When did my children stop smelling like baby lotion and start smelling like cherry Kool-Aid?

I was in the shower this morning and realized (belatedly) that I am out of shampoo. The fact that I am out of shampoo because my husband used it all as bodywash is another story entirely, and one that I'll probably keep to myself. Anyway, I grabbed the girls' shampoo, a bright red bottle with a cartoon fish or something on the front. Massaging it gently into my hair (Rinse. Repeat.), I was treated to the extra yummy smell of cherry Kool-Aid. I love their shampoo. It makes me want to bury my face in their hair and breathe in the sweetness. It used to make my kids want to eat the shampoo, but a few nights of burping bubbles put a stop to that bad habit.

I love the way children smell. I love the smell of sunshine on their skin after they've played outside. I love the way their cheeks smell like banana after breakfast. I love the smell of soap and lotion. I love the smell of fruit salad after they've tattooed themselves all over with scented markers.

I miss the days of infancy. Lining up the little plastic bathtub, the hooded towel, washrag, ear sucker, nose sucker, baby bath, baby shampoo, baby lotion, rubber duckie thermometer for the bath water, a clean diaper, a clean sleeper.... well, I don't miss all of that so much, I suppose. It's just the feeling of holding a sweet, soft, sleeping infant and burying my face in that tiny neck to breathe in baby smell. There is nothing better.

I suppose I could use the baby lotions on my toddlers, but it's not the same. They squirm and wiggle and squeal "Moooom, that tickles!" when I try to hold them close and inhale. The cherry seems more fitting for the children that they are now, but it doesn't stop the craving deep inside me for Eau de baby.

Maybe I'll replace the bodywash in my shower with something from Baby Magic so I can sniff my husband after he showers. He's not picky about soap. He won't mind. Well, he won't mind until one of his friends catches a whiff. That won't be pretty.