Our Hearts are in Georgia

After a quick trip to my parents' house this weekend, we packed up and headed back to Biloxi sans Shelby. We had been looking forward to this for weeks. We'd been yearning for a couple days free of the responsibilities that come with having an 18 month old, longing for a few days to regain our sanity and sleep in, and excited for the opportunity to check a few things off of our "things that are not easy to do while simultaneously entertaining a toddler" list. But now that the time has come, all we can think about is how we left our hearts behind in Georgia.

We have left Shelby with my parents before, but it's always been when we've gone out for a date night or traveled somewhere. This is the first time we've been at home without her, and it is a little harder than we'd anticipated! As we were unloading our bags back in Biloxi, Derek accidentally bumped into Shelby's music table...and the mere sound of it tugged at our heart strings! Then as we were going upstairs for bed the first night without her, we stopped by Shelby's bedroom as we do every night. But this time, there was no sleeping baby to oooh and aaah over...just an empty crib. Before we had Shelby, everyone always told us that once she gets here we wouldn't be able to remember what we ever did before having kids. I can still remember thinking those people were crazy! But now, 18 months later...we finally know what they mean. Our world is simply not the same without Shelby in it.

But while this week will be a bit hard on us, we know it is such a good thing for all three of us. {Actually, all five of us b/c I'm pretty sure Grammy & Grampy are enjoying their extra Shelby time!} It's such a blessing for Derek and I to have some time together as just the two of us and to be able to have conversations without interruptions. It feels so good to be able to get a few things done around the house that have been on our to-do list for far too long. And come Friday, we will be more than ready to have our baby back! But we know she's having way too much to even miss us! ;) Thanks for taking such good care of our Shelby-girl, Grammy & Grampy!