Last September I looked like I was carrying a pumpkin. I think Birdie was actually only the size of a small squash or something like that but it sure didn't look that way on the outside. We went apple picking and I dragged around a bag full of apples the size of my belly. I tried to imagine next year and I saw faint images of a baby frolicking through the orchard. A faceless, nameless baby of course. I would close my eyes and try harder, try to see his or her face. I couldn't.
I also couldn't imagine the sheer glee that would light up on Birdie, my daughter's, face when papa bear lifted her up high enough to reach all the apples. I couldn't imagine the way she would widen her eyes and lift those legendary brows of hers with amazement as she pulled out yet another apple out of the bag. The way she timidly would wrap her chubby warm fingers around an apple on the tree and tug ever so gently, hoping it would snap off the branch. The fearless way she would crawl amongst the trees and fallen fruit, babbling to herself with excitement. I could have never imagined all this.
As she sat in the grass with her bag of apples while mama and papa collected more a couple in their fifties walked up to her. They gazed at her and told her how cute and darling she was. And then the husband turned to us and said, his voice cracking: "This is our first time apple picking without our kids. The oldest one's in college now. I remember how we used to come every year. I remember coming when they were just this small. Cherish these times. Please. They really do go by too fast... Promise me you'll cherish this?" It was almost awkward the way the pain in his voice intersected with our joy in that moment and yet that is the essence of parenting - joy and pain forever intertwined. Because the second you celebrate something new you also mourn the loss of what was. She's standing and crawling and sitting (hooray!) but she'll never be that tiny wrinkly newborn again... She's almost talking and babbling (yay!!) but she'll never coo the way she used to when she was just an infant...
And so we make memories so we can cherish. Cherish these precious, fleeting moments.
Adorable photos! My husband and I just went apple pickin yesterday! Surprising to see how many people are out now doing the same, so early into the season! Enjoy!
These are all too beautiful!!! They all need to be framed!! Also i want to move there! When we went apple picking here last year it was like tiny little trees surrounded by burned out grass in the middle of a desert :(
Aww!! Thank you! I agree though, especially the ones of Birdie :) Haha!! Well you will truly cherish apple picking once you're back on the east coast! :) xo
You put it perfectly - joy and pain forever intertwined. It's so true. This past year has been so full of happiness AND grieving for me. I remember the day Cecily turned a week old - I cried and cried that day. It was the first of many times I would mourn the loss of a stage. But I also remember crying from pride and happiness the day she crawled for the first time. Being a mom is so hard. So wonderful, but so hard.
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Adorable photos! My husband and I just went apple pickin yesterday! Surprising to see how many people are out now doing the same, so early into the season! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Yes, I thought the same thing! Guess we must have all been itching for fall or an apple pie :) xo
DeleteThese are all too beautiful!!! They all need to be framed!! Also i want to move there! When we went apple picking here last year it was like tiny little trees surrounded by burned out grass in the middle of a desert :(
ReplyDeleteAww!! Thank you! I agree though, especially the ones of Birdie :) Haha!! Well you will truly cherish apple picking once you're back on the east coast! :) xo
DeleteYou put it perfectly - joy and pain forever intertwined. It's so true. This past year has been so full of happiness AND grieving for me. I remember the day Cecily turned a week old - I cried and cried that day. It was the first of many times I would mourn the loss of a stage. But I also remember crying from pride and happiness the day she crawled for the first time. Being a mom is so hard. So wonderful, but so hard.
ReplyDeleteSo, so true. It's unlike anything else I've ever experienced or probably ever will. Can't believe Cecily is almost a year old! Too fast!!! xoxo
DeleteLet's talk!