I bought Henry some new pajamas last weekend, with space ships on them. I stood in front of the display forever, trying to decide between a size 6 and a size 8. Finally, I bought the sixes because the eights seemed like they would be way too big. How could Henry possibly need anything bigger than a size 6?
Charlie may be getting those pajamas soon.
Oklahoma City Zoo, summer 2002
I used to laugh at women who said, “Oh I can hardly remember when my kids were that size,” whatever size it is that your child is now. I would think, how can you NOT REMEMBER this size, this age, this incredible cuteness and snuggliness? But I also thought that all the baby cuteness and snuggliness would go on forever, forgetting, as my friend Nancy says, that our little boys will grow into “smelly, scratchy men” some day.
Some day soon, apparently.
I look at pictures of Henry from three or four years ago, and I’m startled by how little he looks. I have always thought of Charlie as the baby, and I think I forget what a little guy Henry was. I love the big boy he is turning into; I love his laugh and his millions of questions and his quirks. I love that he can name all the planets and can add and subtract in his head and that he writes an R by attaching two legs to a circle.
I love that he looks exactly like the teeny baby they handed me in the delivery room at the same time that he looks like a mini Wade.
I love that my baby is growing up, moving closer to the smelly and scratchy part of his life. But I also love that he has started hugging me again, after not wanting to for what seemed like forever. Because I want the snuggly part to last forever.
Love Thursday is brought to you by Karen and Irene. Links to more Love Thursday posts can be found at their sites.
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I used to think the same thing about the forgetting. It’s not forgetting, though; it’s more like it’s just buried under the surface. One look at a picture brings it all rushing back. Better yet, video. We brought out the recorder and hooked it up to the TV a few months ago (we haven’t really used it since I got my digital because it has a movie feature on it). I was instantly transported back to when Sophie was a chubby baby and when Christopher said the cutest things.
I think we’ll watch home movies tonight.
By Candace on 09.28.06 1:53 pm | Permalink
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I see little ones who are 6 months or 2 years old and think, “how incredibly small they are.” And then I realize that I can barely access the memory of when my children were that small.
My theory is that because I had twins that I never got to go through that stage sequentially and I’m very nostalgic for it. (Of course my theory could be totally wrong and I could just be a sentimental fool. Hard to tell.)
By MJ on 09.28.06 3:02 pm | Permalink
Scratchy? Smelly? NOW you tell me that’s what they’re going to be?! I don’t think I realized that when I signed on.
And a size 8?! Not possible.
By Melissa on 09.28.06 3:39 pm | Permalink
And can you believe that in three or four years you will look back on pictures of him now and think he was so little?
By MamaChristy on 09.28.06 4:09 pm | Permalink
It’s true what they say. It goes by too fast.
By Jenny on 09.28.06 6:15 pm | Permalink
I can hardly bear to let go of some of Mr. Kicky’s clothes, even though they haven’t fit him in months. Every time I look at the ducky sleepers or the Pooh jacket with the cute little ears on the hood I get all teary-eyed.
It’s mostly the Carter’s microfleece sleepers that get me. There is NOTHING snugglier than a baby in a microfleece sleeper. Not even a kitten in a fuzzy sweater.
By mausfrau on 09.28.06 6:35 pm | Permalink
I think a lot about how my girls, much younger than your boys, change so quickly, and yet still look exactly like the tiny little preemies that exited me fifteen months ago, and how this stage of their lives is the most fun — no, wait, THIS stage is the most fun — it just keeps getting better and better! (Will I stop thinking that when they hit two or three?)
By Kelly on 09.28.06 6:56 pm | Permalink
Beautiful! I’m still hoping my 7 year old will get cuddly again - but I’m afraid the cuddly 4 year old he was has gone for good.
By Em on 09.28.06 7:53 pm | Permalink
I look at the two who are taller than I and the one who is catching up fast and wonder where the years have gone.
Wasn’t it just yesterday they were tiny?
By Granny on 09.28.06 8:40 pm | Permalink
Yup, it was a little freaky when my 14 year old out-grew me this year. But she’s still snuggly.
Wonderful post.
By PastorMac's Ann on 09.29.06 2:10 am | Permalink
“that he writes an R by attaching two legs to a circle” this is priceless. I want a picture of this!
lovely entry. happy love thursday!
By Irene on 09.29.06 3:35 am | Permalink
Love this post. Love the picture.
Love it all.
By Jenny on 09.29.06 4:17 am | Permalink
I have a picture on my dresser of Quinn, 3 months, and Bryce, 22 months. I kind of can’t look at it very often, because of that strange happy-sad ache it gives me.
By Kristen on 09.29.06 7:09 am | Permalink
The other day my friend’s 3 year old fell asleep in my lap, and I got to thinking about the last time one of my kids has done that. And I couldn’t remember, they have gotten to be so old.
Enjoy this time! Even with the bleedy noses.
By Laura on 09.29.06 7:15 am | Permalink
where are you from if you dont mind me asking…. I currently like in Lynchburg, Va but i am originally from the Tulsa, OK area… I LOVE your blog!
you can check out mine @ blogspot.onlyhuman
~
okiechick79@yahoo.com
By onlyhuman79 on 10.12.06 8:50 am | Permalink
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