But my kids light up my life. Truly. Any given day with them must give me a zillion different joys. Even today, when I’m running a 102 degree fever and battling a terrible stomach bug, they still find ways to delight me. This list only scratches the surface:
* I woke up earlier than Gus this morning. About a half an hour after I got up, I tried to sneak into the room for a second. He was already up and hanging out quietly, but when he turned his head to smile at me in the half light, it was brilliant enough to light up the room.
* I was nursing Gus at nap time, getting ready to put him down. Maggie knows we have to be quiet during this time. All of a sudden, the kitchen timer that I had set 45 minutes ago and forgotten about began beeping. And beeping. It’s a constant beep. In horror, I tried to shield Gus’s ears, so he wouldn’t be awakened. And I looked up, to find Maggie looking at me with a big “oops!” face, covering her mouth with her hand, eyebrows raised. Such a knowing look, at the same time paired with her silky Ariel jammies, a reallllly badly done ponytail created by Daddy that she insisted on leaving in, and a bright red bow thrown in for some color zip. It was simply too comical.
* Gus woke up from his first nap just as I got another Urgent Call to the Bathroom. With no prompting, Maggie ran back into the room to keep him company until I could come get him. As I sat miserably on the toilet, I still couldn’t help but smile as I heard Maggie, mimicking my own interactions with Gus, saying in this exaggerated baby talk, “Hi, little man! Aren’t you just so cute? Yes, you are! You’re such a Sweet Bo-oy!” And when I was finally able to get to the bedroom myself, I found her still prattling onto him as he stared up at her in complete awe and worship. They absolutely adore each other.
* Maggie wanted me to open the curtains, but I said no because the sun comes in really badly and makes it VERY hot in here. A couple minutes later, she walks over (sad ponytail now gone, but Ariel jammies and bright red bow still in place) and says, “Mommy, I’d like to be warmer.” And I said, “Well, you could put on some warmer clothes.” And she shot back with a very patronizing, “Oh no, no, no,” complete with hand waving. “I believe I need some sunlight.” How could I say no to that?
* Maggie asked me for something that I can’t even remember now, and I told her no. So she gave me her favorite retort of lately, “Fine, then, I’m going to go to my room!” And then she downright STORMED down the hallway, nose held high, arms swinging, hips swaying, feet pounding, while saying to her doll, “C’mon, Baby, let’s go to my room!” I’m glad her back was turned so she couldn’t see my laughter. She’s going to be a handful as a teenager!
* Maggie nursing her baby doll, using my Boppy. She did this a lot when Gus was first born, but hasn’t done it in awhile. It always warms my heart to see it.
