Downtime AKA Between Lake Times!

So pretty much the only thing this child says when we’re not at Poppy’s Lake house is “I go Poppy lake house”.

The good news is our POOL is OPEN!!

Hallelujah!

So it’s our compromise until I can get this little swimmer back to Poppy’s lake house!

Our pool diet pretty much consist of fruit and popsicles! However, I was (initially) SO proud this little muffin ate her first turkey sandwich at the pool last week but at the same time was balling inside!

It’s weird what things slap you in the face to say- she’s all grown up! I mean what newborn baby eats a turkey sandwich!?

I mean look at that… is it me or does she instantly look grown?

We love our mommy and Lo pool time and she is SUCH a fun dare devil little swimmer!

Summer days at the pool come with long naps (woohoo) and even longer nights that are often spent at the square (with our pool hair)!

We love it!

This night sister had her first snow cone too!

Of course we have had some baking days this summer, ok lots!

Lola and I have found the BEST new blueberry,banana bread recipe and are now slightly addicted!

Don’t you love our messy (after pool) bun we pull off to shop and brunch in!?!? If only I could make a messy bun look that cute on myself…. oy.

This child- we get to the check out line and she has a shirt on as a cape and one shoe (we don’t plan to buy) on the wrong foot.

I could just squeeze her!

Mommy even managed to squeeze in some days at work while we were home - which were some of those days you unfortunately, never forget.

They are those stories that run through my mind the entire drive home from work, the next day at the grocery, when Lola wakes up the next morning, with every laugh she gives me or every kiss I steal. They make you cherish the mundane moments that much more.

It is hard, so very hard to know these awful things that we’re forced to face late at night, in the ER, even exist. I don’t want to know what those mother’s screams sound like, I don’t want to see dad’s and grandparents fall to pieces or faint in our consult rooms from feelings of helplessness, shock, fear and guilt.

Most of all I don’t want to know how perfectly healthy children, like my own, can be gone in an instant.

Unfortunately, I know this all too well.

And all I know to do is squeeze this baby girl (and hubby) that much harder after those awful, awful reminders that life is not guaranteed for anyone.

I will say it certainly puts things in perspective, for all of us. It makes things that would normally seem complicated, simple. It forces you to be selfish in a good way, spending your time with those you truly enjoy and love doing what you enjoy and love as much as possible.

I do love that balance my work gives me.

These sweet snaps I collect from Daddy Lou while I’m there are an added bonus! They call my nights at work their “date nights” alone together and Lou LOVEs her clinginess to him since ‘m gone!

As hard a it is and as much as I LOVE my time with them there is not a doubt in my mind it’s right where I need to be for now.