Tickle Monster

In almost every way, C is a daddy’s girl.  Just this weekend, he wanted to get a few more minutes in the pool late in the afternoon.  So he handed the babe to me and started out the door.  Until… she screamed.  Big crocodile tears and sobs that said “Daddy, how could you give me to HER?!” 

My little drama queen. 

So? Craig stayed inside, lying on the floor, letting his baby girl use him as her personal jungle gym. 

I mean, for real.  This child is her father’s daughter.  She looks like him, she acts like him, she loves him best.  However, once in a while I discover things that she absolutely gets from me. 

I don’t remember the exact moment, but I know that Craig and I had not been dating very long when he discovered that I was ticklish.  And, guys?  Not just a little.  I am belly-laugh-squirmfest-try-hard-not-to-pee ticklish.  And Craig?  He knows it.  And I swear on all things holy that nothing makes the man as happy as finding a reason to tickle me until I can’t breathe. 

Make a snide comment about his hair in the morning?  Tickled.  Roll my eyes when the Pirates are losing a baseball game?  Tickled.  Let my toes graze his calf if we’re sitting on the couch together?  Yep, tickled.  Walk up the steps in front of him? Tickled, poked and grabbed.  It never ends.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to hold back the giggles and through a clenched jaw mutterd, “it’s not funny, it’s effing irritating.”  Only to have him tickle me harder and collapse into giggles. 

It’s actually sort of unfair.  This kind of treatment. 

However.  I’ve seen why he gets such a kick out if it.  Because as it turns out, C is ticklish too.  When I run my finger across the bottom of her foot, her toes curl up, she pulls her foot away and giggles.  When I blow raspberries on her belly, she squeals and grabs fistfuls of my hair.  And, when I tickle the sides of her belly, she squirms and laughs, giant belly laughs.  It. Is. Hysterical.  And I love getting those laughs from her. 

So, child of mine.  I apologize.  First of all, because you got the ticklish thing from your momma.  And second, because I plan to use it against you just so I can hear those beautiful laughs of yours.