Fire Up the Deloreon
Between my flight being delayed and the incredibly ridiculous lack of cell phone lots at the Pittsburgh airport, it was inevitable that Alexis would fall asleep in the car Friday night. When Mr. Husband had to slowly drive around in a big circle for over an hour, it created the perfect storm for the poor kid to pass out.
I was, admittedly, a little disappointed. I like seeing my kid every day. I had already missed one day, so I wasn't real excited to miss another. But then that thing where Alexis can't be moved when sleeping took a turn for the good; she woke up as we brought her into the house. She was perfectly chipper, despite the late hour, so she and I changed into pajamas and piled onto the couch for a little cuddling and TV.
As the 40-pound ball of sweetness and sass curled up in my arms, I directed the remote to find the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. A few minutes into the spectacle, I felt the whoosh of a time shift come over me. Suddenly, it was as if Alexis and I were reliving many, many moments of four years ago. She was a newborn; I was a sleep-deprived first-time mom.
I'm sure I'm not the only mom who doesn't remember much from that first month of life with a newborn. What I do remember is watching the Winter Olympics. A lot. At all hours of the day and night. We would rock back and forth in the nursery rhyme-covered glider in her room for hours. I would stare at the tiny 13" TV that was tucked into the "office" within the closet, grateful that the Olympics were on at 4:00am since there was no cable or satellite in that room.
We sat cuddling together as Bode Miller was unexpectedly disqualified. We rocked gently in our chair as Hannah Teter rocked hard on the halfpipe. Apolo Ohno sped his way to medal after medal as we sat peering through tired eyes. We looked on as Sasha Cohen gracefully leaped and spun her way to gold.
Each memory came rushing back to me as I happily cuddled with the child that no longer resembles that newborn she was during the last Olympics. And now we're left to watch together as new memories are formed, as new legacies are created, and as new moments of pride are born.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Reader Comments (11)
I remember all the bad shows we watched during the wee hours of the morning when my kids were newborns. I think you hit the jackpot to have the Winter Olympics to watch! The LUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE!
That said, beautiful post babe.
How can a major airport like Pittsburgh not have cell phone lots? That IS ridiculous!
Glad you made it home uneventfully...
@bluzdude--Worse. There is a road that is a good mile from any runways or structures where everyone used to pull off to wait for people to arrive, but since 9/11, you haven't been allowed to sit there. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why not. Every other airport I can think of has 15 min parking or a cell phone lot much closer to the terminal. Nashville, for example, has 15 min parking right next to the doors of the terminal. ::headdesk::
Awesome, awesome post. I think those memories of what we were doing 4 years earlier are one of the things that make the Olympics so special.
Oh man. That made me cry. How fast the time goes. I know, I say that all the time, but that's because it is TRUE!
I love that pic!
So true! When Maddie was born, we remember watching the replays of the Summer Olympic events last summer in the very early morning hours. Just the theme music brings us back to those long nights. But, really, what great memories.
Such a cool post. It's so cool that you had the Olympics during that time and you and Alexis can share that. We had a lot of FoodNetwork. During the Opening Ceremony on Friday night I was suddenly 8 years old, watching Brian Boitano with my mom and sister. "The Battle of the Brians." There's something extra special about the Olympics. Extra special.
I'm linking your post up on my Thursday Olympic discussion.... and you can't even stop me.
That was such a beautiful post.
I think I cried .
xoox
supah
I remember waking up when my mom was up with my newborn sister. I would climb up next to her on the couch and fall asleep running my hands over her fuzzy robe. Years and years ago my mom sent me her robe - she had packed it away in her cedar chest for me to have, for memories' sake. Alexis will love the memories you're creating, promise.
Ahhhh... middle of the night tv...
At least you had the olympics... I was never that lucky - who can watch Springer in the middle of the night when you are trying to get a baby to sleep???
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I have a feeling I'll be doing something similar come 2012. I saw all of Michael Phelps' winning swims because my kid was up at odd hours to eat.
Thank you for posting this, because it reminded me of what I have to look forward to.