Saturday, February 09, 2008

Saturday Afternoon Elixir

I'm sitting in the big chair in the girls room, legs crossed, laptop nestled beneath my belly and between my knees. Both girls are asleep on their backs, each facing away from the wall and toward each other. I trimmed their bangs this morning, Briar's forehead is a seashell pink, dusted by two sandy arches, Avery's an ethereal milky color, her brows like artist's strokes of charcoal. The light coming through the white panels and pink sheers is soft, the world beyond a brilliant white, silent and serene, as inch after inch of snow falls in impossibly tiny flakes.

We've spent the morning making Valentine's, wood puttying nail holes in the trim work in the kitchen, and slurping chicken noodle soup through straws. I've yet to shower, and somehow sitting here, watching them sleep, still clad in my pajamas and bed hair, I feel as refreshed and pampered as I can ever remember feeling. Perhaps it's the way the simple magic of the entire day clings to me like the snowflakes glimmering on every surface outside.

Avery came to me as I began to wake this morning, hauling her little body up into bed and then on top of me. She slipped into her favorite mold, laying her neck against mine and burying her face in the side of mine, while running her fingers up and down my arm whispering, "You ahm, you nayck, you showduh." We stayed like that for some time until Sean popped his head up and offered to take Ave downstairs. Later, after I'd fallen back to sleep, Briar squealed, realizing that she was all alone. She sprinted to our room and rushed to my side of the bed, her relief at seeing me had her collapsing into my side, her palm outstretched and cupping my face.

I find myself wanting to stay until they wake, to be there to witness the gentle rustle, lips pursing in a cross between a kiss and a question, knees popping up beneath bright fleece dotted with princesses and monkeys. I imagine the delight on their faces as they realize I never left. The anticipation warms me from head to toe and it is all I can do to keep myself from kicking and shrieking, waking the neighborhood with my delight at being mama to Briar and Avery, and soon another.

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10 comments:

BetteJo said...

A day that starts like that can only be a wonderful day. :)

S said...

You help me remember to treat parenthood as the wondrous thing it is.

flutter said...

Your life really is beautiful

The bean-mom said...

So lovely. Your joy in your children shines so brightly. Wishing you more such days of happy anticipation as you wait to be a mother to your third.

Kimberly said...

I just love reading your posts. They help me remember to cherish every day.

Anonymous said...

You're a lucky, lucky lady.

Life As I Know It said...

This whole post made me feel warm and cozy...
I like to stay in bed when my kids awake too and have them climb into our bed.
On the days when I'm up before they are, they always seem a bit disoriented as they stumble downstairs after finding my bed empty.

crazymumma said...

I know that kind of heaven.

the new girl said...

Oh, Amanda,
Your writing is amazing. It paints such a picture and I love it.

Anonymous said...

OH, this was lovely. You make me remember why we did that THING that made these gorgeous creatures in the first place. Thank you. Such beautiful writing.