Mama

If you know me, and you know Leland, then you'll know that he is just this little independent soul, and I am always searching for small signs that he needs me.  

I know this is silly.  

Of course, he needs me---but, over the course of the year, I can't tell you how many times I have just wanted to rock him to sleep or soothe him or anything really.  

It just doesn't happen all to often.  

Each night, he arches back on the first verse of my lullaby and points to his crib.  

He happily plays and jabbers in there until he falls asleep.  

When he falls and bonks, I'll comfort him, but he truly prefers to walk it out, crying.  

Awe, and it breaks my heart to see him walk away crying or to leave him in his room, awake in the dark and seemingly ready to play.

 But it also fills me with wonder that our personalities can be so innate within us.   

So, when I get these rare tender moments, well, that is when you will get a blog post out of me.  Leland has said Mama now and meant it about a handful of times.  

But, the other day in the car, he was saying Mama on repeat.  

"MAMA, mama, MAAAAMA."  

He'd say it in all different ways.  

And then I would say, "Mama." and he'd get all quiet, and his voice would get all soft and dreamy and he'd say "mama" like he was drifting off into the best sleep.  

We did it the whole way home, and I laughed and smiled at how happy we both were with that word.  

Mama. 

{PS:  Hi Amy!}