Tadej and I are rarely apart. On Thursdays I go to the office without him for just a few hours while Ana starts work later that day so I can actually get a few things done. Otherwise, it is this kiddo and me. We go to the library, grocery store, to the office, on church business, to coffee and lunches, or on walks around the hood together. He is growing and evolving faster than I can even comprehend. Each day he has new skills and sounds and moves.

What I have noticed is that we also have a way we move in the world. I take him out of his carseat and place him on my hip. He puts one arm behind to hold on to my hair (very gently) and the other arm grabs either my bag or my shirt. Do you see it in these selfies? It is intentional and it works. We keep connected, he feels secure and yet he can kind of face outward to see everybody and everything. If he is in a grocery cart he holds on to the front as he sits in the little cart seat and I hold him as I steer as well.

These positions allow him to make eye contact with admirers of which he has many on a daily basis. The other day at the grocery store, a woman going the opposite direction in the aisle in a deep phone conversation said, “Hold on, I gotta talk to this cuuutee baby!” And she did. He was still very much connected to me but smiled wide back at this woman.

I have really grown to love the stance he takes as we walk. He trusts me completely and knows I have a hold of him. We glide through the world together and love it.

Today he has been grumpy and hasn’t been sleeping well. We don’t know what is up besides many new skills and I know my kid has fomo in the world. We are two extroverts who will struggle with this all the time. Even in my extreme exhaustion and some frustration, in the middle of the night, as he coos into my neck while I try to cuddle him back to sleep I am so grateful for the connection. I know some day I will miss such connections. Sure, we will be connected in other ways but I really savor when his little hand holds on or he nestles in even in the wee hours of the morning when we should all be sleeping.

Its the little things though, isn’t it?