Someday

The last several days have been a blur. Elijah had a fever last Sunday morning but it was gone by lunch time. Tuesday afternoon when I picked him up, however, the fever was back. I stayed home with him Wednesday, took him to the doctor, and found out he had strep throat. He's spent a lot of time in bed and in his recliner these last few days. I've noticed the last few nights that he's asked me to rock him and sing to him. I thought it was sweet and was happy to oblige.

Well, I asked him today if he wanted some soup and grilled cheese for lunch. "Sure," he said. So I got to work making some grilled cheese with chicken and vegetable soup. After I burned his sandwich and mine, I started over. Thankfully he was too involved watching PBS kids to notice the stench of burned food. Finally, we made it to the table. As I was eating my soup and sandwich, Elijah was chowing down on apple wedges. I finished my lunch and left him at the table to eat while I took the dogs outside.

When I returned to the kitchen, Elijah said, "Hey, Mommy. You little."

"Well, thank you, son," I said. "And you're getting to be a big boy."

He replied, "No, you not little, you big. I little."

"But you're getting bigger, right?" I asked.

"Yep, and I get as big as daddy someday. And I rock you to sleep. And I put you to bed. And I cover you up. Then you get up and play. Someday."

"Aw, honey, you'd do that for me?" I asked him.

"Yep. That a deal?"

I went and gave him a hug. "That's a deal, sweetheart."

"But tonight you rock me and put me to bed, right?" he asked me with all sincerity.

I assured him that I would rock him tonight if he wanted me to. With pleasure.