Saturday, June 20, 2009

This is just for me, to remember

My mother said something rather shocking to me over the phone yesterday.

Well, perhaps not so shocking, just something that whipped me back to reality after a mundane morning of running errands dropping off a cat at the vets who was burned by a minivan muffler with three children all chirping for my attention on the way to summer camp.

"Enjoy this time."

I looked around my filthy Honda Dear Gawd give me the strength to clean that van, tomorrow and realized that the Feenster and I were finally all alone for once and she was filling the lonely van with ridiculously high octaves of "Tinkle, tinkle, little star... how I wonder wha yah are." Which my mother heard over my cell phone.

"Listen to her..."

And I did. I recklessly, drove down Cedar Avenue, staring at my youngest daughter through the rear view mirror finding myself so in love with her little lisp caused by the overuse of her pacifier whatever, her father is a dentist as she sang song after song that bounced off the minivan walls. "Peel, peel, peel nanas. Shake, shake, shake nanas..."

The two of us, just the two of us, finally arrived at our final destination to a tsumani in downtown Cleveland. Prepared for the weather we hid under one communal umbrella. Just us. The two of us... hiding under one umbrella laughing out loud each time the wind blew the umbrella up. She created the game... each time the umbrella blew up she wrapped her plump toddler hands around my neck and kissed me. I followed her lead holding her in my arms jumping over every puddle and waiting for every wind gust. *swoon* I have never wished for the wind to blow so much.


So. In love.

We were happily on our way, in our own world, completely unprepared for a confrontation with the real world outside of our umbrella. The lonesome redneck from southern Ohio who was running across the street shielding his head from the rain, with his flannel shirt, stopped in his path... "Ma'am, that is the sweetest thang I evah did see. Where's yo camera?"

"She's the third child. I have this picture forever in my heart." And at that moment another wind gust shot our umbrella in the air and greasy little plump toddler hands draped my neck and a sloppy kiss was planted on my cheek. And we laughed out loud together under one umbrella.

No photos. No videos. Just a memory that is ours.

51classy comments:

Nancy said...

That was a very lovely post and one that will bring you many smiles for many years to come.

Loralee Choate said...

It is so important. This was a GORGEOUS post.

Not to be over personal or morbid but the morning my son passed away he put his tiny palm flat against mine and I looked at exactly which line on my finger it came to so I could remember how big his hand was at 3 months old. It was so sweet. I remember thinking I wanted to remember THAT moment forever.

And I look at that place on my hand often. I smile at the memory and am so glad I took the time to notice.

Al_Pal said...

Beautiful.


Such a scene to cherish!

.jimaie.marie. said...

this is precious...

Loukia said...

Awww, totally beautiful, and what a memory, huh? I love moments like that. Precious moments you get to spend with your children, one on one. I had an evening like that with my oldest son tonight; his baby brother fell asleep at 9, and my oldest did not go to bed until almost midnight, so we spent a lot of quality time together! :) Nothing sweeter!

kyouell said...

Here from Loralee's tweet about this post. It's so perfect (love the dad's a dentist bit!). My 2yo has been hugging me so fiercely lately that I choke, and I know she does it especially when her brother has been getting attention, but whatever! It's so nummy to be loved that much and to have her show it. She'll be 12 and embarrassed that I won't let her go to the mall alone soon enough.

Amie said...

My Mum is always telling me to write these things down too. In her dressing table drawer she has all these scraps of papers with memories like that she wrote down about me. So sweet.

Crystal D said...

sigh, ahhhhh. Makes me want to go kiss my sleeping girls.
Love your mama sap.

Amy W said...

What is it about a third (and final) child that makes a mother swoon like this? I feel exactly the same way about my third little boy and "stop to smell the roses" with him almost every day. The time of those chubby little toddler hands is coming to an end and I want to just soak up every instant I get with him.... What a lovely little post; a treasure.

Anonymous said...

Awwwwwwwwww. Thanks for sharing your "just for you" moment with us! Great reminder to soak it all in!

(on a side note : how's your hair looking with all of that rain I hear you have in OH right now?)

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Well, make a girl cry why don't you...

I have been trying so hard to do just this. It isn't always easy, but I never regret letting go and being IN the moment. I ALWAYS regret it when I DON'T do it....

Jill said...

I need to do more "in the moment" stuff - I sadly find my thoughts and to-do lists cluttering and overshadowing the truly important stuff... spending time with my kids.

Laski said...

Aren't you glad you are writing this all down?

Inked in your memory forever it will be . ..

The Daily Stroll said...

What a perfect memory! Thanks for sharing! It's so hard sometimes in our crazy busy lives to really be in the moment with our children but it sounds like you accomplished it today!

Ringleader said...

Small hours they are. I find that for some reason, with my sweet number 3, now almost 7- I've been able to relax and just enjoy her more than I did with the other 2 as well... don't know why exactly, but it sure is nice. Lovely post-

Marinka said...

Oh, those moments. They are so, so precious. This is the stuff that we will remember. Unless we become senile.

I got caught in a huge downpour with my kids this week (umbrella free because the whole planning ahead thing? pfft) and we got drenched. Drenched. But we laughed so hard and for so long that I didn't want to come inside.

Robyn said...

That is SO precious. I'm trying to take more "pictures" with my heart rather than my camera, also.

BlondeMomBlog (Jamie) said...

Beautiful. I feel this way about my baby girl and I just have two...I really cherish the one-on-one time I have with her. Lately I feel like I am constantly running around with her big sister to school activities.

Beautiful post. Sometimes the most important memory keeper is your heart. :)

Amy in Ohio said...

The world gets all the snapshots and posed portraits. But those moments are just ours...oh, and that redneck's!! LOL

Lovely post, truly lovely.

PS: burned by a minivan muffler? Duuuude...

Amy in Ohio said...

Loralee said it best - take the time to notice. I need to tattoo that on my forehead.

Jennifer said...

I always love coming to your blog...posts are real and heartfelt!

Melissa @ I Pick Pretty said...

Lovely. Truly.

(PS - I feel like my comments to you are particularly dull and fangirl-y, but I just think all of your posts are, well, lovely. I'll try to come up with something more interesting, promise.)

Tara R. said...

You paint such a precious picture. Thank you so much for sharing. I need to hug my last child now.

Jo Ashline said...

Great post Honey! I can picture it now and it makes me smile!

buzki

Marlys said...

I have never written a comment on your blog (yes, I am one of "those" people), but this post caused me to remember to stop, watch, and listen to my 18-month-old daughter. Thank you for affecting me in that way today.

p.s. One of my tasks for this summer (since I teach and have some time off) is to become more active in commenting.

Kate said...

I love this story. For the first time it made me long a little for what I don't have ...

MommyTime said...

I have a few of these tucked away in my head too, for trotting out when I'm frustrated or blue. It's worth storing them up. :)

Jeni said...

It seemed to take forever before Maya allowed herself to show affection of the spontaneous type so when Kurtis acted pretty much the same way, we weren't really surprised. However, now both of them have become very good -most of the time -in doing this, giving hugs and kisses and such. But the wait, however long it was, definitely was worth it as they have to be the best hugs and kisses ever and make for the very best of memories then too. Loved this post -so sweet, sentimental and just priceless.

Ed said...

I've heard that before--enjoy this time.

Sometimes it's hard to do--but when you can stop long enough to actually do it--priceless.

carrie said...

Thanks for the cry. Now please pass the Kleenex.

So sweet.

Managed Chaos said...

This gives me goosebumps every time I read it. So glad you could have a little time alone with your little Feenster...what a priceless memory, even if you didn't have your treasured camera to capture it.

PS. Duuude...how did you make it out of the strawberry patch for only $4?!?!?...I paid $15. Your kids REALLY must have enjoyed those strawberries ;o) xoxo

Rachel said...

awwwww soooo sweet!

Courtney said...

What a lovely post.

Thank you for sharing!

Kat said...

Awww. You're making me cry! So sweet. :)

CC said...

That was a wonderful post!!!!! What imagery I have of your darling (and you!).

Unknown said...

I bet you two didn't even care if you got wet! Such a sweet post. Thanks for warming my heart...

Wendy said...

Oh so lovely, lovely, lovely. What great imagery and a great memory!

Dennis and Leslie said...

Ok P.....I'm officially blaming you for the inflammation of my "baby itch", because every time I read one of your frickin' adorable, mommy stories I cry my a** off leaving me to wonder how much longer can I wait before giving in to my hormones???

I want umbrellas, rain, and sloppy spit....*whah*.

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

Hey girl, how appropriate that you wrote this up today and that I have been thinking about time spent with family this summer... AND you saw my tweet.. and you shared this with me... :)

For the longest time, when grandmas would tell me to enjoy the stage my kids were in I would just think quietly to myself.. oh yeah?? How 'bout you trade with me for 3 days... dirty MomVan and all...

But now that my youngest will head to kindergarten I'm in that boat...

Barking Mad! said...

No words...just a heartfelt thank you for for reminding me of all that IS beautiful.

Auds

Courtney said...

That is such a sweet post. I love it and wish you many more happy memories whether captured on film or in your own heart and mind

Sarahviz said...

Perfectly perfect.

I am P said...

I just heart chubby toddler fingers, sweaty and sticky and all...all over my clean neck, especially followed by a wet schmooch!!

Sounds like a great time!!

Miss E said...

Oh so sweet, what a great memory to have documented to remember forever.

Lisa said...

that gave me chillies. happy, lovely, I know just how fabulous it is to be that in love chillies.

they will never be as little as they are today. i wake up every morning & repeat that phrase. so dang true!

beautiful pauline!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I have such wonderful memories like this of my time at home with my youngest baby girl. Soooo sweet! I agree with your mom. Cherish it.

Lisa (the girls' moma) said...

Ok, so thanks a lot, now I am crying not only because that is so so sweet, but because my toddler hands are now 1st grader and pre-k hands and I can't get that time back.

So yes, enjoy THIS time.

Anonymous said...

What a sweet memory to cherish! :-)

Jaina said...

What a beautiful memory. This is going to be one she'll look back on someday and simply melt over.

Tami said...

Such a sweet post! What a great memory :)

Tiffany @ Lattes And Life said...

Aww, this made me tear up. We're in the throes of newborn baby-ville....and I so miss those special, alone times...just me and my toddler....with no newborn tearing me away from him...

 

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