8/11/2007

Both my boys are at the airport. They are probably counting down the minutes until they can board. Nathan was extra smothered with kisses today...I'm going to miss the little guy. Saying goodbye to him was harder than I expected. I stood at the top of the steps and said, "Bye-bye, Nathan. Mommy loves you!" Nick instructed Nathan to say, "Bye-bye, Mama." Nathan smiled and waved. "Bye!" I resisted the urge to repeatedly run down the steps for 'one last kiss.' Plus, I'm quite sure Nick would have been rather irritated if I spent an hour whispering sweet nothings into Nathan's ear and thus made their trip to the airport a mad dash.

I also resisted the urge to pack everything Nathan owns. I mentally argued with myself over every toy, blanket, favorite snack, and piece of household furniture. I was about to insist Nick disassemble Nathan's bed to make packing it easier when I realized that this approach was utterly pointless. I revised my plan and only included a few truly favorite items for him to travel with. In addition to requiring much less time and energy, this ulterior method didn't demand the rental of a large shipping crate (which, I hear, is not terribly economical when you are only traveling for three weeks!).

Nick will be back in town mid-morning tomorrow, but I find that I'm feeling terribly lonely. Sure, I've still got the cat, but she's nothing if not insignificant compared to the two men that are missing this evening. I really find that I feel affection for her primarily as a result of the obvious adoration that Nathan has for the cat. I should have packed the cat. I considered it, I seriously did, and I know my parents might not have forgiven me for a very long time, but suddenly I'm overcome with guilt. What will Nathan do without his 'mow mow?' Three weeks without his kitty cat! I hope he makes it that long.

Isn't it funny how easily and quickly worrying comes...at least in regards to our kids? I already worry about Nia, and she isn't even born yet! Today I told Nick that we were going to have a really big problem with the girls who will swoon over Nathan. It's those eyes and that smile...I tell you, we are going to need to relocate to a remote village where, preferably, marriages are still arranged. Granted, I will probably have the world's most darling grandchildren, but I just don't know how we'll keep track of all the girl's names. "Did you have fun with Kelsey this afternoon?" we might ask. Nathan will roll his eyes and say, "Mom! Kelsey was the girl from this morning. Anna was the girl I went out with this afternoon." I'll keep notes on the refrigerator: Big hair, green eyes, 5'3''--Kelsey, Curly blond, blue eyes, fake-baked--Anna, 4'10'', really strange nose--Sarah, etc. On second thought, perhaps the refrigerator would not be the most wise location for such comments. At any rate, this is all a bunny trail. The point is that I'm missing my Nick and my Nathan, and I am thinking about them and worrying about them and loving them in a REALLY big way!