Little Rewards

I have to share some funny and sweet things Jackson did last week. The first one happened on the night my parents babysat while Curt and I went on our date. For Valentine's Day, my mom and dad were sent this singing cat and dog thing.

Jackson is obsessed with it. That night when my mom was putting him to bed, he wanted to listen to it one more time. For the first time ever he tried to sing along. Since he didn't know the words, mom told me he was singing, "Dadda...Mommy...Dadda...Mommy."

Later that week we were back at my parents' house and mom and I were playing with the little man. His back was turned to me and, as I often do, I gave him a play spanking on his little hiney because it was so cute. I promise it didn't hurt him. It was like when you're riding a horse and you give it a pat on the neck. He spun around and made a funny face at me like "Why'd you do that, Mom?" Then he came around behind me and spanked me on the hiney. It was seriously one of the most surprising and hilarious moments of motherhood so far.

The last one happened on Saturday morning. Jackson and I were having breakfast together before I headed off to the mall with my mom and Lis. I have not been pushing him to say "I love you, Mommy" even though I am really looking forward to the day when he says it. I want it to be on his own and not because I made him repeat it back to me. We were doing the whole "How much does Mommy love you? This much? No! THIS much? No! THIS MUCH? Yes!" Then I said, "How much do you love Beckham? Etc. How much do you love Daddy? Etc." He played the little game with me and then I stopped. Then he looked at me and said with lots of enthusiasm, "Mommy!?!?"

"Yes, son?"

"Idoveyoudismuh."

Melt my ever lovin' heart, why don't you? Now that'll set you up for a great Mother's Day weekend, won't it?

I have to add one more that I forgot about. We were driving somewhere last week and I was singing loudly to one of the songs on Passion's Hymns CD (which is old but great). The song ended and I kept singing it during the pause before the next song. Suddenly I heard, "Mommy, no!" from the back seat. Jackson apparently couldn't stand the sound of my singing voice when it wasn't covered up by the loud music. That's exactly why I try to seat myself on the end of the front row and in front of the speakers during worship services. No one in front of me, no one to one side of me, and good vibrations covering up my joyful noise! Amen?

*I posted the sopapilla cheesecake recipe on the LPM blog today if anyone wants it.