XOXO

"Awwww. I LOVE hugs!" I squeeze T Junior, who has his left arm around my neck and the side of his face resting on my left shoulder.

"Awwww," he parrots, then pulls back.

"Do I get a kiss?"

Pressing his lips into such a thin line that they almost disappear, his eyes go dreamy and he tilts his chin forward. I give him a big, loud smackaroo and he giggles.

I'm loving this. I'm eating it up.

He hasn't been the most cuddly baby. A few times, after a nap, he still seemed sleepy. So, I took him into my room and tried to cuddle. Before I could switch on Disney Channel, he squirmed away in order to stand up and peer over the headboard out the window overlooking the back yard.

He's just too busy for snuggling, which makes me sad. I hope he will want to when he gets bigger.

However, he's pretty big on huggies and kissies right now. Well, most of the time. Occasionally, if you ask him for one, he'll ignore you. He's like a cat that way.

But the way he greets me when I pick him up after day care is more like a dog. "Mama!" he cries joyfully as soon as he spots me, then runs into my arms for "big hugs," as Mr. T calls them.

Sometimes we have our arms locked around each other for minutes while I hear all about his day from Ms. Kadie.

"Oooo. I love hugs. I LOVE you, buddy."