'Nuggles

One of my favorite words, which I'm fortunate to hear out of E's mouth on a regular basis, is 'nuggle - as in, "Mama, will you 'nuggle me?" It is so heartbreakingly sweet and of course, there's no way to resist it - not that I'd want to. He's a charmer, my Mr. E, with his big blue eyes and his wholehearted grin and his sweetness and his fondness for, well, (s)'nuggling. I don't look forward to the day that he learns to pronounce that "sn" combo, and I dread even more the day that he's no longer interested in snuggling with his mama.

I didn't take any photos throughout the day, so I tiptoed into the kids' bedroom after lights out to snap this one - and E, who most often climbs up into his big sis's top bunk to fall asleep, was instead on his own green polka-dotted bottom bunk, clutching a favorite stuffed dog, Jet. He gave a big smile and said, "I being brave, Mama. I in my own bed and I 'nuggling Jet."

So I snapped a photo, but a few moments later, E called out to the living room with a tremor in his voice, "Hey! Who wants to 'nuggle me now?!" And of course we indulged him because as I said, there's no way to resist.

My sweet little man.