They surround me, wisps of gown tickling at my feet, tendrils of chestnut hair kissing my neck and the rhythms of their sleep lapping at my soul. Each morning brings another nuance, turns of phrase slipping away and bright, shiny new ways of declaring my obsolescence emerge. We move as one, a tangle of mom and girl, baby and child, needy and capable.
"You sure have your hands full," people chuckle, heads shaking as they watch me, arms straining and breath slightly labored. I smile and nod, but inside I know that the shortness of breath and sinewy arms aren't exhaustion, it's the holding on. Gasping for breath as I watch time speeding by, my arms working at superhuman levels to hold it back. Beating away the ticking in order to catch one more throaty exclaim of
Look at the up lines on the mountain hill.
Or Mama, you show me one more elephant butterfly hug 'fore you tuck me night night?.
They are only today my babies, tomorrow becoming one step closer to the women I'll admire. I greedily clutch these photos to my breast and breathe a ragged breath as I try to smile, and say in a steady voice, Yes, honey, I do see. You are very big."
16 comments:
masterpieces, all
Beautiful...the photos and the sentiment.
Look at that confident face, that graceful arm and those wispy curls, yes my dear you have your hands full of pretty wonderful stuff. You are one lucky lady.
Oh, they are gorgeous! And your baby is getting so big, wow. So glad to hear you're enjoying this time to the fullest :) i am pregnant again and, in large part because of you, really hoping for a girl this time!
Sob! I'm desperately trying to hold back time too.
You are wise to hold on. I'm just a little further down the path, and I can't believe how quickly it is going by...
Those pictures are beautiful.
Precious, precious little ones! Hold on tight, Mom.
Sometimes I wish I had held on just a little tighter. Would it have made the time go by just a tad more slowly?
Love the black and whites. The girls are getting so big. And more gorgeous.
Beautiful, Mama.:)
you slay me. every single time.
Simple fun. Those are the memories that last. They are such beauties.
Ed's comment is hurting my eyes.
I'm going to channel my inner gramma and say that they grow in a blink. My first baby turning double digits soon. I'm panicked. I'm grateful. I'm sad. I'm elated. Motherhood makes me feel so bipolar sometimes.
"He" commented on 50 entries, each with this chinese announcement for all manner of internet nastiness (thank you Google translator). I'll delete this one, but can't find the time to do all 50.
Beautiful: all of them.
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