It's been a very busy week for Hunter, what with going to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving with lots of family and having Granny and Grandpa (my parents) come up for the weekend afterwards. He's been very excited, tired, hyper, clingy and cranky, which I suppose is to be expected.

But I'm the one benefitting from this. Although he's usually pretty tolerant of my hugs and kisses, the past few days, he's been actively seeking them. After books and nursing, I'd kiss him goodnight and start to get off the bed to leave, and he'd fling his arms around me, pulling me down and snuggling into me as hard as he could.

Last night, we spent two hours together snuggled on the couch. I sang him Christmas carols while he rested on my chest, then we watched the Baby Einstein World Animals video while matching the animals to the pictures in his books, sharing graham crackers and an apple.

Tonight, as we were getting him ready for bed, he kept clinging to me and rubbing his face against the ridges of my sweater. I asked him if he were going to give Mama a kiss, and much to my surprise, he turned his head and gave me a sweetly messy kiss. It was the first time he'd done that to me. (He's given Daddy kisses, but I guess I never asked before.)

As wonderful, marvelous, and magical as these moments are, the very best so far is when I tell him "No" (no, he can't watch a video; no, he can't have Mama's scissors, etc) and he gets really upset -- and flings himself into my waiting arms for comfort, even though I'm the one who caused his frustration.

There's something about Mommy Makes It Better that is blissfully intoxicating beyond any drug known to man. I'm dizzy with love and delight and want to wrap him in my heart forever.