Strawberry Dora shampoo

Last night when I was putting Baby N to sleep, I just sat there holding her for an extra 5 minutes.... breathing in that intoxicating smell of freshly bathed baby. There is something about that scent that makes me want to move to a farm and have an entire litter of babies. But then I snap back to reality. I realize that my baby is almost 6 months old. I try to freeze this memory into my mind. Pretty soon the baby shampoo smell will be replaced with strawberry Dora shampoo and she will no longer fall asleep in my arms.

But then something else pretty wonderful happens. That big girl will run in from playing with bubbles in the backyard, wrap her sweaty and dirty little arms around my legs and say "mommy, I love you all the way inside my heart."

And before she runs off to start playing with stickers or books, I make sure to wrap my arms around her and tell her that I also love her deep inside my heart. As I am doing that, I take in the smell of strawberry Dora shampoo, sweat, and the smell of a little girl that has been playing outside all afternoon. I also want to bottle up that sweet, innocent smell and never forget it.

Life with a 3 year old and a 6 month old can sometimes be pretty hectic, but all it takes is a whiff of a sweaty ponytail to remind you that unloading the dishwasher can wait.