I get out of the car, gathering the pieces parts that made the trip with us: purse, phone, drink, Mum-Mum wrappers, Jackson’s bottle of water. N.C. works to get the kid out of his carseat–always a challenging prospect. While he fiddles with straps and buckles and 28 pounds of squirmy toddler, I grab the diaper bag.
As I come around the back of the car, N.C. stands up with Jackson in his arms. “Koala baby,” we say, a phrase we’ve taken to calling the kid as he’s learned to cling. I smile to see the two of them together.
Jackson looks over his daddy’s shoulder, and sees me. His face lights up, and my heart lifts. He leans to reach for me, ignoring things like gravity, height, and the fact that I’m still about 2 feet away. The leaning tower of toddler continues moving toward either me or the ground, so I take two steps forward just in time for him to wrap his arms around my neck, and his legs around my waist.
“Pack mule mommy,” N.C. and I say at almost the same time. What is it about being a parent that gives you the ability to carry all this crap while carrying a moving, wriggling kid? Somehow, the diaper bag and other items get taken from me, leaving me with the kid and my purse. Much more manageable.
I used to be able to get in the house from the car in less than 2 minutes. Now, we’re lucky if it’s around 5, but eventually we all make it in the door. I bend down to put Jackson on the floor, just as he picks his legs up and refuses. He’s clingy today, but it’s the end of a long stressful workday, so I don’t mind. In fact, silently, I’m kinda happy about it.
“Fine, fine, I’ll just put my purse down, and then we’ll sit down together.”
I’m finally free of all accouterments besides the kid. All of a sudden, he leans in to kiss me, that awesome open mouth kiss that melts my heart. “Aww, thanks for the kiss buddy!”
He stops, looks me right in the eye, and puts a hand on my cheek. I stop moving, waiting to see what he’s going to do next. Still staring intently at me, he puts his other hand on my cheek, cupping my face in his hands, gazing in my eyes. We stay like that for an eternity and a heartbeat, and I try not to breath lest I break the spell. He searches my face, and then breaks into a slow megawatt smile that would cheer up even the grinchiest grinch.
And then the moment’s over, and he’s squirming to get down, to run and play and be a toddler. I let him down, wishing he’d stay still in my arms a few more minutes, but knowing I’ll take those moments–however fleeting–whenever I can get them.
Awwww, this made my heart all melty.
love this π
Oh, how sweet. π I love it.
I love these moments. And you captured it so well. I’m sure you will cherish this entry in the years to come
Very sweet!
Oh, hon…you captured that experience perfectly! This is one of the sweetest things I’ve ever read.
I love those moments, too, no matter how few and far between they can be π
you captured the moment perfectly. love it.
“…for an eternity and a heartbeat” — yes. So lovely.
My little boy kisses my nose and seeing his little pursed mouth coming at me is the most heart melting thing.
These are the moments that time stops moving and everything is focused on that precious little one. Enjoy the moment. π
This was great. Keep ’em coming!
I love it. π
We almost had a moment like this tonight. Charlotte was cupping my face in her hands, and it was very sweet, until the pain of tiny, overgrown, fingernails digging into my flesh kicked in.
Love π
Love those moments! π
Oh my gosh, I SO love this Ginger! How extremely sweet. This is totally one of those posts where I see how amazing of a writer you are, I felt like it was me and Jack for a little while.
Aw, this is wonderful. π (And wonderful new writing style, too.)
So sweet. My boys are much older now, and I still have sweet moments with them, they’re just different kinds of sweet moments.
Oh, I love your ability to appreciate the moment in the moment.
To see that this moment is special . . . to hold your breath in hopes that it will last just a little bit longer if you don’t exhale.
I just love this.
I miss things like this so much…so glad you can enjoy it. New visitor sent over from Kris!
What a lovely moment written in the the mist beautiful way.
Stopped by way of Kris.
I savor those moments. Jackson is at the age when you will get a lot more of those. And then, before you know it, he will be a big boy.
What a wonderful moment…one that could have so easily slipped by.
Truly lovely.
Moms could really use eight arms to carry everything in from the car. I love reading about your snuggle moment.
Awww. So easy to miss those moments if we’re not careful. This was super sweet! Even though mine is 16 now, I still vividly remember what it felt like to have those little arms around my neck and the legs locked on around my waist. And even that refusal to put the feet down when you try to put them down. lol.
Btw, I stopped by from In These Small Moments… π
What a beautiful moment! And so lovingly captured. Thank you for sharing. Visiting you from These Small Moments π
What a lovely moment. I often find myself running from thing to thing and forget to just savor the small moments π
*Sigh* What a gorgeous moment in time! With all of those squirmy, wild times, they’re lucky they’re so sweet. And wonderful. And lovely, aren’t they? Again: *Sigh!* Great post!
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