Make new friends, but kiss the old

Evie & Jack, 2 months old

This weekend, Will, Evie and I went to visit her friend Jack, whom she has known almost her entire life.  All fourteen months of it.  Jack's parents Catherine and Jonah were in our birth class and Catherine had Jack only a week after Evie was born.  We used to get the babies together quite a bit when she was on maternity leave, but sadly they live on the other side of Chicago so we don't get together as often as we'd like.  Fortunately, the infrequent visits don't seem to prevent Evie and Jack from getting along well.

Roughly seven months

When we arrived yesterday, Jack was being his usual good sleeper self and he was still taking a nap.  He slept undisturbed by Evie's occasional squeal and multiple trips up the flight of stairs to his room.  When he awoke from his slumber, he was excited to have his friend there.  He greeted Evie with a big hug.  All four of us swooned at the adorable exchange.  But that was only the beginning.

Almost nine months

Evie and Jack toddled all around the townhouse together.  Jack showed his chivalrous side when Evie was upset that I had gone to the bathroom; he attempted to show her how she could open the door to find me.  When Jack began eating his lunch, Evie was excited to see he had banana on his tray.  She thought she'd be sneaky and try to grab a piece, but Jack didn't mind.  In fact, he even reached down and handed her some willingly.  He had a bottle of milk and he happily passed it over to Evie as she expressed interest (or rather demanded it).  And then it happened.  As Jack went in for another hug, Evie puckered her lips and so did he.  Because of their height difference, Jack kissed Evie's forehead and she didn't really kiss anything.  But it was a kiss no less!  Evie's first kiss. Like nothing had happened, they both went about their merry way.  Later, the two of them had a little dance party together.

Watching these two was about the most adorable scene you could imagine.  Both Jack and Evie are so expressive with their faces, and as they babbled to one another it was apparent they fully understood what the other was saying.  While Evie enjoys her weekly playdates with various other kids, I've never seen her interact like this.  It seems to me that Jack is one of the sweetest kids Evie is friends with and it brings out the best in her.  Despite our distance, it will have to be a priority to get these two together. Luckily, we enjoy Catherine and Jonah too!