“Aunty Susie, what are you doing with that phone?”
Usually when I go visit my sister I take lots of photos of Noah. As I only get to see him every few weeks I like to record as much as possible, while enjoying the moment too, of course, but there is this compulsion to record, so that I have something to sustain me while I’m away from him (my feelings for this little boy are that melodramatic. I get tearful when I’m here and he’s there. PMS isn’t always to blame.)
This weekend there were moments when I realised I was not taking photos. We’d be playing — teacups and plastic toast; chasing each other round the kitchen table; reading the tractor picture book — and I’d panic for a millisecond and think: where’s my camera? But rather than exit the fun to go find it, I’d just keep playing. I’m trusting that I will see him again, that he won’t change so much that I don’t recognise him when we’re next together. That he will remember me.
– He spent roughly 90 mins walking around an art fair on Saturday chatting into his mobile phone (my iPod). He’d shout “hello?” and then blather on in what sounded like Cantonese :)
– I spent at least 30 minutes talking into a wooden banana yesterday.
– I got my first bonafide cuddle on Sunday. We were alone in the house, playing pretend picnics on the living room floor. Noah put his shopping basket over his arm and headed to the kitchen to get on his Scuttlebug to visit the imaginary shops. So I called out buh-bye and said “can I have a kiss?” He turned around, came back over and with his tiny pursed lips gave me a kiss before wrapping his little arms around me and placing his head on my shoulder. I was still sitting there with cartoon lovehearts falling out of my eyes when he did it again five minutes later. I can honestly say that was my favourite moment of 2011.
New words of note: nice, aeroplane (said unprompted when he saw one in the sky), horsie, “sit down” and… my favourite… Susie (pronouced shoo-she).
Hello Auntie Susie. Lovely to hear you are able to trust you will see little Noah again and that you had fun talking into a banana. What a magic kiss you got.
Wow children have a way of reaching that squishy, love filled, most fearfilled space in our heart and lives It is pure emotion, pure vulnerability, pure love. bless them.
I love your Noah posts and your Noah photos. The way he pronounces your name is so adorable, and that story of your absolute favorite moment of 2011 pretty much kills me.
I love the way you love him.
Noah won the lottery when he got you for his Aunt. I love the connection you two share. xo
Oh I can so relate to this…I am aunt of 4 and I love them so much, I am more than melodramatic, I show more pictures of them and tell more stories about them as if I would do of my own children (if I had them). I am living abroad, so I only see them twice a year but I spend so much quality time then. Once my niece, 7 years, asked me why I didn´t have children. I answered “because I don´t have a husband. And in addition if I had I wouldn´t have so much time for you to play”.
it’s so wonderful to hear your stories about noah and your love for him. he’s a lucky little guy to have you for his auntie. love the way he’s pronouncing your name…too cute. and, oh, the cuddles…
Now that is sweet. Isn’t it amazing to see the things kids learn? I know it’s cheesy, but I think time spent with children is truly illuminating.