Unwrapped

A week ago, I discovered the blog Chatting at the Sky. The author, Emily, started a little project called Tuesdays Unwrapped. She celebrates the little things wrapped up in the big, or looks at the mess and unwraps the gift hidden inside it. Then she encourages others to do the same and link to her post so readers can click on through and share and read stories that unwrap these hidden gifts. Or as I like to put it, find the clarity amidst the chaos.

Here's what I'm unwrapping today.

He's tired and fussy, and he won't sleep if I set him down. So I strap him into the mei tai for the bazillionith time this week, and I pace; my bare feet treading the familiar path up and down worn wood floors.

I try to sit, but he wails. So I stand up to walk and bounce and pace again.

My throat tightens and I blink hard to quiet the tears. The frustration, my depression; this is too much right now.

I look down at him and he grins up at me with a delicious three-toothed smile. I stick my nose in his mouth -- a simple pleasure I had temporarily forgotten.

The milkbreath. It's seductive, addictive, intoxicating. I'm secretly glad he has shunned the spoonfuls of oats and banana and avocado. The sweet, danky smell of a breastfed baby lingers a little longer.

I lower my face to his and inhale. He laughs with my nose in his mouth.

It's like heaven, I tell him.

He laughs.

Inhale. Giggle. Like heaven.

I need respite from the constant holding; a physical separation from time to time.

But for the moment, I will see the gift in this mess.

I inhale again and breathe the scent of heaven.



For more of Tuesdays Unwrapped, visit http://www.chattingatthesky.com/