Soaking it up

Obviously, Chase's days as an only child are numbered. He's got about 70 left and I must say, I'm enjoying them. I am soaking up the time I get to focus my whole world around this one little boy! He's truly such a delight and makes us laugh all the time. I've been working on getting all our videos of him edited and put together before the baby comes and a few nights ago at dinner I was showing Ben some of the progress I'd made. Chase LOVED seeing the videos of himself and laughed hysterically at each one, interrupted by him periodically saying "I cute!" Only he can't say a "c" sound at the first of a word yet, so it comes out "I tute!" Ben and I were laughing at Chase laughing at himself!

Another thing I'm loving about having just one little toddler is how easy it is to run errands with him. Chase likes being out and about, and with the exception of the occasional major meltdown in the middle of Target, I really like taking him with me on errands, and I know once I have him plus a newborn it will be much more difficult. I love that in this stage he loves being my little helper. He throws diapers away. He puts Ben's socks away after I do the laundry. He loves to "help" cook (darling pictures of him and Ben making pumpkin muffins below). 

He gives the best hugs these days. He'll randomly run up to me, throw his arms around my legs and say "hi there mama!" and it melts my heart every time. He gives the baby kisses and high fives (the high fives were 100% his idea, I laughed so hard the first time he did it). Even with all the naughtiness and temper tantrums that happen, he still has such a darling, sweet side that is just infectious. 

Ben teases me that even on the very hardest days with him, when I am completely ready to pull my hair out, about 30 minutes after he goes to bed I'm telling Ben how cute he is, every darling thing he did that day, everything I love about him. I always go check on him before I go to bed and I love watching him sleep. Lately I've been picking him up out of the crib and just holding him in my arms while he sleeps (thank goodness he sleeps soundly!). I can't get over how big he's gotten and how much I love him. I swear I could hold him while he sleeps forever and it's always hard to put him back in the crib. I feel just like that mom in the book "I'll Love You Forever". Oh my sweet Chase, even though you are growing up and a new baby is coming soon, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be!