My Lights

I didn't think Britt would ever learn to talk, and I worried about it endlessly.  The pediatrician tried to reassure me that she was fine, she just wasn't ready, but I worried anyway. 

I didn't realize at the time that one day she'd be able to shift into full conversation at warp speed without taking a single breath in between sentences, and that there would be times when I would stare at her without really listening because I was busy watching her lips move, lost in that inner satisfaction that you get when you're parent and you finally realize that things are going to be okay.

At no other time of the year is this memory more prevalent than at Christmas.  The last December we lived in Gainesville, when Sam was six and Britt was two, we lived in a country neighborhood on the edge of town, and only a few houses were decorated at the beginning of the season. 
Whenever we went out at night, the girls would be on the lookout for the houses that had their outdoor lights up.  If Sam saw the the decorations first, she would holler out "lights!" and Britt would respond, "li...!"   

Sam would look at her and say, "lights..." emphasizing the "t" sound, and Britt would kick her little toddler legs in the car seat and nod her head assertively.
"LI...!" she'd yell right back. She had her own opinion.

They would go on like this all through town, everywhere we went.

They are 18 and 14 years old now. And, of course, they rarely point out the lights when we're out driving in town.  But even when I'm by myself and I see the houses all lit up for Christmas, I still hear the chorus of "Lights and Li" coming from the back seat.  It's one of my favorite Christmas memories.

What kind of memories do you have of the small things at this time of the year?

Comments

[GUYK]

I have a niece that didn't start to talk until she was five..and once she got stated she still hasn't shut up and she is in her thirties now..I liked her better when she didn't talk

[Sandy]

My daughters are 8 and 5 and my son is 2. They sit in the back seat and oooohhhh and ahhhhhh and sometimes if they see a cellular tower with a red blinking light, they ask me if that's Rudolph practicing for Christmas Eve.

I love it.

[FloridaCracker]

Carseat conversation memories are the best.

We always tease Emma about not being able to keep a secret since her 5 year old faux pas one Christmas morning. The kids had given me a new computer task chair and it had not yet been opened. As I went to unwrap it, she proudly shouted, "It's a chair!!" And it was.

Now if anyone spills a secret, we all yell, "It's a Chair!"
And then we laugh.
And appear insane.
And each of us is remembering that moment in the past.

[Nils]

My favourite was after going to a Christmas concert, we were driving home. I'd had a soda at the concert, and hey, it was just family in the car, so I let out a big Dad *BURP*.

From the back seat, I hear Erin say "Hands off, girls. He's mine."

[InterstellarLass]

Sweet. I remember a floating Santa balloon that Zed got for Christmas when he was about 18 months. It had arms and legs and was weighted to float just above the ground. Zed walked around like it was his best friend. Holiding it's hand, playing with it. Santa also played music. A little tab on his back contained one of those little music players like what are found in Christmas ties. After awhile, Santa played music continually because the tab got stuck and wouldn't stop playing music. Santa stayed with us until about Valentines day. Until the day I cut off his tab and had to beat it with a hammer to stop the music from playing. And then he died the slow deflating death.

[Janet]

that is so SWEET!!!

[Old Horsetail Snake]

Judging from the picture, you got a right pretty little motor mouth there, Laura.

[kenjukenju]

I love the story and the photos interspersed with angels - but the real angels are in the photos, aren't they?!

Merry Christmas!

[Laura]

Kenju, that's for sure. Thank you!!

You too, Hoss. :))))

Lass, I'm sitting here laughing at your comment, that was hilarious!

Janet, :)

Nils, LOL.. still cracks me up, that story.

FC, Britt is like that, too. That's why I NEVER tell her what I'm getting Samantha for Christmas! LOL

Sandy, too funny! I'd agree with them, of course. I always did tell them Santa was real. ;)

Guy, I have a niece like that.... oppps. ;)

[Deana]

I love that story! Christmas is so about family, love, and memories.

My brother and I were talking the other day about how much it meant to us to get to have the candle burning in our room overnight on Christmas Eve. They were big and glittery and it was the ONLY night we got to keep them lit.

[Sara Sue]

Laura, you have made me cry! How lovely!

[Seamus]

Isn't it wonderful to have good memories tripped this time of year!!! :)

[Tammy~Kentucky Gal]

Now that is a beautiful display, I don't care who ya are!!
:-D

[sandy]

My favorite memory at Christmas is when the kids thought there was a mouse chewing up the presents and came running to tell us. We had put 3 little kittens in a box with holes in it right before they woke up. The kids were so excited.

My second favorite memory was when my son spotted me downstairs putting the presents under the tree. He was so sleepy that he thought I was a Christmas elf. I quickly made my escape and he never knew it was me until he got older and we told him.

Ahhh...the memories we have when we are blessed with children...I could go on and on.
Merry Christmas Laura.

[Terri]

What a great memory and the photos are gorgeous. You have two beautiful daughters. Love how you composed the picture with the light.
By the way....baked the eggnog cake today. It looks great! It smells great! And I'll let you know how it tastes. Thanks for sharing that recipe. (I mentioned you in my post today)
Merry Christmas to you, Laura.