Mutti

Since my girls were first born we have been readers. My mother began the tradition when I was a child. We got books every birthday and holiday. When I began having little one's she continued the tradition with a priceless addition. Each Christmas and birthday the munches get a storybook from Grannie. The book always has a handwritten note from her talking about her favorite things to do with the one who receives the book and how much she loves them.

The inscription always make me cry, happy tears of course, and they are precious to both me and the girls. We keep them put away from the other books, and take them down to read them but put them up to keep them safe (booger is a book destroyer right now)

I have started doing the same for my girls, I look all year to find books that speak to me and remind me of my girls. This year I got one for Booger called "I love you Stinky Face"

This is funny because my current nickname for her is stinky girl, not because she stinks, but because she's spoiled rotten. The book is great, it kind of reminds me of "The Runaway Bunny." I loved the Margaret Wise books when I was a kid. Pumpkin's book is called, "Mama, will you hold my hand?"

Pumpkin is hand holder, she enjoys the freedom of walking with me instead of riding in the cart at the store and I guess we taught her well because as soon as she pops out of her car seat, she puts up her little hand and says, " Hand please!"
These books, like the one's from Grannie, will sport notes from me to my little one's and when they get older, it will be hard, but I will let them take them when they move away, so they can read the things I wrote about them when they were tiny, and be reminded of how much I love them and how much fun we had.

Well this week I got an unexpected surprise, I got a book. I am not going to talk about the note on the inside of the book, but it's called  "If I could Keep you Little"

The story talks about the unique joy of watching your children grow and explore the world, and realizing that even if you could keep them little forever, you really wouldn't want to. I don't usually get books, but this one seemed like it had been written for Mom and I. The poem talked about doing airplane feet, writing, singing, camping, crafts...It was uncanny really, I sort of wanted to look over my shoulder and see if the woman who wrote the book had been stalking me.

Anyway I love my book, I read it to the munches last night and bawled, they thought I was sad, kept kissing me and saying, "It's okay Mommy, I promise" (they think "I promise" is a comfort term, not an actual pledge) they are such lovely children. a blessing in my life, as much as my mother is. I am so fortunate to be so close to and loved by such an incredible woman. She taught me to be a Mommy, not a mother, a mommy. A toy-playing, loud-singing, airplane foot-flying, cookie-baking, Jungle-gym-climbing, baby-snuggling mommy.  I am so proud to be both her daughter and their mother. It's nice to be reminded, at this time of year specifically, what a blessed life I lead.

Thank you and I love you, Mutti