home again, home again
I was in Florida all week this week for a training class. It was the first time I’d been anywhere by myself since Shortstack was born, and it was certainly the longest I’d been away from him since then. I had a great time with the friend I was staying with, even though I really felt like an old granny going to bed early and not being able to really break out of mommy-mode. It was a pretty stressful week for the boys, and an anxiety-ridden week for me. I’m happy to be home. I wish I could be more profound about my first real trip away and all that, but the truth is that I really missed my guys, and I feel terrible their week wasn’t as easy as things usually are. I’ve always heard people say that the best part of going away is coming back, and it always sounded so cliche. I know, I know, the cat or dog is going to be all lovey when we get home, but even that’s not all about us every time, right? They’re hungry and have to poop just like us–at least sometimes, no? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always thought that coming home feels awesome after being away, but I never thought it was the really best part about being away. Until last night. Papa Frog and I were turning in for the night and we walked in to find Shortstack warming up our bed for us. I’ll take that over an electric blanket any day! Papa Frog looked at me and said something along the lines of, ‘I’ll move him if you want me to, but I think you should be the one to do it.’ It’s one of those delicate procedures that I’m better at only because I am the Mama, and boy, have I got it down to a science. I had managed a succesful extraction from our bed and was at Shortstack’s bed in a matter of seconds. I was beginning the turn & docking procedures when he opened his eyes in that dazed, dreamy, ‘is that really there? let me blink really hard and look again…’ sort of way. Once he realized that I was the one holding him, he opened his eyes and flashed me the biggest smile I think I’ve ever seen. Then he said, ‘mommy! you’re back…blinkblinkblink…i’m SO happy to see you!’ He gave me a huge hug, and I laid him down, and he was out.
I can’t believe I’m actually putting this in writing for everyone to see…You were TOTALLY right, Papa Frog! 
