Valentine

My niece posing with that hilarious smile that three year olds do when you tell them to say "cheese"

Happy Valentines day y'all! We are all sick on the home front. Maya and I have the lovely strep throat and the boys are not a hundred percent so we're gonna lay low today. I was able to mutter up some energy this morning to make some heart shaped pancakes while we exchanged home made cards and the kids were presented with cheesy stuffed animals. I know it's selfish, but I'm kind of glad that we confirmed that Maya has the same thing as myself because now I can still cuddle her and kiss her and not worry about giving her anything.  Some people talk about how valentines day is just an excuse for card companies and florists to make lots of money - and they are mostly right - but why not use it as an excuse to make your loved ones feel extra special an remind them how important they are? Yes we should do that every day but today is the day where you can say it with chocolates!

So this afternoon as the babes slept I saw this picture while checking out my facebook. My brother had a flower delivered to his daughter at preschool today. It immediately gave me warm fuzzies because it reminds me of when our Dad used to do the same thing for us on valentines day when we were kids. Every year I would get a knock on my classroom door and they would announce that there was a special delivery for me. Sure, at the time it was a little embarrassing being centred out in front of everyone (I was an extremely shy kid), but as I grew older I really appreciated the gesture. Even in my adult years there were a few times when my Dad would send a bouquet of flowers to my work "just because".  My Dad is a bit of a sentimental schmuck and was never hesitant to show his affection for his kids.

Seeing this picture is the perfect way to illustrate just how much impact a father can have on his sons and daughters in the way of relationships.  I am always going on and on about this with Chris, ever since our kids have been born. I am always reminding him how important his relationship with his kids will be in establishing their self worth, as well as how they should expect to be treated (and how they should treat others).  I can tell Chris is often mindful of this when interacting with our kids. I can also tell that my father did a good job setting an example for my brother because he has turned out to be a loving husband and father himself. One who is present, who shows affection, and who has taught his daughter that she is loved and deserves to be treated well.  His simple gesture on Valentines day - starting a tradition with his own daughter - is a perfect example of how simple things can go a long way. My Dad probably didn't really think about the impact that his actions would have on his kids later on in life, but now that it is has come full circle, he can be proud of a job well done.  His kids grew up feeling loved and important, and now thanks to him so will his grandkids.

The Sounds Of Our Childhood

When my babies are sleeping, I sneak into their rooms and watch them as they lay in their usual positions - Nolan with his thumb in his mouth, and Maya with her arm wrapped around her bear. Every time I see Maya with her tiny arm around Teddy I feel like I am going to die from cuteness overload. I always tell Chris I want to etch that image into my brain permanently so that I can always remember just how small and precious she was. Then one night, about three weeks ago, I actually took pictures of them while they slept. I had decided that I wanted to be able to look back on these images and forever remember how precious it was having two sleeping babies under our roof.  After all, these are the kinds of moments that we will cherish the most when looking back on this time. 

Aside from the sappy mommy moment to reflect on such things, it also brought back memories of when I was just a young girl. I'll explain what I mean. As I left Maya's room that night, my foot hit the floor board right at the foot of her door in the hallway and it creaked it's usual creak when I leave her room at night. It's the same creak that Maya hears in the morning when I am about to come into her room and greet her.  She often calls my name when she wakes up and when she hears that creek she stops and waits in anticipation because she knows I am coming.  When I was a little kid I remember similar noises that were familiar in my parents' household - the creaking of the kitchen cupboards the never got oiled; the sound of popcorn popping (followed by the theme to Cheers on the TV) when my Mom would sit down and take a break after bed time; the sound of my Dad lightly coughing (announcing that he was home from his shift at work); the way the back door slammed when someone left the house. All of these noises were just every day parts of the household routine. They were monotonous, trivial, insignificant, and yet comforting in their predictability and familiarity.  They were the sounds of home. 

I wonder if Maya lays in bed at night and is comforted by our household sounds. The sounds of us living. I wonder if she will hear certain noises some day, only to be reminded of the security and safety of her childhood. I hope one day she does.