Helen Grace and I hit the road this weekend and went to Jackson to visit friends and family. We normally just make it a day trip since it’s a lot of work to spend the night with baby girl, but I never feel like I get enough time with everyone. So we took the plunge and loaded up the car with everything we could possibly need- it looked like we were going for a week!
On Saturday, we met Lexie, Rebecca, and their girls for lunch. I’m not sure we were thinking straight to plan on eating a meal together with three grown ups and four kids under four, but they actually all did pretty well. We were able to have pretty decent conversations for over an hour, and the girls babbled to each other and kept busy coloring. It was so cute to see them interact. HG and I went over to Rebecca’s house afterward, and we let the girls run and play. They had a ball on the swing set and playing house, and then we moved inside to the baby strollers and kitchen play set. When Rebecca and I are together with the kids, we are usually at a birthday party and have so much other stuff going on. It was such a wonderful treat to have a lazy afternoon together, to hear what’s going on with each other’s lives, and to watch our babies play together. A very special day!
Later that night, we met Aunt Gloria for dinner. That was the only moment of our trip that I wish I could forget and act like it never happened. HG threw a good hissy fit toward the end of dinner because she wanted to get out of the booth. While she was thrashing, trying to get over my lap, she kicked her plate and sent the whole thing flying in the air, and it landed on our laps and on the booth next to us. All eyes in the restaurant were on us. Thankfully, Aunt Glo loves us and also raised one *very* strong willed child of her own, so she quietly picked up her purse, and we headed for the door. Other than that, HG was really well behaved. She even slept in the bed with me and was quiet (and still) as a mouse. She fell asleep very easily on my shoulder, and she stuck like glue to my side all night. Thankfully, no thrashing or elbows in the face! At one point, I rolled over and caught a glimpse of her sweet little sleeping face on the pillow next to me…truly the face of an angel. I just wanted to take a picture and capture the moment, but I know I will remember it always. I treasure those times I get to snuggle with her!
Sunday was family day, and we went to visit GG and Uncle Lary for lunch. Suzanne, Worth, and Grace Ann came to play too, and of course, HG was thoroughly entertained by Grace Ann. Lots of high five-ing, singing, and squealing! After a weekend of visiting with Aunt Glo, HG was really sweet on her as well. As we were getting ready to leave, she felt the need for hugs and starting running between Lary, Gloria, GG, and me, hugging our legs like crazy and then running like mad to the next set of legs. I thought she was going to knock GG over, but GG held on and just laughed and laughed at the wild child!
We were able to make it back to OB in time to have dinner with John, Grandma, Peggy, and Uncle Gene and Aunt Edie who were in town from New York. What a special treat to sit around the table with all of them! Last time Edie and Gene saw Helen Grace, she was just under a year and not walking yet, so this was like meeting a whole new child. She was able to play with them all day today at Grandma’s too, so she has now made fast friends with them.
We had a great weekend packed with memories made with family and friends. Now if only Helen Grace could get her sleep schedules worked out…Daylight Savings Time has officially lost its luster!
Meeting Emory Wren
No comments:
Post a Comment