Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Remembering My Babies

I am missing my babies tonight. 

I know, my boys are here....they haven't gone anywhere, but the little guys I used to cuddle and love and squeeze have grown up.  And tonight I am missing those sweet little guys.  From the time they were little I used to tell them that they were living proof that Heavenly Father loved me.  He wouldn't have sent His most special boys to me to take care of if He didn't love me.  I truly believe that.

Tonight, as this hot summer day comes to a close, I miss those little boys.  And the things I miss are so strange to me.  I miss that musky, sweaty scent they had when they were little and would come in at the end of a summer day ready for their bath and to get into their jammies.  I miss sitting out at the picnic table in the backyard trying to read and having them yell "Watch me Mommy!" every five minutes while they played on the swing set, or climbed the apple tree, or just ran back and forth across the yard.   

Sometimes in the evenings I would put on Elvis Presley records (yes records ... they were fascinated by them) and we would dance together until I was exhausted and they were just getting started.  We would go buy five cent ice cream cones at Thrifty Drug Store then drive up to the top of the hill at the end of our neighborhood and watch the sun set.  They asked some of their most interesting questions during that time.

I miss how AJ would wear an old kerchief of mine around his neck and think he was superman, or how Kevin would carry a stuffed doggie named Shorty with him all the time and introduce him to people he liked.

Every night we would read and read and read together.  One on each side, they would sink into me as much as they could, their eyes getting sleepy as I would make the sound effects and special voices for their favorite books.  And I miss them coming into my bed in the morning.  Sometimes I would pretend to still be asleep and they would pull my eyelids up and ask if I was in there. 

If I could have one wish it would be to go back and see myself then.  Make sure I hugged them enough, kissed them often and told them every chance I had how special they were and how much I love them.  I think I did, but I'd love to make sure.

Forgive me for waxing nostalgic, but I miss my babies.  I posted these pictures, when AJ was 9 and Kevin 7, because I wanted to look at them.  You can look at them too, and maybe go hug your babies before they grow taller than you. 

2 comments:

Mel said...

Oh, Maureen---I am with you on that. It brought tears to my eyes as I remembered MY babies. I wish the same thing. I'm not sure I am ready for them to grow up, but then again, I guess I have no choice. Thanks for sharing that.

Rach said...

Oh Maureen, you made me cry! Such a sweet post. Sometimes it seems like the days never end and sometimes you never want them to. I'm definitely not ready for my babies to be grown up. This reminds me of a quote by Pres. Monson: "If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."