REMEMBERING

Washing clothes leaves a lot of time between w/d time.  I have begun to think - big mistake.  
The day Tom was born - SURPRISE - C-section; he was such a perfect baby - no misshapen parts to his body, all ten fingers and toes, and so hungry.  He was the only baby in their hospital history that had GAINED weight instead of losing.  

I loved him long before I even knew his dad.  I knew I would have a son; I knew I would name him after his dad. 

He did everything early - his teeth - he had 8 by 7 months. [I told my mother that he was cutting his teeth at 2 months. She said I was crazy.]  That was probably true, but nevertheless, a tooth edge was showing.  He had a word vocabulary of 50-60 words (maybe more) by 8 months and sentences by 10 months.  Potty trained himself and was walking without help by 9 months.  We did word games and puzzles before he was a year old.  The perfect child.  MAN. This baby thing is easy. (Famous last words)  

Then there was Charles.  I threw up all 9 months and even on the operating table.  He did not cry when they took him out.  He made a little whiny noise and balled up in the fetal position.  He was cold.  He still gets cold easily.

Charles wasn't talking except for about 5 words until he was almost 2.  He didn't walk by himself until he was about 1 1/2 and was perfectly content to sit in his play pen and WATCH everything around him.  I thought he was deaf or at the very least SLOW at growing.  The next thing I knew he said, "May I have a peanut butter sandwich, please." (Where did that come from?)

His potty training, when he was 2 and talking complete sentences, spelling and knowing the alphabet, consisted of me taking him to the bathroom, pointing to the commode, asking him what it was, "Potty" he said.  I said,  "What is it for?"  He said, "To go to the bathroom."  I said, "If you pee or poop in your pants again, I will spank you."  He looked at me and said very nonchalantly, "OK." He could read at 3.

Tom's personality was not really evident until he was about 12.  He was an early bloomer.  He turned into a "teenager", enough said.  He has more of my personality than I would like, but has turned out to be such a wonderful man who is educated, talented, creative, knowledgeable. I am so proud of him.  He can never know how much I love and appreciate him.

Charles has continued his approach to life situations - nonchalantly.  He is his father's child - intelligent, creative, knowledgeable, and self assured.  He has come to mean so much to me.  We have always had a special relationship.  I love and adore him more than he will ever know.  He keeps his dad's memory alive.  He is here for me while I am going through . . . He just called.  He is at the Realtor's office finalizing the choices for things for his new house.  He asked about the tile in my two rooms.  He has asked me to live with him.  He is so kind.

Charles doesn't like me writing about him.  I'm sure Tom doesn't care, but just in case - It would probably be a good idea not to mention this particular blog to them.  Then again, I don't really care.  Ween thought it was a good idea.