It was a cold, early spring day in Alaska, and from the warm restaurant where I sat, I could look out the large windows and see the rocky beach bend around the point in both directions. Occasionally, my gaze would wander back inside and across the table to my husband - the man whom I'd been married to for eight years, the man who was the father to our two little boys back home, the man who was father to the little life that was making all those squirming, fluttering feelings in my womb now. I reached across the table for his hand, and he took mine. We smiled, holding each other's gaze a moment before we turned once again to the ocean view outside.
It was then that we saw them: three boys, stair-stepped in age from about nine to thirteen, hiking, throwing rocks, wrestling, wielding sticks, bumping, shoving, roughing; their bright eyes showing that they were, in fact, very near heaven right now. Silently, our heads turned as our eyes slowly followed their playful movement all the way around the point.
A band of brothers.
In the space of just a few moments, those boys had sent my knees weak and my heart to fluttering. I was utterly and completely captured. Reaching across the table, I took my husband's hand once again and said, "Oh, wouldn't it be fun to have three boys?"
Indeed! A few months later, in -20 degree temperatures, we drove home from the hospital - with our third boy!
Did you know? Boys are loud. VERY loud. They're rough and can be very, very messy. They tell it like it is. (You'll know when you have bad breath. And when you've started growing your own mustache. Yes, Mama, you.) They love sweets and are positive that generous servings of dessert should be consumed after every meal, preferably with a tall glass of milk. And, my, they can't wait until they become bachelors so they can swig their milk straight from the jug!
Think for a moment, just what they can do to a bathroom. Three boys, one bathroom. I've been known to choose the word 'crusty' to describe it for good reason. Taking showers is a huge waste of their time - even once a week would be far too often. And after brushing, their teeth may or may not be clean (probably not).
I get concerned, at times, when I wash load after load of laundry, and find only one or two pair of boy underwear to fold. Wha? Huh? Why? Actually, I don't think I want to know.
They'll declare that their room is clean, and upon inspection, you find a clear spot of floor in the very middle of the room, the rest? Meh. If you ever had the chance to look in their junk drawers, you'd see string, pocket knives, drawings, broken things, batteries, rubber bands, candy wrappers, broken things, business cards, feathers, rocks, pocket notebooks, broken things, army men, rubber balls, treasure chests, gold medals, and broken things.
They drink coffee in their milk. Sometimes. Those are really good times; their mustaches grow a little.
At bedtime, they plead with you to snuggle with them in their beds, then, there in the dark, they talk your ear right off. In the morning, they make their beds in the most delightful sort of way. The rest of the time, they scrap, fight, argue; they defend, protect, and nurture. They thump on each other; they hug on each other, these three boys.
{Photo taken last fall}
They're a band of brothers, they are.
* * *
This reminds me of something I wrote when they were six, four, and two. Tomorrow, I'll share. It's all about one desperate Mama, one vacuum cleaner, and three little boys.
Have a wonderful Monday, friends!
Carmella,
I only have two, but oh, how I can relate.
Still, they are so much fun !!
Posted by: Sharon Rogerson | January 25, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Three boys are wonderful!!! You hit the nail on the head in describing every fiber of their beings. My oh my how I love and treasure my three boys!
Posted by: Wendy | January 25, 2010 at 02:30 PM
What joyous music that band of boys makes!
Posted by: Maureen | January 25, 2010 at 08:06 PM
Oh I laughed as I was reading this post! As you know...we don't have any boys (yet). But I can relate through a couple of my friends who have all boys. I love it! Great post! And I love those 3 boys too!
Posted by: Sonesta | January 26, 2010 at 11:55 AM