Giggles from that backseat...

The first time your child smiles is a monumental moment.  You've held this precious baby so close and cared for it with every ounce of your being for every second of the day since they entered this world.  And each and every time you smile at the little darling, she looks back at you with a straight face.  You never even noticed that she isn't smiling back, because you are just so obsessed with how cute her little mouth is, or how those big blue eyes are sparkling under the light of the living room lamp.  Then, it happens.  She cracks that first smile, and you respond with what has to be the most shocked and unexpected look that baby has ever been exposed to.  It's a wonder she ever smiled again with the kind of response that came from that first grin.  You lose yourself and go completely nuts shouting for joy at the new occurrence that just took place.   Next, you try everything you can think of to make her smile again.  Then you realize you don't remember what you were doing to begin with that made her smile.  You make all kinds of funny faces, sounds that are completely unnatural, and pretty much anything other than just smiling back at her.  Then you get another smile.  Success!  And you remember what you were doing this time!  Yes!  Then you proceed to do this same task over and over again to see that most beautiful smile as many times as you can.  But, alas, you will wear out the funny in this action.  And then you have to start all over trying to do something else that makes her smile and remembering what you did to get it to happen.  But this time, maybe not do it a million times in a row, but save a few so you can show someone else. 

The next moment of awesome is when you hear her laugh for the first time.  If you could have a recording of that sound at your fingertips on a daily basis, there is nothing that could keep you angry.  That sound literally dissolves away all bad feelings within you and washes over them a feeling of love that just can't be adequately explained.  I could be having the worst day of my life, and look up at Charleigh to see her smile and hear her laugh at me and it would turn into just the best day ever.  I can't stay mad when she is laughing.  It's so contagious and full of warmth!  I feel like it wraps around my soul and gives it the comfort that could only be comparable to taking the best bath, to then putting on the most comfy PJs, and then sipping a perfect combination of hot/warm temperature tea while covered in a soft blanket sitting in a recliner.  

I still remember the first thing that I did that would make her laugh every time I did it.  I would say- banana.  For some reason, my child thought that word was HILARIOUS!  I will admit I didn't just say it in a normal tone once I discovered she thought it was funny.  I would really drag the word out with a silly tone in each syllable and over enunciate and I can't even imagine what I was doing with my facial expressions.  I also would sing about Bananas in Pajamas and how they were coming down the stairs, in pairs, holding teddy bears... and so on.  She so enjoyed the fact that I would run with this word and make the funny have some variety.  This made it last a long time.  And I still think I could probably get a smile or little giggle out of it to this day depending on her mood.  

Yesterday we were riding in the car.  We usually sing in the car to whatever is on the radio.  Yes, we both sing.  I am attempting to sing the words to the song, or what words I think the song is saying.  Charleigh is back-up singer.  She thinks she is singing the words to the song as well, but they are mostly just sing-song tones.  It's PRECIOUS!  We were singing yesterday like always, and then between songs I was talking to her and asking her questions.  She just all of the sudden started cracking up laughing at me and my conversation with her.  This made me also start laughing and looking at her in the mirror.  And that made her laugh some more at me.  And it was still funny to me so I laughed back at her.  I have no idea how long this went on with us laughing back and forth at each other.  It was an enjoyable amount of time that left me thinking - I make her smile and laugh just as much as she makes me smile and laugh.  What a truly wonderful thing!  This little bundle of wonder I have strapped into the back of my car makes me so unconditionally happy, and I make her just as happy.  WOW!  That blessing came to my attention driving down Route 45 on a Saturday afternoon.  Charleigh brings to our life such joy.  I can't even describe how enjoyable she is and how much our time together means.  And I really can't describe the feeling that overcame me yesterday when I realized....she feels the same way about me.  ME!  I don't know what I did to deserve it.  I am just SO thankful!