My Little Minino

Most days he's crying. He either was spanked for doing something wrong or just crying because he's still just a baby. Either way, when I see his giant tears rolling down his little cheeks it gets me every time.

I don't know if I'm the only one he has a "special" bond with or if other people feel it with him too but there's something about that little Minino that makes you feel like you're the most loved person in the world.

He's pretty neglected. His mom just turned 20 and he has 5-year old and 1-year old brothers. I suppose its not easy to raise three kids when you're still a kid yourself. Either way, he is starving for attention most of the time. Most people think he's awnry and a trouble-maker but that just makes me love him more. He's feisty, he almost has to be to survive the older boys picking on him all the time.

He almost always has a bump or a scrape or a bruise and has already knocked out one of his front teeth. He eats entirely too much candy and drinks way too much soda for a toddler. But those things are just accessible where he lives.

But when he sees me, he smiles. Sometimes he likes to pretend that he's not going to smile and it makes him smile even bigger. And sure enough, before long I have this tiny 2-year olds arms wrapped around my neck. I'd squeeze him harder if I didn't think I'd break him.

He's so capable of love and is so in need of more of it. Sometimes I forget that I'm supposed to be doing my job because I get lost in loving this little boy. And sometimes I don't want to put him down and say good-bye because I know it will be three or four more days before I return. Even sometimes, I feel guilty that I love him so much because I have my own son that is about his age. But its almost because of Landon that I can love Minino like I do.

So today, as me and my little guy sat on the stairs leading up to the church he put his little hand in mine. I thought, "Would it be cheesy to take a picture of this right now?" I opted for a "no" and shot it quickly before he decided to take it away.

Now I have a reminder of the love of a little boy that steals my heart weekly and makes me want to be a better mom to my own little boy.