When Ryder Met Leena

Ryder has been around other babies since he was just days old. Him and his friend Hunter have been near each other many times.

Hunter is the son of my good friend, Josie, and only 8 days younger than Ryder. I am sure they will grow up being buddies. So far the play dates have been more for the Mommy's than the babies though.

Ryder has usually been asleep, or falling asleep or just waking up from sleeping (see a trend?) and they haven't had their first TRUE interaction. Well, Momma needs to set up that next playdate because...

Ryder MET Leena.

Leena is the daughter of my friend Jacqui. Miss Leena was born on March 21st of this year and is absolutely gorgeous. She is also a REALLY good crawler.

Sunday morning Ryder wanted to nurse as soon as we got to church. This is nothing new. It doesn't matter if we are at our church, which starts at 10:45 or at Mom and Dad's church, which starts at 9:30, as soon as we get to church the boy is hungry. (Hopefully that will be a spiritual hunger as he grows up.:) ) So off to the nursery we go. There is a sound system set up in the nursery so I can listen to the sermon, so I don't mind too much.

After Ryder is finished eating, I sit in the floor with him and we quietly explore his hands, his feet, his love of standing and "walking", etc. while I listen to the sermon. Miss Leena is being held and looks straight at Ryder and starts talking to him. He looks back at her and responds.

Hmmm. That's never happened before.

I can't help but wonder if they can somehow understand each others' baby babble. Especially when they do this back and forth a few times.

Then Leena is put on the floor to play. At one point, she makes a bee line for Ryder. She crawls straight up to him and wants to touch him. She reaches for his leg and then his face and is staring him straight in the eye, smiling her beautiful little smile.

They start to talk and coo to each other and she is smiling to beat the band. I make a comment to the girl who is holding Leena that I wish I could see Ryder's face and this is the picture she sends me.

I LOVE the smile on his face...it perfectly mirrors Leena's. They continue to look at each other, reach for each other and talk to each other for quite a while. I can't believe it. It was like they were tiny adults becoming friends (in a language no one else in the room could understand!). It was amazing to watch.

There may or may not be a love story in the future, but I am sure there will definitely be a wonderful friendship, and I am so excited to watch it develop :)

Psst...Josie, Hunter and Ryder need to have a play date soon! I can't wait to see them interact for the first time too!