This was our first/second trip without J - last time he left early - this time the whole first leg of the trip was without him. Because...well, because daddy was on call - which are words that Owen will have to understand far sooner than I'd like. J also had his written boards on Thursday and if we're being completely honest O and I kinda cramp his studying style.
During this trip, we had a milestone that I never considered...our first Skype date with daddy. Owen has Skyped with Oma and some of J's other family up north, and he says "hi, dad" pretty much every time he sees a phone, but we've never been away from daddy long enough to need to Skype. This kid broke my heart. At first, he patted daddy's face and babbled at the screen, but soon he was grabbing at the iPad, turning it around, and screaming - he couldn't figure out why daddy was inside and wouldn't come out - Owen was visibly upset and I finally had to hang up and console him. The poor kid had already been stopping to ask for "da-da-da, da da?" every few hours over the last three days (one day without daddy made sense to him, but after about 1/2 of the second day, he started to ask for him) and he really doesn't get why daddy hadn't shown up yet - especially since he had always seen both of us at his Momma's house before. So, Skype was a major mommy fail and I definitely made things worse not better.
The first few days of the trip were a little rough since O had six shots and a blood draw at his 12 month appt. right before we left for the desert. Fevers and a fussy baby followed for about 48 hours, followed by teething pain (molars suck by the way). He barely ate - he barely slept - he clung to me like a magnet - he convinced the entire family that they were completely forgotten and unloved (so untrue)! By Monday, we seemed to be back on track, two good naps, went down easy for both naps and bedtime - and a cheerful and more independent baby - who enjoyed some time with both his Momma and his Poppy (my parents). Additionally, after months of refusing to kiss me and turning his head and crying every time I tried to kiss him (enough to break a mommy's heart) - on Tuesday my 'little bit' flipped a switch and decided he likes to give mommy (and the rest of the family) kisses and will reward you with a big, sloppy, wet, open mouth kiss whenever you ask (and a few spontaneous ones of his own!!!).
I am still in awe at times and completely amazed that this really is my life, that Owen and J really are mine and this life that I wanted for so long - it's harder than I could have ever imagined, but it's also even better than I could have ever dreamed! God is so good! I don't know about the rest of you, but do you ever worry that you will wake up back in junior high (or any other prior point in your life) and realize that this whole life you've been living was only a dream! No?! Me neither, because I'm not crazy or anything...
To start our desert trip out, we had lots of family time, Owen bowled for the first time, and I loaded up on chocolate birthday/happy anniversary of having baby to me cake - and some of my favorite desert treats - greasy pizza, chinese, hamburgers, and of course lots and lots of Mexican food - there is not a speck of decent Mexican food to be found anywhere in this Midwestern state we now call home! Yummy, but not so good for the waistline!
Later in the week, we had one year old pictures, time with friends, and more time with my family - who I've really missed the last month since we moved. I've really missed home!
