Went to Winston this weekend - Seth went to Wilmington. I was not anticipating any solo trips to Winston this late in my pregnancy...no need to hash out the anxiety in choosing to be here by myself w.a spirited 2 yr old or making a solo jaunt w.same spirited 2 yr old, 32 week old baby constantly toe-twinkling my seemingly shrinking bladder and Salem Belle. Despite the anxiety of both choices and the heeming & hawing right up until friday afternoon, I chose the road trip. Feeling blessed that I did. Because I'm the queen of not picking up the camera these days (something I plan to work on once this belly goes down), here's the weekend in mental pictures :)
**John breaking Seth's heart when leaving Friday evening. Saying our good-byes, looking up at Seth confused, w.those baby blues, "Deddy not get in car?" I could only give Seth a sympathetic grin - what a loaded question for a Deddy packing up his family for the weekend**
**John refusing to go to sleep the 1st hour of the car ride - busy looking around the seat & out the windshield, "Pappaw's house?" so afraid he was going to miss it if he finally gave in to those yawns**
**Sitting at the kitchen table w.my mom till way past my bedtime - having one of our talks. There's been a million talks in that kitchen w.my mom. Some used to find me sitting on the kitchen cabinet, some have found me stretched out on the floor, some have been filled w.tears, many with smiles and laughter. Friday's was me, tired feet up in a chair - her hands on my belly feeling Ella's sunshine**
**Waking up Saturday morning (long before the sun thought about shining) and enjoying the quiet of the morning w.my lil' early riser. Holding hands to pray before eating breakfast w.my parents & John. Breakfast burgers :) John's favorite**
**An early run to the "big-store" silly bandz for John, comfy pants for Mama and good (even better cause it was cheap) hand soap for Nana**
**John's persistent attempts to avoid nap time - lots of arm loaded trips w.his doggies up & down the hall. Gettin' caught by Nana trying to sneak out the front door w.his doggies. No verbal resistance w.each failed-attempt...just a quiet about-face and back to bed**
**Sunning on the back porch w.my mama - been a lot of that in my lifetime. After a futile attempt at napping amidst a lot of "booping" from Miss Ella, I was quick to put on my bathing suit & plop my happy butt in the wading pool warming up for John**
**Watching John make the trek across the grass countless times to Granny & Pappaw's house. The heart swell at knowing the miles I've traveled through that same grass in my lifetime and seeing my son running just as quickly as I probably did 25 years ago**
**The smiles seeing John brought to my Granny & Pappaw's face w.those countless visits. My granny saying, almost laughing "He talks all the time doesn't he?!" Me shaking my head in proud agreement, "He sure does!"**
**The great shoe hunt and discovery (under the couch cushion will be a first place they look from now on, I bet). The mental picture of the weekend - my Pappaw (Big John) sitting on the side of the bed, my Deddy (Johnny Boy) and my John sitting on the floor in front of him helping him put on his shoes. 3 generations of John's and a full circle of life all in one picturesque moment**
**Watching episodes of I Love Lucy in kitchen Sunday morning w.my mom - full belly laughs early in the morning. Another breakfast, more good coffee and another family meal - earmarks of good weekends**
**A visit from Mimi & sweet Griffin. John negotiating balloons, green was obviously not a color for sharing. Seeing how much our lil' nephew's growing - such a sweet, sweet baby. Hugs and sugars from Mimi - oh, and a sweet treat from Bojangle's :)**
**A final trip across the yard to say bye to Granny & Pappaw - some of the best hugs of the weekend. Promises to see them soon - leaving w.smiles on both their faces**
**Packing up the car, ready to leave, John affirming from Pappaw's boat, "I not go home!" (repeat 8 times). John still chanting this as he's being strapped into his car seat - waving his goodbyes and blowing sugars as we backed out the driveway. Feeling blessed that he aches to be there w.his Nana & Pappaw the same way I do**
**Finally pulling in the garage at 1601 - out of the pouring rain, Deddy opening the door - the amount he missed us all over his face. Laying on the couch together watching John's new movie (thanks Mimi) - legs/arm all tangled, enjoying being home & together**
**A good end to the weekend - sharing Chilly Willy's on the front porch. John couldn't get off his lil' motorcycle fast enough when cutting it back into the driveway when he spotted me having a treat on the porch w.out him. As he's smiling running down the sidewalk, coming up the steps saying, "I have some?" - his some, meant most**
**John refusing to go to sleep the 1st hour of the car ride - busy looking around the seat & out the windshield, "Pappaw's house?" so afraid he was going to miss it if he finally gave in to those yawns**
**Sitting at the kitchen table w.my mom till way past my bedtime - having one of our talks. There's been a million talks in that kitchen w.my mom. Some used to find me sitting on the kitchen cabinet, some have found me stretched out on the floor, some have been filled w.tears, many with smiles and laughter. Friday's was me, tired feet up in a chair - her hands on my belly feeling Ella's sunshine**
**Waking up Saturday morning (long before the sun thought about shining) and enjoying the quiet of the morning w.my lil' early riser. Holding hands to pray before eating breakfast w.my parents & John. Breakfast burgers :) John's favorite**
**An early run to the "big-store" silly bandz for John, comfy pants for Mama and good (even better cause it was cheap) hand soap for Nana**
**John's persistent attempts to avoid nap time - lots of arm loaded trips w.his doggies up & down the hall. Gettin' caught by Nana trying to sneak out the front door w.his doggies. No verbal resistance w.each failed-attempt...just a quiet about-face and back to bed**
**Sunning on the back porch w.my mama - been a lot of that in my lifetime. After a futile attempt at napping amidst a lot of "booping" from Miss Ella, I was quick to put on my bathing suit & plop my happy butt in the wading pool warming up for John**
**Watching John make the trek across the grass countless times to Granny & Pappaw's house. The heart swell at knowing the miles I've traveled through that same grass in my lifetime and seeing my son running just as quickly as I probably did 25 years ago**
**The smiles seeing John brought to my Granny & Pappaw's face w.those countless visits. My granny saying, almost laughing "He talks all the time doesn't he?!" Me shaking my head in proud agreement, "He sure does!"**
**The great shoe hunt and discovery (under the couch cushion will be a first place they look from now on, I bet). The mental picture of the weekend - my Pappaw (Big John) sitting on the side of the bed, my Deddy (Johnny Boy) and my John sitting on the floor in front of him helping him put on his shoes. 3 generations of John's and a full circle of life all in one picturesque moment**
**Watching episodes of I Love Lucy in kitchen Sunday morning w.my mom - full belly laughs early in the morning. Another breakfast, more good coffee and another family meal - earmarks of good weekends**
**A visit from Mimi & sweet Griffin. John negotiating balloons, green was obviously not a color for sharing. Seeing how much our lil' nephew's growing - such a sweet, sweet baby. Hugs and sugars from Mimi - oh, and a sweet treat from Bojangle's :)**
**A final trip across the yard to say bye to Granny & Pappaw - some of the best hugs of the weekend. Promises to see them soon - leaving w.smiles on both their faces**
**Packing up the car, ready to leave, John affirming from Pappaw's boat, "I not go home!" (repeat 8 times). John still chanting this as he's being strapped into his car seat - waving his goodbyes and blowing sugars as we backed out the driveway. Feeling blessed that he aches to be there w.his Nana & Pappaw the same way I do**
**Finally pulling in the garage at 1601 - out of the pouring rain, Deddy opening the door - the amount he missed us all over his face. Laying on the couch together watching John's new movie (thanks Mimi) - legs/arm all tangled, enjoying being home & together**
**A good end to the weekend - sharing Chilly Willy's on the front porch. John couldn't get off his lil' motorcycle fast enough when cutting it back into the driveway when he spotted me having a treat on the porch w.out him. As he's smiling running down the sidewalk, coming up the steps saying, "I have some?" - his some, meant most**
A full and blessed weekend. Good to feel grass between my toes, good to sleep in what will always, in my mind, be "my room" and good to rest knowing my baby and my parents are footsteps away. A peace in that I can't explain. Blessed to have a safe trip back to our home and the apple of my eye & John's there to greet us. Keeps me coming back to something a former co-worker said to me recently..."you're just blessed and there's nothing you can do about it!" That couldn't ring more true :)
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