Absence makes the heart grow fonder

As he's gotten older, Josiah has become somewhat sadder about Jesse's absences. I didn't blog during Jesse's last trip (in January, to the Dominican Republic), but there were tears a couple of times, and Josiah told me very earnestly one morning that he was going to learn as much as he could so he could go with Daddy and work with him on trips. He's got a tender heart, that boy.

A few anecdotes from this week? Well, on Monday night I heard outright sobbing coming from Josiah's room after bedtime (not common). "We didn't do a blog post for Daddy!" he told me, between the sobs. "He won't know about our day and he'll miss us so much!" Fortunately, he was quickly reassured when I explained that I always put up the posts at night, once he and William are in bed, and he went to sleep content after that. Then, all week he's been reserving special things — things to "save for Daddy." For instance, for several days we've managed to keep a block tower intact in the living room (no small feat with a 16-month-old in the house). "Daddy will love it!" he says emphatically each day. It's pictured at right. Today he found some little glitter specks on his hand and wanted to save those too. "Won't Daddy think my glitter sparkles are so interesting?" He favored that hand for over an hour, unwilling to use it lest his glitter wipe off. Eventually I convinced him that taking a photo would be a good idea, so he could wash his hands and eat dinner; it took significant persuasion to get him there! 

Perhaps my favorite little example came first thing this morning. As I got ready for work, Josiah went to my jewelry box and asked if he could wear one of my necklaces "for just a little while." I opened up the door where the necklaces hang and told him he could choose whichever one he wanted. He looked for a while, fingering each one, and eventually settled on a string of pearls. As I took it out, he said, "But I was really looking for that little one. That little one that opens?" I quickly realized he meant my small silver locket, which wasn't hanging with the others. When I found it, he smiled from ear to ear. "See? It's me and Daddy in here," he said as he opened it. He wore it until we left for school. I wish I'd thought to take a photo. Suffice it to say, Jesse, we all look forward to you getting home this weekend. Safe travels!!