Did I sign up for this?

Weird parenting moment #2,319:

I was finishing up my shower and opened the curtain in my towel to find my daughters in the bathroom (you didn't think I was in there alone, did you? That's crazy talk!).

As I was talking to them, my 4 1/2 year old came in (did I mention this is the smallest room in our house?). He was holding an empty water bottle and a 2 Liter of Coke. Can he please have some Coke, he wondered?

I stood there for a moment, in my towel, in the shower, deciding. What the heck, I figured. If I spill, I can just rinse it down the drain.

So I poured my son a small bit of Coke into a water bottle, while in the shower. There's a first time for everything.

Clean as a whistle

We have a recliner that has been in our family room for 13 years. I have rocked all my babies in it (some for many more hours than others). It's not fancy or overstuffed; it's pretty utilitarian.

I have to admit, though, it had never been cleaned. AND - it wasn't new when we acquired it.

Shameful, I know.

But, before you lose all faith in my housekeeping abilities, it was cleaned today. I also had my family room rug and stairs and upstairs hallway cleaned.

I have to say, it's a glorious feeling. My family room rug and the stairs are so soft and look so bright and new, and the recliner looks much better. And even more important than how they look, is the fact that all that dirt is gone. I didn't see how much was pulled up out of the carpets and furniture, a fact which I think is for the best. Better I don't know just how much filth was residing with us!

Chem-Dry did the cleaning for us and I thought they did a great job! The guys were very polite and thorough. They even had an insulated bumper of sorts that they placed on the front door while their tubes were propping it open (since it is ridiculously cold today). I was impressed with that thoughtful detail!

The recliner won't be with us forever. I'm glad we decided to give it a new lease on life in its old age.

I wonder how long it will be before I allow the children to walk on the carpets. . .

A possible case of future failure-to-launch?

At 9:15 this evening, I went upstairs to do something, only to find my 4 1/2 year old still awake. This has been a problem lately.

I went in to tell him, again, to go to sleep. I cradled his face and told him how much I loved him.

He said, "I know how much you love me!"

I replied, "When you have kids, you'll understand how much I love you. When you're a daddy, you'll love your kids as much as I love you."

He pondered this a moment, then burst into tears, lip quivering.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"I don't ever want to leave you! I want to live with you forever!" he sobbed.

After much cuddling and reassurance that he could stay with us as long as he wanted (within reason, my passing-by husband interjected), his tears slowly subsided.

How I love this child! His sincerity melts my heart.

I think I'll show him this post in about 18 years when I am wishing he wouldn't grow up and leave. I wonder if he will have changed his mind?