Instant Pick-Me-Ups

As I was playfully chasing Jacob around the house this afternoon, I managed to slip on the corner of a rug and fall (just call me Grace). In doing so, I also managed to hurt my wrist and my toe. I sat on the floor, holding my wrist, and wincing in pain.

Both boys came over to me. And both looked concerned.

Jacob asked in a worried, upset voice, "Are you gonna cry?" (he hates when I cry.)

Then Alex put his arm around my neck, and pressed his cheek to mine.

Jacob approached me from the other side, and sat on my lap. He gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Don't cry," he said. "We love you."

And then I saw Alex's kissy face leaning in close to me, and I got a kiss right on the lips.

How could I not feel better after that?




Two nights ago, I wasn't in the cheeriest of moods. (I blame fatigue and hormones.) I found my mood slowly improving while reading "Mommy Hugs" to Jacob at bedtime. It's really a sweet book, describing and illustrating the ways different mother animals give hugs to their babies. So after hugging Jacob several pages' worth of ways, from nuzzles, to pats, to tickles, to nibbles, and squeezes, we came to the last page that reads, "My mommy hugs me with a snuggle, like this." And every time we get to that point in the book, Jacob jumps up on my lap, throws his arms around me, and hugs me tight. It's definitely the best hug in the book. Not to mention, one of the best hugs in the world.
As I closed the book and got ready to put it away, I looked up at Jacob to find him looking at me. Completely out of the blue, and for the first time ever, he said:
"I wanna marry you, Mommy."

How can any mommy not cheer up after hearing that from her preschooler?
I smile every time I think about it. And I don't think I'll ever forget it.

I love these boys.