Snuggle.

I'm taking Eliot back to the pediatrician tomorrow for another consult on the ear infection. He's still tugging at his right ear, although his sunny disposition is mostly back. Over the weekend and all Monday (while I was home) he only wanted to be held and cried every time I tried to put him down anywhere or tried interest him in any toy or activity. Just wanted momma to hold him. He'd snuggle my shoulder and chew on his fingers and be content. Needless to say, this got frustrating rather quickly. I've loads of work to do that can't be done with a monkey on my shoulder, especially a monkey who weighs 16 pounds.

When I was just about at my wit's end I thought, "Wait a minute here. Let's take a different perspective on this. It won't be long before the little critter won't want to be held at all." It seems like yesterday I was rocking him to sleep, and now he adamantly refuses to lay back and rock--wants to sit up all the time. So I got to thinking that maybe I should look at this extra neediness the last couple of days as an opportunity to snuggle him close while I can--while he wants me to. After all, he won't always be my little man, and I won't always be able to distract him from all the hurts this easily. Guess I'll just keep holding him...

And then, he started smiling and laughing again. Go figure.