Little Boys
February 27, 2009
There is nothing sweeter than a bouquet of flowers from a little boy.
Tiny flower heads with stems far too small to put into any vase. Flowers that are usually called weeds by everyone except for little boys who think that they are beautiful.
As do their mothers.
Sweaty curls. Chubby hands. And dimples you could fall into.
Don’t even get me started on the eyelashes.
Since moving, Miles has been sleeping in his own room. For the past 50 months he had never slept more than 10ft away from me. I didn’t think I would miss seeing him sleeping in the middle of the night. Or that I would miss him flinging the covers off of me and kneeing me in the stomach to climb into the middle of the bed. But I do.
What’s next? An apartment across town?
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Miles is one beautiful little boy. That is probably
February 27th, 2009 at 5:26 pmnot the correct term for a boy, but I calls them as
I sees them!
Chris - what a sweet post. Those dimples…
February 27th, 2009 at 5:35 pmmy daughter has stopped sleeping with us also and IT HURTS! I thought I would be thrilled when she stopped sneaking into our bed in the middle of the night. That I would be OVERJOYED to not wake up to a mound of blonde curls in my mouth. When both of my sons stopped coming in my room I was fine with it, I guess my body and my heart knows that she is the last baby. When I reach for her in the morning and she is not there it hurts.
I don’t like it one little bit
February 27th, 2009 at 5:35 pmI have 2 five year olds. They always ended up in bed with us. Then it stopped. You are only nostalgic about it until they come BACK in bed with you for the night…then you are ready to move on!!!
February 27th, 2009 at 5:45 pmAnd, I AM looking for appt across town for a couple of 9 yr olds…is that legal???
February 27th, 2009 at 5:46 pmCrikey, he’s a beautiful boy! My kid, who looked quite a bit like Miles when he was little, slept in our room for many years. When he was finally sleeping in his own room, I did miss him very much.
February 27th, 2009 at 5:51 pmHe is adorable!!!
February 27th, 2009 at 5:57 pmI used to use an empty, washed glass salt shaker as a tiny vase for just those types of flowers!
February 27th, 2009 at 6:01 pm“Sweaty curls. Chubby hands. And dimples you could fall into.” A perfect description.
February 27th, 2009 at 6:02 pmI’m a long time reader/lurker, and I’ve always admired his cuteness. Best of luck to getting settled in your new home. No remodeling for awhile! You remind me of my brother, as soon as he finished a house, he would move!
All the best, take care. Give Miles a hug.
Annie
From playing baseball in the snow to shorts and flowers and sweaty curls. Beautiful.
February 27th, 2009 at 6:04 pmAw, the sweet little thing looks sweaty already, but as always incredibly adorable.
February 27th, 2009 at 6:06 pmHe is just so precious! I remember my crowns of dandelions, my clover bouquets and the occasion neighbor’s raiding of their flower beds. YIKES! Miles looks like he grew up over the move. I do not know what it is, but he looks older than a week or so ago.
February 27th, 2009 at 6:26 pmI love your pictures!
Egads! How could you ever get angry at those dimples? You can swim in them! I heart Miles!
February 27th, 2009 at 6:31 pmSo. Very. Sweet!
February 27th, 2009 at 6:57 pmAren’t you just digging the fact that he’s sweaty and bringing you flowers in FEBRUARY! Are you going to miss the snow next winter when there is none?
February 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pmthose dimples!!!how do you stand the cutness!!!!
February 27th, 2009 at 7:07 pmOoh, the dimples!!!! How do you get anything done when he’s got dimples like those?!
February 27th, 2009 at 7:20 pmHe’s a dollface. Those look like flowers to me. His little lips are so red-rosey too - did he eat a popcicle or is his sister practicing lipstick on him?
February 27th, 2009 at 7:20 pmBest wishes to you in Texas!
the twins now are (mostly) in their own room. 10 ft away. But that doesn’t mean I don’t check on them 10 times a night!
February 27th, 2009 at 7:21 pmThose flowers would be great for a tussie mussie - my sister has one that she bought at the Winterthur store and she sometimes fills it with violets.
Here’s a link for another one: http://www.shadowfaxjewelry.com/sfx/bud_pins/index.htm
February 27th, 2009 at 7:27 pmBut we still don’t know why?
February 27th, 2009 at 7:28 pmOh my gosh! What happened to the baby??? He’s all grown up! They grow up too fast. He is absolutely delicious.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:41 pmThat second photo is just wonderful! And I agree about the weedy flowers, every morning on the way to drop the big kids at school my two youngest boys (3 and 2) pick weedy flowers for me. They come to me and say “A flower for you Mummy! Put it in your hair!” And I look at this half-squashed smelly weedy flower, and dutifully put it in my hair. Little boys are great! You could just eat them up.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:47 pmVery cute! But I have to say, I’m getting a bit annoyed by your blog! I’ve been checking in multiple times a day for over a week (I usually read your blog 1x a day)! I, as I’m sure many of your other readers would agree, I am waiting for the why’s etc for your move update. I’m feeling a bit used…
February 27th, 2009 at 7:52 pmHe is absolutely beautiful. Yes, baby boys can be beautiful.
February 27th, 2009 at 8:09 pmI can barely stand the cuteness of those dimples!
February 27th, 2009 at 8:22 pmIt took a move to Texas for Miles to realize he’s a big boy now! Good for him. You’ll soon come to realize that bed all to yourselves is a good thing, I promise!
February 27th, 2009 at 8:39 pmI still cannot get my littlest little to spend the whole night in her room…and Iknow I will miss it when she does.
Hope the move is going well and um, yeah sweaty curls…if you were still back here in the NE they would be frozen…more snow on sunday…is predicated.
February 27th, 2009 at 8:48 pmThat second picture is GORGEOUS. They all are, but that second one, especially.
February 27th, 2009 at 8:56 pmChris,
I just LOVE this little man, he is absolutely adorable, you will be fighting off the girls from your place in a few years time if not sooner.
He has a smile that would melt even the hardest heart. I do not have children (not from choice) but Miles would be the kid of my dreams.
Mind you the rest of your kids are pretty good looking as well, and as I have said on numerous occasions, you certainly do not look like the Mother of 7 Children, you are so pretty and have a fantastic figure. Many of the women I deal with on a daily basis look many years past their ages with a third of the children you have.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. Could you Kiss those wonderfully dimpled cheeks for me and tell him it is from one of his many Cyber Aunties, show him on a map where I come from.
Take Care
February 27th, 2009 at 9:02 pmLots of Love to you ALL Carlynn XXXXXX
Simply beautiful…
February 27th, 2009 at 9:07 pmFebruary, and no jacket. that has just got to be a good change!
February 27th, 2009 at 9:25 pmThis has to be one of the more precious photo sets ever taken.
February 27th, 2009 at 9:37 pmHe looks like he is enjoying your new home with warm weather!
February 27th, 2009 at 10:02 pmHmmmm, maybe it’s time for another . . .
February 27th, 2009 at 10:07 pmThose flowers are my absolute favorites, too… given by grubby, chubby hands and with sweaty little boy hugs. *sigh* I’m trying so hard to hold onto these days, but they’re slipping by so fast!
February 27th, 2009 at 11:17 pmWOW!!! That little boy looks nothing like the little boy in the other photos. He is so grown up.
After having a son, I totally understand that specialness between a mom and her son. Currently, my son has started turning to me out of nowhere and yelling, “I love you, MOM!!” It makes my heart swell, until he follows it up with “I don’t like you, mom. I like Daddy.” Can’t have everything, right?
February 27th, 2009 at 11:36 pmHe is a beautiful and sweet boy-all your children are-glad you got a break from moving/unpacking stuff-to stop and smell the flower!
February 28th, 2009 at 12:07 amWell, yes, he is more gorgeous every day but me thinks perhaps the subject that we all are wondering about (thus checking back every hour or so)will perhaps not be the most jolly and cheerful of posts?
February 28th, 2009 at 12:31 amBut if I am wrong, c’mon- we are dying to hear!!
And there will be NOTHING but support and love for you, either way!!
Heh, you made me think of those “life comes at you fast” ads.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:52 amI was just going to say you could fall into those dimples… but then you said it. You are going to have girls beating down your door one day.
My youngest also has to sleep a few inches from my face. I’ve let it go on this long only because she’s the last and I know I will miss it. But now I’m a little worried we will have to eventually move to make the break.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:10 amOh that one will never go too far away from you….
February 28th, 2009 at 9:40 amOMG he’s so adorable. I just love him. But ouch at not having him with you any longer. What a transition for you.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:54 amThose dimples……. How can you stand all the cuteness in one house?
February 28th, 2009 at 9:58 amAnd the best part is eventually a beautiful southern accent will fall out of those precious lips, and literally sweep every girl in the neighborhood off their feet…
February 28th, 2009 at 10:16 amMy favorite part is the slightly dirty fingernails that never seem to come clean (at least in our house, they ALWAYS look like that!)! We are also going through adjustments in sleeping arrangements, and it is difficult. Can’t sleep with them, can’t sleep without them. It is just another reminder that he is growing up and (sigh!) will be starting school in mere months…okay, I need to go find a tissue…
February 28th, 2009 at 12:51 pmLove those flowers. Love the pictures. Love the dimples. Love Miles. Love you too (but not in a weird way).
February 28th, 2009 at 1:03 pmThis post makes me think of a song called “Dandelions” by Five Iron Frenzy:
In a field of yellow flowers,
underneath the sun,
bluest eyes that spark with lightning,
boy with shoes undone.
He is young, so full of hope,
reveling in tiny dreams,
filling up his arms with flowers,
right for giving any queen.
Running to her beaming bright,
while cradling his prize.
A flickering of yellow light
within his mother’s eyes.
She holds them to her heart,
keeping them where they’ll be safe,
clasped within her very marrow,
dandelions in a vase.
She sees love, where anyone else would see weeds.
February 28th, 2009 at 1:14 pmAll hope is found. Here is everything he needs.
My almost eight-year-old boy still picks stubby bouquets of “flowers” for me. There are few things that bring me more joy. I dread the day that he outgrows it.
February 28th, 2009 at 1:18 pmLooks like you are coping well, I have had you and your family in prayer. Change , even good, is hard. Good to see you back online. Children are little angels in training….
February 28th, 2009 at 4:10 pmGod Bless!
I see I’m in the minority, but you can count me along with Nicole in feeling put-upon as a regular passerby on your blog. Is it really that hard to type “we moved for work” or something like that, and address the complete silence about it ahead of time with something like “we had a lot of other people to tell first” or “it was a touchy subject”? Why be coy when you know your readers care and are interested?
February 28th, 2009 at 4:29 pmOne of my favorite songs by Five Iron Frenzy: Dandelions.
In a field of yellow flowers,
Underneath the sun,
Bluest eyes that spark with lightning,
Boy with shoes undone.
He is young, so full of hope,
Reveling in tiny dreams,
Filling up his arms with flowers,
Right for giving any queen.
Running to her beaming bright,
While cradling his prize.
A flickering of yellow light,
Within his mother’s eyes.
She holds them to her heart,
Keeping them where they’ll be safe,
Clasped within her very marrow,
Dandelions in a vase.
She sees love, where anyone else would see weeds.
All hope is found.
Here is everything he needs.
Fathomless Your endless mercy,
Weight I could not lift.
Where do I fit in this puzzle,
What good are these gifts?
Not a martyr, or a saint,
Scarcely can I struggle through.
All that I have ever wanted,
Was to give my best to You.
Lord, search my heart,
Create in me something clean.
Dandelions
You see flowers in these weeds.
Gently lifting hands to heaven,
Softened by the sweetest hush,
A Father sings over his children,
Loving them so very much.
More than words could warrant,
Deeper than the darkest blue,
More than sacrifice could merit,
Lord, I give my heart to You.
Lord, search my heart,
February 28th, 2009 at 5:21 pmCreate in me something clean.
Dandelions
You see flowers in these weeds.
Hanging onto the last vestiges of “babyhood” with my three year old little guy (and last one) too. He is fond of climbing into our bed when he’s had a bad dream…and as much as it hurts, I know that one day I will truly miss him tromping over my face in the middle of the night as he finds the perfect spot to snuggle down between my husband and I in his quest for comfort!
February 28th, 2009 at 5:48 pmI never would have recognized Miles! He looks so grown up!
February 28th, 2009 at 8:48 pmI love your photos of Miles. He’s such a sunshiny kid.
But about finding out more about why you moved. I’ve been thinking of how invested I’ve become in the welfare of the few families I visit regularly in cyberspace. I have my own immediate and extended family but it turns out that I care about these internet families also. I think that what a person posts on their blog is totally voluntary but it’s weird and true that the people who visit here regularly and who have been following the daily doings at the BYH or Trenches for years kinda care what’s up and they just want to know a little more about why you moved from your beautiful home in CT to TX so suddenly? People don’t want to invade your privacy but I think they’re feeling kind of let down that a lot has changed without any info. Just my 2cents….
February 28th, 2009 at 11:28 pmIt’s utterly unfair that a boy should get eyelashes like that. Just thought I’d share.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:05 amI love his nose, those eyebrows, and yes get started on the lashes, but those little apple cheeks above the perfect dimples are really the best.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:22 amI get so many of these “bouquets” in the summer and, while sweet and darling, I always dread the inevitable question about one hour after picking, “Why didn’t you put them in a vase? You killed the beyoooteefuulll flowers I picked just for you . . .”. Perhaps there is a niche mommy market for teeny, tiny vases just for these flowers.
Hope y’all are okay with the wildfires down near Austin.
-Anne
March 1st, 2009 at 12:33 amOh, he is breathtakingly beautiful, those eyelashes make me melt.
Does he look like your other boys when they were little..?? I’m trying to imagine him as an older boy.
Thanks so much for sharing all of your lovely children with us, I enjoy your blog because of the refreshing nature & “realness” (is that a word..??)of it and your family…perfect MummyBloggers make my skin crawl, I just can’t help but think I am being duped because no-one’s life is that perfect. What are they hiding I wonder..??
March 1st, 2009 at 2:57 amUmm,people? It’s a blog, not pay per view. Chris gets to post what she wants, when she wants.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:30 ami guess I am in the minority too…I feel like you open your life here to the public via blog and its just odd that you are stringing everyone along. To each their own I guess but I am finding it annoying
March 1st, 2009 at 10:34 amOh, I just love love Miles.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:12 amO.K. I love your website and all the doings of your family, but please can’t we have a little info about your move to Austin. My Mom and Dad lived in Austin over 60 years ago and if they hadn’t moved to San Diego I’m sure that’s where they would be right now. My Mom still talks about Austin with love.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pmWhat an adorable child!
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:34 amI have read your blogs for I guess years and I have always wondered why Miles is the only child that you call by name. I do not recall you giving the names of any of the other kids.
Just something I have been wanting to ask you about for awhile.
I married one of those little boys all grown up. He’ll bring me a flower that he finds while walking the dog or mowing the lawn. It is better than any dozen roses.
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 pmSeriously.. tell us all the details of the move.
Were the kids O.K with it? They came around.
Have they made new friends? They have met other kids in the neighborhood or through abseball, but no “friends” yet. We have only been here two weeks.
Are you adjusting? I grocery shop. I clean. I cook meals no one eats. Oh and drive to baseball practices. My life is not much different except that now I am not cold.
Do you miss your kitchen? (Even I miss your kitchen.) More that I can even say.
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:07 pmAwwww! My little Bee always picks me a “flower” when her dad drops her and her sister off. Usually it’s a blade of grass, but it’s still the sweetest thing ever. Ah, two year olds.
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:56 pmThe rhyme mentions snips and snails and puppy dog tails -
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 amit doesn’t even begin to delve into this beautiful - er handsome little boy!!!