Mitchell laughed yesterday afternoon.
It wasn’t his first laugh; he’s laughed before. Many times. But this was more than that. This was a sustained bout of giggling.
Ashleigh was dancing. Her favourite book (this week) is about ballet, and she was jumping up and down, then spinning around with her arms stretched wide shouting, “I’m PEE-rou-ETTING, Mitchell! Watch ME, Mitchell!”
Not that she needed to say that last bit. He was watching.
He was mesmerised.
And he was giggling his little head off.
It was a delicious sound. (I tried to think of another word for it. One that Bruce McAvaney hadn’t ruined by using it to describe a footballer. Adorable? Sweet? Precious? But they didn’t work.)
Delicious. It was a delicious sound.
Ashleigh loved it. Her jumps got bigger. Her spins wider. Her shouts louder.
And Mitchell’s giggles got gigglier.
It’s always wonderful to hear your child laughing. But I had forgotten how wonderful it is to hear your newborn laugh.
A child who can’t yet speak, and can’t yet articulate his thoughts. A child who usually has to cry to communicate found another way to do so.
And his older sister, who can speak and articulate her thoughts, enjoyed dancing and entertaining a captive and appreciative audience.
It was a beautiful moment. One I wasn’t expecting after a day that hadn’t exactly gone according to plan. Beautiful moments can take you by surprise.
And sometimes they make you think, “Yes. YES. This is what it’s all about. This right here.”
“YES.”
Have you lived a beautiful moment recently? What was the last thing to make you laugh?
Gorgeous moment! I have many great memories of my young children filling the house with joy and giggles.
Agreed. I’m hoping to capture the best ones so I never forget them!
Oh, Em!!! How precious (delicious ?) is this story???
I’m so glad I have heaps of videos of the boys giggling when they were newborns. Watching them always bring tears of nostalgia or smiles of love.
That photo of Ashleigh and Mitchell is truly divine.
Thanks, Grace. I love that photo too – it’s gone straight to the pool room!
There is nothing better than a baby laughing!
Sigh. Yes.
Watching a newborn giggle is one of the best things. Especially when it becomes a whole body shaking giggle.
Haha, the body shaking giggle where they can’t stop?! Priceless!
It’s a sound I wish you could bottle and open every time you need a pick me up!! Have a great day 🙂
I know. I tried to record it on my phone a few times but was always too late – now I just enjoy them.
Awww what a delicious story 🙂 And as for that pic – just adorable. What a lovely memory. It sounds like such a perfect moment. It’s lucky you have captured it here and you can read it to them when they’re older. I love watching my two interact. It’s beautiful.
Thank you! I used to try and get in on the moments – now I just let them happen. x
I love it when babies start to show their personalities. It’s little moments like you just described with your children that make the hard slog of parenting worthwhile.
Absolutely. A whole week’s worth of yuck can be made up for in a moment!
Beautiful. You are right – that’s EXACTLY what it’s all about. x
And now I have the hokey pokey in my head!
Gorgeous Em – i love that deliciousness of little ones. It is so precious and that particular giggle sound does get replaced with a different laughter when they are older. thank goodness we live in the age of video – i love watching old ones of my girls
I haven’t got any videos! A few sound grabs, though.
Baby giggles are THE BEST! My little girl was also dancing and twirling and demanding to be watched this week and my baby boy was also giggling his little head off at her 😀
I’m glad I’m not the only one experiencing this! Sounds adorable.
I cherish the sound of giggles more than any other. It all comes in glimpses and moments, don’t you find? Flashes of wonderful these days, rather than the old whole lovely lazy afternoons. I don’t miss the old kind. Ok, maybe just a bit. X
Flashes of wonderful, yes. Looking forward to whole days of it sometime. If we can sort the little Mr’s sleeps!
I cherish the sound of giggles more than any other. It all comes in glimpses and moments, don’t you find? Flashes of wonderful these days, rather than the old whole lovely lazy afternoons. I don’t miss the old kind. Ok, maybe just a bit. X
A child’s laughter is the most amazing sound!
My nephew is 9 months old next week and when he gets the giggles his chubby cheeks wobble.
Carefree, innocent and pure delight!
Oh, chubby cheeks. Swoon. I love pushing the trolley over the ridged floor at the supermarket. M’s cheeks go nuts!!