XOXO

Our 1 and only nap together...EVER!

Nolan was never a super affectionate baby. From day one he preferred to be swaddled in his crib to being held. This was great for me as i was able to get a lot done while he was on his own. Yet I still longed for a cuddly baby, someone to curl up with to read or nap or just hang out...some of my most favorite things. I had given up on this dream of a cuddly boy as I didn't want to force him into it just for me.

But then I started to see a change around the time he was 18 months old. It was little things at first like insisting he sit on my lap when I was reading to him, getting me to play with his hair like I did when we were still nursing (he literally picks up my hand and set it on his head), or coming to me for comfort when he got hurt. I cherished these moments and was thankful for them.

About a month ago it finally happened. Nolan reached his arms up like he wanted me to pick him up but instead of just lifting him up on to the couch, he wrapped his arms around my neck, put his head on my shoulder and hugged me. I froze. I wanted to cry, this was his first true sign of affection and i didn't want it to ever stop at risk of it never happening again. But i forced myself not to cry.

We've been working on discipline techniques and the one I've been using most is positive reinforcement so instead of crying I praised him in hopes that it would reinforce that hugs are great! Sure enough the next day another hug, more reinforcement. Now I'm getting daily hugs and still treasure each one. They come completely randomly, and without warning. Sometimes it's after getting him up from a nap, after eating dinner, or just stopping mid play for some love. And just the other day Pat told me that he had finally gotten his first Nolan hug.

In a way I'm thankful that he took his time to become a cuddler, now I know it's how he feels and it means so much more to us.