Brian left this morning for 2 and 1/2 weeks in Portland, OR, serving the United Methodist Church at our quadrennial General Conference. I'm serving the church too, by staying home and holding down the fort with our son.
I've been dreading this trip for months now. 30 weeks pregnant, alone with our toddler for 2+ weeks of the morning routine, the bedtime routine, dinner + dishes + laundry + outdoor chores.
But this morning, as I woke up from a nightmare about our house being broken into, I decided I needed to have a change of heart and a change of thought about this time. So I roused myself and Caleb, put on cartoons for him while I showered and got dressed, and decided to get us out into the beautiful day before it got really hot out. We went to our local coffee shop here in our small town for iced chai (me) and a blueberry "nuffin" (for Caleb). Then we went to the park. Caleb conquered the tallest slide on the playground, and we saw our next door neighbors and watched their son play soccer. Caleb was entranced by all the running up and down the field!
I realized somewhere between the iced chai and watching Caleb giggle down the slide that this is my last stretch of time where it's going to be just me and him. When Brian gets back it will be all hands on deck in preparation for June to make her mid-summer arrival. But right now I can't put together furniture or paint her room, so it's just Caleb and I, getting in our quality Mom & Son time.
I'm thankful and lucky to have our so-called village helping during this stretch. I let our neighbors know that Brian was gone so they can keep an extra watchful eye on the house, and I asked for help getting out our garbage can and mowing the lawn. I'm setting up weekend playdates for Caleb and I, and my sister is coming for the last week. It also looks like my mother-in-law might come to stay for a few days. People have offered to send over meals or babysit. I'm also grateful to have such an easy-going little boy, who's willing to entertain himself for long stretches of time or play while I rest and watch "a cooking show."
I'll try to pop back in and let you know how our one on one time progresses!
