I want to remember this day forever. When I think back to details of my high school and undergraduate graduation days, I don't remember the little things. I was valedictorian and magna cum laude with honors. We had big parties and for one even my mom had someone come to tell my fortune in front of all of the guests. We hung tons of photos and video taped them to music. My mom's best friend made a gorgeous quilt displaying all of my memorable tee and sweat shirts."Mommy, you have 3 boys?" he asks. He holds his fingers up and counts: "me, baby Dikodai, n daddy." "Bobbi's boy, baby Sate's a boy, Artur, Tedar, Wiwyam, Mista Ben," he continues to list every male he knows. "Juya's a girl. Misses Hale, gamma Dinda . . . "
Kissing a wet, soft baby head, while feeding a bottle of cold milk. Sun streaming through the windows. A little hand open wide caressing a blue, green and white soft blanket with soccer balls and a comfortable wool striped sleepsack. Downstairs, a toddler playing happily alone: roaring like a dinosaur, stomping, and banging toys around.
In a steamy bath, watching a wet 3yo slowly dump water onto a 1yo's head and carefully smoothing out his thin hair. Enjoying sounds of pretend rockets, shells clacking, fists pounding, simple conversation.
Intervening while two boys fight over who gets to sit in a white wooden rocking chair. Baby cries of frustration.
The dry heat of bright sun on brown grass and a slight breeze blowing bubbles away. Sticky fingers and dusty faces.
A peaceful picnic by a front yard river that husband made for us. Four tired bodies with full bellies and happy faces.
A phone call mom, who watched the long ceremony live on her computer, while she did chores, such as hung laundry out on the clothesline.
Balloons falling, a surprise. Thirst. Hunger. A speech on climate change. And a lot of engineers. Fixing master's hoods for nervous guys. Being proud.
Prepping food for kids' babysitters, dressing boys in cute clothes, eating breakfast late, changing my outfit to jeans because not having all the items I need, showering, sleeping in, husband on nights waking with the kids.
It's all about my 3 boys. And Harley. And my parents too. My friends. Other family. I feel so blessed today. And every day.
