The Sweetest Thing!!!

I am a believer in loving on my kiddos like crazy before I tuck them in their beds. I have never been one to just place my babes in their cribs or beds and walk out of the room ~ not that there is anything wrong with that! I just have my little routines ~ unique to each child. I scratch Lijah's head and sing to him. I hold Erik Daniel and sing to him. The big boys I just simply talk to and kiss and hug. But, when they were younger, I had special songs and a special way that I held them. I have done things a little different with each child. I just do what they like best ~ what seems to calm them the most, etc.

Anyway, today I was putting Elijah down for a nap when suddenly Elijah's sleepy face turned into a huge smile. I looked behind my back, and JCT was peeking through a crack in the bedroom door. I asked him to wait for me on the steps. When I left Elijah, I found JCT crying on the steps. I thought, perhaps, I had hurt his feelings???

So, we walked down stairs hand in hand, and I asked him why he was crying. He tried twice to tell me, but I couldn't make out his words for his crying. Finally, when we got downstairs, I sat on the ottoman and put him on my lap. I said, "Now calm down, and in a voice that I can understand, tell me why you are crying." And, he said words that made this mommy's heart cry. He said. . .

"When I was three, you used to hold me and sing to me, but now I am too big for you to hold me like that anymore!!!!"

Now, how many times has my heart yearned to hold Joshua or JCT the way I did when they were little?? It took me by complete surprise that he felt the same way!!!

So, I picked him up and cradled him with his big boy head laying on my left arm just the way I used to and rocked him for a few minutes.

And, he smiled. . . big time.

And, my left shoulder hurt. . . big time.

Man, do I love my big baby boy!!!!

A sweet moment and a sweet memory!