"Look At Me"

My dearest Camren,

You were busily driving your trucks across the hearth of the stone fireplace.  Back and forth.  Back and forth.  You stopped in the middle of your playing and your varoom-varooming to look for me; I watched you scan the room for my face.  You turned your head, and your brown eyes met mine, and you said...

"Mommy!  Look at me, look at me, look at me!"

I laughed and thought, Oh Camren, if you only knew!  Not only do I look at you, I see you.

I see your large hands--like puppy-dog paws--and the way you love to suck your thumb.  I see your prominent, dark eyelashes and your oddly-shaped big toes, that remind me so much of your dad's.  I see your grin and the light in your face, whenever you share a joke with your sister.  I see you "swim" in the bathtub and play in your cereal.  I see you run through the snow and pick up rocks.  I see you search for muddy puddles.  I see you get excited about a cookie.  (I'm so proud!)  I see you get frustrated when I forget to zip up your coat.  I see you bop and bounce to music in the kitchen.

When I look at you, I see you--the loveable and rowdy boy that you are, and the man I know you can be.  When I look at you, I see your daddy-- and it makes me remember why I love him.   When I look at you, I see a little bit of myself...

I see why I treasure motherhood.


With love always,
your Mama Leisha