I'm Home (sorta)

Lots of emotion. So glad to be home and see my sweet husband and baby boy. So sad to leave my daughter and precious grandbaby. So strange to think that I've been a presence in his life since literally the hour he was born and now I'm not with him. I wonder if he misses me? Too much has happened to write on and on about it so I'm just going to bullet the highlights and random thoughts in no particular order.

-I was surprised at how quickly taking care of an infant came back to me, even after 20 years. And how exhausting it is. I remember now why new moms don't get out of their pj's until lunch or until the baby wets on them.

-Reid seems to be growing much faster than my kids did way back then. I'm already sad for the time that has passed and want him to SLOW DOWN.

-I can't believe that God has blessed me so that I am able to spend time with both my daughter and mother taking care of another generation.

-There is almost nothing in the world sweeter than seeing other family members fall in love with a baby. Whether it's in person when they come up to help care for the new family or making time to "skype", watching grandparents, papaw, daddy and uncle turn into mush at a yawn or sneeze is priceless.

-The one thing that is sweeter is watching your daughter become a mother. Seeing her love on her baby the way you remember loving on her makes your heart hurt (in a good way).

-Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving where ever you are but it's not the same Thanksgiving without everyone you love. I really liked being able to make "family" with all of their friends who couldn't go home. It was fun cooking and talking and celebrating with them. But it was difficult for it to feel like the real thing without the men in my life. B hit the nail on the head. They celebrated with friends who are like family, the food was delicious and they had a great time. He said they had all the same food we would have, but it just didn't taste like Thanksgiving.

-I have a HUGE pop culture void now. There will be questions on gameshows that I will not be able to answer and jokes on late night TV that I will not get because I have been holed up for nearly 5 weeks. No TV or newspaper and no People magazine equal a current events black hole.

-I am sharply aware of the fact that I am very lucky to work at a place where family is valued so much that no one bats an eye (while I'm looking, anyway) at the fact that I just took 4 1/2 weeks off. From kids to coworkers to bosses, everyone has been so supportive and kind.

-Along that same line, I love my job. Not just where I work but what I do. When class started this morning and my hands went up, It felt so good. Almost like a big sigh. It's where I'm meant to be and I what I'm meant to do.

-I miss my friends too much. School friends, neighborhood friends, loop friends and "the gang" friends. I was starting to ache for them.

-I will always be in awe of how much a little baby can turn your life upside down and change your world. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since a little baby changed the world so many years ago.

Little Reid, I am so thankful that God chose to put you in our lives. I can't wait to watch you grow up, to play with you, and love on you. We are going to have so much fun!