I love you. I love you. I love you.

In honor of Mother’s Day on Sunday I am going to write a few of my most memorable “mom moments” this week.

As I have mentioned before, Luca is very strong willed and stubborn. She knew how to talk way before she actually did talked. She would say a new word and if we acted too excited about it she wouldn’t say it again for awhile. She would turn away from the camera every time we tried to snap a picture. She would rather not have the piece of candy than have to be TOLD to say “please”, but was more than happy to say it if it was her idea.

The most frustrating one for me was that she had still never said, “I love you” to me and she was nearly four years old.

I would hear my friends kids who barely spoke say “I love you” all the time. Our neighbor and Luca’s friend that lived in our culdesac in Woodinville would yell, “I love you!! I love you Daddy!! Bye….I LOVE you!!” every morning when her dad went to work. I couldn’t wait to hear those words from my kids.

I told Luca “I love you” multiple times a day, but she had never replied, “I love you too” like I always hoped she would.

One day we were sitting on the couch basking in the sun that was coming in through the bay window. Anna and Lincoln were napping and she was being all cute and cuddly and we were enjoying each others company.

I had an idea and I softly grabbed her cute little cheeks and turned her face to mine. I looked right in her eyes and I focused every bit of myself on her. I softly said, “Luca, I love you. I. Love. You. I love you. I love you. I love you.”

She kept looking in my eyes and it was like I saw something click and she wrapped her arms around my neck and still looking in my eyes replied, “I love you too mommy.”

Of course, I burst into tears. My baby finally got it. And I could feel that she meant it.

From that day on she has told me many many times a day that she loves me and I still cherish it every time.

photo of Luca take by her uncle Warren when she had just turned four