About a week before we made the trek to Durango for Nealie's wickedly pre-planned birthday weekend, Nealie took her first steps. Of course, she did it while her daddy was at work. She did it with such nonchalance, I almost didn't notice it. Luckily for Daddy, she was nice enough to take a few steps especially for him that evening. Her "baby steps" continued that week, but mostly with her attached to a devoted parental finger in one of her grasping hands.
Her birthday weekend was lovely, filled with AMAZING food from our gracious host, Nana Laurie. The presents ranged from INCREDIBLE to EXTRAVAGANT to RIDICULOUSLY GENEROUS -- Nealie is stoked on her blinging earrings, can't wait to play with her new kitchen, and is overwhelmingly excited every time she plays in her overstuffed red leather rocker with matching ottoman (seriously, it's nicer than OUR furniture!). And when we thought she was the luckiest little lovebug in the world, her Nana came through with the cherry on top -- a beautiful Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat! Seriously, this baby has it GOOD! :)
Monday rolled around and the family from California and Portland and Colorado Springs all rolled up their sleepsacks and scurried on back home (sorry, we hit the Bar-D Chuckwagon, which warrants some goofy cowboy talk). We love our families but it was hardest for us to say goodbye to Daddy, who had to return to the Springs ahead of us for work. We missed him like crazy.
Then it happened. My Mom, Doug, Nealie and I were all hanging out on Wednesday night and Nealie just stood up and started walking! She continued walking from face to smiling face for the rest of the night. It was awesome. But I wasn't sure how to tell her Daddy.
When I told him I could hear the disappointment in his voice. We'd been missing each other like crazy. That's when Mom gave me MY gift. "Tell Curtis I can't drive you home, but I'll help you with gas." That's right, Daddy came BACK to Durango for the holiday weekend. And it's been wonderful, between him riding the amazing trails and the nostalgia of watching the fireworks from Town Plaza with Uncle Ian... It's been incredible.
But we're just about ready to restart our NORMAL lives. We head back to the Springs on Sunday and look forward to our own bed, our seemingly abandoned cat, and our wonderful friends. But, oh, what a vacation.
2 comments:
Sounds like a great vacation! Can't wait to see the walking gal. She and Lily are going to make quite the pair!
Hooray Nealie!!!! Sounds like you had a very very exciting birthday!!!!! Time for walking lessons from Corben's best girls! Can't wait to see you cruising around!!! Let's hang out soon!!!
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