Saturday 6 December 2008

Nostalgia

I set a little naked-bumed Kees up in his crib, sitting amidst a pile of pillows, and let him play with his crib aquarium. I then sat on the nursing chair, and watched the back of his head as he grabbed the toys, kissed the fish, and toddled from side to side, each time regaining his balance and squaring himself off to a proper sitting position. I watched him in silence until he turned around, remembered that I was there, and flashed me an ecstatic toothed grin. He turned around and resumed playing. And I resumed my motherly vigil.

I was not nostalgic when Sacha grew from an infant to a baby, from a toddler and into an opinionated two-year old. I remember being so anxious for him to be old enough to eat solids, big enough to sit on his own, and old enough to talk. Old enough to go to a sitter without screaming for his maman.

A second time mother is more educated in that respect.

Kees is already 6 months, and I miss him as a new-born infant. My sweet suckler who slept all the time, with his melodious hums and ahs as he sang himself to sleep.

Now, he has two teeth, and bites my shoulder when he gets excited. He rubs those little chewing implements on my breast when he nurses, testing out his new eating tools. He tackles his older brother, pulling his hair, kissing (or tasting, I'm not sure) his ears. He giggles at fart noises (his brother's) and pulls the cat's tail. He loves to read, especially "Where is Baby's Belly Button?" with the large flaps to pull on and flip over time and again. At the end of the day, he nuzzles his head onto my shoulder when he's tired, and calmly lets himself drift to dreamland.

I relish every minute of these sweet 6 month moments, because I know that soon enough, he, too, will be a terrible two, shaking his head "no" when I ask him to pick up his toys or stop dumping his crackers on the floor. He, too, may scream and throw a fit when I tell him that he cannot have anymore advent calendar chocolates. There are beautiful moments in Two-land, but I can wait.

I love my sweet Kees. Just as he is. Right now.

Kees - 6 months


Sweet Kisses

9 comments:

  1. That first picture of him is the absolute perfect send-off to this blog.

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  2. Lovely post. I love that last picture.

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  3. Aw! So sweet! I was thinking about this the other day. At 18 months, Arlo is still super-cuddly (even though he's also becoming a little trouble-maker). I will miss his running hugs and sloppy kisses when he gets older.

    BTW, those pictures are amazing! He really is a charmer, that one.

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  4. I totally understand the reluctance to see them grow up. I am continuously searching for "life's pause button" to be given a little more time to savour the precious moments that will all too soon be replaced by the next.

    I too will echo what the others have already said in that they are lovely photos. What a great smile he has.

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  5. I too, loved the baby stage. That's why I had so many! That was a beautiful post and it made me cry.

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  6. Sniff!!! AWWWW.....And I hear yah!

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  7. I was just musing on this same topic last night. I want to freeze time and keep my baby new.

    Lovely post, lovely photos.

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  8. What a beautiful description of a precious moment. We have had so many of those moments over the years.

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  9. I too held my own heart for the moment as I read your posting. I suddenly remembered and missed when Patrick and Abbi were both that small...just that small. Now they are almost leaving home and I ache in silence for the times they were at my and Raymond's side in our bed in their own peaceful 6-month slumber. Life was sweet with a future of promises.

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Thoughts? Comments? Questions?