Growing Pains

It's not that I need attention at all times, from everyone around me. In fact, there are times when I'm downright anti-social. I'd rather just sit at home, hair all a mess, eucerin smeared all over my face (that's a strange one, I know - I'll explain some other time), staring at the TV while huddled up under my blankets with my fluffy socks on.

But there are times, darn-it, where you find yourself wanting/needing attention at the most random and unexplainable times. Take this past weekend for instance. Carl, Ella and I all took off for a fun-filled weekend at Carl's family cabin. Now, generally when Ella spends time with us, it's just Carl and I. And, being the only woman in the house, Ella spends a lot of time with me. She follows me all around the house, mimicks the things I'm doing, and in general sticks by my side for the whole weekend.

You can see where this is going I'm sure. So there we all are, at the cabin - and I find myself in a near role-reversal with Ella. You see her Gramma is there, her little cousin, Jillian (her absolute favorite) is there, her Aunt Robin and her Great Gramma...and there I am checking in on her.

"Are you doing okay?"
"Come get me if you need me, okay?"
"Can I have a smooch?"

And you can guess what her answer was nearly everytime! All of a sudden I thought I had a little bit of an inclination what Mom's go through when their 5-year olds take off for Kindergarten. I've seen them sobbing their guts out all alone in their cars outside the elementary schools and I think, "Good God woman, get it together - they are going to be home in four hours!"

Ahem - sidebar. Anyway, you'll all be relieved to know my little moment of insecurity was put aside when Carl and I got Ellla home yesterday evening. After a little naparoo, and a good snack, she spent the evening playing make-believe with me, ate dinner with her chair pulled up next to mine, and cuddled up next to me for a movie...

But the kicker was when she announced that her and I are best friends and added, 'No more being friends with Christine!" HAHA! Poor Christine. If it's not Carl, it's Ella. :)

It's amazing to me how quickly I have grown not only accustomed to her little hand in mine but how much I depend on seeing her little face each week.