My Favorite Scene

There is a scene in the movie "Love Actually" where a young boy, triumphant from fulfilling a deep wish, runs with wild, physical abandon, joy radiating from his face.

Tonight, although not exactly the same style, my little bug had a moment of triumph.

After a day of cousins and carousel and grandmas and french fries, Appa and I decided to toss this whole packing and preparing business out the window and take our son to the park to round out a pretty delightful day.  Little Bug ran and jumped (an emerging skill we find adorable) and screamed with delight.

Then Hannah came along.

Miss Hannah seemed interested in Little Bug right away, and he took to her, too.  The two of them followed each other around, taking turns mimicking the other.  Even though the clock ticked shockingly close to bedtime, Appa and I just stood on the playground with stupid grins on our faces.....because Little Bug has never engaged a child like this on a playground before, even one he knew.  He is still trying to find his confidence and place in the social world of toddlers, and tonight was his coming out party.  He worked that playground like a pro, and Hannah responded with friendly companionship.

Little Bug was so incandescently happy, but we finally had to drag him away.  I was sure he would throw a fit or cry and pout.

But instead he yelled what sounded like victory whoops and he walked proudly ahead of Appa and I, swinging his arms out in a huge motion pretty unusual for him.  He was on top of the world in that moment, and I know it was the high of Hannah's engagement.

If only life had a soundtrack, I think that moment would have warranted a crescendo.