Stuff to Remember...

...about my sweet boys.

Things I have to remember about you, my firstborn, Aaron

…I have to remember how you occasionally look at me with so much love it makes my heart stop

…I have to remember how your hair curls in the back, but lays flat in the front

…I have to remember how you refuse to cuddle, except when you are really REALLY tired, and then you lay so sweetly back on me

…I have to remember how when I sing, ‘the itsy bitsy spider’ you move your little fingers up and down

…I have to remember that you and I can’t be in the kitchen at the same time without you begging for a snack, and I created this monster by pacifying you with cookies the first couple weeks of your brother joining our family

…I have to remember how you watch the animals on Zaboomafoo with wide eyes, staring so intently as you try to figure out the world

…I have to remember your favorite books, ‘No Matter What’, ‘I love you forever’, ‘Three little pigs’

…I have to remember how when we go for walks, often times you turn around and place your hand on your brother, and just leave it there, as though you are protecting him

…I have to remember that even though you don’t have words yet, you talk as though you fully expect me to understand

…I have to remember what you look like when I come into your room after you wake up for a nap and you are ready to start the day

….I have to remember how you open your mouth wide and suck air in loudly to express your excitement

…I have to remember how when I wake up in the morning, you run down the hall and give me a big hug with a huge grin on your face

…I have to remember that after taking a big gulp of water you say, ‘ahhhh’ because you saw me do it.

…I have to remember what it feels like to have you sneak up behind me and lean against my back

Things I have to remember about you, my sweet baby Joseph

…I have to remember that when you sleep, you truly look like an angel

…I have to remember how strong your arms are, and how tight you can squeeze my hands

…I have to remember how you feel when your head is curled up in the space between my head and my shoulder

…I have to remember what you look like in the middle of the night, when I turn on the light so I can feed you

…I have to remember your smile, how it starts in one corner and gets big real quick

…I have to remember when you are laying in front of me, and you look at my face and follow me from side to side

…I have to remember how I give you kisses all the time, and I can see in your eyes the love that we have

…I have to remember what your hair looks like, just after a bath, when it has dried and it sticks straight up

…I have to remember your complexion, the perfect blending of daddy and I.

…I have to remember your crazy long toes and your crazy long fingers

…I have to remember that you used to HATE when I cleared out your nose, but now you put up with it patiently, sometimes you even smile

…I have to remember how when I sit you up to snuggle with your brother, you really look at him

…I have to remember your cry, it is so gentle and raspy and you only let us hear it when you are hungry or need a diaper change

…I have to remember how fantastic it is that you brought me from one child to two, making our family so special, and allowing me to say, ‘my boys’