Emptying Nest

My last morning with him.

Exactly one year ago, we were doing the same thing. Packing up cars, mapping our our course and moving Meg and Reid. Last year it was with excitement, this year with tears. I won the grandma golden ticket when, by the grace of God, they moved in with us for a year. I got to have baby fun 24-7, with his mommy here to make big decisions and change diapers. On top of that, Bon Bon (as he has been christened by his nephew) also moved back home with his sweet puppy, Ollie. If you have been to our house, you know it's small and old, close to 90 years old. That means that small closets and bathrooms and bedrooms that connect are the norm. We packed 3 households into 1500 sq. ft. (I'm in the bathroom now because it's the only place I can type and not wake people). Meg and B sleep on couches in the living room and family room, which used to be his bedroom, and all 4 adults have their clothes in one walk-in closet. When people heard about our fortune, we got a lot of "glad it's you and not me". We are glad it's us, too. I can say it was one of the best years in my life.

In predicting how I would feel at the end of the year, I thought I would be ready for the house to be mine again. I didn't know how much I had missed hearing baby gibberish from the next room as he slowly wakes up. I thought that digging thru all the clothes in the closet, and the fact that my all white hanger, color coded clothes hanging system was ruined, would make me crazy. I didn't know how fun it would be to mix and match our stuff and get feedback BEFORE I left the house (like "you can't wear that, you look like a teacher").

one side of our closet...yikes!

I thought that reuniting adult brother and sister after 8 years apart would be...tense. Instead, they found common adult ground and developed a relationship on a different level. Mainly making fun of me. I thought that a 24 y.o. single guy would be a little put out that his bedroom was also the family room and the place we kept all the toys, that the TV was only on when the baby was asleep would be irritating. Instead, Uncle Bon Bon is Reid's favorite person here and watching them play brings such joy to my heart.

Reading with Bon Bon

I worried that he would be afraid of the dogs or they would be too rough with him. Instead, "Ollie" was his first word.

He got to spend precious time with his great grandparents. I can't tell you how many times my mom has said, in her sweet accent, "we so lucky, Megan, we so lucky!"

I thought the crowd with dogs and kids and old folks could be too much, but I was wrong. It was just right. And he met his best friend, Crash, who lives next door. Together they learned about the greatness of trash trucks, graham crackers and swings.

Reid and Crash swingin' in the back yard

Reid won't remember living here, but his living here has changed our lives. I am less stressed about keeping a spotless house. I watch less TV.

Cooking with Mamie

With Papaw on vacation

I think B will be a better father someday because of the time he spent with his nephew. He is cautious without being overprotective. He understands the hurt cry versus the frustrated cry. He plays chase and hide and seek the way a toddler does.

We got to be a part of most of his firsts. When he first crawled,

his first trick or treat,

first tooth, first step, first word, first birthday, first egg hunt, everything that is usually shared by parents to the grandparents is instead a first hand part of our life story, too.

Tomorrow we start moving towards typical grandparenthood. I get to stay there a week to help set up and decorate. Then Eddie comes home and I have to let them begin their lives as a family of almost 4 in their new house. Let the tears begin!