. . . . how incredible it is that this little person, this stranger really, *loves* you?<\/p>\n
Isaac loves me. He craves Mommy. He misses me terribly when I’m gone. He sleeps best with his nose in my armpit. My hand is fun to chew, squish, and finger. My arm is nice to stroke during a snack. My lap is a good home-base in a new place. My toes are the funnest bath toys. And, of course, I’m the best “cook” in town. Mommy is his only “lovey.” He doesn’t mind me uncombed, unwashed, unkept, coffee-breathed, and bejammied. As long as I’m here to climb on, giggle with, stand against, step towards, and call for, life’s grand.<\/p>\n
He loves Daddy. This morning I caught Isaac, after he had awakened before either Mom or Dad were ready, gently resting his head against Daddy for a quick cuddle. Today, for the first time, he cried when Daddy left for school. Daddy is the best tickler and jiggler and car-whistler. Daddy is fascinating when he irons his shirt, brushes his teeth, and mows the lawn. Daddy dances him to sleep and snuggles him while both nap through _Planet of the Apes_. Daddy finds remotes, keys, spatulas, and spoons that make cool noises. Daddy is just plain fun.<\/p>\n
He loves Cricket. Just now he signed “doggie” for the first time. Cricket does things like no one else. She barks, licks, sheds, pants, chews, and poops outside. She’s fuzzy just like the _Touch and Feel_ book. She sits patiently, like the homeless cur in Christ’s parable, for any morsel the rich man Isaac might discard from his banquet table. Cricket’s biscuits feel hard and taste special before Isaac decides to actually toss the anxious dog her treat.<\/p>\n
He loves out. Shopping is fun because there’s so many new noises, colors, and activities. Daddy always holds him tight or Mommy slings him close. Elmo giggles at every store. At school, he sees new toys in Mom’s office, good friends at lunch, and friendly students on the sidewalk. Aunties and uncles always have a happy wave or a fresh lap, and cousins always share a silly face. Grandma and Grandpa always have a chewy book and a ready “buzi.”<\/p>\n
He loves in. When Mommy starts to sing “How I Love My Home Sweet Home” when we pull onto our street, Isaac kicks with glee. He waits for the turn into the driveway, listens for the garage door to open and the keys to turn, and then anticipates the dome light above his seat. All of this makes him grin wildly. At home, the mirrors show the smiliest babies, the Tivo makes the happiest “pong,” and the toys are the most colorful and musical. At home, he can jump, bounce, roll, pull up, and eat with abandon.<\/p>\n
When he looks up from his toys and grins at mom and dad like we are his very favorites, I can’t help but be stunned that he actually loves us. And we are so infinitely blessed to have this happy soul in our lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
. . . . how incredible it is that this little person, this stranger really,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family","category-remember"],"yoast_head":"\n