Lucky

After a lovely intimate family dinner this evening of making homemade pizza with the kids, I retired to the bed for 30 minutes to elevate my ankle (“oh, sweet moses, when is she going to stop talking about the ankle!!”).  I figured the fact that I had to elevate my ankle coincided nicely with the season premiere of Mad Men waiting for me on the DVR.  Why not kill two birds with one stone?  Jolly good idea, if I do say so myself.  Brilliant.  Cheerio.  Pip-pip and all that jazz.

[Mmm... hello, Mr. Draper.]

Just as the episode ends (“How can you stand to sleep in that man’s dirt?!”), there is a small knock on the door (the door was closed to allow one dog some peace and quiet as she heals and to allow the other dog to play his favorite game of guess-what’s-in-my-mouth-no-really-guess-because-it’s-plastic-and-now-chewed-beyond-recognition without provoking the other dog).  In walks AJ, closing the door behind him.  Wordlessly, he hopped up on the bed and settled himself comfortably against me.  I pull him close, breathing in his little boy scent (“cookies and dirt!  cookies and dirt!”), and ask him what’s up because this is usually his queue to me, this wordless embrace, that something is bothering him.  But instead he replied, “I just hadn’t cuddled with you today, so I wanted to make sure we got to before it was bedtime.”

[Well, hello there, puddle.  You used to be my heart until AJ melted it.]

So I happily I obliged him.  As we talked idly about our day, in walks Kalina, closing the door behind her, climbing into the bed with AJ and I.  Without being asked, AJ sits up and leans against my midsection, making room for Kalina to cuddle up next to him and still have room to lean against me as well.  Of course, our prior conversation is now long forgotten because with Kalina there are giggles and wiggles and loud exclamations and spot-on mimicry that reminds me I have a little comedic actress on my hands.  But even though the conversation has been cast aside, we are still in the throes of our mom-kid huddle.

I glance at the clock and note that it’s still 15 minutes until it’s time to get ready for bed.  Their allotted 30 minutes of allowed TV time after dinner has been forsaken this the evening for time with me, and I am delighted.

And then again the door to the bedroom opens and in walks Jason, closing the door behind him, and climbing into bed behind me, wrapping his arms around me and AJ and Kalina, taking us all in his warm embrace.  And of course never can we be in close proximity for long before a stray hand tickles a twitchy little arm, sensitive tummies and grazed, and knees and soft warm spots underneath little necks are rediscovered.  The room erupts with giggles and mock pleadings to stop only to immediately beg to have it done again.

And there I am, sandwiched between the people I love most in the world, all three of them having independently made their way to me behind a closed door, all because they wanted a cuddle before bedtime (although, let’s be honest, if it had been an hour later, I’m certain Jason would have tried to stretch his definition of cuddle, ifyouknowwhatImean).  And honestly, I felt so lucky.  So loved.  So appreciated.  So honored.  These phenomenal people that I am so blessed to have in my life went out of their way to show me they love me, and I have the easy job of loving these three quirky, funny, smart, beautiful people back just as fiercely.

Jackpot!