If This Doesn't Warm Your Heart...

Jack and Izzy have been a little under the weather this week. It's no big deal...just a little goopy nose here and there. It hasn't really affected Iz that much, but Jack's had a harder time because he sucks his thumb when he's tired or not feeling well.

And where there's a stuffy nose, there's a sad thumb-sucker.

So here's the story. My dad and Josh have spent weeks and weeks down in our basement finishing it to be a bonus room. (And in case you didn't know, "bonus" means spare bedroom, playroom, and photo equipment storage room all rolled into one!) Well, after a final push from the contractor, the room is just about ready to go.

I put Jack down for his nap yesterday and headed down there to paint one of the walls ("tomato red" in case you were wondering...could that have anything to do with my obsession with tomatos? hmmm...) But just a few strokes into my project, I heard Jack crying over the monitor. I headed back up the stairs to check on him. He was lying in his bed whimpering and completely pitiful because he couldn't get to sleep without sucking his thumb. This was our third day of this, so I knew the nap probably wasn't going to happen. So I went ahead brought him down to the main floor with me and laid him on one of the chairs in the living room to watch "Curious George" with Abby.

Back downstairs.

I was in a precarious position trying to edge the ceiling when I heard him crying again. I yelled that I would be right up, and I kicked it into high gear to finish the patch of wall I was working on.

More crying from Jack.

More "I'm coming, buddy!" from me.

Then it got silent. Which usually means trouble, but I was hoping he was too pooped to get his "creative" juices flowing. Now I'm all about creativity, but you've got to remember that Jack's ideas are fueled by 150% boyish behavior. You don't know what he's capable of!! :-) Not long ago, I was in my bedroom getting dressed when I heard Abby calling for me. I walked all over upstairs, but I couldn't find her. And we're not talking about a huge area, people. It's just our bedrooms and our bathrooms. But she was nowhere to be found. I could hear her yelling, but I was at a loss as to where she could be.

Then Jack walked up to me with a mysterious little grin on his face. He took my hand and pulled me into their bedroom, where I found this:


Look real closely. That's Abby inside the box, and that's Jack with a smile of elation that couldn't be wiped off his face if I tried. He's got such a sweet heart, but gracious...he is all boy!! Who thinks of stuff like this?!?

But back to my story. I was downstairs painting and Jack was upstairs. Silent. I thought better of my "assume-he-just-settled-down" theory, so I crept up the staircase and peeped around the corner to see this:


Jack had gotten out of his chair and gone over to the couch to cuddle up with Abby (although he only made it halfway up there). I absolutely adore the relationships I see developing between our children. There's something special there, and it warms my heart!!!