Wednesday, April 4, 2012

She Kissed Me

The first kiss... an unusual milestone to record. I don’t see a sticker for it in the baby calendar and yet I have faint memories of all my other babies kissing me sometime in that first year. Looking back I see that I never wrote it down in their baby books. I suppose that without prompting, I took it for granted.

I have been kissing Kimani since the day she was born. I can’t help myself. She is silky-skinned and delicious. For the most part she does not tolerate my advances. She turns her head, pushes me away, squeals “Nooo, noooo.” I have stopped taking it personally, maybe even stopped yearning for her to let me. But I have not stopped doing it... pressing my lips into her bare skin.

I haven’t stopped asking for kisses either. It is not like I beg everyday or anything but I do make it a point to request a kiss from her now and again. The answer is always no. That refusal hurts worse than most anything else in my world right now.

What is a kiss anyway? An expression, a communication, a message... a simple act that represents something else. The gesture is lost on her as are most things that come in disguise.

Autumn kisses me everyday, whenever she can, all day long. When I lift her out of her crib, smackeroo... she plants one on me. While she is sitting on the potty she leans in and “Muah” gets me. When I enter a room, whoosh... she blows one to me. I remember when they handed Autumn to me in that little office space of baby house 1 in Vorzel... I pulled her close and kissed the side of her face. Though she did not kiss me back, she has been making up for it ever since she figured out what kisses are for.

Truth be told though, a thousand baby kisses cannot make up for one Kimani kiss, one simple kiss that would mean so much.

smileforme

On Friday, March 30th, in the late afternoon, I stood next to the kitchen table with my husband. We were looking at something I can’t even recall when I felt a tug from behind on my shirt. Kimani was in her highchair and she was pulling at me, with both hands. I turned toward her and leaned down a little to see what she wanted. She reached up and grabbed a fistful of my hair and then yanked me down close to her. Then she opened her mouth and tipped her face up to me. She kissed me... not once but twice.

She kissed me. She kissed me. She kissed me. She kissed me. Like a teenager swept away by love’s first touch, I hooted and hollered it, “She kissed me, did you see that? She kissed me!”

My God, I am so thankful... she kissed me.

12 comments:

Anna said...

I am undone.
I am so thankful your deepest yearning was met.
These are beautiful moments arent they?! Our little ones have taught us not to take things for granted- first kisses, or any of the other things I never blinked an eye at. I am so glad that my eyes have been opened!!!

L.L. Barkat said...

Just. Shivers.

iLove.

I Just Love You said...

beautiful! it took a while for rachel to kiss me and it's been heaven ever since!

Unknown said...

oh my goodness!! this could possibly be the best thing I have EVER read! I love it...I love that the big girl kissed you! tears of happy! thank you...made my day! smiles

Not a Perfect Mom said...

#tearsstreamingdowncheeks
love

Tara said...

Huge, crocodile tears, here! What a marvelous gift!

Anonymous said...

Love this! :)

Lisa said...

This brought tears to my eyes. So sweet. I remember the first time Finn purposefully wrapped his arms around my neck and squeezed - his first intentional hug. It made me weak in the knees.

Heidi Ehle said...

Oh Sandra. :) There are really moments well worth the wait aren't there?
I would swear that I still hear angels singing every time the word mama passes Liddy's lips, despite the fact that it is often screamed not spoken. lol I remember the first time that she kissed me too, I can tell you where we were, what we were doing, who we were with. And yet...I can't remember that moment with my son. Maybe because I too took it completely for granted.
So very glad that you were given such a beautiful gift. :)

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

Just. Perfect.

Girl, you are such a terrific storyteller. ... I was so excited to see you over in my comment box the other day. I've missed you. And I've missed being here. It's been too long since I've come by. I'm really, really glad I didn't miss this.

My first daughter planted kisses on me all the time when she was a baby, but I had to work hard for a kiss out of the second daugther. Now, that has completely shifted! Go figure. :)

DownTownDan said...

Funny how such a little thing can mean so damn much. I'm ecstatic for you.

Farmgirl said...

Beautiful! Gives me chills. And humbles me to think of all the things I take for granted.

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