Occasional Snuggler

Thompson isn't one who likes to be picked up.  Most of the time if I do that he gives me a good growl and merely puts up with a little hug.  Given my absences around the house the past few weeks there have been a surprising number of times when he hops over and asks to be picked up.  How does he let me know that this is what he wants? He puts his front paw on my knee and digs the claws in.  I don't mind though because he's an awesome snuggler when he wants to be.