I was literally counting down the days and finally the hours for them to come.
It was so sweet seeing them absorb Quincey in love. And so fun to be on the receiving side of it. For all my life I have been the one traveling near and far to be with the sweet babies in the family but not this time. This time, we are on the receiving end of all that traveling and love giving.
Quincey was wide eyed the first couple days and slept better then she ever has. As much as I try to keep her busy and full of new experiences, this was her first time around people and there's no way I can stage that for her. She got to soak up all the different voices, different squeezes, and different kisses from all the different family members for three full days. And all that basking in love tuckered her out! The first full day they were here, she slept from 7pm to 7am! She did wake up two times to feed but that is the longest night sleep she has had by far.
In between all the sleeping and copious amounts of snuggles, she got to go to the mountains. She enjoyed her first picnic and, while the Logan's hiked up to McColley hot springs, which they never did reach, Quincey and I hung back at the picnic area. You will never believe what she did the whole time... SLEPT! Trying to feed her with people around was quite the adventure. I have never been around other people and needed to cover up so was quite excited about getting to use my spiffy cover that was gifted to me. But, what a debacle! It took 3 of us to achieve its purpose! I definitely need a little practice before venturing out with it again! But what a nice time it was with family in the woods. Feels like home being with these guys!
Look at me trying to feed her! Ridiculous!
This was such a cute video!
Speaking of Afton... watching her and Gideon with Quincey was probably the most precious thing about the past week. To watch some of my favorite children in the whole world shower my child with so much raw and pure love was so touching. I found Gideon bouncing Quincey on his knee while Afton serenaded her with a song on the ukulele. And the contentment on Quincey's face was priceless. She was just loving the bounce Gideon was providing and the music that was flowing from Afton. It was like watching something come full circle. I am so glad I have invested as much time and energy into those children so I have an established relationship with them that makes them want to invest the same amount of love and time into my child. PRICELESS!
And Quincey just loved her Uncle Jason. Of course, anyone that knows Jason knows that he has an extremely soothing presence and Quincey got to taste that first hand. He was able to put her to sleep-lights out-no problem and she just seemed to become butter in his arms. Jason has been a huge influence in my life and I have always felt like our relationship would be more adequately described by dropping the in-law portion of brother. I mean, he has been in my life since I was 10. Talk about having something come full circle! Having Jason to my home, with my husband, and my child is definitely a full circle. I have always looked up to him and respected him. Right before they left, he told me that he thinks we are doing a great job. That meant a ton to me because I respect him and his opinion so much that to hear him tell me that I'm doing a good job was a big deal. Big brother may just be a wee little bit proud of me and that's pretty cool!
And Grace, well Grace is just such an amazing sister and Auntie to our little girl. Out of all of them, I was most excited for Grace to see Quincey again because I know how it is to be the auntie counting down the miles to reach my babies. So, I was very vicariously excited for her. She told me that as much as she was trying to get her fill of Quincey she just couldn't get enough of her and I knew EXACTLY how she felt. All the times I have pulled out of my sisters driveways and driven away from my nieces and nephews still feeling like I haven't gotten my fill of them was exactly how she was feeling. Being with my sisters sweet babies was just like breathing in a much needed breath of fresh air and I could tell she was breathing that same air in with my baby that I had so many times with her kids. It's so fun to see my sister get the same feelings from my little girl that I got from hers.
Finally, their last day, Joe was able to sneak away from work for an afternoon and took them up the Sandia mountains. I stayed back to snuggle Quincey in bed and take a nap.
I am so glad that we got this time together. Let me repeat myself... I am SO GLAD we got this time together. It went by way too quickly and I'm not just saying that. I really feels like they were only here for a day.
Not even a day has gone by since they left and I am already looking forward to the next visit. I'm trying to just be glad we got this time together but it also gave me a big juicy taste of how much I love being with my family and how much I want to share my little gift with them all the time; all of them. How I would love to make the journey to Dessa's lake house in Coeur d' Alane this summer or plop down on my couch in Newcastle while my mom and dad look over my child with joy, or just pop up to Greeley for a weekend is overwhelming.
I long for the day that Covid-19 buries her ugly face and is no longer a factor in when and how I get to see my family! But until then, I'll be extremely grateful for this time with the Logan's!
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