There are a handful of moments in your life that you just know while it’s happening you’re going to remember for the rest of your life.
Motherhood is full of them; the first time your child smiles at you (and you know it’s not gas), the first time you hear them say “mama”, where and when their first steps take place, and this…
After spending a few hours last Sunday at the world’s most beautiful shopping mall, South Coast Plaza, located dangerously close to our new home in Orange County, we were in the car driving home and I was asking Lucas if he had a good time and reviewing all of the fun things we did and saw.
We talked about the cars at the toy store and the dinosaur on display in the window, whose mouth would open and shut, the elevator button he pushed, the escalator we rode, the big balloons for sale in the center of the mall, the colorful horses on the carousel (that we also rode) that went up and down and the great dinner he ate.
It was an animated conversation and he was responding enthusiastically to all of my questions and being really cute and playful.
As we were nearing home, he let out a perfectly timed “ouf” as in, “wow, we did do a lot and boy, am I exhausted!”. Todd and I both giggled and I said, “I love you, Lucas.” To which he replied…
“I do too”.
And just like that, I welled up and got tears in my eyes.
Okay, so it wasn’t a direct “I love you”, but he knew what he was saying and it melted my heart.
Since then, Daddy (of course) has gotten several actual “I love yous”, but I’m still only getting the “I do too”.
Whether he means he loves himself or me, I’ll take it and I’ll always remember the first time he said it.
For those of you with today off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I hope you are enjoying it with the ones you love.
This piece was featured on Nichole’s blog, In These Small Moments, in her weekly feature, Small Moments Spotlights — Week 3 on February 4, 2011.
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Oh, such a sweet milestone!
Oh, that feels so good! You'll get those impromptu "I love yous" soon, and they are just as awesome. Never gets old!
How sweet. I love it when they learn how to say I love you. There's nothing better in the world!!
LOVE! Yes, my first "I love you" came in the middle of a diaper change. It won't be so cute to her when I tell her in 20 years but I certainly will never forget.
Very, very sweet! Sounds like a great day.
Aw, what a great way to end a day.
Here's wishing many more!
It also melted mine! Thanks for sharing this great moment with us!
Love that milestone! Waiting for #3 to say it. Right now he just makes a kiss noise when I say it to him.
But hearing those words for the first time NEVER gets old!
Oh, that's the sweetest thing! My heart skipped a beat when I read those words….I still love to hear them out of my son's mouth, too.
I just doesn't get any better than that.
That is incredibly sweet…
And you know why he says "I do, too" to you?
Because he knows you're connection is that strong. He doesn't just "love you" – he feels what you feel for him.
Which is so much more.
Oh Tonya…that is so sweet! I'm so happy that you shared it – it made my day 🙂
This is just adorable Tonya!! I'm so glad that I got to hear him say this to you while I was with you guys this weekend. Wonder when he'll tell me he loves me? : )
How wonderful. I can't wait to reach that milestone.
Ahhh that is so sweet!! It melts my heart when my boys first say those words…and of course every time after!! So precious.
Hey there! Jumping over from Nichole's post. I thought I was following you, but apparently not. Just rectified that. I've already commented on this post, and I remember when you tweeted about this very special moment… 🙂
So lovely!!
And…I hope he graduates from "I do too" to "I love you."
But "I do too" works too. 😉
Oh yes, you will always remember that moment. How sweet, such a special milestone:)