Pre-Grandma.

It's early, but Quinn has already woken up once asking for Grandma. When she left at 4:30am this morning to catch her flight, I had to try really hard to fight back the tears (being deliriously tired helped hold them back). Every time she leaves is hard, but my boys! Seeing how much they love her too is only making it extra-more-than-usual-hard this time. Sigh.

Mike and I left last night for a quick shopping trip, leaving the boys (West asleep, we thought) with my mom. Quinn had taken a laaaaaate nap so we let him stay up later than usual, and West ended up crying after I'd put him down, which meant that he got rescued by Grandma. He rewarded her by having a blowout. I came home to two sweet boys up on her lap, happy as can be. When I told Quinn a bit later that it was time for bed, he sprinted through the house back to Grandma, climbed up on her lap and said Snuggle!! 

Tender. 

West was a sweet boy all week. My mom was with us during some of those really hard weeks in the beginning (when dairy and gluten were making him so sad, and I was so foggy and overwhelmed), and was really happy to see him - and me! - so content.

Anyway. She's gone, but left me with fresh sheets on her bed, a great new recipe, a few basic sewing skills (we finally brought out the machine I've had for 18 months) and lots of happy memories from the week. I always love having her here, and she leaves me always more grateful to have her as my mom.

Quinn is waking up for the day now (it's 8am! thank you, daylight savings time) and is up in his crib asking for Grandma, just like he's done every day since she got here last week. My eyes are watering. 

The time just keeps zooming by, and there are so many untold stories but never enough time / energy / sleep. Quinn - he's saying milk now instead of muuulk. And last night when we asked him to say the prayer at dinner (usually followed by us prompting him put his choo choo train down, close his eyes, fold his arms, mimic a few words of thanks, followed by his enthusiastic AMEN!!), we didn't have to do anything but ask. He folded his arms, closed his eyes, bowed his head and said a little prayer (we caught thanks and food - but it was clearly heartfelt). When he was finished we all looked at each other with shiny eyes. Growing up! And so sweet, mostly (the yellow chair in the piano room has become the time out chair).

These are old photos - from two weeks ago? Playtime with friends, playtime with brothers, a few tantrums (Quinn), a few from my phone, running around in the sunshine. Nothing spectacular, just our normal. 

We'll catch up with all of the Grandma photos / videos soon.