I am a very lovey dovey kind of Mom. I hug and kiss on my kids (especially when they’re babies) all the time! So, one of my favorite things is when they start to “give loves” back to you. It is the best.
Well, I first noticed my baby giving loves to a stuffed animal the other day when my niece was visiting. She gave him a stuffed animal, and he put it up next to his face and snuggled it between his head and his shoulder. It was adorable.
One of the best feelings is when they can wrap their arms around your neck and really hug you back. But, usually that comes a little later. He isn’t quite doing that yet. But, he does know how to show affection in his own way.
The other day, my daughter, who is six years old, and one of the baby’s best playmates, was standing up talking to him in her own motherly way. He grabbed her pants leg and we both laughed thinking he was just using her to help himself stand up, but then he put his little arms around her legs and gave her a hug while laying his head on her chest. I have to admit I was a little jealous. His big sister is one of his favorite people, (besides the cat), and she is a great big sister to him too!
Then, this morning as my husband was leaving for work, he gave me a kiss goodbye, and the baby was watching closely. Then he smacked his lips together and made the kissing noise too, like he was giving daddy a kiss good-bye.
He has also learned to give open-mouthed “kisses” on the cheek. I love it.
It is the little moments like these that happen everyday that make all the harder parenting moments totally worth it.
*Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com