...and
...what
...do I see?
Come on,
Brown Bear, Brown Bear...
What do you see?
I see three smiling blondes staring back at me!
2012.
1st day of school, waiting at the bus stop.
It's one of my favorite shots.
My girlies are together and grinning.
Addi beaming that gorgeous, sweet smile, topped off with her signature "hood head."
She's the happiest kid on the block because both of her sisters will be on the bus with her now.
Grace to the side, but front and center...
head cocked at an angle...
...those purple, smart glasses are her trademark.
Whoa is the day when they break and we can't find a suitable replica.
The future is bright in Gracie's eyes.
I look toward little Chlo-Chlo...
...protected in the center by her two bigger sisters.
That's Chloe's spot. They make her feel safe.
Her big, baby blues gaze upward...
...mesmerizing.
She's the luckiest kid in the world.
Ready to travel on the big bus with her sisters.
This is serious stuff.
I giggle.
I can't help myself.
Stories come flooding back to me.
Clogged toilets.
Roller derby in the house on rainy nights.
Yelling, screaming...singing as loud as we can.
Cruisin' through the town, headed to the beach in our "singing car."
Dance parties in the living room.
Kids crashing into one another, time outs and ER visits.
Then I fast forward to the present.
My girls are tucked in.
I say a quick...
"Give me a minute girls. I'll be right there to read a story...Hop into bed. Mommy will be right there..."
I run around the house super fast.
I swoosh!
I glide!
I nearly trip on the dog gate!
>Pick up the "big eye" plushie toy before the puppy chews it.
>Wipe up the mud near the kitchen door.(for the 5th time today)
>Hang the towels that were left sopping on the floor after showers.
>Wipe the BBQ sauce off of the kitchen table.
OK...That took 2 minutes. Not bad.
QUICK
> Toss dinner on a plate and place in microwave for Jim.
> Check my phone...No missed texts or calls. GOOD.
NEXT
> Grab a glass of water for Grace (she has one every night at bed) and the fairytale book.
DONE.
I walk to Grace and Chloe's room.
SILENCE.
It's been 5 minutes.
They are asleep.
I look to the right...
Addison's asleep too.
I missed my chance.
Storytime is our bedtime tradition.
Lately I've let it be replaced with homework, school reading and mommy chores.
I do a double take.
This is not acceptable.
There are many things in this world that I will tolerate...
Messing with story-time isn't one of them.
Have you ever gone here before?
I don't like it.
ZOOM A FEW MORE MINUTES FURTHER...
I have walked into Grace and Chloe's bedroom and am standing at the head of their bunk bed, looking at Gracie.
God, she's beautiful.
I stroke her cheek and she stirs.
I utter," It's only Mama, baby. Hushhhhh," and lay my hand on the side of her face, letting it linger there.
She grins a sleepy grin and her eyes squint.
"Hi Mom. I love you."
"I love you too babe. Night sweetie."
"Night Mom."
She rolls onto her side.
I lean down and gently hug Chloe while I whisper "I love you."
She is sound asleep.
I give her a kiss on the cheek and tell her that she's a sweetie pie.
I take Chip off of her bed and wrestle the stuffed animal out of his mouth.
It's soggy and mushy...She'll never know in the morning. I place it with the rest at the foot of her bed.
I walk into Addi's room where she rests, hands tucked together under her cheek, her leg half hanging out from the covers and onto the floor.
I chuckle as I pull her back into her bed.
She's such a funny kid.
Addi's growing so fast that not even her bed can contain her.
I gently push her hair away from her cherubic face...and I think...
-To this day, I can't believe that with a little love... We made you.
We made three little girls.
Amazing, perfect, stunning, breath taking, beautiful...part of us. Amazing.
NOTE TO SELF:
I need to re-prioritize.
