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San Diego Momma

San Diego Momma

Sharing some humor, a bit of writing and way too much information

Home / Etcetera / Doing Well

Doing Well

Etcetera

“How are the kids?” he asked during a routine work conversation.

 

I try to keep it short and sweet. “Good,” I say. “Toots turned 6 last month and Booger will be 4 next week.”

 

I could add more, so much more, but don’t want to bore him.

 

Turns out I can’t help myself and go on a bit longer, ever mindful of the time. There’s not enough words to say what I want to anyway…

 

…That Toots is a goof, but so emotional I wonder at the ferocity of her feelings. Last week she wrote, “I no I have a gaet life but it dusit seym rit” and tears sprung to my eyes. Such words for a little girl. When I asked her about it she laughed and said she just felt like writing it down. It didn’t seem as if she took it — or me — seriously and thank God for that, I think. With Toots, the wave of emotion goes up, the wave of emotion goes down. Most of the time, I try to meet her at the tide’s peak, but I worry. Then, I catch a glimpse of her playing outside, helmet askew, gliding on her scooter or hamming it up with a neighbor and I can’t take my eyes of her. My little goobie. I love how she collects flowers and “decorates the neighborhood,” strewing petals on thresholds and front stoops. How she reads everything, toothpaste tubes included. How she rubs her feet together and flashes her dimples. How she wants to be an illustrator and makes storybooks and has dreams and asks to plant a “popcorn tree.”

 

goobieangel

 

Those things aren’t captured in simple answers to polite questions.

 

boogs

 

And Booger. My sweet sweet baby girl with her painted toes and flower fingers. Her dresses of gauze and gloves of lace and the ponytail she keeps checking to see if it’s there. She’s grown into her face now and the baby is leaving. I still sneak into her room to watch her sleeping because that’s when she looks most like the little girl who used to sleep on my chest at one month old. Sometimes I kiss her too hard and she wakes up, shooing me away. She laughs in her sleep and it’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. People tell her she’s gorgeous and I’m sure it’s going to her head, but there’s a light within her and it’s not hiding in a bushel.

 

Light. Both of them light.

 

goobiesatbay

 

That answer should suffice.

 

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April 1, 2010 · 16 Comments

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Comments

  1. Smalltown Mom says

    April 1, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    They are beautiful.

    Reply
  2. Barrie Summy says

    April 1, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    They are both adorable!

    Reply
  3. Jenn @ Juggling Life says

    April 1, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    Complicated, but beautiful–just like their mama.

    Reply
  4. Laurie Ann says

    April 1, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    What lucky little girls to have a mom who sees them so clearly for who they are. You just made me cry a little.

    Reply
  5. Bejewell says

    April 1, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    You can take as much time as you want with me, if you’re talking about those gorgeous girls!

    Reply
  6. kate says

    April 1, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    Sometimes you write something and I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever ready. This is one. What words you have. You always get the right words in the right order at just the right moment.

    Reply
  7. kate says

    April 1, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    *read*

    Also? You make me want to write.

    Reply
  8. Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy says

    April 1, 2010 at 8:02 pm

    So beautiful. The words and those little angels.

    Reply
  9. Maureen@IslandRoar says

    April 2, 2010 at 6:27 am

    Oh, you’ve put this so beautifully. And the girls are lovely!

    Reply
  10. Mama Mary says

    April 2, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    Light is right! Simply gorgeous and lovely.
    I do that same thing with my little Lexi. How do they grow so fast?

    Reply
  11. green girl in Wisconsin says

    April 3, 2010 at 9:43 am

    YOu would make people’s day if you handed out printed copies of this post. Seriously.
    And your younger? Looks just like you.

    Reply
  12. chitownlis says

    April 4, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    Ohhhhhh! So very sweet… They are so adorable! I miss them… I need to come visit. Tell them Auntie Lisa misses them. :)

    Reply
  13. g says

    April 5, 2010 at 6:08 am

    So sweet. What lovely girls.

    Just checking in with you about the quake – making sure you’re OK. Any stories to tell?

    Reply
  14. Danielle says

    April 5, 2010 at 9:21 am

    So beautiful…your writing and the girls.

    Reply
  15. MomZombie says

    April 6, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    All these moments are the true beauty of motherhood and parenthood. It’s not in all the extra-curriculars we often choose to brag about when we answer such chit-chat conversations.(He’s the top goal scorer on his team! She speaks fluent Russian!) It’s the dimples and the flower strewing and the little written notes and drawings found folded in a toy purse. Beautiful post.

    Reply
  16. Erika says

    October 5, 2010 at 11:03 am

    *gasp* beautiful and I know exactly how you feel!

    Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

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