Texas, I'd Forgive You For Your Horrible Weather if You Would Start Offering Me Tim-Bits

I'm home from Toronto. (Oh, didn't I tell you? I was going to Toronto.) My mom, Mike and I flew up early Saturday morning and returned late last night, which made for a very short trip to visit my sister, her husband, and my beautiful, adorable, sweet two-year-old nephew, Noah. When you live nearly 1500 miles away from family, you take what little time you can get. You live off what you can get.

I hadn't seen my nephew since my wedding in May 2007. In a real, physical way, it's heartbreaking that I live so far from him, that I can never just pop in and take him to the park without first packing a bag, catching a plane and then arguing with a Northwest ticket agent about my ability to use a self-check-in machine. I can't just lift Noah up to kiss him whenever I want, the way I did multiple times over the last four days. But, in another way—a way I'm clinging to—it's beautiful that he exists at all. Four days of him isn't enough, no, but it's more than I could ever have hoped for.

It would be impossible to touch on everything we did during our short time there. We crammed a lot into a few days including a trip to Niagra Falls, two nights out on the town in downtown Toronto, a trip to Casa Loma and inhaling as many Tim-Bits as I could get my grubby, pregnant hands on.

(Those Tim-Bits may have been the cause of the almost-18-week pop that happened while on our trip. My belly is officially hanging out the bottom of my still-worn pre-pregnancy shirts.)

(Raspberry-filled powdered-donut Tim-Bits = BEST FOOD OF THIS PREGNANCY.)

(Oh, also, I got my first episode of heartburn while in Canada, which, I kid you not, feels exactly how I imagined a heart attack would feel. Did you know this about heartburn? Was I the only one in the dark about the sheer EVILNESS of it? I actually told Mike I thought I was dying. DYING. And I said it without a single ounce of sarcasm. Ironically, I believe the heartburn was caused by a salad and not the Tim-Bits.)

Anyway, Noah took to us, quickly and easily, and he would come to Mike or me without fighting, with arms stretched open. He is a little boy full of life and full of smiles, and he is already imaginative and creative. I've seen Mike with a dozen kids before, but it still stunned me how much Noah adored his "Uncle Mike" and how much Mike adored him right back. Mike spent most of the weekend carrying him, pushing him in the swing, building train "fracks" with him, chasing geese with him and proving me right when I decided from the first day I met him that he would be a good father.

Also while there, Rachel gave me roughly 500 adorable baby outfits (many of which are perfectly gender neutral) and a few pairs of maternity pants. Since I am ridiculously and shamefully behind on my thank-you notes, thank you, Rachel. Big, huge, heaping thanks for ensuring our kiddo is dressed well.

It was nice to get home last night, sure, where Molly and our DVR were both eagerly waiting for us, but it's also safe to say we left fragments of ourselves up north. Wherever this little boy is, he is carrying parts of me with him.

(Not the parts that gave him that beautiful, wavy hair, though. Unfortunately.)

Comments

[Cheri DeLurker]

Wow - Noah is GORGEOUS!! Look at those cheeks!!

And, off the subject, I think you are WAAAAAAAAAAY past due for a OTH entry. Every SINGLE EPISODE this season so far has made me cry, but especially this week's, which also had my daughter in tears.

[Kristabella]

He's SO adorable!

I totally know how you feel. I lived 3000 miles away from my two nephews and just couldn't take it. They were the reason why I moved back to Chicago. I broke my heart every time I had to leave them.

Glad you had a good time!

[Dianna]

Glad you're back and that you had a good time, albiet short. Noah is a handsome little guy, just adoarbale!

[jonniker]

Oh hi! I'm off to get DONUTS NOW. (No really, I am)

Also, heartburn IS like a heart attack. So much so that Adam, who has GERD, discovered he had it after we spent an entire night in the hospital thinking he'd had a heart attack.

[Rachel]

I am certain you took parts of Noah with you too. I was not prepared for the adoration I saw in Noah's eyes for his Uncle Mike. I knew he loved you and mom, but oh man. That was heartbreaking for me to say goodbye to.

Thank you for making me to laugh more than I have in weeks, get drunk at my birthday dinner and vicariously live through your carb consumption. Seriously people...I have never seen anyone eat so many carbs. : ) And insist that they need some of YOUR cinnabon because, and I quote, they are "saving THEIR cinnabon for the morning". Thank you for the red shoes you "left" and all the great b-day gifts. The pictures Mike took of Noah are perhaps some of my very favourite. He captured is soul, that is for sure. The house is very quiet without you. : (

[Christina]

This really choked me up. My sister and best friend live about 2500 miles away, with her two kids. There is something amazing about the way you can feel about your sisters kids, I love them as my own. It hurts so badly, so often, to be away from them. I talk with the 3 of them everyday so that helps but what I wouldnt give to see them more often.
Glad you had the chance to visit.

[Jess]

Oh, he's so cute! How precious. I wonder if your kid will look like him...

[Jen]

Family time is the best! I love that you got to see Mike in his element with the little guy.

And how is it possible that we have only seen ONE belly picture?? That was ages ago! I think we need to see the Tim-Bits Bump :)

[Jen]

Also had to tell you that I LOVE my Target body pillow. I actually bought two because I figured the first one would lose the fluff factor about halfway through.

[Nicole]

So happy to have you back safely! I'm glad you were able to spend time with your family. The idea of being more than even an hour from my family and nieces bothers me even though I spent 14 months living in England. I missed them terribly the entire time. It's nice to love people so much.

[Raven]

Welcome back! I'm glad you were able to get some quality time! He looks adorable :)

[Heather B.]

That is a very cute little boy.

[rebecca]

child, mama KNOWs. I won't meet my one and only niece until she is at least 9 months old. and my girl has only spent time with my parents 4 times in her little life. but you really do carry a love for them, deep in your heart.
and tim-bits...oh, my. i dreamed about them constantly during my first trimester...

[Rhi]

That kid is DAMN CUTE.

Also, there are these new packets of Tums that I believe to be the miracle heartburn cure. You just sprinkle them on your tongue like Pop Rocks (except, they don't pop), then HEARTBURN GONE!

[Raychelle]

Noah is adorable! Sounds like a really nice trip!

Oh, and the first time I ever got heartburn...I too thought I was having a heart attack and contemplated going to the hospital. Luckily my coworker has chronic acid reflux and suggested TUMS instead.

[NGS]

Oh, Tim Hortons, please come to Minnesota on your way to Texas, please, please, please!

[Angella]

What a sweet, sweet angel.