’s easy to forget just how blessed those of us were who have two loving parents who raised us.

That norm of the past is less and less prevalent today as more and more single parents raise children.

But beyond, the instances that simply break my heart are the stories of those small children abandoned at orphanages who simply don’t have anyone on which they can lean.

They have no one with whom they can say, “Hold you,” and receive love and attention in return.

This reminds me of just how special adoptive parents are who take in the children who may not be blood kin, but who simply just need a little love.

That’s a special, special gift that’s worth recognition.

Saturday, Anna’s birthday, also was Valentine’s Day. It’s a day of love, and love is something that we all need a bit more of in the world, whether it’s from a father holding his daughter or a set of parents who adopt an otherwise orphaned child.

Simple words can mean so much.

It reminds me of those little conversation sweetheart candies we used to exchange in elementary school.

I don’t remember one emblazoned with, “Hold you,” but I can think of no better candy phrase to give my two Valentine’s girls this year. Happy birthday, Anna! I love you and your mother more than even a few words can say.

 

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.