By Jeana Lee Tahnk
Aren't baby hugs the best? Especially those babies give when
they're just learning to hug, like the ones my 7-month-old gives me-all
squishy, drooly and uncoordinated. The best ones are on the ground, when
she crawls on top of me and rests her head on my chest for a split
second or holds her gaze in my eyes for an extra moment. Even though
those actions might not fall under the traditional parameters of a hug,
they just make me feel warm and fuzzy inside, so the end result is the
same.
They're also showing me more her personality, her playful side, her
silly side and her affectionate side. It can be hard in those first few
months to see beyond the constant demands that a newborn makes, but when
those hugs come out, you know your child is growing and developing, and
is no longer that little swaddled burrito that you have to hold all
day.
I love this age because she is not fully mobile, so I can play with
her on the blanket without her running away. To her, I am still curious
enough to hold her attention, whether it's the color of my toenails or
the way I snap my fingers. The physical interaction she gives me is
unprompted and pure, which is what makes them so special.
Before I know it, she'll be toddling off, exploring the big world
around her and finding other things that to hold her interest her more
than the ribbon on my shirt or the sounds I can make with my hands. And
I'll still get hugs when she's older, but there's just something about
these newly discovered baby hugs that really make them the best.