September was a crazy month for us here at The Station. The month started off with us frantically trying to complete our Summer Bucket List Challenge and ended with cubes in the hospital and Gates at my parents' house.
When we returned from Burning Man, cubes and I had decided we wanted to spend more time with family and friends. We dusted off our Summer Bucket List Challenge and looked at which remaining items we could complete in September. That first weekend we crossed off one more item: picnic at Mission Dolores Park. (Gates played at the playground, and, then because it was a little chilly, we ate at Regalito just a few blocks away.)
It's funny what you miss when your daily routine changes. I especially missed the times when Gates climbs up into my lap to hear a book or two being read. Coming home and waking up to a quiet flat was odd; Gates brings such life into a place. For most of a month, our interactions with Gates came through nightly phone calls or for me, later in the month, breakfast at Nick's.
Near the end of the month when it was clear cubes' surgery was at least a week a way, I spent the morning with my parents and Gates. We ate breakfast at Nick's as is our tradition, and then hung out and played at my parents' house until it was time for me to head out to a preschool open house. Gates was excited to see me, having seen cubes in the hospital a few days before.
Gates was full of energy and wanted to show me everything she could now do. She'd recently learned "Here comes Peter Cottontail" and enjoyed hopping to the song. After she'd finished her breakfast, she and I headed outside while my parents finished their coffee. As I sang, she hopped. When she tired of hopping, she took my hand and pulled me after her. She kept repeating, "Come. Home." The moment was bittersweet as it was the first time Gates walked (or rather ran) holding my hand. I wished I could have shared the moment with cubes.
Have you had to be away from your little one?
How did you cope?
How did you cope?
As usual you can find these candids of Gates and more added to the First Two Years Flickr gallery, none of which were shared previously via another social media channel. There are also additional photos from Gates' 18-month portrait session.
Ciao Bella!
Eden!
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Credits: All layouts designed by and images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.
Monthly Snapshot is a monthly series, published on either the second or fourth Monday of each month, depending on whether Gates has a well baby check up or not, that chronicles Gates' growth during her first twenty four months. This series was inspired by Nicole Balch of Making it Lovely's series for her two children: Eleanor and August.
