Everyday things I want to remember…

~The way Bella smiles at me first thing in the morning. She’s always so happy just to be alive.

~The sometimes annoying middle of the night cuddle sessions when Primo’s teeth hurt. No matter how hard it is to get up, it’s wonderful to have that time to just snuggle. It’s the only time he really stays still for more than a few seconds at a time. I want to remember the way he holds my arm to make sure I don’t sneak out, the way he combs through my hair with his little fingers just like he’s stroking his stuffed animals and the way he grabs my face with his warm little hands and says “Mommy, sing.”

~The look of sheer joy Bella gets on her face when she’s bouncing in her bouncy chair. Man, can she move!

~The way that Primo, every time he sees a phone, demands to “Phone Gapa Jack!” or “Phone Gama Betty!”

~The sound of Bella blowing her first bubbles and covering herself in drool.

~The excitement of throwing something in the garbage for Primo. “Primo fwow a gawbage!”

~The sound of Primo’s sweet voice talking to me all day. Especially “‘I luhyousomuch, Mommy.”

~The way Bella looks at her big brother with such awe. He can make her smile just by looking at her.

~The way he makes silly noises and faces at her just to make her happy, and then declares “Bella LIKES it!”

~The way Primo yells at the Big Guy down the basement…”Hellooooo! Daddyyyyyy! Naaaame!”

~The spontaneous hugs and kisses we all get, just because, and the way he says “Hugga Daddy.”

As I sit and type this I’m sad about the things I’ve already forgotten. This whole parenting-circle-of-life stuff isn’t easy on the emotions, is it?

~The way Primo dances with abandon to any music he hears, whether on the stereo, over the speakers at a store or from an annoying toy.

~The way he says “sake-a-bootie” when he feels like dancing when there’s no music on.

~The feel of the nape of Bella’s neck on my lips when I kiss it. So soft, with a little roll of chub. Just above it, there’s a rough patch where her hair is finally growing in. There isn’t enough time to kiss her!

~The way Primo asks for a “hunded kisses” and then we count to 100 by tens as I smooch all over his face.

~The way Bella’s gorgeous brown eyes light up from the inside each time she smiles her gorgeous big toothless grin.

~The way Primo sings “Ode McDonad had a fawm, E-I-E-I-Oooooo. On dat fawm he had a pig/daddy/blind/ceiling (or whatever pops into his head), E-I-E-I-Oooooo.”

~The way Bella looks me in the eye while she’s nursing. Sometimes she smiles and I can see her little tongue still working away to draw her milk out. Making milk is my superpower.

~The way she kneads my shirt, wrings her hands, and pulls my hair while she nurses.

~The way Primo runs out of his bedroom every evening after bath time to show the parent who didn’t bathe him his pajamas. He runs out with such excitement! He rubs his hands on his shirt and says “Hockey shirt!” and his pants and says “Hockey pants!” “Show Mommy!” and then bounces away for one last play before bed.

~The soft and chunky feel of Bella’s cheeks as I squish my lips and nose into them and the way she leans into me with a grin so I’ll keep going.

~The way Primo demands “Have it!” or “Primo wants it” when he wants something. Then, when I just look at him, he changes it to “Have it peez, Mommy.”

~The way Primo gets so excited whenever we’re going anywhere. It’s all routine stuff and we go out pretty much every day, but he’s excited even to go to Safeway (”see the coffee guy!), Caw-Co (Costco) or “War-mit” (Wal-Mart). He especially loves it when we’re going to a friend’s house or to meet friends to shop, and talks about his friend(s) all the way there.

~The way it feels to be a stay at home mom to two little kids who are just 20 months apart. Many people, including us, thought it was a little too close but it couldn’t have been better. There has been no jealousy, very few problems and more love that we could ever have hoped for. We are infinitely blessed.

What do you want to remember?