My mom was in town all week.
It was absolutely wonderful – and I have no earthly idea how the days flew by with such speed.
And today she left.
It has been an appropriately gloomy day. Alternate drizzles and rain drops have fallen, coinciding perfectly with my mood. Ever since Alana and I took mom to the airport this morning, I’ve been missing her like crazy.
Having her here is like a ray of sunshine and sending her back is like an emotional thunderstorm.
I hate being the one who’s left behind. The house has been lively and full of grandma-love all week, and now, in her absence, everything reminds me of her.
I hate washing the sheets and towels after she leaves. Not because I mind laundry – I don’t – but because it is a glaring reminder that she’s not using the guest bed and bathroom anymore.
Things were so quiet today. Not because my mom is loud, but because she brings loads of laughter and great conversation. I soak it up and hope that it sustains me until the next time.
On the kitchen island sits the remainder of a Publix Bakery yellow cake with butter cream icing – her favorite.
On the sink sit her rubber gloves that she uses to do the dishes.
On the counter sits the coffee pot that she uses each morning, filled with coffee grinds that smell of her morning caffeine fix.
The guest bedroom is vacant; the bed made and pillows arranged after she stripped the bed so that I could wash the sheets.
The dining room table is filled with crafting projects that we worked on all week (More on that really soon!).
Even Alana reminds me of my mom. She’s been spitting at me all day, a fun little game she played with her grandma all week. I’ve been choking up as I’ve spit back at her.
Without further ado, and since I’ve emoted with such melodrama, it is time to post our photos from the week.
This was taken right after we picked mom up at the airport last week. Alana hadn’t seen her for several months, so I was curious to see how she’d react. She did well for a while, and then cried for me. She changed so much as the week progressed and by the time mom left today, Alana didn’t even care if I was in the room anymore! It was great!
Alana has begun to present quite the dining challenge! When we go out to eat now, she is hard to contain! She is so busy, active, and interested in everything that is on the table, that we have a hard time keeping her engaged in baby-safe things. My mom’s travel-sized lotion came in handy all week, and we incessantly played the “pick-it-up-off-the-ground” game that so many parents have enjoyed.
Right when we got back from the airport, mom and Alana got down to business playing a fun little game. Mom picked up this activity mat and tossed it onto Alana…
Then she’d say in a sing-song voice, “Where’s Alana???”
And she’d grab the mat off of Alana, who thought it was the best game ever!
On Saturday morning, Alana spent some quality time with Rich! She’s fascinated by his Mac and completely ignored her toys to watch the screen saver
A little snuggle time…
Rich had family in town last weekend, so we enjoyed a couple of evenings out at his parents home! Here we are in the front yard…
Where Alana met Milo for the first time, and, well, let’s just say that I need to teach her the meaning of the word “gentle.”
I loved this huge chair at Barnes and Noble from a visit mom and I took during the week! She sat contentedly while mom and I looked over sewing books!
Playtime at home…
Rich getting Alana dressed on Sunday morning. Socute.
Thank you mom for this family picture!
We dedicated Alana Sunday morning at church, and along with my mom being there, Rich’s whole family also showed up to support us. We had a wonderful, meaningful dedication, and want to thank everyone for coming! We love and appreciate you!
After the dedication, we all went to Jason’s Deli to enjoy a family lunch! Here is Rich with his dad and grandmother (Alana’s only great-grandparent), Me-Maw. Generational pictures are incredible history!
More fun time with grandma at home!
Eating lunch at Chili’s!
To keep Alana entertained, mom gave her a carrot stick to play with. Alana doesn’t have any teeth yet, but she enjoyed gnawing on it with her gums, and it definitely did the trick! We enjoyed our lunch and she did very well!
Play time in the guest bedroom!
Alana surrounded by the loot we’d brought home from our mall shopping trip
Sweet face for grandma!
My mom sent Rich and I on a date while she babysat on Tuesday night. We went to a Chattanooga Wedding Professionals meeting (where we snagged this self-portrait) and then for dessert (tirimisu, my favorite!) and a movie! It was wonderful, and a much needed break for the two of us! Thank you SO much, mom!!!
We concluded our time together on Wednesday by enjoying breakfast together at Fresh to Order and then another lunch at Chili’s (thank you again for sharing your gift card, mom!).
Here is Alana is spitting back and forth with my mom…
Staring at our food at breakfast…
Playing tickle games…
Lunch together!
Okay, well, mom. I hope you enjoyed the looooooong blog post! It was therapeutic to write and post pictures since I miss you so much. I have a lump in my throat, but I am so thankful to have had the time we had.
We love you, miss you, and appreciate you.
4 comments