Recently, while packing up a bunch of baby gear that Owen had outgrown, I came across Owen’s aqua-themed activity mat. I felt a little sad preparing his things to give away because each item, the mat especially, triggered so many memories of Owen as a baby.

Owen spent countless hours rolling and crawling and drooling on this little piece of fabric. When he was tiny he would lay on his back, kicking his feet and punching his arms all over the place. If we played James Brown, those arms and legs really seemed to have a mind of their own.  Sometimes he would repetitively kick one of the foam poles that arched over the mat, jiggling all the sea creatures and rattles that hung above.  As he grew he became more interested in those items hanging from the poles, he would pull and swat at them or just study them and explore the different textures. He was a champ at tummy time, and would lie on his belly and rake his hand across the silky surface. I smiled as I pictured him on the mat and felt a little unsure about giving it away. But I finished packing it up and hoped another family would enjoy it as much as we did.

Later I went downstairs and saw a little whale shaped pillow peeking out of a basket, another piece of the aqua-themed mat. Seeing it triggered another memory. I remembered when I lightly touched it against Owen’s cheek and sang “whale kisses, whale kisses” and Owen giggled for the first time. I picked up Whaley, as we call the pillow, looked at it and then hugged it close. “Whale Kisses, Whale kisses, ….” I sang in my head and smiled to myself again. For just a moment I wondered if I should bring it upstairs and pack it with the rest of the mat but I knew right away I couldn’t. Our little whale pillow is definitely a keepsake item and will stay with us.

Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Gently on your cheek
Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Giggles soft and sweet

I swim right by you
Up an down and all around
I’ll rise and surprise you
Blow a spout of water out

Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Gently on your cheek
Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Giggles soft and sweet

The deepest oceans
That’s where I roam, my happy home
I eat lots of plankton
My baleen, filters it clean

Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Gently on your cheek
Whale Kisses
Whale Kisses
Giggles soft and sweet

Here is the video of Owen’s first giggle and the inspiration for the song “Whale Kisses”.