Summer officially begins in a couple days and our weekends have already been jammed packed for a few weeks now. I'll be posting about the fun we had this weekend in a couple days, but decided to select a normal everyday moment for my highlight this week. I don't think you can get simpler than a walk from the car into Papa Murphy's on a late Friday afternoon.
I had been home with Harlie that day, since she was sick with a fever. I wasn't in the mood to cook and we didn't have much food in the house. Harlie was still warm when she woke up from her nap, so that killed any plans for a grocery shopping trip. However, I was feeling a little bit of cabin fever, so I scooped her up and we took a drive for some take-n-bake. Isn't the excitement building already?
When we arrived and parked, I pulled her out of her carseat, and set her feet on the blacktop as I grabbed my purse and closed the car door. And it was in that moment, as her little hand gripped mine that I felt this surge of love. We walked hand in hand (as we do everyday, either running errands, crossing the street to the park or from the car to the front door of her day-care) through the door to Papa Murphy's and took our turn in line. As we took our place, she came around to stand in front of me, wrapped her little arms around my legs and looked up with a big smile. My heart swelled again.
Wrapped up in those few minutes, was a sense of trust and love, that often takes me by surprise. There is a day to day responsibility that goes into parenting. Caring for your children is basically a no-brainer from the moment they're born, it's just what you do. Even if your doing it wrong, your always trying to do it right. And what is so incredible is that your kids inately know this. That you are their protector and provider and that you love them. And man, do they love you right back.
Sometimes I look at Harlie and feel so lucky to be her mama. I guess it can seem kinda silly since Scott and I made the decision to bring her into our lives. But really, we didn't know who this new baby was going to be, what (who) she would look like, or how her personality would take form. You get what you get and you don't throw a fit, right?
We'll, I'm so happy that who we got was her.
Beautiful Harlie, I'll always feel proud to hold your hand. Mine will forever be waiting for yours, whenever you need to reach for it.
Oh, Erin, you made me cry. Just beautiful. <3
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you, once again, for so beautifully putting into words these feelings we go through as parents. Simply the best. I could feel the intense love you have for Harlie as I read this. It's moments like those that I need to focus more on. I had so many on Saturday...thank you for the reminder to focus on the good, because it is so very very good being a mama.
ReplyDeleteIt's these everyday posts that I love to hear, the things that make life so special. The little moments that add up and make your life whole. Erin, you so have a knack for putting emotion into words when it comes to motherhood. I don't know how you are able to describe things the way that you do, but you are my definite go-to gal when I want to know what motherhood feels like. I love getting to hear the pure joy that you and Scott feel about getting Harlie as yours. Like opening the best present in the world. She has two awesome parents, it's no wonder she's as perfect as she is. My heart also goes out to her for being having so many fevers lately, I'm so sorry. She's a trooper, that cutie pie.
ReplyDeleteYou gals are so sweet with your comments.
ReplyDeleteMel, you made me laugh with your "It's no wonder she's as perfect as she is". :-)
As much as she makes me smile and brings me joy, I also know where the term unconditional love comes from. :-)
Just last night she threw up in my hair and down the inside of my shirt. And then was so upset that she was throwing a fit as Scott and I were trying to clean her. It was kind of funny, because all 3 of us ended up in the shower, Scott washing my hair and me washing Harlie's because she was clinging to me like a monkey and wouldn't let go.
Oh my goodness, Erin, that last comment made me laugh out loud. What a visual!
ReplyDeleteJust read this post again, and cried again. You have SUCH a way with words. I love that you are posting more often these days. There's such a natural ease to your writing, like you don't really have to work that hard at it. It's funny, when I read your stuff, I kinda' hear your voice in my head, because the things you write are things I can actually hear you saying during the course of a conversation. I guess that's what I mean by "natural ease." In person, I often trip over my words and sometimes need to struggle my way through writing to get my thoughts out. You don't seem to have that problem. You are a very honest and thoughtful person and very adept at expressing yourself.
Okay, sorry to go on and on...just felt the need to tell you that! :)
Ali, that's really nice of you to say and makes me feel good, so thank you.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, I guess I just kind of write what I would if I had a journal or diary, wanting to remember what the moment or emotion felt like.
Maybe that's why it sounds like me talking...because I am to myself! Ha!