three squeezes

When I put Emerson down for a nap or for bed, the last thing I do is take her hand, give her three squeezes, and say "I. Love. You." as I squeeze. Tonight, she did it to me. Three teeny squeezes and her peanut voice saying (with a binky tucked in between her lips) "I wov you."

This is the stuff they don't tell you about in the parenting books. This is the stuff that, if it could be bottled up it would more valuable than anything else on earth. These are the memories that I pray that I'll remember 80 years from now. (Yes, I DO know how old that'll make me!)

This is what it means to be a parent.

Have a happy night.