Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Abe's Here-and-Now

The past few days have been rush-rush-rush busy for us. Last night, I was reminded about the wonderfulness of the "here and now" that comes with having a toddler in the family. Ted was painting. I was doing laundry/packing. Both of us were running around the place while Abe was happily "cooking" with his small skillet and plastic shovel. He's trailing me wherever I go, which isn't unusual. He sits down on the bottom step of the stairway, holds out one hand towards me, and says, "Mom! Hand. Come."

I hesitate for a second. I look at him, thinking about the mounds of work that still need to get done before I can go to bed. But Abe never breaks his stare, keeps his hand stretched out, and says, "Come." So I do.

As I move towards him to sit down, he scooches over to make room for me, smile on his face. I say, "What do you want to do?" Then we sing the alphabet song, his favorite. When it's over, this happens:

Abe leans over and puts his head on my lap, sticks his thumb in his mouth, and says, "Thank you." No kidding. So sweet...until: he lets out a long, deep, rumbling fart, the kind that smells like sulfur, the kind you would expect to hear from the drunk Otis after he'd fallen off his bar-stool. He looks up at me, raises one eyebrow, and smiles through the thumb still in his mouth.

I so love this boy, smelly farts and all.

How Abe entertains himself while his parents work:


Julie has a way with words. I love that she recently described Abe as "Seretonin in a pair of stride-rites." We are so lucky.

12 comments:

becca albertson said...

rock on, abe.
see you soon... can we sing songs together?
Sam loves to fart while sucking his thumb, too :).

Ms. Fricknfrack said...

Rumbling sulfur farts are the best. And Cat and Abe, too.

Stacie said...

Love love love it. :) And, I loved Julie's description of Abe - I read that the other day.

Rusty Spell said...

Abe must read my short stories. That's my general formula: moment of sweetness followed by fart joke.

Anonymous said...

Abe is one good-lookin' little dude. Sorry I'm chiming in late on the "Gotcha Day" article, but I found it very obnoxious. MY adult daughter and I have been celebrating Gotcha Day for 22 years now, and it's a very special term to BOTH of us - the day we got EACH OTHER. How intolerant of Karen Moline, and how inconsiderate of her to bash a term which is special to so many! You don't criticize the special names people give their children, and likewise you don't bash special names given to an incredibly special day. If you don't like the term, don't use it, but don't belittle those to whom it is special - SHEESH!

Jocelyn said...

That is hilarious...I was thinking awe..so cute and then laughed out loud!!

Eryn said...

Sweet boy! I love that he thanked you for singing with him, so sweet! Farts and all, that is SO funny.

Rebecca said...

I teared up - and then burst out laughing :) You have one funny kid!

More Dorrs said...

I did the same thing as Rebecca...started to get tears in my eyes and then totally cracked up!

Can't wait to see you this weekend!

-beka

Celia said...

that's a great story! he's got it all figured out - recognizing how necessary it is to spend time with the people that you love no matter what busyness may be swirling around you and to love them and trust them enough to completely be yourself with them. if only we could truly absorb from our children these "simple" lessons. (myself included)

DrewCareyShow said...

I love Abey! Funny, funny post.

Nicholas said...

He's getting SO huge! How adorable, I love how he's singing along!