***I’m working on Maggie’s photo book from 2013 (don’t judge…) and came across this writing I did while we were on our road trip to Chico Hot Springs. Since I’m sentimental and a mother deep into my bones, I’m re-posting it here again.****
Reason #346 That I love Chico Hot Springs: Those Rocking Chairs
Maggie was only 14 months old the first two times that we went to Chico and it was super hot and humid both times. Neither of us could sleep and staying in our room didn’t seem like a reasonable option because of the humidity. She was just in her diaper and I carried her in my arms around the grounds. The moon was high in the sky and Maggie’s eyes were wide open. Somehow we’d made it out front and to the row of rocking chairs on the porch. Nobody else was using them and the called to me. To us.
As I sat down, I could feel Maggie’s body adjust to her standard rocking position – crooked into my left arm, hand on my boob. We sat there and rocked for a long, long time. She fell asleep and I stared at her in the moonlight for even longer. My daughter. My little girl.
This time around, this time at Chico, she is 3 years old and when we come across those rocking chairs it is still humid, but the sun is high in the sky. She climbs up herself and rocks back and forth all on her own. It takes me all but a minute to scoop her into my arms and tell the story of the time she was a wee baby in my arms and couldn’t sleep at Chico.
It takes her all but a minute to slide into the rocking position – crooked in arm, hand on boob.
We rock together and I soak it all in – her hair, her face, her long 3 year old body next to mine, sweaty hand on my chest, the squeak of the chair. I want to remember this forever.
All too soon she pops up and slithers out of my arms and into the chair next to mine – rocking and fake sleeping all on her own.
Reason#347 That I Love Chico Hot Springs: Moments in Those Rocking Chairs
