out of the mouths of babes

I can't help but love my children and here are some more reasons why. As I struggle with my own body image at the moment (it was a lot harder getting thorough a pregnancy at 32 than 25!!), my children continue to make it clear that I shouldn't think so much about it.

Aidan caught me in the bathroom a few weeks ago, waxing my legs. In a one bathroom house this is a common happening and I am not particularly concerned about it. What occurred though was thought provoking:
"WHAT are you doing?"
"Waxing my legs." I said as he watched on in horror with each grimace I made as the strips were violently pulled off.
"WHY?"
"To take the hair off of them."
"If there's hair on your legs, its supposed to be there."
And then he did his business and left the bathroom. Simple right. Why didn't I see it that simply. Ok, I still like the feel of smooth legs in clean sheets but what ever possessed me to remove the hair from my legs in the first place?

Avery overheard a discussion Steve and I were having about a Biggest Loser club that a girlfriend of mine was putting together. She had asked me to join but the more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable it became. I couldn't reconcile the club with the "good body image" that I want my children but most especially my girls to have. I don't want them to watch me diet and struggle over my weight as I make myself a slave to the scale. I want them to see me making healthy choices, like choosing to walk instead of drive, and choosing healthy foods. I want to set the example.
And so, Avery pipes up, "Why would you go there? Is is cause you're a little bit fatty?"
"Yes, Avery."
"But I like you, you're a little bit squishy." and she gives my belly a poke. Situation settled, I won't be a Biggest Loser.

Zoe has recently lost both of her front teeth. So her grade one picture is going to be of that big toothless grin. After she lost the first one she came out of my bedroom and said, "Mom, I looked in the mirror and I am beautiful without my teeth." Not "still beautiful" just "beautiful" as though the change actually would have nothing to do with it one way or another. And of course, she is also right.

Today, Ruby got her first tooth. Finally. At thirteen months. No fuss, no muss. She does things the right way. She is learning to walk though still lacking confidence, she prefers to hold my finger. And she has a lot to say. Most of it gibberish but a lot that we understand too. Mommy, Daggy (Daddy), Aigan (Aidan), Wavery (Avery), Oey (Zoe), Yogurt, Light.

Love my babes, and their mouths.