Goodbye is the Hardest Part

Goodbyes are funny. Well, no, they most certainly are not funny.

I mean they are funny-strange, not funny-haha.

Goodbyes start out slow:   Michelle and the Tobins and several of the Crocketts on Thursday.

Grandpa, Nate & Kendall

Then they gain some momentum:   Laura and Claire, the Schnepps and a final happy hour with Kim, Deb, Kari and Annette with a call to Sarah on Friday.

Claire & Laura

Farewell Friday happy hour, L to R: Annette, Matt, Deb, me, Kari, Hadi, Kimmy

Then the calm before the storm:  A quiet, little visit to Nana's house for some one-on-one time on Saturday.  Sandy said about Nathan as I was leaving, "There are not words to express how I feel about this little boy, Shelby.  There just aren't."  I am proud I held back my little tears until I was in the car. :)

Nana and Natey

Then goodbyes come fast and furious:  On Sunday morning, Sophie was holding Nathan and I said, "Soph, it is time to start letting everyone say goodbye to Nathan."  Her face dropped, she handed him off and threw her arms around me and cried, which of course made me cry (and her mom cry, and Hadi cry--Sophie has a knack for not leaving a dry eye in the house.)  My mom left the room and my dad went out to the car, while Matt, Heather, Jess, Lonnie, Sophie, Sage and Sami exchanged hugs and kisses with Nathan and me.  I don't have any pictures.  I guess you will just have to imagine the horror the moment.  Instead, here's a precious picture from Saturday night.

Uncle Matt reading to the shorties.
The girls are looking at him because he is getting emotional.

Then they are over--almost:  Airport goodbyes are a little more business-like, but there are still tears.  It' more, "thank you mom and dad I love you mom and dad thank you I love you I will call you when I land I love you thank you."

And, finally, the strange part comes:  I look back and watch my parents walk away and feel pain.  I look forward and think about seeing Kyle and feel excitement.  For a time these feelings linger simultaneously.  Then, all of the sudden it is over and I am expertly unpacking baby food, basically undressing, removing my laptop, getting scanned, replacing my laptop, basically redressing and expertly repacking baby food.

By the time the security drill is over, I have completely switched gears and I am now a focused and ready-for-20-hours-of-travel mother who can bend over and put my Uggs back on without waking the baby I am "wearing" and without losing my boarding pass, my passport or my sanity--all while accepting compliments from the TSA agents who think Natey is way cute (and who am I to argue with the Federal Government?)

:)sbc