Love, Twue Love

Let me tell you something about love. In our home, love is a dress. Love is a tutu. Love is a pwiiiiiiincess. Love is pure, innocent, and sometimes comical.

Everyday, I have the honor of witnessing the love and admiration a little boy has for his big sister. If she speaks, he watches intently and repeats to the best of his ability whatever was spoken (or in some cases yelled in some crazy gibberish language). When an interesting ballet move is made up, he is right there behind, copying every move of her arms and legs. The way he studies, and desires to be just like her…..that is admiration and love.

So yes, love is a dress around here. My little lady hardly ever wears pants, and you better believe that if she wants to be a princess, so does he! My little train guy won’t be a pwincess (I wish you could hear him say that) forever, and in the meantime, I have plenty of opportunities for graduation and wedding photos. And I have to say, in his defense, that he is very much his own person with his own interests. He is unique, and I hope that one day, despite the difficult moments, his sister will be able to look back and see how very much she was loved.

Do they have to grow up?

Seriously!   I realize that some days are really challenging in the parenting arena, but I want them to last a lot longer.  I want to be able to soak in every sincere, “I love you,” every bear hug, every sweet smile.  I want it all to linger.  I want to remember in 20 years just what those tiny hands and wet kisses feel like.  I don’t ever want to forget how Abram says “momboid” when he means “mermaid” or how “yeah” and “yep” have somehow changed into “wah” and “wep.”  I want to always be able to recall how Hannah says “cabinet” for “cabin” and “helpidoctor” for “helicopter.”  Oh, and the moments!  May I always remember how Abram adopted Pax to be his dog, how Hannah “reads” to Abram from the photo album of her birth, and how Pax gives me the biggest and sweetest smile every single time I look at him.

These days are fleeting.  I know it down to my core.  They are growing up in a flash.  I am living my childhood dreams being their mother, and I am trying each and every day to remember all of this.  My house may not be the cleanest, but I have bigger and better things to attend to right now.

And please please please someone remind me of all of this on those days when I just don’t think I can do it. This season is far to precious to have a difficult day because I am grumpy!