Unpacking.

May 2, 2011 By Kelle

There is no gradual in-between for sinking back into reality after a high-energy mini vacay. Oh, it’s still high-energy alright. Just not the beeping taxi dramatic skyline kind.

It’s a bit jolting to suddenly shift into home life and yet still brace myself for the next round of up and at ’em that commences again later this week when we take off to Michigan for my mama’s wedding.

Not that I’m convinced to empty my suitcase, of course. Brett asked this morning, “you do realize you have to unpack before you pack again, right?”

One day I will have a cute suitcase, not a shabby box with a ripped zipper that looks like a racoon with yellow painted feet climbed all over it.

A seven dollar new pack of Costco underwear says maybe not.

You know what I miss about New York? The flowers. I miss the accessibility of flowers and how, on any given corner, in the middle of towering skyscrapers and busy traffic, you’ll find a flower shop with rows of vivid blooms. I came home craving flowers, but I can barely snip a gardenia from our front yard and slip it into the house without Brett’s allergies flaring up. Yes, fresh is always best, but it’s May and it was time we brought flowers into the house–even if they’re silk.

They make me happy.

I missed this girl and just three days away from her has me convinced she’s a hair taller, a smidge wiser and wearing four-year-old shoes a few weeks too early.

I am excited for it to be her time soon. We’re all allowed a bit of parenting guilt, and mine generally comes in the form of praying she never feels overshadowed by Nella’s extra needs. We do our very best to let her know she is unique and loved and has her own special needs we recognize. I believe that without stressing too much over “are we doing it right?”, she will naturally know what is in our hearts, but still…when the chance comes along to give her just-for-Lainey times, I’m all over it.

And preparing for her celebratory day makes me smile.

Her book is finally finished. Click HERE to view.

She’s really into outer space right now. Draws planets, cuts them out, tapes them to walls, knows their names, and I have no idea how.

She told me this was Mars.

Yes, three days away from my kid and I am noticing everything.

And three days away from home has Nella a bit discombobulated.

I noticed she was extra clingy in New York, and while her huge smile the minute we walked in the house expressed her obvious pleasure to be home, she’s still a little out of sorts.

You wouldn’t really know it though.

It seems our explore-the-world trips the past year usually fall a bit unbalanced with travel stressfully stacked closely together. It’s never easy–packing and unpacking, asking strangers to buckle your belt for you in the airport security line because you can’t see past the baby slung to your chest, knocking passengers over with your diaper bag and camera case as you try to shimmy through the skinny center aisle–but staying home isn’t all that easy either.

(for the record, we had Cheerios for dinner tonight.)

I consider it all a grand opportunity–both to travel and show my girls that there is lots to do and see, and to deepen our roots into the familiar ground of what we love. Our home, our friends, our bed.

In between all of it, there’s always sidewalk chalk for them, cold beer for us.

Lainey’s favorite snack: apples with peanut butter and “spwinkles”.

My suitcase isn’t the only thing in need of sorting post-trip. My brain’s still stuck in New York.

Congratulations to the winner of the Spotted Monkey hat, Commenter #376, Ryan: Oh how you make me want to go back to NYC to experience that wonderful city again … I was there once, years ago and loved every moment. What an inspiring trip and amazing stories!!

Ryan, please send your contact info to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net

I’m coming around.
Have a great week.

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