There are times when I'm in complete awe of my kids.
Sam, who will start kindergarten this fall, has started reading, and she can write a few words on her own. She uses words like "nocturnal," "humongous" and "Stegosaurus" with ease.
She can be incredibly generous and thoughtful; for example, she loves to bring people drinks of water "just in case you get thirsty" or to share food or toys with anyone nearby. She loves to pick flowers for me from yards (usually ours, but not always, which can be a slight problem) and put them into vases on our kitchen counter.
And she loves the living heck out of her little brother. She's excited to see him every morning, and she adores holding him, talking to him, making him smile, cooing at him, feeding him, helping him play with toys and, sometimes, just watching him be cute.
This morning, in the car on the way to the sitter's house, I looked into the rearview mirror and saw her looking at baby Noah in a way I can only describe as tender. She looked like a little mommy, so proud of her baby that she could burst.
And Noah? I still can't believe we made him.
He's a whole living, breathing, squirming, growing human being who has been on this Earth for only 14 weeks now. And yet he can already make sweet talking sounds, giggle when I munch on his toes and let me know exactly when he has had enough of his swing, thank you, and would like to be held and cuddled.
I love his sweet baby breath, his grumpy noises, the way he sighs while he's sleeping and how he loves to lie on my chest and squiggle up until my chin is resting on his soft head.
I love his fingernails, which grow at such an amazing rate I can't keep up with trimmings, the rolls of fat he's developing at the tops of his thighs and the fact that his latest, most fascinating toy is his tongue.
Sometimes, when I feel like my life is just chaotic and I'm not sure why I decided to do all this, I stop and watch them sleep. And I'm honestly not sure what I would be filling my life with if it weren't for them -- and I'm grateful I'll never know.
What makes you appreciate your kids? What's your favorite thing that one of your kids does right now?
That was the sweetest post ever. I feel all warm and mushy and good inside now. Mommies are so great :)