Normal Day

I now have a 1/2 inch stack of drawings to scan and put on my blog, courtesy of Rowen. I told her that people had said nice things about her picture, and she came in and sat on my lap and asked me to read each comment to her. She was smiling so big her eyes squinted almost shut. “Your friends like my pictures!” So thanks for making both our days. :)

This morning I watched my growing-up son button his entire button-down shirt by himself. He got all the buttons right, and would NOT let me touch them. I am amazed at the dexterity in the smallest of hands at my house, and at how they continue to grow and change.

I love Elliott’s phase right now. He’s by turns fiercely independent (see the buttons above) and as snuggly as one of his ‘cuddly friends’. He fell asleep in the car on the way home from the mountains Monday. I put him in his bed, and worked for a couple of hours, and then went to crash out for a few minutes. He came staggering into my room about 3:00, climbed into bed with me, did that little wiggle-worm to get as close to me as he could, and promptly fell back asleep. I spent an hour listening to the peace of his breathing, kissing his forehead and saying a prayer of thanks that I got to be there.

Here he is a few weeks ago, having fallen asleep reading a space book. See the way his lashes spread down across his cheeks? Ah. Love.

Dang it, I hope I don’t miss something in this never-gonna-happen-again process. Somehow today I just feel like I need to keep it close to me with both hands and squeeze my eyes shut and inhale deeply. And then somehow tuck this away safe to keep it bright.

Here’s a poem I’ve posted here before:

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,

or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut,

or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.

~Mary Jean Irion

So, what parts of your life right now are you totally GRATEFUL for, and wish you could keep forever?

Comments

[Sarah]

Jessica thank you for this post today. It really made me smile. My kids are just about the same age as yours and it was so great to read your words today. I am so there. And I had one of those "I don't wanna miss something" moments this week. I had places to go, appointments....and I skipped them because all of a sudden, I had to go home and be with my kids. And it was the best night we've had in weeks. They were perfect angels, we all laughed and had a great time. I hugged them extra tight and tucked the memory away for those not so perfect days.

[shell (shmoop)]

awesome post. I am treasuring the "kicks and rolls" in my belly right now, as i'm unlikely to be in this place again! i wish somehow i could burn this memory, because pictures just don't grasp the FEELING of being pregnant! God is so good..... and we are ever thankful that he has entrusted these little people to our care!!!!!

[Melanie]

The post above me makes me miss being pregnant (which no I don't want to happen again ... three boys is quite enough in 5 years!). But still.... sigh.
Thanks for your post ... my thought as I read it? She loves her kids like I do. Which I guess only another mom could understand?

[Tammy]

Oh, Jessica, and all you many young mommies ... or mommies of young children anyway ;) ... You are so wise to capture time in the small moments of cuddling, playing games, and drawing pictures. Time certainly doesn't stand still, marching on without any concern for our hearts that are being left everywhere! My kids are all teenagers at the moment and I am so grateful to still have those "I'm so blessed to be a MOM" feelings. YES! Even as a mom of teenagers! It happened just the other day ...And I did just what you did ... I blogged about it. I love this space in the cyber-world!!

[maclark]

Grateful it's the weekend ( I don't work Fridays) Grateful my amazing SAHD DH's face lights up when I walk in (and not just because there's now 2 of us for DD... !) Grateful said DD is pretty amazing - healthy and bright despite a vicious start in life - and the terrible 2's have not been so terrible. Grateful for an amazing job with good friends attached. And finally, grateful for Spring sunshine. Thank you God, and thanks Jessica for making me reflect on that !xx

[Juju]

Grateful for the sweet and poignant end of the semester--the magical time when final projects are about to be completed, when classes are about to end but the semester's grades have not yet been posted, and the entire campus community--even the most silent, sullen student--is awash with good will and the imminent summer. Now, if only the paychecks would continue....

[Kari Holt]

I'm grateful for the idea that summer is around the corner and my kiddos will be around here more (or at least poolside with me ;)) I'm grateful that my little boy is so different from my girls so I could experience BOTH. I'm extremely grateful that my kids still like to have me be a part of their little lives. I'm treasuring the time my husband and I had this morning to go on a bike ride together with Cougar in a trailer ... and the time we had to sit by the lake, feed the ducks, and watch him in wonder of all the birds that came his way!! No photos taken - yup, left the camera at home including cell phone - but memories etched.

[Jana]

I'm grateful for all those sweet mommy moments I've had too! Today, I'm grateful for my mommy moments with my dd who's in college. We talk & text every day so I'm thrilled cell phones were invented! We LOL because I won the prestigious award for the mom who calls the most often! Ahh, an award I take to heart and no one better try to get it away from me! LOL Not a single night has passed since she went to college that she doesn't call to say good night & we end with a MWAH! I love that she still does this, even though she's off on her own. She knows that's a huge warm fuzzy for me!
I LOVE that poem Jessica so thanks for posting it again! Enjoy every moment with your precious children! Believe me, before you get turned around, they too will be in college!

[Marilyn]

Jessica, Thanks for posting the poem. I had part of it from the LO in T&W but love having it all to use sometime. You are Wonderful!

[Michelle]

a favorite quote of mine also . . . the reason I blog and the reason I pause, albeit not enough . . .
at 8, my son is growing all too fast, still a boy but a glimpse of a man . . .
my daughter, 6, no longer has tiny little legs---they are so long!
I want to keep them small . . . I want to watch them grow.
this is my eternal, internal dilemma . . .
thanks for the inspiration & reminder.

[LuannW]

Right now I am greatful for my hubby turning over a new leaf concerning his health, and we have been going on evening walks as a family. I love this extra time talking and the pure joy on the fur babies faces.

[scrapinthyme]

Nothing pulls at a Mummy's heart more then watching them in sleep xxx A wonderful thing to capture (can't wait to see you scrap this beaut photo of your handsome boy) xxx :):):) How cool and grown up he is if he has mastered the button on a shirt :):):)

[Linn]

Thanks for the reminder and the beautiful poem...having just returned from vacation (unpacking, kids adjusting to the lack of constant attention) I needed a reminder to enjoy and hold onto the "normal" days.

[Deb]

Yesterday I watched my six year old grandson skateboard down the hill by his house. Did I mention that he has his arm in a cast? Later I watched his 18 month old brother play in a puddle on the driveway. These boys are two of my seven overwhelmingly adorable granchildren.

[Michaela]

Thanks for the post and the poem, just the mental adjustment I needed... After 3 solid weeks of everyone taking turns with stomach bugs I just wanted a break, but I realize that though I may have the "yuck" jobs many days, I am blessed to be with the kids for EVERYTHING. My favorites right now are my 1 1/2 yr. old learning to talk-- nothing sweeter than hearing her say "God Bwess" at nighttime prayers or "Tank Ooo!" when we do something for her-- and my 4 yr. old's artistic endeavors (your post of Rowen's art struck a chord, and she is a true artist!) and fascination with the world. I scrapbook in a lame attempt to freeze these moments and feelings :)

[Brigid G]

Thanks for keeping things in perspective, Jessica! I, too, am grateful for the little things every day. My youngest is 3 1/2, and I have already teared up more than once over the past year at how quickly she is growing up. Her big sisters (11 and 13) don't stand still for hugs and kisses too often anymore, though I can guilt them into it sometimes...

[Kristi]

I am grateful for family (especially my Mom) and for generous friends and neighbors.. Three weeks ago I had abdominal surgery. A week later I had an infection as a complication. My mom came to help out with my 2 1/2 year old son who was desparately confused when his Mommy went to the hospital. But 'Grandma' was there to give him all the hugs, cuddles, and loves, that Mommy couldn't. Now I am healing well, although slowly. I will have beautiful moments with my son again...this is keeping me going! A health crisis really does open your eyes and treasure the simplest things. Life is not all about grandear (exotic vacations, etc...). We do those things too, but even in those activities what touches us is a smile, a kind word, an understandidng gesture, a moment shared in slience. Thank you so much for helping us remember this!

[Janna]

Thanks for posting this. Sometimes it is easy to get all caught up in the daily stuff and forget to take time to enjoy it. I am so grateful for my two healthy boys (ages 2 and almost 6). They keep me busy, but I love every minute of it.

My 2 yr old is going through a phase that cracks me up. Every time something happens (we get him down from whichever high place he has climbed up to) that he doesn't like, he squints his eyes and says, "Ohhhh boo-boo!" over and over. He usually holds out his finger and acts like it hurts and he wants to be kissed.

My oldest is such a nature lover. It is fun watching him discover each and every one of God's creatures. He loves them all. We practice catch-and-release after looking for a few minutes at our house.

I am definitely enjoying every moment of their too-short childhoods.

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