Fortunately. Because last Friday was my last day of vacation that I had to spend at home with Zoe and I sort of welcomed the distraction. We really had a great day. It was crisp and sunny, clear and blue - perfect Seattle fall. Zoe slept in a bit and fed really well. She did forego a good morning nap, but was still in great spirits when we left mid-morning to grab some deluxe Salumi sandwiches for daddy and his friends at work. She joined in the luncheon, feasting on her morning banana smash. Even Dave's boss, Jeff, a father of a three year-old and another to come, commented about what pleasant company Zoe always is. Auntie Becky enjoyed her too:
She enjoyed it so much that she crashed on the ride home:
All in all, the day was too quick - just as the weeks of Fridays off were too quick and my maternity leave before that. Honestly, there are times when ten minutes feels like an eternity - like when we're trying to keep her up just a few minutes longer before putting her to bed or when she's in tears because we're trying to wipe her nose again. But the weeks and months that have passed since her birth feel so fleeting - like that amount of time almost couldn't have passed because I didn't spend it consciously enough. And I will never have it back. Zoe will never again be so tiny and so much in need of me - which really is a good thing - that she's growing into a happy and smart and independent child. But wow. Did I make enough of the time? Time will tell.
Back to the lighter news: my brother and sister-in-law also arrived on Friday. The rouse of my parents' going to the airport to pick up family friends, the Rousseaus, worked beautifully. According to all reports, my mom was baffled to see the St. Sidell's coming out of the gate. Yay! She was also surprised to hear the knock on the front door later that evening to find my aunt Madeleine and uncle Bob had traveled up from San Diego for the festivities, as well. The more, the merrier.
So, the next morning, Dave, Zoe and I packed up the car full with with food (burgers, piri-piri chicken and lamb kebabs), picked up uncle Chris and hit the road for Nana's house.
It really was great to not only reunite the baby cousins with each other (they'd first met in Maine back in September), but to have my mom and dad there to revel in it. After all, they had a little to do with our all being there ;)
It was great, too, to see auntie Erin and uncle Chris exercise their parenting muscles:
Nick was quite the sport being the big boy at Nana's house.
All those cheeks!
Lots of love to go around:
And, some unrelated but recent shots of Zoe practicing her new tricks with dad:
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