The Way You Do the Things You Do

Remember that song by the reggae-turned-radio-pop-stars band UB40? I’m not sure if that song (the way you do the things you do) was a remake of something else, but I dig it. And it’s playing in my head as I think about some of the things that just melt my heart about ‘little bits.’ (That’s what Danny has taken to calling Holden, since my family and my in-laws have insisted on nick-naming him “Holdie” … I know, first team all state lameness, right? The 'Holdie' not 'little bits,' obviously).

So here it goes Holden, a short list of things you do I H-E-A-R-T (in no particular order, and of course this by no means all inclusive).

• Your resilience. Your trip to the ER after Wed night's horror is proof. I have a new understanding of what Jesus meant when he said 'be as a little child.' You forgive and forget - you heal quick - you hold no grudge.
  
• Your mona lisa smile. Most of the time it starts out on the right side of your mouth, almost like the left side of your mouth is deciding it wants to join in
• And there’s your wide mouth, laugh out loud, showing off your baby gums grin (this often happens when I tickle you or repeatedly tell you ‘you’re so s-s-s-s-s-illy’
• Your hair – you can rock a faux hawk with the best of them, or of course a smart toddler ‘comb over’ for church
• Screwing on your wrists each morning – at least that what it looks like I did because of your delicious fat roles
• That glazed over look you have when you really should be sleeping, but instead you just stay silent observing the party in a partially-there state (like today at the grocery store when you probably should've been napping)... much better than crying I think, and you always seem to make up your sleep at sometime during the day
  
• Touching everything – while at the grocery store this can present some challenges when you’re in the ‘pack’ facing the world (as I learned on our last week's excursion to Smith’s Marketplace, it’s obvious you’re interested in the world around you
• Your length – you are so long bud, it’s almost getting ridiculous Mr 6 months-old-wearing 12-month-old-clothing.
• When you eat my chin… seriously I love it.
• Your sneezes, and when you fake cough... it cracks me up.
  
• How you're like a heat-seeking-missile when we sleep together. (It also presents a couple of challenges for a good night's sleep, but it's a trade-off I'll take any day.)
  
• How beautiful you are when you sleep
• That you'll still nuzzle in my arms to eat.
  
• Your 'yogi toes' ... they're like little fingers (just like your dad's.)
• The way you look at me when I come home from teaching yoga, or when you wake up form a nap.
  
• And I also appreciate that you can palm a ball...