Smell to the Car

Last weekend, before we left our apartment to go to the library, I grabbed one of those Chobani Complete yogurt drinks from the fridge. To hold me over ’til it was time for dinner.

I threw it in my coat pocket and then Ishu and I walked to the car together.

Once I started driving, I opened up the drink and had a few sips. But we got there before I could finish it. I parked the car, capped the drink, and stuffed it back in my coat pocket.

Ishu and I got to the children’s section and dabbled in a few things before the musical performers started. And then when we sat down to watch them, I took a quick swig of the yogurt drink and then put it back in my pocket.

I wasn’t trying to hide it from Ishu. But he must not have noticed. Because, a few seconds later, he taps my shoulder and whispers, “Mama, guess what?”

“What?” I whisper back.

“I can smell all the way to our car. And you want to know what I smell? The strawberry smoothie!” he said with his eyes wide. As if he wasn’t quite sure how he had acquired this superpower.

Man, oh man.

All day long, this kid talks and talks and talks. And I just want to follow him around with a notebook. Never wanting to forget a single thing he says.

Like at his playdate last week when his friend told him, “I like your Lego table.” And Ishu responded with, “THANK YOU. AND ALSO, I’M HALF A TIGER. HALF A BEAVER. HALF A CAT. AND HALF A DOG.”

Or when I ask him, at bedtime, if he wants me to play a BabyBus story from Spotify. And he says, “Yes. I want one BabyBus story but I also want one story from your mouth,” instead of just saying he wants me to tell him a story.

Oh Ishu.

You’re the cutest little pumpkin and I can’t wait for you to grow up and read all the funny things you used to say and see the millions of way you made us smile each day.