Love. my. boys.

I love my boys. They are so free with their love. I came into the master bathroom the other day and found a note taped to the mirror above my sink that said, in kindergarten script "I love you. Love Soren". It's still there and it's been a week now. I don't know that I'll ever take it down.

Tonight on the way home from small group about 9:15pm it was just Keiton and I in the car and all of the sudden from the backseat
"Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?" I replied, turning off the radio.
"I love you," he said.
That's all he said. He wasn't trying to get something out of me or butter me up, but he wanted to tell me he loves me. Melt my heart? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!

I get hugs and kisses and notes from both boys constantly. They love to sit with me and yes, even cuddle. And I eat. it. up. I know that one day it will not be this way. Someday it will be the last cuddle or public display of affection and so each time an overt sign of their love is given I cherish it and treasure it in my heart and in my mind. A mommy snapshot to keep with me forever.

It was the middle of the night last night when I heard Keiton climbing down from the bunkbed. I heard him whispering to himself as he walked the hallway and then the bathroom light went on and I heard him busy doing something. Curious, I got out of bed and found him standing on the toilet seat leaning over the sink with the water on, getting himself a drink of water. "I need a drink of water" he whispered in his sleepy 3-year old voice. I watched him gulp the water down. An orange cup. He wasn't wearing a shirt, just a long pair of pj bottoms with dinosaurs on them, and socks. One leg was pulled up to his shin, the other leg was down. It was so cute. He finished his drink, got down and then said (still whispering) "can I sleep in your bed?" as he walked towards our room. "No," I whispered back, "see, daddy is sleeping there and there's no more room."
"Well," he whispered back, "I could sleep there on the floor" and he pointed to the floor. "No," I said again, "how about I walk you back to your own bed and help you up?" We walked back to his room and he turned to me for a big hug before settling into his covers. A small story... but a sweet one and the kind that I want to remember forever. So, I blog about it, even though it is totally insignificant to anyone else. It will bring the memory back though of seeing him standing there and hearing his voice and a sleepy-time middle of the night hug from his warm body.

I cannot get enough of them. I am blessed beyond...

I think I'll go kiss on their sleeping faces now and whisper that I love them.

--Betsy