Tis the SEASON

The "winter" season is coming to an end here in Southwest Florida.  Easter I believe is the end of the season when the snowbirds migrate back north.  This season has been a unique season for the three of us.  We were joined by my parents, Nana & Bapa, for four months.  I will not sugar coat it, it was an adjustment when they first moved down because we were used to them coming and leaving.  We had to get used to the fact they weren't leaving next week.  They were adjusting to retirement and we were adjusting to extra arms to help and hearts to love on Rohan.  Rohan has learned who Nana and Bapa are and he runs to the door when I tell him we are going to see them.  We were surprised by my friends, Andrea, Dayna and Vanessa in December for my 30th birthday.  I was surprised and I loved it and at the same time I couldn't stand it.  I wish I had known so I could have taken more time off for them.  We spent Christmas with my brother Mike down here and Rohan instantly took to him and his facial hair.  In February we took a trip over to the east coast of Florida to celebrate Rohan's Great Grandmas 91st birthday with Chicago family.  We also had our annual Meek/Sustad gang meet up.  We spent the day at the pool at Miland & Myrna Meek's, Rohan played with his cousins, and we finished the day off with a trip to Moes.  In March, Uncle Mike was back to visit for his birthday trip before my parents sent sail on their first cruise.  Amber spent a short time with us while she was on a business trip in Florida and it was neat to see Rohan warm up to her.  We will close out the season with my mom's friend Vivian (she married Aaron and I) visiting with my parents.  My parents will head back to Michigan in the beginning of April and closeout the season.  We will miss them being in our lives but will always remember the time they spent with us down here.  We were lucky to have them close by for four months and watch them enjoy the beginning of retirement while helping with Rohan.  Until next season - we look forward to their return to Florida.  

My dinner date...

There has been a growing trend since Rohan has been able to eat dinner with us.  I am always sitting by his side.  I am the one who is attending to his needs at the dinner table.  Rohan is always my dinner date. My dinner date eats before everyone else and is ready to leave as soon as his date gets her food.  He can sometimes be distracted with toys but he usually is on his way out of his dinner chair seconds after he has pushed all his food on the floor signally he is done.  My date puts me to work by chopping up all his food and making sure he stays entertained.  As fast as I pull apart his food he has it all stuffed in his mouth.  We take a break to take a few drinks and remind him to chew chew chew and we start all over again.  Making sure he doesn't get a hold of the glasses on the table or daddy's knife.  And Rohan almost always has his sippy-cup tether so we can eliminate the headache of sippy-cups thrown on the floor game.  My ear always strains to stay in touch with the adult conversation at the other end of the table but by the time I strain to make adult conversation, my dinner date has started throwing food on the floor or is bending backwards in his chair. Adult conversation over. With each mealtime I try again and again to multitask and I realize I need to give up wanting it all and cherish my time with my dinner date.  My dinner date will one day be taking me out to dinner.