day 266: my last one

With your handsome, sleepy head on my lap I feel young,
And I forget for a brief moment that you are the last one.



Your smooth cheek is the only one left in this house of men.
You tell me I am awesome, and we laugh and make silly faces at each other.

Your silent laughter has always made me laugh.  Cinched up eyes and a shaking belly,
But no sound comes out.  It is your nature to hold things in.  My shyest one.

Shy enough to run out of the room when I read a card you have made for me.
Shy enough to bury your face in my back.

Sometimes you are a reflection of your brothers.  Sometimes my father.
But always a tender reminder of what matters.  And what always will.

16 comments

Robin | May 11, 2010 at 11:49 PM

What a beautiful tribute to your baby. Can you believe your last one is almost done with elementary and primary? Every time I realize it about myself, it kind of shocks me.

Miss Tinselly | May 12, 2010 at 6:50 AM

What a cutie pie :)

Lara Neves | May 12, 2010 at 8:58 AM

As an oldest child, I never quite understood the way my parents' relationship with my baby brother. But I get it now.

I don't want my youngest to EVER grow up. Scary.

He sounds like a great child.

Heidi | May 12, 2010 at 9:15 AM

I will be so sad when Little Guy's cheek is no longer smooth. And when his feet start to stink. Can you still get yours folded up into your lap? I purposely don't feed mine so I can get him into my lap for as long as possible. True story.

Juliana | May 12, 2010 at 10:56 AM

I must be in my postpartum hormonal, emotional state because this made me cry. Perhaps thinking of my little baby that has only been on earth for 15 days but will one day have to grow up, too. Such precious times with the sweet little ones.

Luann | May 12, 2010 at 11:13 AM

I started feeling the pangs of an empty nest the when I was still pregnant with #4, which I knew would be my last. I'm a few years behind you, so I don't pretend to know exactly what you are feeling, but I'm getting there.

I love your mention of the last smooth cheek. And I hope you know how much I adore that #4 of yours.

Anonymous | May 12, 2010 at 12:00 PM

What a sweet tribute to an adorable child! Absolutely precious!

Marianne | May 12, 2010 at 12:39 PM

Oh great. Now I'm bawling at work.

Seriously, though...really beautiful.

InkMom | May 12, 2010 at 2:27 PM

I have the same thoughts every time I nurse my baby, who WILL be my last. I soak up every little ounce of baby love because I know I won't be doing it again.

On a completely unrelated note, I was terribly jealous that you got to hang out with Melanie J and DeNae. I wasn't jealous of them because I didn't know you. I'm not sure why I never made it over this way before, but I'm here now, and had I been here before, I would have been jealous of all three of you. Ramble on, that's what I always say. And then I do it.

Heather of the EO | May 12, 2010 at 5:17 PM

I just love this. Your heart for your boys is so obviously HUGE. You see them, you really SEE them, and I'm sure they know how very loved they are.

amber_mtmc | May 12, 2010 at 7:50 PM

Jeez, your sweet, shy, #4 is very handsome (would he be mad if I said cute?).

I bet he brings lots of joy during the school year. (Yours not his.)

Stacy | May 12, 2010 at 9:44 PM

This was beautiful. He looks like a great kid. I get a lump in my throat when I think about my adorable trouble-making toddler being that big.

Bossy Betty | May 12, 2010 at 9:54 PM

Oh. You make Betty cry! I just bought my youngest son his first razor!

Connie | May 12, 2010 at 11:06 PM

It's fun how each child is different from one another and yet similar.
He's a handsome lad!

(got the power point finished, Yeah!)

The Way I See It | May 12, 2010 at 11:29 PM

Ahhh, that is so sweet. You have a way of bringing me to tears.

The Crash Test Dummy | May 18, 2010 at 1:37 PM

That was lovely. He has that same soulful look in his eyes that you have. He must go deep too.

And Misssrobin is back on her game.