Little Baby, You Know Why You Were Born

Summer, 1991, Taylorsville cul-de-sac living

Trina is 18 months old. Jasmine is 6 years old.

Shortly before Trina was born I was asked to take over the position of manager of the medium-sized library where I had been working as the children's librarian. Until she was one this required just 30 hours a week of my time. By now I am working full time.

Trina is such a delight these days (as she ever has been). She likes putting on other people's shoes. She's tidy and will try to put things away. She said "purple" yesterday but her first word was "Mama" and then "Laura". I can fix her hair in two curly little pigtails now. She knows her body parts and will point to them on cue. She likes lap and clapping games like "How big is Trina--SO big!" and "How much do we love Trina--SO much!"

Steve and I team-teach course 12 in Sunday School now. We're doing Old Testament stories. I got out my ancient "Old Testament Stories" record album that I listened to with my sisters when we were growing up. There's a song on it that begins, "Moses, Little Moses, Little Baby You Know Why You Were Born" and then proceeds to outline Moses's role in freeing the children of Israel.

Jasmine likes me to sing that as her lullabye. I change the word "Moses" for her name and make up words about her -- whatever comes to mind at the moment. It goes something like this: "Jasmine, Little Jasmine, Little baby, you know why you were born... to make your mom and daddy glad, give some hugs and sing your songs. We're so glad that you are here--you know why you were born!"