To Bubbles and Jerry Lee Lewis
Dear Cooper:
I’m not sorry. When we got out that blue plastic cup and the candy cane straw, I’m not sorry I taught you how to blow bubbles into the water. I don’t care that you spilled liquid all over the place, or that you turned the straw into a sprinkler and rained everywhere.
I’m not sorry I taught you the word “yucky.” You said it, laughing, as I changed your Very Yucky Diaper. Me, unaccustomed to such atrocities, but I pitched in. For you. Even though it was yucky. I’m glad you loved that word.
photo by Kristen Cronin
I’m not sorry MTM taught you how to play the piano with your bottom. (Never mind that you took a dump in your pants during that session.) And, he held you while you lit up the keys with your twinkle-toes. Your smile was exquisite, your song sublime, as you made new music in your own time.
I’m not sorry I held you while you cried. Cutting Big Teeth…..that’s painful. You gnawed on the pain while I read six books and cuddled you in my lap. You sobbed fat tears, and in vain I tried to distract you with a truck. A choo-choo. That. Your favorite words.
I’m not sorry I blew a full bottle of bubbles into your bath, while, delighted, you shrieked, “POP the bubble!” Your first complete sentence could only be a command. You’ve always known what you wanted.
May it always be so.
I love you.
Andra
What great photos! Such a sweet little boy and obviously he is delighted with you as you him. He’s a cutie, Andra!
It was a fun visit. I hope he remembers us.
Great pics and I know you guys have had a great time there, he is a cutie for sure.
It was a quick visit, but we loved every minute of it. Brian made the best soup, and Kristen the best cheesecake.
awwww that is so neat. I am glad you and MTM had such a wonderful time. Very cute boy.
He’s very good, too, but I’m biased.
Nice! +
Thanks, Howard.
Sound perfect! And the piano playing! What is it about toddlers and pianos? And bottoms
so glad your visit was such a wonderful one.
It took no time to get there from seeing you. The GPS was a full hour off.
Great fun being a guide parent, right? Kind of like being a grandparent; getting to share in the fun and good “stuff.” Even poopy diapers aren’t too bothersome on a limited basis!
Glad you were able to have this visit with him (and his parents, of course). He certainly is captivating!
I did two poopy diapers, Karen, and that was enough.
Sweet! I love hearing of your time with Cooper. So precious. I miss my babies and cuddling them. I always pressed my nose to their heads while I snuggled them and rocked them …It’s hard to explain, but for some strange reason, Bill’s head reminds me of the same scent. I guess the whole pheromone thing is real. I so hope that one day I’ll have grand babies to snuggle and rock.
Cooper loves to snuggle with his mama, but he will sit in my lap for a long stretch if I read to him.
Good stuff!
First of all, you got to love a kid’s favorite word is choo-choo. Seems like a very intelligent young lad.
Second, I like a kid who knows how to give a command. And how he gets other people to do the dirty work with him.
And finally, that is exactly what aunts, uncles, godparents and other such folk are four. Teach the kids the things they really need to know how to do. Things their parents won’t, out of self preservation, teach them.
Fun stuff!
He has several trains, also. I know you approve.
Awww, what a cutie!
It was great to spend time with him.
every young man should know how to play the piannuh (How the Killer would say it) with his bottom. Good work, and letter.
Cooper is a very fortunate little guy to have the two of you in his life. Thanks for that and for sharing your captivating writing,
He’s fortunate to have you, too. I have several other pictures from the trip if you’d like to see them. I’m happy to send them to you.
My eyes spilled droplets that turned into a stream staining my cheeks only to land upon my breast and soak into my heart. Thank you for filling that void today.
Cooper has that effect on people.
You make me want to be a better mom. And honestly, I think I’ve always been a good mom, but this noticing and stepping into their world that you’re describing. That. That’s what I’m doing better at. All the things that have kept me from that, I’m letting them go. Finally. (I’m tired and wrote this weird, but I’m sure you get it). xo
The primary difficulty with parenting, for me, is that I can’t be a kid. I want to be the kid. That doesn’t make for very good kids in the end, though, does it?
I’m sure the kids would disagree! I know I struggle with being the ‘grown-up’, too.
A lovely post… his mother will kill you for spoiling you.
I meant him, but you knew that.
She totally approved the water bubbles thing. She said somebody would teach him, and it might as well be me.
My God!!! Is that a big screen TV in your kitchen??? I knew there was a reason I loved you other than your writing… Wait a minute… MTM probably put it there… I’d better amend that statement.
The big screen tv was in a restaurant. MTM and I do not have a television in our house. I don’t know what I would stop doing to watch it if we had one.
Everything, done with love, which makes us laugh, is a great foundation.
What a total star.
He’s the best. I love spending time with him.
Cooper is one lucky little boy. (And love that you got down and dirty with him–literally!)
It’s the only way.
So sweet! Sounds like you guys have lots of good memories.
I hope we make some good ones for him.
Lovely, lovely! Getting a “kid fix” is always such fun . . . yucky diapers and all.
That’s the truth, Nancy.