Just found in a long forgotten folder in my email to my then publisher at The Pinnacle to be published for the February 24, 2007 ediition.
What timing....(sigh)
Between Us
By KELLY SINON
“What was my first word?” The Boy asked a few weeks ago, while we were talking about The Kids’ babyhoods after opening his birthday presents on birthday number nine.
I thought about it, but I honestly couldn’t remember. I could remember The Girl’s valiant attempts at “banana” coming out “blahblah” and her favorite show, Barney, was “Boway”. She also loved the movie, “Pocofauntus.” That would be Pocahontas, to you and me.
I could also remember exactly what she wore on her first day of school and how adorable she looked in her red coat with the black faux fur trim that matched her black snow pants for recesses in the frozen Alaskan north. I can remember when she played Squanto in the Thanksgiving play she and her 2nd grade class put on and how I teared up at our budding actress’ perfectly recited line.
The things that I can remember about The Boy are different but no less endearing to me. I can remember when he was three and I would pick him up from daycare. That first smile after he hadn’t seen me all day would stop me in my tracks. When he would take me by the hand and introduce me to his friend’s parents, “This is my mom,” and I could hear the pride in his voice. Pride I wasn’t sure I’d earned.
I thought about the mandatory baby books moms are issued at our baby showers to document all the cute things that they do; the milestones. I’d heard jaded moms of more than one child often lament the fact that they weren’t as diligent as they thought they should have been with each of their children.
Looking at The Girl’s book, I was embarrassed by a very detailed account of her day:
7:00 a.m.- wake up, Sunshine!
7:10 a.m.- time to eat! Gerber oatmeal and applesauce
7:25 am. - clean up applesauce/oatmeal from floor, kitchen cabinets, my face and entire baby
7:30 a.m.- dress baby
7:45 a.m. -diaper blowout. Re-dress baby
8:05 am.- playtime with baby. Stuffed cow, stuffed kitty, soft blocks, soft books
8:20 a.m.- baby seems to have me in a game of fetch as she throws cow and kitty. Mommy retrieves
8:45a.m.- Mommy bored with fetch.
9:00 a.m.- sippy cup introduction
9:05 a.m.- screaming baby appeased with bottle
9:30 am. -“Boway’s” on. Mommy can clean living room
10:00 a.m.- living room was clean. Baby hauled out stuffed cow, stuffed kitty, soft blocks, soft books
10:15 a.m. -get baby ready to go to Dr. Throw Cheerios, sippy cup (bottle), stuffed cow into diaper bag. Put in car with other essentials
11:15 a.m.- bring baby to car and we’re off
12:40 p.m.- home from Dr. Baby had shots, and is in perfect health, but demanded stuffed kitty. Mommy has a headache
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. - Nap time
2:15 p.m.- baby wakes Mommy up from nap
2:20 p.m.- snack time. Cheerios, fruit, and milk for baby, left over fruit and stray Cheerios for Mommy.(And a chocolate bar. My blood sugar’s low)
3:00 p.m. - same “Boway” show that was on this morning is on again. Baby doesn’t know difference. Mommy can clean kitchen.
The Boy’s was not quite as detailed, but it said the only thing that every child should know:
2/4/1998- Brought baby home from hospital. One of the happiest days of my life.
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Kelly Sinon can be reached at sksinon@aol.com.She lives in Gilroy with her family.
