Stages in Life

Some things I've recently realized....follow me on this:

Have you ever realized that we all go through weird stages in life? Think about it. When we're newborn...we need our parents. Our parents and our parents only. Jump ahead a few months...we need our Mommas. This is the stage that Sam is currently at. He wants his Mommy and Mommy only. I don't care what time it is, day or night. I don't care if it's cold or warm...he wants his Mommy. He reaches for me, he cries for me, he crawls to me. This is such a beautiful stage. Since we live far away for the time being, really, everyone else is a stranger. He doesn't fully understand the concept of family since we live so far away. He knows Mommy and Daddy.

Jump ahead a couple years (relating to MY siblings) and you go through a stage of sibling rivalry. Being seen with your brother is just terrifying and lets face it, embarassing. If my brothers weren't embarassing enough, they always seemed to find a way to humiliate me.

Next, we're in Middle School and High School. This is the "I don't want to be seen with parents" stage. And, suddenly, you realize that your siblings really aren't too embarassing after all. It's sorta like freedom.

Fast forward to college...after college graduation...moving away....stage. You realize that your family is who formed you. They are your solid groud. They will always be there for you. I have been incredibly  blessed with such an amazing family and I seriously thank my lucky stars everyday. Sure, we have our ups and downs...but really, they are all awesome in so many different ways. We're all incredibly different and unique and that's what I miss.

I miss my parents. I miss my siblings. I miss my grandparents. I miss my aunts and my uncles. I miss my cousins. I miss HOME. Sure, we talk on the phone quite frequently. We talk, and we talk A LOT. It's in different ways. Whether it's on the phone, by email, texting or Facebook. I talk to my family every. single. day. I love my family, and I love them very much. I love that they will go out of their way for me.

Brandon came to visit me. And I found myself remembering the "old" times where I would dread seeing him. I didn't want anything to do with him. He wasn't anything like me. But, yesterday, I found myself incredibly excited to see him. Not only for me...but, for my baby. Sam loves his Uncle Brandon...and his face just lights up when he sees him. Why?? I have no idea. But, I like it. It's amazing how much you evolve in a few years.

Before college,  you would have never heard me say: "Man, I wish I could see my family today"...but, sometimes it gets taken for granted when they're there all the time.

On that note, here's a few photos of our day today!