Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Ma mere chantait toujours...

Today was a sleepy day chez annypurls. In fact, we had barely finished eating supper at around 7:30 and all three of us were falling asleep watching Sesame Street in the living room. I didn't think we were awake enough for Julian's bedtime ritual so suggested that Julian come sleep in our bed tonight as a special treat. Daddy didn't object. Julian was on his way upstairs as soon as I mentioned it. While we all slept together in the same bed for Julian's first 18 months, we haven't since Julian resolved to sleep in his own big boy bed this past new year's eve ;0)

Don't be fooled by the photo, there's no actual knitting content in this rambling post but since I just finished my second baby shedir I thought I might as well share it. I knit this one from Dalegarn Baby Ull on a US1 and think it will be sized just right for a newborn this time ;0) See my last post for pattern links.

We didn't read stories like we usually do all three of us crowded in Julian's twin bed. It's probably the first night since we bought it about a month ago, that we didn't read Julian's favourite and most requested book, "mimin" (aka Eric Carle's Very Mixed Up Chameleon). We used to read it to him, but now dada and I just lay back and let Julian turn the pages and tell us what happens. It's just the sweetest thing and I hope I never forget these little moments. I hope to be able to store these little vignettes of our daily life with him so that I can recall them to centre myself when he is a teenager desperately wanting a tattoo!

We didn't even listen to the "la-bie" (aka, lullabies) in his room tonight while chatting about all the things we did today. And we didn't even share our usual pillow talk while he rubs his baby winnie's ears and stares up at the leaf canopy above his bed. That's when I usually indulge in stroking his still fine baby hair and remind him of the wonderful day we had, how wonderful and special he is and how much he is loved and cared for by everyone. I can tell he is thinking about them too and always falls asleep grinning. It is my favourite part of every day.

But tonight we did things a little differently. We were all too sleepy to read (even mimin!) or chat about our day. And since we don't have a cd player with lullabies in our room, I cradled my growing boy in my arms and just sang to him, the whole time thinking about how our family is about to change and how these are the precious last few moments where it is just the 3 of us.

This beautiful old french song popped in my head and I sang it to him as he doze off. It goes like this...

Ma mère chantait toujours
(my mother would always sing)
Une vieille chanson d'amour (this old love song)
Que je te chante à mon tour (that I am now singing to you)
Ma fille tu grandiras (my child you will grow)
Et puis tu t'en iras (and you will go)
Mais un beau jour (but one fine day)
Tu la chanteras à ton tour (you will sing it too)
En souvenir de moi (in memory of me)

It's so simple but so poignant at the same time. This song used to be the theme song for a chicken soup commercial here in Quebec. It was just one of those background songs you never stop to think about too much. But tonight it really tugged at my mommy heartstrings.

One fine day, this growing boy of mine will become a man and, God willing, a dada with a growing child just as precious and wonderful as he is to us. And they'll have their own little loving rituals. And he will feel exactly the same way then as his dada and I do now: that time is fleeting and that you have to revel in every seemingly ordinary moment while you can because that's where all the love and joy is ;0)

15 comments:

  1. Beautiful! As a mom of 6 I urge you to get some kind of pretty book to write down many of these things you would like to remember. As they grow and your family grows it becomes much harder to remember each detail like this. I have wriiten much of it down and treasure it!! Also, one day it will be a great treasure to pass along to them. Have a wonderful day! ps. My second absolutely loved everything Eric Carle! I made hima 6 foot long caterpillar that is still on his bed today and he is 21 now! ;-)

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  2. Beautiful post....I really enjoyed reading it. The little Shedir is gorgeous. I need to search my stash for yarn. The Eric carle book was always my nieces favorite. They are now in their teens. It brought me back to some special memories.

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  3. Anonymous12:53 p.m.

    You said it! My "babies" are 17 and 12 and as they struggle through adolescence they are very bit as sweet and precious as when they were babes in arms. I still cherish every moment for the gift it is.

    I am struggling with my first Shedir (I am knittng it at the request of the 12 year old). Thanks for the inspiration to keep at it!

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  4. Anonymous1:22 p.m.

    Oh Annie, what a lovely post. I'm a grandmother now, and I treasure the times that I spend with my two grandchildren. It would be wonderful if every child had a mother as loving as you ! The world would definitely be a happier place.

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  5. I read the song lyrics and my eyes filled with tears...

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  6. You have brought tears to my eyes. So sweet and beautiful. Julian and baby lemon are very lucky to have such loving parents as you and your husband. It reminds of the loving times I had with my parents, and hope to have someday, should I ever be lucky enough to have children. The new Shedir is sweet, as is all that you make.

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  7. Oh, Anny. My daughter is six months old today. Stop making me cry.

    (Not really.)

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  8. Anonymous12:52 a.m.

    seriously, the tears are running down my face right now. XOXO to you and your sweet family, anny! XOXO indeed.

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  9. Thank you for sharing this special time.

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  10. What a beautiful post. Thanks for inviting us into your world. :)

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  11. Thanks for giving us a window into your loving family's life. These are moments you'll treasure forever and hopeful they'll love hearing them even when they're big kids age 30 something.

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  12. Oh thanks, Anny...I needed a good cry! Now I'm turning off the dumb computer to go sit with Elliot who's home sick today. Any day now!!

    love,
    r

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