These last few weeks, Mike has been traveling non-stop. He’s been gone more than he has been home. Usually I can take his traveling in stride, I have plenty of help from Grams and Grandpa (both Grandpas!), Great G-ma and Papa, and on occasion, Grandma/pa-in-Law makes the drive up. But after 4 weeks of mostly being gone, I was exhausted, not to mention sick with a nasty bug that Eli picked up and was generous enough to share. Thankfully we didn’t turn into piggies, so it must not have been Swine flu. 
Mike finally arrived home tonight, earlier than expected, which totally caught me and Eli off guard. Oh man, the reaction from this kid when the door opened was priceless. I’m sure I can’t do it justice, but I’ll give it a shot. Next time I’ll have the camera, or video camera, on hand so I can share the moment with everyone.
Eli has been asking for Dad-oo all week. Dad-oo? Dad-oo go? Over and over and over. This is the first time he’s asked about Dad-oo when he wasn’t home, which breaks my heart, but also shows what a strong and positive influence he has in Eli’s life. All day long, all I heard was Grandma go? (she’s driving home) Jo go? (she’s working at daycare) Baby go? ( baby’s at daycare or at home) But of all of his questions, the one he lingered over was Dad-oo go? Dad-oo’s at work, he’ll be home tonight, was my response. Dad-oo go? Dad-oo will be home soon sweetpea. Dad-oo go? I know you miss him sweatheart, he’ll be home soon. I was starting to run out of answers.
We had just returned home from Great-Grandma and Grandpa’s house, Eli was running around like a mad man, while I was warming up his dinner (left over grilled cheese from the night before). Just as I was about to wrangle him so I could wrestle him into his high chair, the back door opens. Before Mike even said “Hello” Eli broke out into ”The Happy Dance”. He doesn’t really smile, it’s more of an open mouthed look of amazement. His eyes light up like it’s his birthday and a big cake was just put in front of him. And then, the dance starts. He picks up his feet, marching in place, faster and faster and faster. He’s basically revving up, because the next thing you know, he’s off! Running like his life depends on it. But he’s not running towards Dad-oo, he’s running away!!! It’s almost as if he gets so worked up, so overly excited, that he can’t contain it, and he has to run and hide before his head explodes. Usually we find him with his head pushed against the couch, bouncing with joy. And when he finally does see Dad-oo, it’s a giggle fest that quickly turns into shrieks of excitement.
Of all the fantastic and amazing things this little boy does, and believe me there are many, The Happy Dance would totally make it into my top 5 list. Who wouldn’t want to bet greeted with such uncontroable joy?
On a side note, Grandma brought along some sort of veggie sticks this week. I don’t exactly know what they were, but they kind of looked and felt like packaging peanuts. But to my surprise, Eli wolfed them down. Even the green ones! Until, of course, he realized that they were in fact green and not a new shade of blue, then they came back out of his mouth. But he still eats the yellow and orange sticks. I have got to figure out what these are, so I can buy them (or make something similar). All I know is that they came from Costco, and of course, we don’t have one in town. Maybe I’ll pay a visit to Sam’s this weekend to see if they have something similar.
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So, you change the font to bold and blue and you don’t even give us a picture? I’m disappointed.
I know, I know. We’re going to coordinate Mike’s arrival next time. Sorry to let you down.
Wait, they weren’t Veggie Booty or the Veggie Stix from Trader Joe’s, were they? Yum.
Welcome home Dad-oo! Wish I could have seen the happy dance!
Veggie Stix. Do you have a Cost Plus? They sell ‘em.
Ughh, we don’t have a Cost Plus or Trader Joes. My best hope is Target or Wal Mart. I’m heading out tomorrow to see what I can find.
Checked at Aldi, Wal Mart, Target and Pick n Save today. Nothing. Guess I’ll have to ask the in-laws to bring some up next time they visit.