Stumble Upon

Daily, Joe and I get to stumble upon scenes like this.

It is our greatest reward.

 Notice the hand holding going on.

Overheard:

Grace: Crying

Joey: (before anyone else gets to her) Yhat's yong honey? I yock you? Ooo--tay.

I make it to the living room and take a seat on the couch to watch the show I know will unfold.

Joey: (singing gently) Yock da baaaaby On da twee top .. Yock da baby..

I warn that the rocking, which is becoming ..."enthusiastic," needs to be gentle.  He slows down and looks back for approval which I give. This is rare, this searching for approval.  He is two now and sometimes delights in the mischievous.  But not with Grace.  He loves his Grace.

I call to Joe in that hushed, serious, hurry-up-before-you-miss-this tone that gets used around here a lot these days.  Joey, concerned, looks back once again for approval, worried that I was addressing him and not his father.  I assure him he's doing a great job.  Joe comes in and I recount Joey's attempts to take care of his sister.  This is not a rare occurrence but we praise him like it's the first time every time and tell him he's the best brother in the world.  Our praise falls, unneeded, on deaf ears.  He is in a world of his own with his sister.  She is his reward.

Clapping and "dancing" with Grace to the bouncy chair music.