"Okay buddy put your hand down right here!" Mike instructed his son, pressing Isaiah's paint covered hand down onto the canvas.
"Paint!" Isaiah cooed, wanting to mess with all the paint. He clapped his hands together, making the paint fly off his hands and get on his shirt.
"Isaiah! You're gonna make a mess!" Mike sighed. Trying to get a one year old to cooperate and listen with paint was the hardest thing ever. "Let's get you washed up."
Mike picked him up and carried him to the sink, scrubbing the paint off his son's hand as he squirmed.
"Mommy's gonna love this!" Mike exclaimed, holding the masterpiece up.
The canvas read "Mommy" at the top and a poem under it that said "you always clean the handprints that I leave across the wall, I seem to make a mess of things because I am very small. The years will pass so quickly and I'll be grown just like you, and all the little handprints will surely fade from view. So here are special handprints, a memory that is true. So you'll recall the very day I made this for you. Love Isaiah." There were handprints surrounding the edge of the canvas.
"Yay!" Isaiah squealed, clapping his hands again.
"Alright bud go play so I can clean all this up before mommy gets home" Mike set him down and popped his bottom to push him forward.
He threw away all the newspapers and washed the brushes quickly knowing that Carrie would be home soon.
After all the reminisce of the project were gone, he hid the painting in the back of a closet to let it dry before he wrapped it.
______
"Shh, don't wake her!" Mike shushed his son as they walked up the stairs and towards Carrie's bedroom.
The toddler mimicked his father and put a finger up to his lips.
"Alright, when we go in, go jump on her and say Happy Mother's Day Mommy!" Mike said, opening the door.
His wife was still sound asleep, her blonde hair sprawled out around her face.
"Happy day mama!" Isaiah shouted loudly, giggling as he jumped up on top of her.
Mike followed behind him, carrying a tray with Carrie's favorite breakfast and her present.
"Oh my goodness!" Carrie squealed, putting her hands over her heart and smiling widely.
"Happy Mother's Day to the best new mom I know." Mike sat her breakfast down in front of her and sat on the edge of the bed behind Isaiah.
"I'm the luckiest mom in the world. Thank you boys." Carrie hugged her son tightly and leaned forward to kiss Mike.
"Pesent!" Isaiah grinned, trying to grab the bag off the tray and hand it to Carrie.
"Oh goodness, you didn't have to get me anything!" Carrie picked the bag up and pulled the canvas out. She read the poem and tears immediately filled her eyes.
"Oh my gosh." Carrie cried, putting her hand over her mouth.
"No cry mama!" Isaiah tried to wipe the tears off his mom's face which only made Carrie cry harder.
"Thank you, I'm okay baby. I'm just happy." She laughed, wiping her eyes.
"I love you so much sweetie pie." Carrie pulled Isaiah into her arms and squeezed him tight. She kissed his forehead multiple times and held him against her.
"Thank you." Carrie mouthed to Mike, the two smiling at each other.
