Carson stalls his inevitable bedtime every night with requests to be tucked in (again), to open his closet door wider, or for a cup of water.
“Don’t forget the ice, Mommy!” he’ll call behind me as a shake my head and roll my eyes.
Ever the trained monkey, I fill his cup with ice and water and bring him his drink.
Sometimes I get a thank you, sometimes I don’t. Most nights I don’t even remind him to say thank you because I’m so desperate to get my 1.5 hours of child-free time before going to bed myself.
Last night I could hear him reading his books quietly to himself long after the delivery of his nightly iced beverage. Suddenly he called out, “Mommy! I forgot to say thank you.”
Confused, I trudged to his room. “What, Carson? What did you say?”
“Mommy, I forgot to say thank you…for my water.”
My little, sweet, polite boy. His concern was genuine, not just a stall tactic to get me to come back to his room. I curled up beside him, wrapped my arms around him and told him how proud he had made his mommy.
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Ella may as well be called Miss Congeniality. I fully expect one day to feed every new student, lonesome child, and entire cheerleading or math teams that Ella comes across. As soon as you meet her, she is nearly always immediately friendly. Even at the wee age of two, she knows how to put people at ease. She never leaves anyone out.
“You wanna come, too?” she’ll ask, to anyone who’s nearby and appears alone. Ella befriends the children at the library, inviting them home to live with us. When they decline, she just shrugs her shoulders in way that says, “Suit yourself. You have no idea the awesomeness you’re missing, though.”
When she’s not out searching for lost souls, her favorite position is in on my hip, gently patting my shoulder or playing with my hair. She seems to be overflowing with love and affection. Spontaneously she’ll make eye contact with me, smile her biggest smile and say, “Mommy. I love you,” and fall in to a fit of hugs and giggles.
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I don’t know what I did to deserve these kids. I am the luckiest Mom.
Amo
July 20, 2009 at 11:12 pm
“I don’t know what I did to deserve these kids. I am the luckiest Mom.”
You said it perfectly.
Amo´s last blog ..Weekly Lessons LEARNED
Carrie
July 20, 2009 at 11:29 pm
They sound like great kids- you’re clearly doing a good job with them.
Carrie´s last blog ..Like monkeys and the works of Shakespeare
Kim
July 20, 2009 at 11:42 pm
They’re both adorable and sweet as can be. My little one likes to call me in a bajillion times at bedtime and just when I’m getting annoyed and at my wits end, she says something adorably cute and makes me feel guilty for being annoyed. Little booger.
Kim´s last blog ..Self reflection time….
coffeejitters (Judy Haley)
July 21, 2009 at 2:31 am
awww… so sweet. I think sometimes the best things in life are just noticing what we already have.
the planet of janet
Twitter: Janet Daw
July 21, 2009 at 2:57 am
excellent.
every so often, it helps to stop and smell the flowers.
the planet of janet´s last blog ..Birthday dinner: If you knew sushi like I know sushi …
Lara
July 21, 2009 at 3:19 am
This is so sweet. And my children are polite and they always thank you when I do something for them. Children are our greatest wealth.
Lara´s last blog ..Soy Candles Make the Best Holiday Gifts
Beth
July 21, 2009 at 6:48 am
I think we have the SAME EXACT Carson. It never fails, night after night…the same delays, the same me giving in every time and fulfilling his every last request. AND….every night before I go to bed,I go back and tuck him in and lay with him & think how lucky I am, too. We ARE lucky.
MommyNamedApril
Twitter: MommyNamedApril
July 21, 2009 at 7:52 am
they sound fantastic
but i bet it’s in no small part, thanks to you!
MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Sunday Citar… on Monday.
lceel
July 21, 2009 at 8:24 am
Cool. Very cool. Brings back some long ago memories. And yes – you ARE lucky.
lceel´s last blog ..Step by Step
C @ Kid Things
Twitter: kidthingsnet
July 21, 2009 at 8:43 am
They sound like great kids.
C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Hush
Jen L.
July 21, 2009 at 9:27 am
Sounds like you’re doing a good job, Mommy!
Jen L.´s last blog ..In Which We Clean Out The Fridge…Again
The Glamorous Life
July 21, 2009 at 11:04 am
This was so touching to me. I am tearing up. Sometimes, it is just they way THEY ARE. That makes us so undeserving huh?
Love being a mom. Love, love, love it.
The Glamorous Life´s last blog ..A Glamorous Night away…
Habbala
July 21, 2009 at 11:13 am
Sounds like they have a fantastic mommy! So cute!
Habbala´s last blog ..The one where I buy everything in Anthropologie.
juliet
July 21, 2009 at 12:01 pm
It takes 2 to Tango. You’ve obviously given them the right combination of direction and freedom to be great people.
juliet´s last blog ..The Great American Bubble Machine
Sarah @ Ordinary Days
July 21, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Don’t you just love getting smacked in the face with a bit of sweetness just when you think they’ve driven you over the edge?
You’re a lucky mama.
Sarah @ Ordinary Days´s last blog ..Ordinary Updates
Corrin
July 21, 2009 at 2:19 pm
What adorable children. Good job with them
Corrin´s last blog ..things i love: clif’s snacks
Maggie
July 21, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I love those special moments, more so when I’m feeling “done in.” The kids must know, do you think?
Maggie´s last blog ..Enjoying the beach…and a sandy self-portrait…
Michelle
July 21, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Aww…you sound like you have great kids!
Molly @ ADB
July 22, 2009 at 7:37 am
Aww, this post got me all teary-eyed! They sound like great kids… good work, mama!
Molly @ ADB´s last blog ..Proud Mommy Monday: Babas are for Babies
Stephanie
Twitter: Stephanie Sheaffer
July 22, 2009 at 1:47 pm
They do sound incredibly sweet…and well-mannered too.
Stephanie´s last blog ..Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web
ali
July 22, 2009 at 3:07 pm
sigh. I LOVE this. They are awesome!
ali´s last blog ..I guess I DID get something new for BlogHer…
Trishy
July 22, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Love this post!!
Have so much fun at BlogHer!!! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
best camera
July 23, 2009 at 7:21 am
great post…nice article…thanks for full information..
Krista
Twitter: marriedlife
July 23, 2009 at 5:48 pm
My son is Mr. Politician at 2… at least that’s what my MIL calls him since his daddy was just like him and that’s what she called him! He’ll walk into a room and immediately go and greet everyone!
And I wanted to leave you a comment on the kimchi post… but the comment box is gone. Anyway, I had a Korean roommate in college and I refused to try the stuff, it smelled so horrible! Then my parents had a Korean exchange student a couple years ago…
his mom sent him a package and the post office refused to deliver it! Our mailman told my dad that it smelled so bad it was out back on the loading dock and they would have to come get it! His mom had sent many containers of kimchi that had broken open during shipping! The poor kid was out on our back porch scooping it into glass jars to try and save some of it!
I’m just glad I didn’t live at home anymore!
Krista´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Cutest Boy Ever
Traci
July 24, 2009 at 11:43 am
Kids really are a gift from God. Congradulations on doing a great job.
jen
July 24, 2009 at 3:50 pm
lucky doesn’t sum it up most days.
and other days … it doesn’t even feel right to say it.
jen´s last blog ..strawberries, raspberries and olive juice … oh my.
Jack
July 24, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Becoming a parent has definately changed my prospective on life.
thatgirlblogs
July 26, 2009 at 6:42 pm
my girls can be drama queens but my boys are both lovebugs for the moment. It’s so nice to hear my 3 year old thank me for the meal, even when it’s cereal!
danib
July 28, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Awe, that’s such a sweet post. I don’t have children, yet, but it’s sweet to hear mothers who feel lucky to have their little ones!
WM
July 28, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Aren’t these the moments you just cherish. The ones that make you feel like everything is right with the world.
donna
July 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I don’t know how I got such a sweetie either but like you, I am often the recipient of sloppy kisses, pats on the shoulder, and hugs around the legs. I couldn’t ask for more!
donna´s last blog ..Hot Enough For You?