It's a big world out there!

Yesterday we headed north to Plevna, Indiana to visit our Gramma Sandy. What a day! We had family in from Kentucky and Anderson and shared a lovely time catching up and watching children play. Cousin Leslie in from Kentucky brought her fiance and his two boys to meet the family, and see Plevna. It's the greatest vacation spot in the world, you know! The boys had a blast riding on the mule, filling propane tanks and meeting up with Papaw Steve to catch a ride on the tractor. See, Plevna is boy mecca! While Gideon couldn't participate in all the fun, we did have a bit of it taking his picture on the big, big tractor. Apparently in the Winger family, taking a kid's picture in the tire of a tractor is tradition. We have arrived! I sat looking at Taylor and Ethan (Leslie & Billy's 2 rambunctious boys) and tried fathoming Gideon at that age (5 and 7 respectively). So much energy! As Taylor ran from outside to in, wrestling his dad, playing basketball, I chuckled. Cute kid. I watched as he eagerly climbed into the tractor and I'm sure asked about a million questions. Patient Papaw probably answered each one. He's a pro at this- taking kids on the tractor, telling the farm story. He's a great Papaw. He even took me, and answered all my questions a couple of years back! I watched as Ethan sat trying to be sullen. Trying to be older. Still broke out into boyishness with his brother when he thought we weren't looking. I cannot wait until Gideon is up walking and learning and growing! How neat it will be to watch him devour his world like these boys- so curious, so full of life! I don't wish my baby gone for a minute, but I can dream of when he's a boy and I can wonder who he'll be. What wonderful places and experiences will shape his world. Will he have a love for Plevna too? Probably. Sandy's pretty darn awesome, but there is a lot to do up there for a boy. Tools, farms, mud all await. Will I hear stories after he gets off of Papaw's tractor of exactly what goes into making a good ear of corn? Will he tell me all about his ride? Will he one day actually fit into that tractor tire? Wow. All these days are going to be so exciting, and I fear looming right around the corner.

And then we went to dinner (Marty's- a Plevna tradition!) and I saw the sweetest little baby, maybe a few weeks old. She was darling! No bigger than a minute. My how quickly time does pass. 6 months and Gideon at that size is already a distant memory. I smiled at the new mom. We are in the trenches together, she and I. I'm sure she went home thinking what it will be like when her little princess is as big as our bruiser. That's how it goes I guess. Always looking for what comes next. My solace? I'll get up less tonight than she will. And Leslie and Billy? Probably thinking they'll actually get to sleep in! HA!