Here was Tuesday, October 21st's lesson on how can I stall Mama and steal five more minutes of not having to go to bed.
Me: "Ok girls, goodnight, I mean it."
Lily: "Mama, can I tell you something really serious?"
Hard to resist, so I say "sure baby, but then it's bedtime."
Lily, "I love you so much, it is so crazy. You are so kind, so sweet." Followed by a LONG dramatic pause. I mean so long, I could have taken a nap.
And then, "I just need that heart." Followed by an even L-O-N-G-E-R dramatic pause (which quite frankly I didn't even think was possible), and then "I want to be just like you, Mama."
I melt and say, "oh baby, that is so sweet. I know you love me, I mean I AM your Mama after all."
I try to break out of this love hold, although I hate to, I mean this stuff is the essence of motherhood, but I am acutely aware of the fact that the clock is ticking and ticking way past their bedtimes, and it is a school night.
As I move over to Belle's bed to kiss her goodnight, Lily whispers, "Mama, don't tell Belle but I love you more" in what is not quite a whisper.
Before Belle can respond, I cut her off at the pass because poor Belle has heard this declaration of Lily's love for me more than her, one too many times.
So I say, "No Lily, you just love me so much because I am your Mama, that's all. I mean I am Mama, always around, always going to be here for you, ya know MAMA."
I continue, "Belle, that is the only reason she says that to me, because I am her Mama. I mean I am the reason for you being here. I mean I single-handedly baked you in my belly for ten months (yes people, you heard that right, pregnant for 42 weeks).
Belle chimes in, "yeah, you are the Mama that had you stomach stretched and gave birth through your vagina and then operation girl, haha, that's you Mama."
"Exactly Belle, thanks for putting it that way" I say.
Lily continues, "really Mama, you are so special and I just love you, it's really serious."
I reply, "you know what makes me the most special? There are two reasons, do you know what they are?"
They both stare at me, Belle says, "because you are vagina and operation girl?"
"No" I reply, my two reasons for being so special are called Belle and Lily."
