Big E on a milk carton

I have been missing my eldest son part of this week. My sweet, sweet, super sweet Big E took an impromptu trip to AL with his grandfather. It was one of those things where someone thought of it, and then ten minutes later it was like "Wake the boy up and pack his bag." Of course he was excited about going, taking a little trip without the rest of us. He didn't have much time to think about it....because when he does, he thinks about the part where he will miss us and he isn't always too keen on hitting the road.

He left bright and early yesterday morning and yesterday evening, while I was roasting my veggies and sausage as we previously discussed, he called me on the phone. Just to chat. But the chat at one point involved a quiver in his voice and he said, "I wish I was at home with you." This is the number one way to melt Bell's heart.



Big E is my child that has never really run in the opposite direction from me. Lovely K has done that since the day she was born. But Big E is content to stay at home. He doesn't really care to sleep away from home(except at his friend's house who is about a mile away from us). He is very sensitive. He still likes to sit in my lap. He doesn't need to venture away from me all the time. He likes security and familiarity.

He is just such a nice guy.
But I know that part of growing up
will mean that these things will change.
He may always be happiest at home
(that's fine by me),
but he will have to in one way or another,
make his way in the world.
So what did I tell him on the phone?
To toughen up? And suck in that gut?
No. Not at all.
I told him if he was sad, that would make me sad.
And that is so true.


He'll be home tomorrow.
He's only gone for "two sleeps." And Sweet T woke up this morning, came stumbling in with sleepy eyes and wild hair to me. The first thing he said was, "Was that one sleep or two?"