So much to be thankful for...

We just returned from one of the best vacation destinations I have ever been to -- Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Unlike my vision of the Bahamas (cheesy tourist traps, parasailing and nightclubs), Harbour Island was anything but cheesy. It was quaint, the people were delightful, the pace of life was slow (the primary mode of transportation is the golf cart!!!), the beach was the most beautiful I have ever been to, and life was just plain good. I got to spend a whole lot of quality time with my two favorite people on this planet - Casey and Riley. It is rare for all 3 of us to get to spend so much time together, and it was by far the highlight of my year. Riley was healthy (thankfully he recovered from the horrible cold he'd had the week we left for our trip) and was so much fun. He loved playing with his cousins and being read to by his grandparents. He seemed so much older - running after the "big kids", dancing on the tile floor before dinner, wanting to touch and look at everything, insisting on "driving" the golf cart, becoming braver and braver each day as he went farther and farther into the ocean on his own, sitting through meal after meal without causing disturbances at restaurants, and charming everyone he met. All signs that he is growing up. It is bittersweet. I love his new-found independence, but I also miss the days where he needed us constantly.

The highlight of my trip is small. Didn't cost a dime, but is a memory that will forever be etched in my mind... my first kiss from my son. He has been blowing kisses at us for months, but this time when I asked him for a kiss, he kissed me on the lips. And it wasn't a mistake -- he has repeated it often since.

This small gesture meant more to me than almost anything I have experienced in my life. You see, for the past month or two, Riley has preferred Casey. To the point of crying when he had to come to me instead of hanging out with Casey. In his defense, I have been so busy this fall with coaching Girls on the Run, Junior League, serving on two committees at the Club, volunteering at Riley's school, and playing in a tennis league that frankly, I haven't been home nearly as much as I'd like. Kids pick up on this. Not to mention that Casey IS more fun. But still, it really hurt. There is nothing like coming home at 7 pm after a really long day and wanting nothing more than a smile and a few precious moments with your child and getting tears instead. Just awful, but I guess it's something that most working mothers who feel like they still have to "do everything for everyone and do it to their best ability" experience.

So these are the events that led up to our trip to Harbour Island. After a few days (maybe even just one), Riley would reach for my hand if he wanted help or if he was scared. And then he would reach for Casey's. Or sometimes in the opposite order. But either way, he wanted both of us. And to have me be the parent to get the first "real" kiss was the highlight not only of the trip, but of the entire fall.

Pictures of our time in Harbour Island will follow in a separate post. One of these days... when I get some time...

Table Manners

When I dropped off Riley at school this morning, I was told (and not for the first time) that Riley has "impeccable table manners". Funny considering he was put in a time out last night for throwing food on the floor (mean Daddy). Regardless, apparently he is very particular about keeping himself and his area clean while eating. I guess I can believe this -- after all, he is the same kid who does not like to have his hands dirty and who will shake them off or give them to you to brush off when he gets sand or dirt or some other offensive substance on them.

The episode leading up to this conversation with his teachers? They had left a bowl of Cheerios at the table for him to eat when he arrived. When he pulled out his chair to sit down, there was a stray Cheerio on the chair (no doubt left behind by the previous occupant of the chair). Riley saw it, picked it up, and instead of putting it in his mouth (which is what I was anticipating), he promptly walked over to the garbage can and deposited the Cheerio inside. He came back to his chair, sat down, and started eating his breakfast. All without blinking an eye.