TruMama

A great trip has the perfect combination of new mixed with familiarity.

We rolled into Virginia, the hills that is. Going to visit Grandma. (You love her stairs!)

This time in the summer. The first time was in the winter.

This Virginia was entirely different.

This Virginia was bright and polished. Heavy with heat.

You visited Ella Grace and Addy’s house for the first time.

You swam and dove off a diving board for the first time.

You searched the cabinets for snacks for a picnic in the playhouse. Shot water guns from the fort. Crafted swords from wrapping paper tubes. And participated in a dance contest to the song, “Happy”. (Which conveniently sums up our visit to their house in one word.)

We had a good ole family pool party. You swam and clowned around with Bryce.

I chatted with the new beautiful Baby Ella.

This Virginia was alive and lush. Surrounding us in green.

You trapped your first frog on Grandma’s porch. They were our summertime carolers outside the screen door. Singing of lazy days and warm nights.

You swam with your first snake in the pool. (You later told me, “There’s a lot of creatures at Grandma’s house.”)

You even drove your first tractor with Uncle Ted.

This Virginia was full of surprises. Some delightful. Some scary. But all for you.

This Virginia was my original home. This is where I grew up until one day somewhere else tugged on my heart.

That would be South Carolina.

From mountains to beach. From home to home.

Where will your heart take you?

You are the best playmate ever. You look around the world and make everything an experience. Never bored.

The beach is our playground.

Bobbing in waves, you tell me, “I can’t resist the water!”

Well, I can’t resist you. Your energy is healing. Your laughter, contagious. In all of our silliness, you have no idea you are rescuing me. Saving me every day. Making ordinary, extraordinary. Making simple, exhilarating. Making moments, eloquent. Making life, memorable.

We visit these magical waters and we can’t resist their spell. But they are not our home. They belong to others. And while we are entertained, we are only guests.

Honor its beauty. Marvel at its mystery. Love it as a neighbor.

We’ll visit another day and play.

I love you too much!

I’m not one for holidays.

I’m not that traditional.

But I feel a little something going on on Mother’s Day.

Maybe it’s spring kicking in.

Maybe it’s the school year coming to an end.

Maybe it’s the flowers blooming in my yard.

Or maybe. Just maybe it’s the fact that I live and spend my days with the most extraordinary little boy ever.

In the whole world.

In all of history.

I’ve said it a thousand times a thousand different ways, but you have changed my life.

Everyone has a mom. But not everyone is a mom. That single difference makes this day take new meaning for me. For a long time I was not a mom. That seems like some distant person I used to know. A different life entirely. Now I feel so beyond honored to be your mom. I don’t want a card. I don’t want flowers or gifts. I don’t want anything but you. I cherish you every day, but this day I will cherish you just a tiny bit more. Because I’m your mom and you are my son. No one elses. Just mine. And that’s everything.

I’ve never done something so right in all my life. I look at you and I am so proud.

Because of you. My greatest accomplishment.

You came from me and you are perfect.

You are my gift.

My gift from God.

I love you too much!

And mama

And Lilu

And Luna

And daddy (not pictured…daddy’d taking the pic)

A family affair.

You’re a whole hand now.

All five fingers!

A whole hand of smiles.

A whole hand of playing!

A whole hand of creating.

A whole hand of love.

A whole hand.

Your whole life.

My whole heart.

And I’ve loved every single minute.

Happy 5th birthday, Tru!

I love you too much!

How can I measure my love for you? This feeling. This life.

Impossible. But every day I try. Hopelessly.

Love is not an amount.

As I watch you burst with excitement…my heart leaps.

As I watch you explore…my mind marvels.

It is every expression. Every smile.

You need nothing. Just attention and you are happy.

How can I measure this love that has completely changed me? Completely changed my life? Every day from here on out?

A radical transformation, indeed.

If I could just find the word. Just find the example. Then you would understand. You would get it.

But I chase after it, like the waves chase after you.

Knocking you off your feet, but you love it and get back up and run right back in. Eager for more.

How can I measure my love for you?

I cannot.

I simply live every day so grateful that you are in my life.

I simply enjoy every moment with you.

I am a moment chaser.

“Come on mama. Get in with me. You can do it. Just put the camera down.”

(And so I did. And it was freezing cold, but Oh so fun!)

I love you too much!

This post is inspired by the book, Tough Boris, by Mem Fox.

There was a little boy named Tru Rivers Brown.

He was tiny.

All little boys are tiny.

He was scary.

All little boys are scary.

He was messy.

All little boys are messy.

He was silly.

All little boys are silly.

He took naps.

All little boys take naps.

He was a dare devil.

All little boys are dare devils.

He loved his dogs.

All little boys love their dogs.

He got dirty.

All little boys get dirty.

He was a helper.

All little boys are helpers.

He grew and grew and grew. And one day he got big.

But he was still mama’s little boy.

He will always be mama’s little boy.

I love you too much!

My gift to you this Christmas…the flu virus.  It all started so perfectly beautiful.  Presents everywhere.  Beautiful wrapping paper just waiting to be shredded to pieces by your little fingers.  Cool toys inside itching to be played with.  And you, being as excited as a 3 year boy should be, yet you open each gift respectfully and linger over your new treasure.  Not moving to the next package until we push you on and put another package in your hands.  We tell you all of the gifts are for you.  And at that moment your true spirit comes through.  Only you, with your big heart, could say, “But I want everyone to open a package. I’m so excited. I want everyone to open a gift.”  There you have it.  The most sweetest boy in the universe and in a few short hours your mama has given you the worst virus you’ve seen yet.  You certainly don’t deserve this, but me, wanting to do it all this season, only hurt you in the end.  I’m beside myself.  I want to fast forward time and get past this funk.  I want to reach deep inside of you and rip out the germ that has invaded your body.  I want to stomp it to death and maybe add a blowtorch for good measure. And if all that fails I’ll eat it so it would live in me and not you.  I just want your smile back.  Your precious voice with everything to say every second you’re awake.  And your never ending energy to be a super hero and me the bad guy…always the bad guy.  I’m so sorry my boy.

Tru looked like his normal 3-year old self when I left for work today.

Meanwhile daddy took him to get a haircut and…

BAM!

A whole new boy.

Ok…first of all we’ve been very busy.  Second of all, your daddy changed all the software for converting pictures and it took me until now to figure it out!  Soooooo, what have you done all summer long?  Everything!  You’ve been my little buddy.  We’ve actually been so busy that most of it I didn’t even catch on film.  (I’m still fretting over that!)  You’ve gone to the beach almost every day the sun was shining and you stay in the water the entire time.  We got season passes to the water park and you did all the slides possible for your height.  (You little dare devil you!)  Our summer has been the best fun.  Now I’m back at work and it’s a shock to my system.  I miss you.  And as bad as I want summer again, I can’t wish the days away.  We will have a fun winter too.  Everything is fun with you!

Helped Poppy remodel the kitchen.

Kissed Lilu

Played with the dogs

Rode the Sea Screamer

Spent lots of time in daddy’s office

Played with your train

Rode the rides at main street

Wow!  Yep.  We had BIG FUN!