Complete and Undivided Attention

Have you ever tried to capture the attention of a 19 month old who seems to think it their current life's mission to use up the seemingly limitless energy stored within their tiny little body? My youngest (Megan) is so busy doing everything and nothing at the same time. She runs and walks and babbles and talks and falls down and gets back up and cries and yells and laughs -- sometimes all within 60 seconds or so! If I were to experience the unfocused and unlimited energy that she has, even for half an hour, I'd probably be sore for a week! My oldest (Madelyn) was the same way when she was younger. I suppose most toddlers are full of that boundless - undirected energy. It's really an amazing and highly entertaining thing to watch at times. But then there's those times when I want her attention. I want to hold her and kiss her on the cheek. I want her to focus on me for just a few seconds. I've been watching her play and run around and she's just too cute not to pick up and squeeze and love on. So I pick her up and she yells "NO! ME GO!" which of course means -- '"beloved father, I was not quite finished playing yet. And while I love you with all of my heart, I would really appreciate it if you could put me back down so I could run aimlessly around yelling and bumping into things some more." So I do. Then she's happy again. But then -- then there are those precious times when I'm just sitting there minding my own business and she calls out to me -- "daddy". I look around and there she is -- looking up at me with her hands held up in the air and a big smile on her face. My oldest used to say "hold you, hold you". So I reach down and pick her up and she looks right into my eyes and smiles even bigger. She touches my mouth, puts her hand in my hair, touches my nose......She's paying complete and total attention to me!

I am unbelievably and indescribably captivated by these moments. These moments of complete, undivided attention from my beautiful child.