Its Amaymay!
I've been meaning to write down these words for such a long time. I'm forced to keep repeating them in my mind so that I don't forget them, but its time to free up some mental resources and put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard, you know what i mean)!
Dear Finley
There are so many everyday things that I love about you at this age that I don't want to forget. When we were in Grahamstown the other weekend, Dylan passed you the placemat and asked you if you still liked woven things. Your dad and I had completely forgot how much you were fascinated by anything woven when you were a baby. Maybe you were 6 months old or so, (possibly older) and you used to scratch at whatever woven thing you were holding, exploring with your fingers and be captivated in that moment. So that event prompted me to make a list of the things I don't want to forget about the you that you are now.
When you sleep on your back, you lie with your hands under your head, elbows sticking out. Just like your great-grandpa Jimmy Ping (so says nana H). I like the idea of being able to see your heritage and ancestry not only by the way you look but by the things you do.
I love watching you dip things. Whether its a rusk into my cup of tea or a piece of bread into a bowl of soup. its the sweetest thing - the way your little tongue licks whatever you've just dipped.
I love how busy you seem to be. Off on your own mission, enjoying spending time alone, well with baba or george for company. I like how you sometimes go into your room and fetch a book and sit on your bed paging through it. It makes me smile to know that you love reading and that you see your room as part of your space, a haven, a place to retreat to.
I love all your new words that you are starting to say. Like the other day your dad taught you how to say Its Amazing! and when you say Amaymay! you say it with the same expression as he does.
I love that you still spend time sleeping in our bed. We both love waking up with you in the middle and in those early morning moments we look at you in amazement, this growing boy lying peacefully between us. We still ooh and aah over your cuteness, how you now roll over and cuddle us, taking turns at throwing an arm over your dad or nuzzling your head onto my pillow.
I love how you name all the veggies in our vegetable garden and water them as part of your being-outside-rituals, all by yourself without any prompting. I love that you have a sense of responsibility about looking after these plants, that you are gentle with them, and delicately pluck the basil leaves while I am getting ready to make pesto. I love how shopping at Fruit&Veg City excites you in the same way it does me. I love how you exclaim at the size of the butternuts or rip at the packaging of the broccoli, like it is a sweet, delicious treat.
I love how interested you are in cooking and baking and being with me in the kitchen. You love to see what's in the pot and love sprinkling in various herbs and spices. I'm forced to curb your enthusiasm otherwise we would have the total contents of the spice rack in every meal. I love that despite your willfulness you let me guide you about which flavours compliment each other and which don't.
Most of all, I love watching you become the person you are. You can be strong and fierce when you need to but also so kind and empathetic. Your sense of humour has blossomed in the last 6 months. You make us laugh until we cry and we feel so blessed that you are sharing this life with us. Finley, You are Amaymay!
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awww.... mandy, that was beautiful! fin is going to love reading that when he's older. i must do one for scarlett... it's just so easy to forget all those tiny sweet things they do.
well done!
speak to you soon!
Oh my Amanda Marie. What an amazing mom you are to my sweetboy Finley. I could not have wished for a better person to be part of Brad and Finleys life.
those are the sweetest .. .most beautiful words I have heard (read) in ages, you guys are incredible parents! pass a "high 5" to Fin. :-)
I feel so proud to be mom to such an amaymay daughter! Thank you for your beautiful "writings" - continue ....
Your journaling started when you were just a "wee" thing.
By the way - I still have some of the letters and cards you sent me - lopsided red hearts with the words i love you. Finley is so blessed to have chosen you and Brad as parents :-) Thanks for keeping us up to date!
I can relate - I love listening to my Mom tell of the day I was born and what happened, and with the sands of time these memories fade. So when our little one was born, I wrote a thesis about the day! Thanks for sharing.
What beautiful words Amanda :) I've known Brad's mom and the family since I was born (almost 30 years ago).. so we get constant updates on Finley's progress. What a wonderful idea to write to your little one, I must do the same for Christopher, he's 9 months old now. Keep writing your Amaymay words :)
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