Memorial Day weekend already seems so long ago. It was just a week ago, 1/41 of David’s life. I specify the exact amount because David is suddenly very specific about the way he spends his time, and a point he’s been trying to make for most of his 41 (now 42) weeks was finally drilled home: David does not like riding in the car seat.
For a while I could give David snacks in the car, it’s how we survived our trip to Blacksburg last month. He didn’t care what kind of snack and didn’t even ask to check the label and find out what a serving size was or whether his graham crackers were free-range. All he cared about was that they were coming in regular intervals.
We drove down to Raleigh to visit some good friends over the three-day weekend. It’s a three-hour drive, and after a short nap David was awake and screaming. At one point Tom asked if I’d given him a graham cracker. I looked in the baby mirror we have strapped to our back seat and saw David, mouth open, screaming, with a graham cracker stuck to his tongue. Daddy? Are we there yet?
(Side note: I used to roll my eyes at these mirrors because, are you serious? Your kid is fine, do you really need to see him EVERY SECOND? And then when David was out of our sight for the 3-minute drive home from the hospital Tom and I decided we needed a baby mirror. Now.)
By the time we arrived in Raleigh we were drained, and must have looked it because our friends, Tanner and Kara, fed us a diet of red meat and red meat. Not that I’m complaining. Have you ever had red meat? It’s delicious. Especially cooked, which is exactly how they prepared it.
Tanner and I were friends in high school and college, and Tom was his best man. Cool how that worked out, huh? We talked about literature and theology and people we know from way back then.
Plus, we got to meet this guy. This is Jack, he’s friends with Tanner and Kara.
When he saw David dragging himself around, Jack copied him.
You should watch this video about Jack and his mom, Sarah. I promise it’s worth five minutes and fifty-two seconds of your day.
Tanner and Kara have been telling us about Jack and Sarah for a while now, and when I finally got to meet them I felt a little lump rise in my throat because, isn’t God awesome?
All that to say: the drive was worth it.
OH my gosh Amanda.. this video made me cry!! God is so great… and I can relate in many ways to this story.
I love reading your blogs. I had no idea Tanner was here in Raleigh. Matt and I went to Vintage for a while and never knew Tanner and his wife were there! Small World. we’re at The Summit now here. Glad all is well!<br>
Love. I told my kids about Tom nicknaming David Doodle Bug, and they were dying with laughter. I told them that 9th grade English will always be around to haunt them.
Thank you for sharing this video. This is a powerful story!<br>
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