My life is full. I am grateful to be able to type this and realize it at the same time. Last week, my husband's grandmother passed away after living a full life. I am grateful that my children were able to spend time with her in their way. Though Alixe will not remember her we will try our hardest to keep reminding Maximilien and Alixe about Mamé. It's nothing like losing someone you are close to to make you really stop and think about life. The same week that Mamé passed away a friend of Julien and I's was killed in car accident in Brazil. Hughes and his wife, Andrea, were lost in the accident and their 2 year old son is in serious condition and still in the hospital. A blog post was written about him by one of his photography friends. I've known Hughes almost as long as I have lived in Paris. I remember a conversation we had the last time I saw him at my tea house. We were talking about photography and how in the moment the photo is taken that memory will stay with us for a lifetime. It's so very true. I don't ask myself why I am taking all these photos all the time. The happiness I feel looking at them days, months, years after the fact is reason enough. I have these moments when I just need to grab my children, hold them close, nestle my nose into their necks and breathe them in. Remembering that moment. Trying my hardest to etch every emotion and feeling into my mind.
After all the loss we experienced then Maximilien's 4th birthday came. My baby is FOUR YEARS OLD. I still wonder how this has happened so fast. I can still feel him kicking me in my belly sometimes. Is that weird or normal? I look at baby photos of him...
Four years ago, he made me a mother. I remember it like it was just yesterday. And oh, how he has changed...
He's such an inquisitive little guy. Very funny too.
He makes up stories and songs. He's very, very good at drawing and coloring. Budding artist? Perhaps.
You can see that he is a happy, happy child. He has the joie de vivre for sure.
Max is sweet and caring. He holds the door open for people in our building. He says thank you to the cars that stop for him so he can cross the street. All the teachers and administrators at school know who he is. He hugs his teacher every morning.
Something new that Max has been thinking about is me as his Mommy. He realizes that I have friends and relationships with other people other than just Daddy and Alixe. He asks me if when I'm at the tea house if I am still his Mommy? Or if after we have a fight and then make up he asks if I am still his Mommy when I am mad. Happy, sad, mad... no matter what I tell him, I will always be his Mommy. Forever. "Foreva?" he asks. And I respond, "Yes, of course. FOREVER. He sticks out his pinky and asks me to pinky promise. We do and then he tells me that he loves me T H I S M U C H and he holds his arms out as wide as he can. My heart swells to epic proportions.
These are the moments I never want to forget.
As much as Maximilien loves his Mommy, I think that he may love his sister more and vice versa. Alixe adores her brother.
These two are a pure joy to see together.
Alixe started walking shortly after the beginning of her 14th month. She just decided to get up and walk and boy, did she! No stumbling around to cruising for her.
As much as I find parenting a girl different than parenting a boy, I never thought for a second that such a little girl could teach me so much about myself. Alixe on a daily basis is a constant exercise of patience for me. She has a very strong personality. My father says it's the Osbourn in her. Maximilien is a mini Julien. Alixe is a mini me.
My father said something to me that struck true. I asked him if I was like Alixe when I was her age. Temper tantrums. Very clear about what she wants. LOUD. My father said to me that if I was like that my mother would never have stood for it. I know what he meant because I don't stand for this behavior. Just tonight, Alixe and I had a face off, literally, I was in her face telling her to calm down and she just stopped, stared at me and wouldn't back down. And if anyone who knows me knows I can be stubborn, I wasn't going to give in to this little girl. We sat on the floor staring at each other until Alixe finally gave in, leaned in and fell into my arms for a hug. And in that moment all my frustrations melted away as my heart exploded with love.
I put my kids to bed tonight taking time to play and snuggle them. I hope that maybe they will remember these moments when they are older as I remember my mother coming in to check on me while I slept (or lay with my eyes closed). How she would cover me up and I would hear her say sleep well in Korean. Her voice very clear in my mind even today.
Lovely post. Im so sorry for your losses. Especially your young friends. What a tragedy for that family and you their friends. xo
Posted by: Ninotchka | March 27, 2011 at 16:35
Gorgeous photos of gorgeous children. These are definitely moments you must remember and keep in your mind's eye.
Posted by: Mil | March 27, 2011 at 18:39
Love your post. Reading it bring tears as it touches my heart in a special way. As a mum myself, me too, wish my son will remember all the great moments we spend together when he grows up. Those memories are priceless, indeed.
I am sorry for the lost of your friend, may their little boy recover soon.
Posted by: Ash | March 29, 2011 at 18:28
Hi Aimee,
What a beautiful and very touching post. I am very sorry about Julien's grandmom, and your friends and their son, what a tragedy. I can't imagine how things in life like that can just make your world crumble around you. It makes you stop and reflect upon your own life. You have two precious children and it's very interesting to read your thoughts and insights about being a mom and how they are growing and changing.
It's been such a long time, and we've really lost contact, but I hope that one day, I'll be able to see you again and catch up...
Take good care, Leesa
Posted by: Leesa | April 01, 2011 at 07:26
Aimee (and Julien), I have been way behind on reading my friends' blogs and only just now read about Julien's grandmother, and wanted to convey my deep sympathies on her passing. Even when it's a grandparent who is very old (so that it's a bit easier to accept), it's never easy losing someone we love. And I'm so very sorry about your friend and his wife and their little boy. How terrible for all their family and friends.
Loved this post. You do such a great job of conveying the love you have for your family, and some day your blog will be the perfect gift to share with them when they're old enough to appreciate it.
Posted by: The Bold Soul | April 04, 2011 at 18:59