I really like him!

Only five more hours until Daddy-time!  Charlie has been a trouper, but Jason's back-to-back trips to Talladega then Washington DC have taken their toll.  He loves me.  He appreciates everything I do, but he wants his Daddy -- and I couldn't agree more!

The funny thing though is that despite missing Jason terribly, these past five days have been great.  Charlie and I have had a wonderful time playing and eating and laughing and reading and just being together.  So much so that last night I had a realization -- I like him.  I really, really like him.

I know that sounds crazy, but hear me out.  Obviously, I love Charlie with all my heart.  In fact, the frame on the nursery wall may say it best:

Before you were conceived I wanted you.

Before you were born I loved you.

Before you were here an hour I would die for you.

This is the miracle of love.

 - Maureen Hawkins

But actually liking someone is different.  I firmly believe that we choose to love people and while we can grow to appreciate people's qualities or characteristics, we either like them or we don't -- it's our personality's reaction to their personality -- and unless one or the other changes drastically, it's highly unlikely that you'll like someone tomorrow that you don't like today or vice versa.  You may appreciate them.  You may even choose to love them.  But honestly like them, not so much.

As I said, I have loved (adored, cherished, delighted in, etc) Charlie since before he was born.  I have appreciated his smile, his milk-breath kisses, his belly laugh, his bear hugs and more for over two years.  But it wasn't until the past few months that we saw more than glimpses of Charlie's personality.  And now that we do, I really, really like him.

Of course, we have a lot in common.  We're both morning people who love to laugh, live to eat, and adore the feeling of wind on our face (be it swings, boats or sea breezes -- I think I see another convertible in the future...), plus we whole-heartedly agree that Jason hung the moon.  And I'm sure that it also doesn't hurt that Charlie's primary goal in life is to be just like Jason -- the person that I like very most in the world. 

Now, it's not as if I was worried that I wouldn't like him, and even if we didn't click I know that I would still adore being his mother and spending time with him, but "click" we do -- like Macaroni & Cheese or Big Bird & Snuffy or Otis & Louie -- more of our mutual favorites.

Don't get me wrong, despite this revelation I'm still very excited that Jason is coming home -- as in blow my hair dry and put on a dress excited -- but this time I don't feel like I have spent the past five days alone taking care of our child, and Jason is coming home to bless me with adult conversation and assistance.  This time I feel like I have spent the past five days enjoying my second best friend in the world, and Jason is coming home to join in the fun.

Talladega, Alabama!

"Cooking" Donna's Birthday Cake

No more moley-moley!

Elmo have mustache?  I want one!