Blue Balloon Afternoon

A favorite new development in Lucy's vocabulary. Started maybe a month ago. A few examples:

Lucy, sitting with Grandma and Mom in Grandma's kitchen. Enter: Grandpa. Lucy, pointing excitedly toward Grandpa, "Oh! Grandma! There's your friend!"

Lucy, at the cafeteria. Spots our neighbor, Wayne, sitting at a nearby table without his wife, Autumn. Wayne waves to Lucy. Lucy smirks shyly in response, then turns to Mom and Dad with a whispered question, "But...where's his friend?"

You get the idea.
See, Lucy doesn't know the words "wife," "husband," "spouse."

She just calls it like she sees it: Friendship.

I'm happy that's how she sees it.

So do I.

And today, as my friend and I sat together on our bed, hitting a blue balloon back-and-forth-back-and-forth while talking about everything and nothing, and while a little humming Lucy climbed around and on top of us, I got to feeling a little sentimental.

Sentimental, because I'm super aware that our blue balloon moments are numbered.

We have been spoiled this summer.

Spoiled with so much time together.

Soon residents will move in, school will start, baby will come, and...life will change.

When it does, I know I'll think fondly about this afternoon with the balloon.

And I'll think fondly about evenings spent watching favorite TV reruns.

I'll think fondly of our lazy mornings and camera wars.

I'll remember all the friendly time we spent shopping and cleaning, organizing and dreaming together.

I'll remember all the silly time we spent watching, playing, and laughing with Lucy together.

I'll remember our dates to the fabric store (picture: my friend chasing Lucy in and out of every aisle, me spending excessive minutes making really important? decisions).

I'll remember dates for frozen yogurt, newspaper coupons and scrounged up change in hand (amazing how much you can purchase with the combined contents of your pockets, purse, and stroller compartments).

I"ll remember it all.

But hopefully not sadly. Because I think I know that even though life changes, love and friendship remain constant. And sometimes, in the face of change and challenge, they even grow.
So with all of my sappy sentimentality, there is also gratitude.
Gratitude for new opportunities.
Mostly just gratitude for my friend.