The
older I get, the more my definition of the word "home" has broadened.
Home is no longer just the place that I live, but all the places I have
left a piece of my heart. I never thought Minnesota would be one of
those places I'd consider home (let's be honest, those Winters are
pretty brutal) but because of two sweet little girls, MN has become as
dear to me as my hometown in Colorado.
Since
moving to Seattle a year ago I've found it harder to jet off whenever I
find an opportunity, turns out being an adult and having bills to pay
isn't as glamorous as I would have hoped. But since Kassi was having
Everly, there were no ifs, ands or buts, I HAD to make a trip to MN to
meet my newest niece. I couldn't wait to see Lyla, especially since the
last time I saw her was over the summer when she was still a waddling
little baby. Lyla and I have always had a special bond, even in the
limited time I've been able to be around her.
I
got in on Friday, March 7th, my flight from Seattle left so early that I
pretty much only had a nap before I had to wake up to leave for the
airport. Lyla was of course even sassier than I remember her and we had
so much fun running around Target and playing with "Kevy" and "Car Car"
(Kevin and Carlos, what kind of animal names are those anyway?). That
girl wore me out and I fell asleep on the couch at 7pm. True story. I woke up around midnight
and couldn't go back to sleep, when Kassi came downstairs to tell me
that her and Ryan were going to the hospital. I kid you not, she was so
calm I had to ask her a few times if she was going to the hospital to
have the baby, it just didn't seem like someone that relaxed could be
about to give birth. I got a text a few short hours later that Everly
Joy had come into the world. I like to think she waited for me to get
into town before making her grand appearance.
My
mom and I tag teamed watching Lyla until Kassi and Ryan and Everly came
home from the hospital. The most exciting thing we did that trip was
take Lyla to Build a Bear, which was probably more exciting for me
because my parents deprived me of this when I was a kid (not holding a
grudge or anything..). But even staying at home in sweats, watching
Frozen countless times, and changing poopy diapers, I wouldn't have
changed a thing because I was able to spend those moments with my
family.
On
the last day of my trip, I was thinking to myself "I probably won't cry
saying goodbye, I'm too used to it by now", in fact it takes a lot for
me to shed a tear. But I sat there in the rocking chair holding little 4
day old Everly, finding tears streaming down my face thinking about how
the next time I'd see that little baby she wouldn't be nearly as
little. Having so many places to call home is a huge blessing but I also
find my heart breaks a little more each time I have to say goodbye to
those "homes". Feeling that heartbreak only reminds me how thankful I am
to have a family that makes saying goodbye so hard.
Right
before I left for the airport, my sister and I had a tear filled
conversation (once I start crying there's no going back). I told her
that besides my own mom, she's the best mom that I know and seeing her
be such an amazing mom to her little girls gave me comfort to know that
someday I'll be a better mom because of her. And even though that won't
be for a LONG time (emphasis on the word "long"), I'm so thankful for
her example. Although we don't get to pick our family, I would choose
mine a million times over and this distance only reminds me of that all
the more.
-Auntie Jo
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